Nanny Halloween
Chapter 2: The Reception
CC was ready to comment that the door was a relative of Fran's, with all the whining that had went on. However, she was so curious to see who had come to greet them that she remained silent, eyes fixed on the figure that was appearing at the opening door.
She half expected it to be a very tall greenish man, sporting a big head with sticks in the forehead and nails in the neck. Any figure that resembled Frankenstein or the Adam's Family butler was inside her list of possibilities.
The blond blue-eyed man, with such broad shoulders and chest that he was barely fitting the checked blue shirt he wore, was a pleasant surprise.
He looked at Fran's face, then turned his head to look at CC – from the face to the feet and the way back –, squinted and groaned, 'What do you want?'
CC rose her brows, Uhm… And rough… Roarrrr…
Surprised by her interested smirk, he blinked, turned his body to face her fully and leaned his head slightly to the side.
Their stares remained locked for some moments, but then CC looked him from head to toe (and the way back, because she was not for less than a fair game, here). It was as if she was measuring him, as he had done to her.
She was seeing more, now, than the fit body: she was seeing the piercing eyes, that let show the furious thinking that was going on inside his head; she was seeing the elegant gestures, as the way the hands touched the open door and the way his shoulders and hips had turned in a fluid motion, as if in a dance; she was seeing the serious and wary posture, protecting the house from the strangers…
The difference between them two was that she made clear she liked what she saw, while he seemed fascinated but hesitant.
'We're here because Mister Sheffield sent us a letter', Fran said, smiling and speaking cheerfully to break the moment between the people in front of her. 'Are you Mister Sheffield?'
He turned his glance to her slowly, having difficulties in getting out of the other woman's bubble, but then looked fixedly at Fran, reacting almost as if she had spoken in a strange language, 'Letter?'
'Yes, the letter telling about the problems with the town people, and how they were drawing the wrong conclusions, and how it would be great to tell the true story to a big newspaper… Our boss received it and sent us here'.
The man gulped, 'I know nothing about a letter'. He thought for a moment and then seemed more secure, 'And I would know, if there was one', he smiled smugly, 'I always know'.
'So, you are Maxwell Sheffield?', CC repeated Fran's previous question. She couldn't help but hoping that man was the center of the story they came to investigate. It would be too good to be around him to… unveil him.
He turned to her again, frowned deeply, and clarified emphatically, 'No, I am not Maxwell Sheffield. I'm Niles, the manager'.
CC deflated. No, he was not the mysterious millionaire. He was the guy who took care of the lands.
And of the house – probably dusting and baking, too.
She was hating herself for getting interested in someone like him. It was all wrong – even if she liked working herself, she despised hard-working men in general. They were usually stupid and subservient, and she couldn't stand people who behaved like that.
Besides, her family would be very disappointed if she dated someone below their class, or their cultural level.
Deciding to show him the spell was broken, she said scornfully, 'Oh, I see. A mix of butler and secretary'.
He was surprised for a moment, but then seemed to understand what had happened and snarled, 'You can say that. And that's why I definitively would know about any letter'.
'How can you be so sure? The man can't write his own letters and send them without the help of his housewife?'
Fran observed, curiously, how the hair in the back of the man's head raised, as it would happen in an animal. She had noticed it happening at the first time he locked stares with her partner, but now it was really evident. Before he could stop the growling sound he was doing and articulate an answer, she put a hand on his arm and talked again, 'Mister Niles, don't pay attention to her, she says strange things sometimes. Can we enter and explain what is happening while we're comfortable?'
The gesture seemed to pacify him, and he threw a last despising glare at CC before looking at Fran with a bit of sympathy, 'Yes, you may enter. I need to know what all of this is about'.
He gave some steps inside the mansion and opened the door.
The girls entered quickly, before he regretted his decision, and he closed it behind them.
They flinched at the loud thump it made, and looked at the interior of the mansion.
As they had guessed: big room, high ceiling, giant candelabra.
'Oy', Fran exclaimed, exchanging worried stares with CC.