Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Six

Leaning back into his seat, Riyad placed steeple fingers against his chin. Intrigued she leaned forward, all nervousness gone. The fear of losing her job also vanished. "What do you have in mind?"

"Firstly, I will not bother with a written contract. It would be a verbal one. Can I trust your word, Callie?"

"Of course, I give you my word. I know how much your privacy means to you. I would never betray your trust." He watched her for the longest time, scrutinising. She placed a hand against her chest. "I know you don't know me personally, nothing about me, but I gain nothing by betraying your trust. I only came here for my aunt's sake, and needed to keep her job safe until she comes back."

His hands fell away. "Have you ever thought your aunt may never come back?"

Instead of filling her with the horror of being stuck here for the rest of her life, she felt a calm wash over her. It was such a beautiful house that could be a magnificent home if it was allowed to come to life again. So much to explore and discover its hidden secrets. She smiled. "Then I guess you're stuck with me." Taking him back.

"What? You would lock yourself away from the rest of the world?" he asked gruffly.

She shrugged. "Don't you?"

"This is my home, also my place of work. If I had my way, I would send you back to your old life." Her eyes widened, even if it was their decision to send her, she was happy to go. One thing was for sure her life wasn't heading anywhere; however, marriage wasn't a solution in her books. 

Pity her mother had different ideas on that.

Didn't matter she was here. "What if I don't want to go back to my old life? What if I am happy here working for you?"

"Something I am sure you had not expected. What were your original plans exactly?"

"Find my Aunt then go back home."

His brows went down, eyes narrowing, mouth thinned. "What about your ticket? They expected you to come all this way, turn around and head home without seeing the sights?"

"I know," she nodded. "That was my argument as well, however, I wasn't paying so had no choice in the matter. I gave my ticket to Aunt Em, just changed the name which was cheaper than buying a ticket for her back to Australia."

"Really? How are you supposed to get back?" She shrugged. "What about your visa?" Her eyes widened she hadn't thought about it. He sighed. "Give me your passport and visa, it will be seen to." She had no problems with that. Without warning, she jumped to her feet and raced out of his office before he could utter a word.

Callie raced upstairs to her room, where she went straight to the bedside table and removed a soft leather folder that she opened, checking to see all the papers and passport were there before heading back. Entering his office Riyad was still seated behind the desk, where she placed down the folder that he removed and flicked open, shut then placed away in the top drawer.

"I will keep these safe for you. Important documents like these should not be left lying around just anywhere."

That might be true, but she didn't own a safe. "Thank you," she was sure no one would dare take on Riyad. "So what about my contract?" That sounded hopeful, safe, and more permanent. She could easily settle here quite happily. At least she would be able to find her own feet, think about her own future, what she wanted to do with her life.

"We will carry on like we already have. Of course, you will receive a wage." Her eyes popped, she hadn't expected that.

"A wage?"