Heiress

by Zingera, L. C.

  Heiress

  By

  L.C. Zingera

  Copyright 2013 by L.C. Zingera

  No part of this book may be reproduced without

  the written consent of the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction.

  Any resemblance to persons living or dead

  is purely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Ryan Hunter raised the gleaming, ice cold, leonine brass handle and rapped reluctantly on the wide solid oak door to his future, he sure hoped he wasn’t supposed to be at a servant’s entrance. This was new to him, applying for a job, particularly in a private establishment, he’d been his own boss for so long, but times change…

  “Hello?” The tinny, girlish voice came over the intercom.

  “Yes, hello, ma’am…” He rolled his eyes at the word, he sounded desperate. “I’m here for an interview with Miss Verona Willis, for the chauffeur position.”

  “Miss Willis didn’t advertise for a chauffeur, sir, sorry.”

  Great! He sighed and rubbed his temples. They had said chauffeur at the agency right? Maybe driver would have been more accurate?

  Either way he was out of here. He pushed away from the wall, groaning at the idea he really might have to go to the unemployment office after all.

  He heard the distinct mechanical sound of a camera turning in his direction and the voice continued, “Perhaps you meant the personal assistant position? It does involve driving?”

  “Yes, sorry!” Eagerly he grasped at the last straw of hope before he took himself off down the broad stone steps and into the wide world of unemployment. A buzzer sounded and a click as the lock on the door was released.

  “Please come in to the lobby.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Ryan stepped into the cool marble hallway, a slim slip of a girl hurried down the steps of the sweeping marble staircase to greet him. It looked like a set from an old movie he’d watched with Aunty June who’d raised him; she’d been a sucker for those old movies. Something that had actually come in handy during his early dating years, girls loved a guy who liked romance. Speaking of which, his eyes lighted on the young sprig of a girl in front of him, with big blue eyes and shoulder length honey colored hair, wearing a short black knit dress and a little white apron.

  “Hi, I’m Amelia, come on in to the kitchen if you don’t mind, I have some ironing to do. Everyone is out at the moment, we can have a chat. I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”

  Surprised at her relaxed attitude after his inauspicious beginning, Ryan followed the young woman down the steps, it was very much like an old English mansion, the staff downstairs, the higher ups, upstairs.

  The kitchen was warm and welcoming, and he realized he must look absolutely freezing, it was a rare cold day in L.A. the winds had picked up, he wondered if his nose was red. Amelia handed him a cup of strong black coffee.

  “There’s cream in the fridge and sugar on the counter if you want some,” she offered, walking over to the ironing board, shaking out a shirt and testing the steam setting on the iron to ensure it was hot enough, a hissing cloud of steam issued forth.

  He shook his head. “No thanks, black’s fine.”

  “You seem like a black coffee type,” she grinned.

  “How does someone seem like a black coffee type,” he asked, amused by the perky young woman.

  “You have a no nonsense air about you.”

  “I’m an accountant.”

  “Ah, that explains it!”

  He grinned, she was very sweet. He wondered if there were in-house rules against dating co-workers. He watched her as she focused on her task, her attention fully involved in carefully and methodically pressing out the wrinkles in an intricately ruffled flowered shirt.

  “I like ironing,” she admitted with a smile, “I find it relaxing.”

  He nodded. He enjoyed woodworking, sliding the tools over the smooth wood, feeling it take shape beneath his palms.

  “Have a seat by the fire, your hands were cold.”

  “Thanks.” He readily plopped into a soft padded chair on one side of the old fashioned open fireplace.

  “So, business hasn’t been good, I take it?”

  “No, the downturn in the economy has everyone taking care of their own finances wherever possible…” He decided to keep to himself the unfortunate investments choices that had depleted his personal accounts and made it impossible for him to ride out the slowdown in clientele and rising office rents.

  She nodded in understanding. “Do you enjoy driving?”

  “Love it,” he assured her, “Especially if it’s the right kind of car.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Something classy and reliable, not a beat up old junker. Although that might be fun for an off road race, but otherwise, here in L.A., you need something really reliable.”

  “I have to go buy a new car this evening, Ryan, if all goes well here, would you come and give me a hand? As an accountant I’m sure you know your money, and you know how dealers can be if a woman shops alone, or is that a myth?”

  “Depends on the dealer,” he admitted.

  “Good answer.”

  “So what exactly does the job involve?”

  “Driving, and a variety of small tasks, basically, running out to pick things up, taking the dog for a walk, or a jog…do you run?” she asked, tilting her head on one side.

  “Yes, I like to jog, or go to the gym, keeping fit is important.” He noticed she was in pretty good shape herself. “What kind of dog?” he asked suspiciously. “Verona Willis doesn’t have one of those fluffy little fru-fru dogs, or a Chihuahua, does she? I mean, this is Beverly Hills and that’s…”

  Amelia burst out laughing, “No, no Chihuahuas. Nothing ‘fru-fru’. I doubt a Chihuahua would like going for a jog anyway. Do you?”

  “You’re right, I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

  She smiled at him then and he leaned back comfortably in the chair by the fire watching her work, this could actually be a good situation, if the boss was nice. Despite ending up as a part-time dog sitter. There were people in much worse circumstances in the current economy, and work was work. Eventually he’d go back to what he knew, accounting, but the break might actually be good for him.

  She shook out the blouse and sighed in satisfaction as she slipped it onto a hanger. The kitchen door flew open.

  “Mel, luvvy! You know I would have done that for you! It’s my job after all…”

  Amelia hurried over and hugged the round, sweet-faced older woman with the strong regional English accent. Northern at a guess. He’d had a college roommate from Newcastle, who’d sounded very similar.

  “Ironing relaxes me, and I quite enjoy it.”

  “Maybe we should switch positions?” teased the woman.

  “Drew, this is Ryan, he’s here about the job.” Amelia turned indicating Ryan who had risen and was now towering over her.

  “Oh my!” Drew clapped a hand over her heart. “Sorry, I forgot he was coming! He is a handsome devil!”

  Amelia chuckled and nudged Ryan who was feeling somewhat bewildered by their openly teasing appraisal. “Sorry, Ryan, but if you want to work with us, you’ll have to get used to a few quirky characters around here,” she laughed.

  Ryan took Drew’s hand and kissed it. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” He gave her a wink. She reminded him very much of his Aunty June.

  Drew waved him playfully away. “Shall I show him the quarters?” she asked, turning back to Mel.

  “No, I’ll do it, you go have a rest and a cup of tea. You’re still not one hundred percent. That was one heck of a nasty flu bug you had.”

  “Thanks, Mel.” Drew gave her a gentle hug, tossed Ryan a smile, and hurried over to put
the kettle on.

  “This way, Ryan.”

  Ryan followed Amelia down the corridor, she swung wide a door to his left and revealed a surprisingly spacious suite, containing a small living room, bedroom and bathroom.

  “Wow!”

  “I take it you like it?”

  “Yeah!” He couldn’t hide his surprise or his appreciation of the living arrangements, if he got the job, this wouldn’t be bad at all. He almost crossed his fingers.

  “So, tell me about Verona Willis?” he asked.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What is she like to work for? Is she easygoing or difficult, a slave driver, sweet, spoiled…?”

  “A little of all of those things, like most women,” she said with a grin.

  “Should I be worried?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “We’re a pretty easygoing bunch here. I think you’d fit in just fine.”

  “What do you think my chances are I’ll get the job?”

  “Pretty good I’d say.”

  He was just beginning to relax when she continued.

  “But it really depends on Raven.”

  “Raven?”

  “The Newfie…Newfoundland, if she doesn’t like you, you’re screwed,” she said ominously, yet her lips were still curved in a somewhat mischievous smile.

  “Oh crap!”

  “Yeah, and that’s part of the job too, you’ll have to pick up after her on her walks…”

  “No problem.” He grinned.

  “Let’s go pick her up then, she’s at the vet today.”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Not much, just a bath and a nail trim, but she’s always full of energy when she gets out of there, she’s used to having the entire house to roam around in, and being cooped up doesn’t suit her at all.”

  Amelia removed her small white apron, tossing it aside, she hit the button on the garage door and headed for the passenger side of a small red convertible. Other than that, the garage was empty. She tossed him the keys.

  “You drive, it is after all, what you’re here for.”

  “Nice wheels!”

  He started her up with a grin and as they backed out and pulled out onto the highway, the cool wind ruffling their hair, he turned looking at the small back seat.

  “Will the dog fit? I mean, Newfies are pretty big…the size of a St. Bernard, right?”

  “Yeah, she’ll fit,” she assured him.

  Amelia was grinning happily as she tied a scarf around her hair, apparently she loved the red sports car, who wouldn’t? It was more than a classic Hollywood Elite symbol. It was smooth, sleek, quiet and fast. He wondered what Miss Verona Willis was like? Was she old Hollywood, and should he have heard of her? It was a rather old fashioned sounding name. Maybe he should’ve called Aunty June, she would know.

  “Turn right at the next stoplight,” she informed him, “and pull into the red brick building on the corner, it’s the Veterinary hospital.” She hopped out as soon as they came to a stop and headed for the front doors.

  “Hi, Mel! Raven’s ready!” The assistants all greeted her cheerfully, they obviously knew her well, one even tucked her arm companionably in hers as they walked into the waiting room. Ryan sighed, Amelia was nice, and so was Drew. At least if he got the job, he wouldn’t be working with a bunch of uptight co-workers, in fact they seemed more like a family.

  With a deep joyful bark, Raven tore out of the back and made a mad dash over to Ryan, she stood up and plopped her giant black hairy paws on his chest making her almost as tall as he was, and gave him a big slobbery lick across his face. He swiped the wet kiss away, but laughed as he did it, ruffling her big floppy ears and got another sloppy kiss for his efforts.

  Mel’s expression relaxed into a warm smile. “Well, I guess that settles it, Ryan, Raven always gets the last word, she’s a fantastic judge of people—you’re hired!”

  “I am?” he chuckled. Didn’t they have to ask Miss Moneybags?

  “Yes, you are.”

  Then he watched with a groan as she signed her name to the credit card slip. Verona Amelia Willis.

  “Now, let’s go get that new car, shall we?”

  He nodded mutely.

  ***

  Ryan’s thoughts were still reeling as he frantically rewound his conversation with her, hoping he hadn’t said anything extremely inappropriate before he’d realized her identity, no, nothing he could think of. But hey, he’d got the job! He’d barely had a moment to take it in, when, with Raven strapped into the back seat they drove down the freeway and headed for automobile row. He wondered exactly what she was looking for, another small, sporty car?

  He reeled off the names of the dealerships as they drove down the road.

  “Pull in here,” she instructed.

  “The Dodge dealership?” he asked incredulously. “You want a truck?”

  “I need a truck Ryan.” She indicated over her shoulder, Raven’s hulking great black shape. He snorted. Mel elbowed him in the ribs as the salesman came strolling over, calling out an eager greeting. “Okay, get your game face on.”

  The salesman looked at Ryan first, he shook his hand and then turned politely to Mel shaking her proffered hand, but quickly dismissing her, and turning his attention back to Ryan. Mel winked and stood back, letting him do all the talking as she meandered around the lot with Raven, taking her time, running her hands over a few of the vehicles in appreciation and even climbing inside a couple of them. Finally several sales pitches later, Ryan and the salesman joined Mel who was leaning against a large Inferno red Ram 1500 Crew Cab. “I want this one.”

  ***

  “This is brilliant!” Mel said excitedly as they drove down the freeway, they’d driven out of there with a fantastic deal. In apparent deference to his new position and previous experience as an accountant, she had allowed Ryan to finalize both the deal and the paperwork. Mel had paid cash, or at least had simply handed over her debit card, and Raven was stowed behind them with the back seats folded up and her head out the window. The truck was a fully equipped luxury vehicle, this new driving gig was turning out to be something far better than he could have imagined.

  “Wouldn’t you like to drive?” he asked, half hoping she would say no, driving this vehicle was no hardship at all, and it was a long time since he’d been able to afford that new car smell. He inhaled and smiled as he turned to her, but her expression was serious now.

  “I can’t Ryan,” she said softly.

  “Why not?” he asked, wondering if she’d gotten into some kind of mischief and lost her license, hence the need for a personal assistant or chauffeur.

  “Because… I’m blind.”

  ***

  Ryan’s hands gripped the steering wheel hard, and once again he found himself wondering if he’d said anything that would have offended her. He whipped his head around to look at her. She didn’t look blind. But then, how did one tell?

  “The sudden silence is deafening,” she commented wryly.

  “Why didn’t you say something? I mean the agency never said…”

  “The agency staff have all been instructed not to inform any prospective employees. People behave differently around me the instant they know,” she told him.

  He nodded. Then realized she was probably waiting for an answer. Gestures obviously were not on.

  “Ryan?”

  “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted.

  “Do you still want the job?” she asked tentatively.

  “Hell yes!” he assured her quickly.

  “Then we’ll have to get one or two things very clear... don’t ever pity me, don’t ever talk down to me, and at all times be honest. Don’t fuss over me. If you don’t know whether I need help or not, just ask…it’s really that simple.”

  “Got it.”

  “Good,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Her bold blue almost sightless eyes stared straight ahead.

  “Don’t stare.”
<
br />   Ryan coughed. “How much can you see?”

  “Shades of light and dark, vague shapes…some colors. I see vibrant reds more easily than paler colors. I know where everything is in my house, so don’t leave anything out of place, okay? And I can tell when people are staring at me. I can feel it.”

  “Got it,” he assured her again. So, she’d gone through this rigmarole with him, just to make it apparent that she was quite capable, efficient even. But obviously she couldn’t drive. And she was right, the job was more than a simple chauffeur position, he would need to assist her in little things from time to time. It sure beat the idea of working for a pampered Hollywood type. This was a self-sufficient independent woman, with a sense of humor.

  “I’m legally blind, Ryan, not one hundred percent, I know my neighborhood very well and I knew when we were at the intersection for the Vet’s office…and simply finding my way around the trucks at the dealership was no problem...” she said, answering the questions that she knew had to be running rampant through his mind right now. “I can write my signature when I need to but usually I read in Braille.”

  Raven barked then as they drew up outside the house. He turned and ruffled her big head.

  “She’s your guide dog?” he asked, suddenly aware that the giant Newfoundland was awaiting her owner’s command.

  “Yes, she’s a real sweetheart, but I’d like her to have more than a gentle walk with me, she has lots of energy, she needs to run and play. That’s where you come in.”

  “Gotcha!”

  Chapter Two

  “So, how’d it go?” Drew asked as Mel plopped into her favorite chair in the kitchen and tossed her head back against the soft cushioned headrest.

  “He’s gorgeous!” Mel sighed.

  “You’ll get no argument there!” Drew chuckled, “Did you magnify the image on screen when he rang the doorbell?”

  “Yeah, I did, but I only got a brief glimpse, he was nervous, and pacing, wouldn’t stand still long enough for me to focus properly. But then there is more than one way of being gorgeous, isn’t there, Drew?”

  Drew chuckled again. Her own husband was rugged, a now retired English rugby player, who was bald as a shiny billiard ball, had broken his nose a zillion times, and as Nick often joked himself, he ‘hadn’t been a prize to start with’, but he had all the right qualities. He was kind, endearing, gentlemanly and tough when he needed to be, and above all, Drew had informed her during an afternoon of girl chat—a really great kisser! The whole package had added up to a simply gorgeous man.