A/N- I am a Therox fan and enjoy coming up with different ways for Therox to meet and fall in love. Though this story starts off with Alistair/Pilar it will eventually turn into Therox. Ethan and Gwen will not be featured in this story and neither will Fancy. Fox is the Crane heir.
Chapter 1
A month later
Crane Mansion
"Damn it Julian that's the fifth nurse Alistair has run off in three weeks. I'm sick and tired of his tantrums and demands," Ivy ranted furiously. "And to demand that we be at his beck and call as if we had nothing better to do than dance attendance on him is completely preposterous," she hissed.
"Calm down my pet, your histrionics aren't going to help matters" Julian replied, pouring himself a snifter of brandy and gulping it down in one swallow.
"I can't calm down Julian. Damn that man, why won't he just die and leave us in peace?" Ivy screeched.
"We couldn't be so lucky my pet. I'm sure Father will be around to torment us for years to come. Despite what the doctors say I'm sure the ornery old bastard is going to outlive us all," Julian mumbled as he poured himself a second drink.
"That isn't funny Julian," Ivy replied grinding her teeth together in frustration.
"It wasn't meant to be, my dear," Julian retorted taking another long sip of his drink.
"Damn it Julian, put that down and help me find a solution to our problem." Ivy raged.
"What problem?" Julian slurred eying Ivy balefully. Damn woman was always harping about something or other. Why couldn't she let him get plastered in peace?
"God, Julian you're absolutely worthless," Ivy replied, disgusted. "I guess I will have to take care of things myself as usual," she added spitefully.
"You've sure had enough practice at taking care of things yourself haven't you my pet?" Julian mumbled, his dark eyes roving over her slender form lewdly and Ivy flushed a bit.
"Well seeing as how I can't depend on you for anything I haven't had much of a choice have I?" Ivy shot back, squaring her shoulders proudly and walking out of the room.
"Woman's the bane of my existence," Julian muttered, snatching the bottle of decanter and shuffling to the door just as the new maid, Priscilla, entered the room.
"Priscilla, isn't it?" Julian asked conversationally, propping his elbow on the desk and giving her his most charming grin.
"It's Drusilla sir," the maid replied coyly.
"Well Drusilla, I was just about to go into my study for a little…downtime," Julian mumbled reaching out and patting her lightly on the rump. "Care to join me?" he asked giving her one of his famous grins.
"Oh, Mr. Crane I couldn't," Drusilla demurred but she made no attempt to stop Julian when he backed her against the wall and covered her mouth with his.
"Sorry to interrupt," a masculine voice drawled and Julian turned to see his firstborn, Nicholas, lounging at the doorway.
"What do you want?" he asked ungraciously, peeved at having his afternoon entertainment interrupted.
"Don't shoot the messenger, Pops," Nicholas replied with amusement. "I just came to tell you Grandfather is waiting for you in his suite. Something about a daily report," he added as he walked off, snickering when he heard his father mutter something under his breath.
Whistling a tune, Nicholas was about to head back to his room for a shower and a changed of clothes before he headed out again when the ringing of the doorbell caught his attention and seeing no one about he went to answer it.
"Hello, I am Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. I have a one o clock interview with Mrs. Julian Crane," a lovely brunette with the most amazing eyes Nicholas had ever seen murmured. "I hope I'm not too early," Teresa added glancing discreetly at her watch when Nicholas made no reply.
"Nicholas Foxworth Crane, at your service," Nicholas replied with a charming grin as he raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a light kiss on her palm. "Mother's in the library making some calls. I will let her know you are here," he added with a wink.
"No need Foxworth," Ivy commented as she walked into the foyer. "Don't mind my son, Ms. Lopez Fitzgerald. He flirts with all the pretty girls. Go away Foxworth, your presence isn't required here," Ivy added mildly.
"It was a pleasure to meet you Teresa. I hope to be seeing a lot more of you soon," Nicholas called out as he sprinted up the stairs.
Ivy waited for her son to be out of sight before motioning for Teresa to follow her into the parlor.
"Would you care for something to drink?" she graciously asked.
"No thank you, Mrs. Crane," Teresa replied.
"Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald you're not exactly the candidate I had in mind for this position," Ivy bluntly observed. "Why should I even continue this interview?" she asked.
"Mrs. Crane I know you must have interviewed a thousands candidates for this job. The chance to work for a Crane isn't something most people would scoff at. But I also know that none of the candidates that have been hired have lasted more than two days on the job, despite the more than hefty perks offered. I can assure you that if I'm hired I won't shirk my duties no matter how demanding or unreasonable Mr. Crane Sr. might prove to be. I have plenty of experience working with irascible patients," Teresa calmly replied handing the older woman a slim manila folder.
"It seems that you do," Ivy remarked as she glanced at Teresa's resume. "I feel I must warn you that Alistair isn't an easy man to get along with. But you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and your qualifications are above reproach. So if you want the job it's yours."
"Thank you Mrs. Crane. And yes I'd be delighted to accept the position," Teresa answered.
"Grandfather, why don't we have lunch outside on the patio? It's a lovely day outside." A cheerful Mia asked Alistair when her father had departed.
"I'm not hungry girl. And even if I were I wouldn't eat that slop," Alistair grumbled pointing to the delicate vegetable soup and thin slices of toast artfully arranged on a corner table on the other side of the room.
"I'll have you know that I prepared that soup with my own two hands. And it isn't slop." Mia replied with a slight pout.
"I want a thick steak with creamy mashed potatoes and crisp vegetables on the side. And a fat slice of chocolate cake and maybe a strong cup of coffee for dessert. That would whet my appetite," Alistair murmured slyly.
"Well what you're having is a steamy bowl of soup and toast. If you're really good maybe we can sneak in that slice of chocolate cake later," Mia pledged.
"Promises, promises," Alistair groused but he let Mia lead him outside.
The two were enjoying their lunch in companionable silence when Alistair heard the door to his room slam open and turned his head in that direction. Expecting Julian or Ivy he was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty brunette in a trim blue suit enter. As she approached Alistair felt his heart begin to thump in his chest. Her resemblance to his old flame was uncanny. Alistair felt as if he had stepped back in time.
"Hi, I am Teresa, Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. Alistair's new nurse."