Chapter 17 : Who the H*ll is She?

**Cat POV I opened my eyes and stretched. For the first time in days, I felt completely refreshed and rested. Curling my toes, I stretched my arms above my head and giggled as I rolled around on the amazing mattress. Wherever Luke got his furniture, it was divine! A steady stream of light was coming through the open balcony curtains. The conversation I'd had with Luke the night before was fuzzy at best. I remembered enjoying it and feeling like we were getting to know each other. I couldn't really remember how I'd gotten in bed. There was a funny, tickle in the back of my mind. It was a dream, or a feeling, that Luke had carried me to bed and kissed me on the forehead. It was so silly! Laughing, I looked out the window again. The sun was pretty high. "Oh, crap!" I cried. I jumped out of bed and started pulling my clothes on. "Crap, crap, crap!" It was late. I was late! Luke had given me chance after chance to prove myself, and now I was running late for my first real day at work. What a great way to make a good impression about being excited about work. I pulled on my shoes and flew down the stairs, struggling to get the robe Adelle had gotten me on as I raced downstairs. I'd have to go back to the guest house to get dressed. The scent of coffee filled the air. I needed that to get going. I was racing around when I noticed Luke sitting at the kitchen table. He had a half-eaten piece of toast lifted halfway to his mouth. He was just staring at me. "Where are you rushing off to?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. "Um… I thought I was running late," I said, pointing to the front door. Luke scoffed and shrugged. "You're not going to have to worry about that." "What do you mean?" I asked. "Eat some breakfast first. Adelle will make whatever you want," Luke said, motioning to the chair across from him. Adelle was standing at the counter, pouring a mug of coffee for me. "How do you take your coffee?" she asked. "Two sugars and a splash of cream?" I asked. Adelle nodded and started fixing the coffee. I sat down across from Luke and spread my hands out on the table, tapping my fingers against the hard surface. I watched him eat his toast and read the morning paper. He wasn't acting any differently around me. I wondered if I really had dreamt the night before. "What can I make for you?" Adelle asked, setting the coffee down in front of me. "Um… I'll just have some toast and an egg, sunny side up?" I asked. "On it. Would you like some fresh fruit salad, too?" she asked. "That sounds great," I admitted, with a nod. Luke finished his toast and wiped his hand on his napkin. "When you're done with breakfast, go get dressed, and then meet me at the end of the hall." "I thought I'd have to get to the office," I said, pointing in the direction of the front door. "Just meet me at the end of the hall. It will all make sense. Trust me," Luke said, giving me a smug look. "Okay," I said, shrugging. As soon as Luke left the kitchen Adelle started humming while she worked. "Are you afraid of Luke?" I asked, noting this as her second change in demeanor when Luke left the room. "No. Well, he makes me nervous when he's in that mood. He sounds so… powerful," she said, blushing as she put my plate in front of me. "Well, I'm glad you can loosen up around me," I said. I ate my breakfast quickly, glad for a home-cooked meal. I could hardly remember what I'd been eating over the past few days. I must have eaten something, but nothing as good as a home-cooked meal. When I was done, Adelle took my plate. "You don't have to do that," I said. "I get paid to, remember?" she said, laughing. "Right, of course," I muttered. I gave her a little wave and headed out the back door to get dressed. I tried not to look at the broken glass as I went about putting on a work outfit. Then, I hurried to do my hair and makeup before I finally went back to the main house and met Luke down the hall. Luke was standing in the doorway of one of the spare rooms with a smile on his face. "I figured you'd want to work closer to the project. Be right in the middle of the development," I said. He stepped aside and held an arm out, inviting me into the room. I stepped inside and gasped. The room had been turned into a gorgeous home office and there was a big picture window that gave me a great view of the development. There was an oak desk and a new computer with a huge monitor for viewing blueprints and other development plans. "The computer has the top architecture modeling programs on it. There's a webcam, too, so we can video conference, and I can check on your progress," Luke explained, putting his hand on the monitor. "Luke, this is… this is too much," I said, shaking my head. "I need someone whose vision and work I trust to be here on-site during the project. You'll also be taking the lead on the Caribbean project and that is somewhat classified at the office," he said. I walked around to the comfortable desk chair and sat down. It easily swiveled from side to side so I could look at my computer, then turn and look out the windows. On the opposite side of the room was a drawing table with blueprint pages and a fresh set of graphite pencils. "You have everything you need here," Luke said. "Thank you. This is… I really can't wait to get to work." I smiled at Luke. "Great. I'll check in around lunchtime. I've already set up your company email and login. I'll text you the details but everything you need will already be in your inbox," he said. He nodded and backed out of the office. He really did think of everything! The moment he was gone, I fired up the computer and dove into my work. I still had some reservations about working with Luke. Aaron, my ex, was going to marry my boss's sister. That was awkward enough. I'd be working with Luke, and apparently very closely if I was working right out of his house. When we got into the Caribbean project, was he going to buy a house down there and have me move in with him to work closely on that project, too? It was all so… odd. After everything that had happened with Aaron and Fiona, having Luke look out for me was surreal. I didn't want him to do it just because he felt guilty about what his sister had done, though. Pushing those thoughts away, I focused on work. First, I reviewed every file on the current development project. I made some notes on a little notepad to send off to Luke about ideas and suggestions I had. Before I reached out to him, I wanted to see the plans for the Caribbean. That project had me intrigued, and I was more curious about it. Coming in on a half-finished project was a little underwhelming. Being the lead on a brand-new one was much more interesting. While I was combing through the details, salivating at the plans and ideas for the Caribbean project, Adelle knocked on the office door and came in. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she said. "Not at all." I put my computer to sleep, and the plans vanished from the screen. Luke had said they were confidential. I knew Adelle probably wasn't a threat to the company, but I took project confidentiality very seriously. "I brought you some lunch. Is that okay?" Adelle asked. She held up a plate with a sandwich. "Oh, I didn't even realize how much time had passed," I said, looking at my phone. "Mr. Carter also gets absorbed by his work," Adelle said, grinning. "He really did a great job getting this office ready for you in such a short amount of time." "It'll take some getting used to, but the work is helping me get settled in," I said. I picked up the sandwich and took a bite. Adelle had made me a turkey sandwich with cheddar cheese, Russian dressing, tomatoes, and lettuce. It was on delicious oat bread. I licked my lips and nodded to her. "Wow. Be careful or I could really get used to this kind of treatment." Adelle giggled again and shrugged. "I'm just doing my job. You seem a bit young to be a star architect." "Well, I had to work pretty hard to get here. I think it added about ten years to my life," I joked. "I know I don't know you well, but I think you'll be great for Mr. Carter." Adelle walked to the window behind me and looked at the development. I munched on my sandwich, nodding in agreement. "I hope so." Adelle rolled her eyes. "Remember, this is my job. I'm getting paid very well. Mr. Carter pays me a lot better than most others in the maid and hospitality industry." "I believe that's true," I said. "How long have you worked for him?" "I've known him for years. We grew up together," she explained. "Really?" I asked, looking up in surprise. "Yeah, he's a bit of a goofster, isn't he? He's always been like that. A practical joker. He used to put rubber animals in my shoes to freak me out." Adelle laughed and shook her head. I laughed too. It sounded like Luke had carried his whimsy into adulthood, the way he teased me. Adelle's brow creased. "It sounds like someone is at the door." "Luke did say he'd check in at lunchtime. I'm not sure if he meant virtually or that he'd come all the way back here," I said, shrugging. But then… he would just come in. "I'm going to check it out," Adelle said. I fired up the computer when she left and got back to work. Just as I was really getting engrossed in the Caribbean project, I heard someone's voice in the hall. It sounded like another woman. Curiously, I locked down my computer again and headed to the front door. I stayed around the wall where she couldn't see me, but there was a strange woman in the house. Adelle was standing in front of her, but the woman didn't seem to care that Adelle was even there. She was tall and leggy. She could have easily been a super-model. By the cost of her shoes and her outfit, I was certain she had more money than I'd ever make in my lifetime. As beautiful as she was, her face was scrunched up like she thought the house was beneath her. Or beneath Luke. "Is he here?" she asked, glaring at Adelle. "As I said, miss, Master Luke is at the office today," Adelle said, keeping her eyes down. "Well, call him back," she hissed. Adelle swallowed audibly and scurried into the kitchen. The woman walked further into the house and saw me. She sniffed and adjusted her Prada purse on her shoulder. "Who the h*ll are you?" she sneered.