One Cold Winter's Night

chapter 4

Chapter Four

Xavier called into my work for me the next morning, explaining to them everything that occurred last night. I myself couldn’t even believe it happened, but here I am in a stranger's bed. My life has never been this eventful let alone is such a quick succession of one thing after another. Luckily I wasn’t feeling too sick and my body temp had risen over night. My tan skin was no longer pale and my lips weren’t blue, but now there was still my broken wrist to think of. Work had given me the next two months off, no paid leave of course.

 The other issue of the day was that there was a snowstorm raging outside, apparently overnight 8 inches of snow accumulated. Sadly the storm was still going and everyone would for sure be snowed in for the next day and a half. Xavier assured me I was welcome in his home and that I would be well taken care of, the gesture was really kind and it’s not like I had a choice to leave anyways.

The in-home doctor came and did a check up while Xavier stood in the corner on his phone, I was given the okay to walk around. “I’ll have one of the maids give you a change of clothes and bring you down for breakfast.” with these parting words he was out the door before I could even nod, the doctor chuckles as he puts a thermometer back in his medical bag. I look at him with a raised eyebrow wondering what he found so funny, shaking his head he explains.

 “ As long as I've worked under this family that boy has always been so quiet. He’s a man of few words and is rarely so talkative or attentive to someone.”

 Interesting, “Since he walked into the restaurant I work at he’s been nothing but talkative.” The doctor looked surprised then gave me a devilish grin, “maybe he finally has interest in a girl. If so his taste is impeccable,” I blush at the doctor's obvious jesting. He heads to the door giving me a wave before heading out, the maid coming in two seconds later.

With a kind smile she handed me a pretty lavender sweatshirt and matching sweatpants, undergarments included of course. I took them quickly, happy to not have to be in just an oversized shirt, I went into the fully stocked up bathroom to shower and change after thanking her. I changed and put on the ugg slippers the put by the bed, how did they have these in my size ready? Not dwelling on the trivial question I meet the maid out in the hallway letting her direct me to the dining room.

 Xavier was already seated at the table still reading something on his phone, was it a work email? Why did I even care what he was doing on his phone, my stomach agreed it would rather me focus on filling it with food. It smelt heavenly, my mouth watering in anticipation with what I knew would be the best breakfast of my life if the soup from last night was any example. I took a seat across from him wringing my fingers together in nervousness, not knowing if I should open up conversation with him.

He glanced up at me nodding his head in acknowledgement, I waved meekly. Luckily before things got awkward the servers brought out our breakfast, he was long gone out of mind as I looked over the amazing spread. By now he had put his phone away and too was focused on filling a plate with the aromatic food. We piled our plates up with scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast, and fruit salad. Everything was good, we ate in a comfortable silence.

 We were half way through the meal before he decided to speak, “I’ll give you a tour around the house after we finish. And I'll be showing you the parts of the mansion that under no circumstances you mustn’t enter. Should only take us about lunch time to finish the tour, then after that you are welcome to go wherever you please within the limitations.”

 I nodded wondering why parts of the house would be off limits, I guess I still am a stranger to him.” My eyebrows furrowed. He had promised a month ago to see me again soon but he had never shown.

 “I was away on business, it lasted longer than expected. I got back just yesterday.” Did I just say that out loud? “Yes you did, and that rhetorical question too.” He looked amused as I turned red in embarrassment, for sure needed to work on keeping the inner monologue in my head. The rest of breakfast went off with nothing else interesting, we finished up and took the tour of the house.

It was a beautiful building, mostly made from wood and filled with wonderful antique pieces. We viewed the library, his office, where his room was in case of emergency, and lastly the movie room and indoor pool areas. He said the last two were newer additions added onto the house by him about two years ago, made it easier for him that going into town. The tour ended with him dropping me off at my room, there was 30 minutes before lunch so that gave me time to rest beforehand.

 I took a nap then headed down for lunch which was another amazing assortment of foods. Afterwards before Xavier walked off to do who knows what I asked him to watch a movie with me, he looked hesitant at first but agreed. We watched a horror film and then an action movie before going our separate ways till dinner. If this good treatment continued I would end up never wanting to leave. I walked through the halls headed for my room so caught up in my thoughts.

If I hadn’t learnt my lesson on following my gut, I had now when out the corner of my eye I noticed something strange. There was a bloody handprint on the wall, how had that gotten there? More importantly, who did it belong to and was someone hurt? My curiosity wanted me to go find out but something in me told me to just head back to my room and forget what I saw for now. So for once I listened to my gut and did just that, running till I got to the room I was staying in. Maybe I’ll bring it up to Xavier at dinner and I might have if he had actually shown up for it. 

The maids had said he was busy working in his office to eat there. I let the explanation suffice for the moment but something still felt wrong. I went back to where I had seen the bloody handprint but it was already cleaned up, maybe Xavier knew about it already. I let the stain being gone give me peace of mind and didn’t give this small incident a second thought. This was another mistake I made, I should have never let that go.