Page 11

I didn't know it at the time. Not yet.

But certain events in life have the ability to strip you of everything so slowly you don't realize it's happening until it's too late.

Now I'm single, deeply in debt, unemployed, and as unhappy as I've ever been in my life.

I glance down at the thick parchment, shaking my head. This could solve all my problems.

I can't believe I'm considering it. That place was insane. Even if I was only imagining parts of it.

After all, the strange things I saw did happen after my explosive headache. I've never had one that bad, but even in the past I've had moments of seeing things that weren’t there. This might have felt more real, but that's likely due to the severity of the episode.

So, what's really the problem with taking the job? I reach for my wine glass but realize I never finished opening the new bottle. Damn.

The worst thing is that a few of the brothers clearly don't want me there. Especially Sebastian.

So what? I climbed to the top at my last job despite men like that, not because of them. I could do it again. Would do it again.

I consider waiting until morning, but I realize this is now my new work day, if I really am going to do this.AmI really going to do this?

Apparently I am.

I dial before I change my mind. The female twin answers. "This is Eve. May I please speak with Derek?"

I decide to use his first name since Mr. Night would bring all the boys running, and I only want to talk to the one who actually fought for me to be there.

"Hello, Eve," his warm voice says a moment later.

"I'll take the job," I say hurriedly, before my liquid courage fades.

"I'm delighted to hear that. Can we expect you to start tomorrow evening?"

"You said this requires a live-in situation, yes?"

"Yes."

"I might need a few days to get my belongings packed and my things in order. But I have…a favor to ask."

"What might that be?"

I bite my lip, hating that I have to ask this. "Is it possible to get my signing bonus now?"

"Of course, that can be arranged." He pauses, and I hear some clicking in the background. "The money has been transferred into your account. You should see it there now. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

I'm dumbfounded. I set my phone to speaker and click open my banking app to check. Sure enough, the deposit was made. "But, I didn't give you my account information."

He chuckles. "You will find we have significant resources at our disposal. You don't think we offered this job to you without doing a thorough investigation into your life, do you?"

"That's…that's invasive!" I feel vulnerable and violated, but not enough to take back my acceptance of the job. I can't totally blame them. I always encouraged background checks on new employees. Of course, they would look into me, especially if I'll be handling sensitive client information or dealing with large amounts of money. And if I'm living with them, then that's a whole other deal. They'd certainly want to know the person they were bringing into their home.

I should be so diligent, but I can't seem to find anything about this company or this family online, which is just strange, and I don't know what that means. How do you run a business, a successful one by the looks of it, without having some online presence these days?

"I apologize for the personal intrusion, but given the sensitive nature of our work, I fear we had no choice but to be thorough. As for your relocation, I can send a moving team to your apartment tomorrow to help you pack and move whatever you want. I can provide a storage unit, or if you'd rather, I can arrange for whatever you'd like to be sold and the money sent to your account."

"Um. Thanks. Yeah, I guess that would be helpful."

"Very good. Can I expect to see you Thursday evening, then?"

"Yes, that should be enough time."