Chapter 8
Mia
FOR THE NEXT WEEK, a routine was established. Every morning, Archer would walk me to Rosy’s kitchen and then wander off … to do routine checks, I was guessing. My schedule became that I’d give Franny her chocolate and Malek his treat when they walked in like clockwork too.
I taught throughout the day, and I kept the boundaries between Jameson and I strictly professional like I knew I should.
“You know, boundaries are meant to be broken,” Rosy singsonged as I sprinkled a tablespoon of cinnamon into a waffle batter she was having me stir that morning.
“No. They’re in place for a reason.”
“Or we bet on who will overstep the boundary first. I’m betting him.”
“Why would he when he has … other women?”
“Like who?” She lifted a brow. Rosy, I found, sniffed out gossip like a shark finding blood.
“He’s a good-looking man. I’m sure he’s used to women throwing themselves at him.”
“So you think he’s good looking?” She winked at me.
I didn’t answer. For all I knew, Jameson would be walking in at any moment. He was always behind Franny and Malek, never to start a conversation.
It was like we’d fallen into the nanny-teacher schedule perfectly, except I never got an update on who had attacked the school. Or if they’d been taken care of. Or what “taken care of” might have meant.
Instead, I engrossed myself in teaching Franny all I could, and on the weekend, Franny went off to her grandmother’s and then I was alone … so alone I tried to occupy myself with reading on the phone I was given but would end up staring out my window, imagining that I saw things I didn’t.
No one was out there in the gardens or forest. No one cared that much about us … I hoped.
Another week passed, and the routine became my norm. I ate with Rosy every morning, exchanging a simple hello any time Jameson came into the kitchen after his daughter.
Jameson never reached for another sweet again. Instead, he chatted with everyone else and then murmured, “Have a good morning, Mia Darling.”
My name sounded almost sinful rather than cordial on his lips, and I shivered every time I heard him say it. That alone had me emailing Franny’s educational lesson plans and progress rather than scheduling a meeting with him.
At five, I retired to my bedroom, where Rosy had made note of my favorite dishes and sent them up. Archer would keep me company and tell me that we needed to go out and have dinner in Paradise Grove sometime soon instead of hiding away while the Knights ate downstairs.
By seven, though, I’d tell Archer that I wanted to read because the Knights operated like clockwork. I knew Jameson would have had dinner with Franny and put her to bed. By eight, he would be back in his office and wouldn’t expect to hear a single thing from my vent.
So, I was quiet. And completely still. A pathetic mouse tiptoeing around as I listened.
Every other weekday, though, him and Valerie weren’t.
All the staff neglected to tell me that on those days, Valerie stayed much later to talk with Jameson. But she actually stayed to have Jameson do anything but talk with her.
Although I still didn’t know what she looked like, Valerie’s voice was soft, raspy, and sounded laced with sexuality. The second time I heard it, I tried my best to avoid it, even vigorously cleaned and watered my plants.
But listening and enjoying it became a part of my routine too. And every night I hated myself for finding pleasure in that man’s voice. It was his fault I was sitting here bored and wound tight anyway.
Emailing him Franny’s progress felt ridiculous too when his email responses were succinct and short with a brief “Thanks for the update” line. Didn’t he realize she was bored as a kid too?
That night, I decided to push his boundaries—not for myself, but for Franny.
Maybe I should have kept it short and practiced efficiency like he did with me, but Franny’s education was at stake. I saw how she squirmed in that study, like she couldn’t stand being home all day. I couldn’t either.
He didn’t even want us going outside.
It was practically a dungeon. Not just for me, but for her too.
So I wrote my daily email quickly, trying to avoid the discomfort I felt asking him for something.
I’d been good about not using the card he’d laid out for me the first night.
I was thankful for the borrowed phone and laptop too, making sure to tell him as much in my progress reports. Tonight though, my email was different.
From: Mia Darling
To: Jameson Knight
Dear Mr. Knight,
Franny is progressing quite nicely. I’ve uploaded some baseline scores to a drive folder I created that you can look over. We’ll be working on multiplication and division tables soon. I’ve attached suggested curriculum. Please review and let me know if you have any concerns.
I do have a small request. Franny enjoys being outside. Recess was a time she bonded with other students and really expressed herself. Do you think we could incorporate daily walks and gardening around the estate? I think outside communication would be good for her.
Thanks,
Mia
Immediately, I got a response.
From: Jameson Knight
To: Mia Darling
Mia,
Thanks for the update. The curriculum works. Franny goes with me places and to her grandmother’s on weekends. It is safest indoors.
Jameson
Under normal circumstances, I would have left it alone. Yet, Franny was always staring out her binoculars at the trees and sighing half the time. I recognized longing on a child’s face even if Jameson was choosing to ignore it.
Protecting ourselves didn’t always mean avoiding all the risks.
From: Mia Darling
To: Jameson Knight
Mr. Knight,
I really would like you to reconsider, as she has spent most hours inside with me this week. She’s antsy and restless. I realize you might be protecting her from a world I don’t understand, but that doesn’t always mean avoiding all the risks.
I’d like our schedule to include two outdoor activities, rain or shine. I’m sure Archer would be fine walking with us and being outside for an hour each day. I’ll tell him you approve?
Thanks,
Mia
From: Jameson Knight
To: Mia Darling
Mia,
You will not. I do not approve. That’s my decision.
Jameson
What an ass. Didn’t he care? Didn’t he want to discuss it at all?
From: Mia Darling
To: Jameson Knight
She needs outdoor stimuli and novel experiences.
She wants adventure and discovery. I really hope you reconsider.
He didn’t. He freaking ignored me even though his little icon showed he and his stuffy suit avatar picture were active online.
I went to bed furious that night and acted out the next day after Archer roused me from yet another nightmare.
“Franny, we deserve an outing for a bit today, huh?” I whispered to her while she stared out the study window. “Want to go for a walk or maybe to the Paradise Grove club?”
She dropped the binoculars and practically vibrated in the plush chaise. “Heart-in-pinkie you’re not fooling me?”
I held up my pinkie and linked it with hers. “Nope. I even made a picnic.”
Not only that, I’d dressed in a bright fuchsia tank and jean shorts after seeing how sunny it was outside, because I was on a mission.
She jumped up and squealed while I laughed at her excitement.
Archer would be at the front door, and Hades somewhere down the hall.
I’d have to fight them, but I knew it was doable.
Rosy had helped me pack up a basket. I was on a mission to breathe summer air no matter what anyone said.
We deserved an outing, and I would take it whether Jameson Knight liked it or not.
“Mia.” Archer’s voice sounded alarmed when the front door opened. Two men were standing with him outside.
Armed.
“Archer.” I nodded and held up a basket. “We’re having a picnic later, but first we’d like to go to the country club to …”
I wasn’t sure what Franny enjoyed doing at that stuffy place.
“To play tennis and eat chicken fingers.” Franny nodded next to me.
“That’s not authorized, Mia,” he said softly, glancing at his guys. One of them walked off, mumbling into what I was sure was his earpiece.
Great. This wasn’t going well.
“Will you drive us, or shall we walk?”
“Woman, are you trying to get me in trouble?” Archer crossed his arms, and I shrugged.
“We haven’t even saged this place yet. If we had, it might help you be in less trouble, you know? Maybe we can stop at a store on the way home?”
“What’s sage mean?” Franny tilted her head curiously.
“Can you both go back inside?” Archer took a step forward and so did his men, as if to corral us.
I wasn’t a sheep.
I would not be herded.
“We’d like to be outside today, Archer.”
His shoulders were getting tenser and tenser. “It’s not safe out here, Mia.”
Franny stiffened at that, which had me glaring at him. Didn’t he realize she needed this as much as I did?
I lifted my chin in defiance. It was obvious Jameson had given him orders, and if I was going to be the only one to be considerate of her needs, so be it.
I grabbed Franny’s hand and stomped forward off the porch steps. “We will walk, then.”
“No. You. Will. Not.” Jameson Knight’s voice sliced through the whole front yard. He stood at the top of the stairs, his fury palpable.
Maybe it wasn’t smart to be willfully ignorant of what this man did for a living or be unconcerned with my own self-preservation in that moment. But I didn’t care.
I was getting my way for Franny, come hell or high water.
So, I smiled broadly at him and dared him to say no again.
“Oh, so you’re driving us then, Jameson?
Great. Of course I know it might be a bit of a bother for you to take your daughter and her nanny out, but we’d appreciate it. Which car of yours should we take?”