Page 20 of Forbidden Fruit

His brow wrinkles and I know he sees this place for what it is. Unfit. Decrepit. It’s not even my apartment, and I’d never say this about my friend, but somehow, it makes me feel like I’m unfit and decrepit. Ready to be discarded. It’s what I always felt like living with my aunt. My shoulders curl inward with the sensation and his attention lands back on me.

“How did you know where I lived?” I blurt out, incapable of keeping quiet any longer.

“Jade told me. She said she told you.”

“When did you—” I trail off. Jade’s at work right now. That’s what I’m smelling on him. Whisky and sex. It suits him.

I don’t finish my sentence but can’t help but blush. I check my phone and see the missed text from Jade. I was deep into a Jivamukti yoga sequence. Those usually take ninety minutes and I always turn off my phone to focus on my body and myself.

“Vanessa.” His voice is almost scalding and I blush for another reason. Shame sticks to my skin and clogs my throat. It’s suddenly hard to breathe.

“Why are you here?” I lash out. I don’t need more problems. If he wants to fire me, he should just do it and be done with it.

“Why didn’t you tell me you needed a new place to live?”

My gaze flicks back to him, and I laugh, incredulous. “It’s none of your business.” I cross my arms over my chest like a toddler throwing a tantrum, and his jaw ticks again. For a man like him, it’s almost an outburst and I want to see more of it.

“It is my business, Miss Winfrey. If you’re not looking after yourself properly, how am I supposed to trust you with my children?” The words slap me and burrow into my chest like poison, even though I know he’s wrong.

“That’s not fair, sir. My living situation has nothing to do with my capacity to care for Anton and Livia and you know it. Now, if you’re concerned about them and want to fire me, I’ll understand, but I’m doing the best I can.”

His eyes soften ever so slightly, and I avert my gaze. I don’t want to look at him right now. I’m on the verge of panic, and I don’t want anyone to see me like this, least of all him..

“I’m not here to fire you, Miss Winfrey. I’m here because you need a place to stay and I’m in the market for a tenant.”

Silence greets his words.

“What?” I must have misheard.

“Jade mentioned that you’re looking for a new place to stay. The pool house behind my home is empty and I’m looking to rent it out,” he says, calm and collected like the usual asshole I’m dealing with.

I blink once, twice. I rub my eyes and swallow thickly, but Mr Marquesi doesn’t flinch or move from my couch. He’s not a fragment of my imagination or tired brain.

“You want me to live in your pool house?” I ask incredulously.

“Temporarily, of course. Until you find something more suitable.” He looks around with a grimace, and I echo the sentiment. Jade spent more time at her boyfriend’s house than here this week. She doesn’t seem to care that it's a death trap.

“Wouldn’t it be an issue for the kids?”

And for me.

I don’t dislike my boss, but he’s intense. And I’m not even sure he likes me, so I feel like I’ll be walking on eggshells all the time. It’s very far from what I imagined life would be when I left my aunt’s clutches. Sure, he looked at me with…somethingin his eyes earlier, but I still think I probably imagined it.

“We’ll establish boundaries for evenings and weekends. The pool house is separate from the house , so you’ll have privacy and it has a kitchenette, living space and en-suite. It’s small, but it’s convenient.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Yes, would be a good place to start,” he answers like this is all a normal conversation and not about to upend my entire life.

“Ugh… I, yes. Okay. What would the rent be?” A pool house near a mansion in the Hills of Sant Armellu would be a fortune to rent, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow. I suggest you finish packing.” He gets up. “I’ll send a driver.” With that, he turns his back onme and leaves. I’m gobsmacked, wondering what is going on in the head of this man. Have I misjudged him for a cold and unfeeling boss or is the other shoe about to drop?

All signals invite me to be cautious but I can’t stay here. I throw the rest of my meagre possessions into my suitcase and text Jade.

Me

I’m moving into my boss’s pool house for a while.