Chapter Sixteen - Mama Bear - Saturday morning . Escala
At my castle in the clouds, dawn is breaking. I've slept for two hours, after putting Brandy to bed in her room. Down on the ground, it's still dark. I take a long shower to wash the exertions of the night off my skin. I rough towel most of the water out of my hair and run my fingers through it. I dress in black jeans, and a casual maroon polo shirt.
In my office, I find the photos from last night on my desk exactly as I left them. The cup of cold coffee is still there too. It's not like Mrs. Jones to be so derelict in her duties… but then she was off last night. But she's cooking for us this morning. Did she come to retrieve the coffee cup and see the pictures? And flee? I hope not. I idly wonder which? Did she not find my photographs? Did she not flee my home?
I put the photos in my drawer and lock it. I take the coffee mug with me to the kitchen. I'm delighted to find Mrs. Jones busy at the oven. Still the thought hovers in my mind that the prim and proper Mrs. Jones may have seen more than I intended… especially as I had resolved not to spring any more surprises on her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jones."
"Good morning, sir. Are you ready for breakfast?"
I look around.
"Call Brandy down."
She looks uncertain. "Just dial extension two – six. I'll just have juice while I wait. Make hers cranberry."
She puts my juice on the breakfast bar in front of me and then pushes digits on the phone. I can hear the phone ring repeatedly. "Y-e-s." She was clearly sound asleep.
"Mr. Grey would like you to come down for breakfast."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Mrs. Jones turns back to her stove.
Its several minutes before Brandy makes her appearance. I've drunk my juice and am into my coffee. She's wearing a dark shift dress and she's barefoot. Her ample breasts are barely concealed by the fabric. She's clearly naked underneath. Her long brown hair's a mess… maybe had a comb through it once… maybe. She looks like she's been rode hard and put away wet. She looks magnificent.
Mrs. Jones serves our food… bacon, scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast and blueberry muffins warm from the oven. She places servings of mixed fruit in fancy stemware beside our plates.
"There are more muffins, sir." She places a plate of muffins between us. "Will there be anything else?"
"Not that I can think of."
"May I have another juice, sir?" Brandy asks me.
"Yes." I answer.
Mrs. Jones eyes register surprise. The question was directed to me. She was just about to reach for Brandy's glass. I feel a little sad… my lifestyle has knocked the train off the tracks with my chef / housekeeper. All the food was good… to my liking. I've come to expect it.
I've cleared my plate. So has Brandy.
"May I take a muffin for later, sir?"
"Yes." I nod. I remember being hungry. I don't want her to be hungry. Ever. "Take as many as you like."
"Thank you, Mrs. Jones" Brandy says. "Everything was delicious."
I excuse Brandy and she goes up stairs to her room.
Mrs. Jones is cleaning up. She has mixing bowls out and ingredients.
"I'm making Raspberry crumble coffee cake for your mother."
"That sounds good."
"I assure you it will be, sir."
"I'll be in my office."
"Let me freshen that for you." She takes my mug. "I'll bring it to you."
It's a clean mug and fresh coffee she brings to me. If she'd been in my office earlier, she gives no indication. Though… it's like she's trying too hard. She looks from the mug to my eyes, never glancing around the room.
The phone buzzes. It's the concierge number. I pick up.
"Christian! Let me up!" Mia screeches over the concierge. My mother has brought reinforcements. I wanted to talk to Grace privately about Lilly and Ashley finagling their way on board. I need to talk to her alone.
"Send them up."
The elevator dings. As the doors slowly open, Mia bursts forth, breaking away from Grace and charging directly at me. I grab her in self defense, pulling her down out of mid air while she tries to hug me.
"Tell me about your girlfriend!"
WTF? I'm going to kill Elliot. He's stirring things up because I told him Mrs. Jones is off limits.
"I don't have a girl friend. I told your mother that the other day."
I lower Mia so her feet are on the floor.
"But Elliot said… "
"Elliot is pranking you."
"It didn't seem like a prank."
Grace has caught up. I take her hands so she can't hug me. She likes it when I kiss her cheeks in the European style. Grace is dressed in a pretty green dress. Dr. Grey can afford nice things.
"Come in." I lead the way into the great room with it vast glass wall showing off its view of the city below. Grace is picking out various landmarks which are easy to see. We sit on the big sofa but their eyes are clearly on the woman in my kitchen.
Have you eaten?" I suppose that they have but it's polite to check. "Would you like coffee?" Grace accepts the offer of coffee. Mrs. Jones appears with a tray with coffee cups, small plates and Raspberry crumble coffee cake still warm out of the oven. Mia asks for Coke. Mrs. Jones is in her normal working attire. A brown A line skirt, white blouse, linen apron, blonde hair back. Mia follows her back to the kitchen. I see Mia sit at the breakfast bar with what must be a fruit cup… the soft drink apparently forgotten. I hear Mrs. Jones calling Mia: "Miss Grey".
"Why did Elliot come to see you?"
"I asked him to."
"What's going on?"
"Share holder's meeting." … "We talked business. Mrs. Jones made us home made pizza for dinner. We played pool, then video games until he fell asleep."
"She's a good cook."
"That's why I hired her. It's in her job requirements."
"She's very pretty."
"I hadn't noticed. It's not in her job requirements." I may be wealthy now… I'm still taking a risk, talking back to my mother.
Elliot is trying to stir things up… Time for the gloves to come off.
"Elliot was ogling Mrs. Jones and I told him to stop; that she was off limits. You know how Elliot can be. I hired Mrs. Jones to manage my household. She's a skilled executive chef." … "I really hope she'll stay. Her contract is still in the trial period." I feel I have to include a note of caution. "She does live here, in a sense. She has her own private room in the staff wing. I guaranteed a strictly professional relationship in her contract. I can't allow her to be harassed."
I know Grace and Carrick have domestic help… staff that live on the premises. She should get this.
"Oh, I see. Elliot might have misunderstood."
No, he didn't. But Grace is quick to forgive her son… her other son.
"I must ask Mrs. Jones for the recipe for this coffee cake." And with that she is up and pursuing Mrs. Jones into the kitchen. Mia hops off the stool like she's been caught in the act… I'm suddenly sure I'm being played!
Now, Mia wants a damn tour… dragging me away from whatever's unfolding in my kitchen.
"You've seen the view." I take her down the corridor: "My office". I point through the door to "the library" with its pool table. Finally "the TV and games room." "Elliot fell asleep in that chair", I point.
Mia sits sideways on the upholstered arm of the chair. Suddenly she throws herself backward into the chair, with her feet flailing in the air, her dress riding up. As her shoulders touch on the opposite chair arm she flings her head back, her chest pointing skyward, arms open wide in a joyous but most unlady like manner…
"Jesus, Mia."
"You are my brother."
My face feels like it's on fire.
"Mia! Mia!" Mom's calling us.
Mia bounds up. "We're going shopping. Mom promised to buy me a new dress."
There's a knock at my door. Grace and Mia have gone… where ever… shopping.
"Do you need anything else, sir?"
"No, I'm good. Thank you for doing that."
"It's what I do, sir. I'll retire to my quarters now." She doesn't bring up being grilled by my well meaning family.
I go and wake Brandy up.
Resolve not to answer the phone for the rest of the weekend… no more probing inquiries about a non existent girl friend.