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2.2 Work

Mr. Tomlinson took his time showing me the house. He always stayed behind me, watching my reaction from a far.

We were alone with the exception of the staff that one saw walking by every once in a while.

I wondered, didn't he have a job? We were walking around the house for two hours.

When the third hour arrived and we checked out the gym, I could not help, but ask, "Don't you have work to do, Mr. Tomlinson? I appreciate the showing around, but I do not want to be a burden."

"You are so polite, Pearl Belle," I shivered at the mention of my name. It had something different coming from his lips. "I do have work to do, but I choose not to right now."

"You can just do that?" I asked him in awe.

"I am the owner of a multi-million pound company. We provide the agencies of the world with all the new technology and housing they need." So he knew the other side of the fence well. "I find it more interesting to show you around at the moment. I am sure all of this is new to you and it can be overwhelming."

"I did not know, Mr. Tomlinson. I apologise," I responded.

"This is your first time, I assume?" he asked me.

"Yes, I just turned eighteen."

"Lovely."

Somehow we ended up in front of my door. Mr. Tomlinson leaned against the wall, looking at me. I wanted to return to my room to be alone, but I hesitated. I needed to know what the Tomlinson family had planned for me.

"Mr. Tomlinson, what exactly am I going to do for you?" I asked in a tiny voice. I was surprised that he had even heard me.

"What do you want to do?" he asked in a captivating voice.

"I... I am your order, Mr. Tomlinson. I am sure you have plans for me?" I had heard the rumours. There were bad families out here. From my first impression of the Tomlinsons, my life was about to become one of the rumours.

"My wife wants another child. Ashley thinks it will save our marriage, but all she will do once the baby arrives is fetch it a 24-hour nanny. I will not have time for it either. It will become an Ember 2.0."

I interrupted him, "Then why am I here, Mr. Tomlinson? It is cruel to bring a child into your life under these conditions. Excuse my rude, but Ember 2.0 is not a very promising life goal."

"Careful, Pearl Belle. You do not interrupt me." His look pierced through me. "But I do agree on Ember with you."

An awkward silence followed. He continued to look at me. I stared down at my feet, I did not dare to meet his gaze.

"Look up, Pearl Belle. That is such a beautiful name," he said. His tone was calm. I appreciated his compliment. Most of the people I knew - all of the agency girls - they always hated on my name. They said it was too beautiful for my body. They said my sister deserved my name more because she looked like a Barbie.

"You are going to save this marriage with your expertise, Pearl. I think it is time to show Mrs. Tomlinson who calls the shots."