„My contract says I have to live with him for six months .”
„What? What the fudge, there`s something else going on here. What kind of injury requires a live-in personal assistant for six months ?”
I shrug and do my best innocent face.
„You know how these athletes are, spoiled to the core. Do you know how much money he makes in a year? It`s an absurd amount.”
„Stop trying to change the subject. Do you forget I spend my whole day with toddlers, I`m impervious to evasion techniques .”
„Well, I don`t know what you want me to say. It`s the job that I was offered, and the pay is way too good for me to pass it up, so for the next six months, I`m going to be Max Kingston`s roommate. I`m sure his house is fabulous, and honestly, there are worse jobs than living with a hottie.”
She doesn't look convinced, but she knows there`s nothing she can do about it, so she sighs and folds her arms across her chest.
„Just promise me you`ll be careful and that if you feel uncomfortable, you`ll quit.”
„I promise, mom.”
„Good. Now, don`t forget to pack nice underwear. Just in case.”
Chapter 2
Sophie
To say I`m nervous about meeting Max Kingston is an understatement. I`m almost sure that he isn`t happy about this little arrangement and I can`t blame the guy for that. If I were him, I would be pissed too, but I`m trying to stay positive and hope he won`t be taking all of this out on me.
It`s raining cats and dogs as I sit in my car waiting for Hoggins outside the gated community where Kingston lives. He was supposed to be here by now, but I guess he got held up, and now we were going to be late — great way to make a first impression.
The call with my brother went pretty much the way I imagined it would. He was suspicious of the fact that I had to live with my new boss and the fact that said new boss was part of his favorite team didn`t do much to appease him. I`m an adult, so we both know he can`t forbid me from doing anything, but that doesn't mean he `s happy about it. I didn`t want him to worry about me, so I promised him I would tell him if something happened that I wasn`t comfortable with.
My phone rings and a look at my screen tells me it`s Hoggins.
„Hello.”
„Sophie, I`m so sorry, I`m stuck in traffic. There was an accident on the road, and now everybody`s stuck here until they clear it up.”
„Maybe you should call mister Kingston and let him know what`s happened. I`m sure he`ll understand.”
„I`ve tried, but he`s not answering his phone. I was thinking that since you`re already there, you should go ahead and go in and introduce yourself to Max while I try to get out of this traffic jam. I already cleared you at the gate, so you should have no trouble getting in .”
Oh my god, is this guy serious?!
„Um, mister Hoggins, I don`t think that`s such a good idea. We both know he doesn't want me here, and without you there to smooth things over, I`m afraid our first meeting won`t be such a success.”
There`s a beat of silence from the other end before he speaks.
„Ok, Sophie, I`m going to tell you a secret. Max is all bark and no bite, and the key to getting along with him is not to let him walk all over you. You`re a smart girl, and I have no doubt you will handle him just fine, but in case you have any trouble, just give me a call .”
I don`t want to do this, but I don`t want to seem incompetent. Not on the first day anyway.
„All right, if you think it`s for the best, then I`ll go ahead without you. I guess I`ll see you when you get here.”
„Good luck, kid.”
„Thanks.”
I start the car and go to the gate where, after checking my ID, the security guard lets me in. I drive up the path, and I can`t help but notice the houses are all nice and big, but I guess I wouldn`t expect Max Kingston to live in a shitty neighborhood with the amount of money he`s making.
I get to number 135, which according to the information I got from Hoggins, is his house. It`s a beautiful modern two-story house with a wide driveway. I park my Minie Cooper next to an enormous Range, which I`m guessing is his.
I don`t have an umbrella, and a better look at his front door tells me there`s no cover, so I`m going to get soaked by the time he opens the door. I look down at my outfit and resign myself to the fact that I`m probably going to ruin the cute blue summer dress I`m wearing.
I get out of the car and run to the front door where I ring the doorbell and wait. And wait, and wait. I ring again because I`m getting soaked at this point but still no answer.
„Are you kidding me right now?”
The jerk is seriously going to let me stand here in the rain.
„Fuck this shit,” I ring the doorbell again, but this time, I keep my finger on the button. If I`m going to be soaked to my skin, then he`s going to go deaf.
After about a minute, the front door swings open, and I come face to face with my new housemate. At any other time, I would have ogled the shit out of him, he`s that hot in his tight white t-shirt and gray sweat pants, but I`m pissed, so I settled for a glare.
„You are very loud” is, of all things, what he chooses to say to me first. Is this guy for real right now?
„Wet is what I am, mister Kingston. Very wet.”
He looks me up and down.
„Yes, you
