As Frank left, Andrew wondered if he should tell the man to start calling him by his name instead but quickly waved the thought aside. It basically didn't matter what he was called. Besides, his father's wife would not understand that it was a matter of respect and not position.

The silly fat old lady! He pursed his lips. His father's biggest mistake. He stood from the bed, and feeling a terribly sharp ache in his back, he cursed loudly.

He took off his trousers slowly, displaying a pair of hairy muscular legs, then wrapping a plain white towel around his slender waist he went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Lana arranged and rearranged the table.

She wasn't sure what the perfect arrangement was for Andrew, wasn't sure if he liked his fork on the plate or just by the side, or did he even like them wrapped in a serviette?

She looked around for Frank but there was no sign of him.

She heard the bedroom door open and close. Her heart beat faster. She smoothened her blue dress and stood at the base.

Was she supposed to stare down at the floor or look up at him with a smile on her face? Was she supposed to stand by the table?

Where the hell was Frank?

She had served guests for many months but she had never had to deal with only one affluent guest who expected perfection and had a long list of do's and don'ts that governed dealing with him.

He came down the stairs with slow and languid steps. His piercing green eyes were droopy and showed indifference as usual. He wore a navy blue trouser over a well pressed cream shirt that was opened at the collar and his suit was placed on his arm. Lana stared at him in awe, wondering how he managed to get such smooth glowing skin.

Andrew was unaware of her presence until he was four steps from the base. When he turned to look at her, his eyes slightly bolted, so slightly that it was almost unnoticeable. He could not remember the last time he had seen an extremely beautiful woman without makeup.

An image of two burning females flashed in his head. He looked away quickly and made his way to the table. Lana got hold of herself and rushed behind him.

"Good morning, sir," she pulled out one of the four chairs from the marble table.

"Morning," Andrew mumbled and sat. He placed his suit carefully on another chair.

Lana lifted an aluminum lid from a plate of avocado chicken salad.

Andrew watched her hands.

She placed the lid on an empty tray and stood aside. Was she supposed to wait until he was done eating?

"Water," Andrew said.

"Oh, of course, I'm sorry," Lana fetched a glass and poured some water in it.

Andrew brought the glass to his lips and drank slowly. Lana watched the movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed.

He picked up a fork and poked a diced avocado.

Lana crossed her hand behind her, then uncrossed them and crossed them again in front of her. She inhaled quietly.

She watched as he continued to eat unhurriedly.

Frank soon emerged from the hallway and Lana let out a sigh of relief.

"Ah, you're here, sir. How are the avocados?" Frank beamed.

"They're good."

"Why, of course. Lest I forget, sir, this is Lana Reeves, your new assistant. She's a very good cook as you can see."

"Hmm."

"I've also talked with the doctor, sir, I'm afraid he won't be available today, but he promised to be here early tomorrow morning."

Andrew nodded.

"Well, Miss Reeves, your attention is needed in the kitchen."

Lana nodded and followed Frank.

Andrew brought the glass to his lips again and watched Lana's long legs move. Her dress was not so tight fitting but he could see the curves of her hips.

A flow of current rushed down his lower abdomen. The image flashed again in his head.

He looked away and gulped down the remaining contents in the glass.

***

"If everything has happened the way you narrate it, Eithan," Mrs Sinclair stroked her neck as she paced around the room. "Then we are on a good path."

Eithan nodded and spread his arms on the large velvet sofa that occupied the living room of the Villa.

"I'm only concerned about one thing," Eithan uncrossed his legs and stared intently at Mrs Sinclair. "If your husband happens to see me here..."

"You need not worry about that," Mrs Sinclair waved her hand at him. "Do you think I am a fool? My husband is currently out of town and won't be back for a week or so."

Eithan relaxed back on the sofa.

"You do know about the steel company they bought, don't you?" Mrs Sinclair continued.

There was a modicum of pride in her voice that Eithan did not miss.

"I've heard the news."

"It's very lucrative."

Eithan narrowed his eyes and wondered why she was telling him this.

"Conrad says a lot of money will come in and he wants to start investing in automobiles. It's a silly idea, isn't it?"

"Depends on how it's planned," Eithan replied. Mrs Sinclair shot him a spiteful look.

"Anyway, he had a second attack at the beginning of the week, did you know?"

Eithan shook his head. He wished she would just get straight to the point.

"He wouldn't last long," she whispered, more to herself.

There was silence for a long time. Mrs Sinclair continued to walk round the room in a thoughtful mood.

"What are you thinking?" Eithan finally asked.

"Do you remember Roxanne?"

Eithan's mouth opened wide. Roxanne was the last girl who Andrew had loved before she had died in a ghastly fire accident with his mother. It had been six years since, and Andrew had forbidden the mention of her name or anything that concerned her. But now Mrs Sinclair had brought it up...

"I would not meddle with something as sensitive as that if I were you," he advised.

Mrs Sinclair scoffed. "But of course, you are not me," she smiled at him.

"I've been told Roxanne had her clothes specially made for her," she began to narrate. "Her dresses were unique. I want you to meet her stylist and get a duplicate of one of Roxanne's wonderful dresses," there was a pause.

"And what would be done with it?" Eithan asked.

Mrs Sinclair turned to the window facing the pool and smirked.

"Give it to this Reeves girl. I'm sure that should spark some interest in Andrew," Mrs Sinclair replied, rubbing her fat hands together.

Eyes widened, Eithan inhaled deeply.