Chapter 6 Barrington Manor
BARRINGTON MANOR
RORY
He’s looking for a bride.
He’s… what? WTF did I just sign up for?
But I only stared at the Madam blankly. I couldn’t muster my language skills to say something that made sense, like: Elena, are you drunk? Or, are you fucking kidding me?
Instead, I numbly followed her to the spa suite located at the back of the office.
There, two estheticians descended on me.
They cooed and complimented as they waxed, plucked, flat-ironed, manicured, pedicured, and did my makeup in record time.
When they’d finished, I’d felt like I’d been through a hurricane, but when I looked in the mirror, I gasped.
“I’ve never looked this good in my life!”
They laughed and I longed to ask them for their secrets, but Elena dragged me next door to wardrobe. She handed me scraps of lace, declaring them “lingerie,” then shoved a Chanel skirt suit, high heels, and a designer bag at me.
Once I’d changed, I wobbled out of the dressing room to where she waited. “You look amazing, Rory. Just look.” She motioned to the trio of nearby full-length mirrors. I headed to them shakily, unsure of myself in the heels, and almost tripped when I saw my reflection. I wasn’t even sure it was me.
My dark auburn hair hung in bouncy waves over my shoulders.
My makeup was flawless. The skirt suit was tasteful but with an edge, the miniskirt just high enough to be flirty.
I never wore heels—I hated them—but even I had to admit they made my legs look long, toned and strong, my calf muscles flexing.
I looked like someone in a carefully curated social media post, with excellent genes, zero cares, and oodles of money.
Basically, the opposite of my real life.
“Are you ready?” Elena asked.
I glanced at her, nervous. “Not really.”
She nodded. “But are you going to do it anyway?”
I thought of my grandmother, Josie, and Bo. I thought of the ancient chocolate Labrador, Chewie, and then I thought of all of us living together in Grammy’s car. “Y-Yes. I don’t have a choice.”
“Just remember you’re why,” Elena instructed me. “If you have any issues once you get to Barrington Manor, you have my number. But I know this is all going to work out for the best.”
The client was insisting that we sign the contract at his estate, located in northern New Hampshire.
So, in keeping with what was turning out to be the longest day of my life, I said goodbye to Elena and left the bright, airy offices of Accommodating, Inc.
There was a luxury SUV waiting outside for me.
With two suitcases filled with designer clothes, makeup, and tiny scraps of fabric masquerading as lingerie, I approached it.
“Good afternoon.” The chauffeur tipped his hat and took my luggage, placing it carefully in the trunk. Then he opened the door and, with a bow, ushered me inside.
He climbed behind the wheel and immediately maneuvered out into traffic. “I’m Yves, your driver. Mr. Barrington has instructed me to bring you directly to Barrington Manor. The drive is slightly over two hours. Please make yourself comfortable. Tap the button to your right if you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you, Yves.” But he immediately put up a privacy divider between us, leaving me alone in the luxurious leather interior. Yves apparently wasn’t one for small talk.
I yearned to hit the button and have him lower the screen. I wanted to ask him all about Mr. Barrington, Barrington Manor, and why the heck a billionaire would be hiring someone through an escort agency to be his emergency bride.
Elena had been very careful when I’d asked her the same question. “He needs to be married to fulfill his trust obligations,” was her cryptic answer. When I asked what that meant, she said that the client wanted to be the one to explain the intricacies of the situation to me.
I was on edge. Yes, I had fifty thousand dollars in my checking account. Yes, I’d been told that there was another five-hundred thousand dollar signing bonus waiting for me. That’s why I was in the back of the SUV, being whisked away to some crazy billionaire’s mansion!
I whipped out my new phone, courtesy of Elena, and googled the name, Rhodes Barrington. The first headline had me reeling: Billionaire Father and Son Die in Tragic Accident. I read the article quickly—Edmund Barrington and William Barrington had died in a car accident only a few days ago.
Rhodes Barrington had just lost his father and brother.
Feeling sick, I searched for more information.
There wasn’t much: just that Edmund and William had run an enormous company together, Barrington Enterprises, that was worth billions.
Their surviving heirs were Edmund’s second wife, Miranda; Rhodes, who was the younger of the two boys; and Luke Barrington, who was William’s child.
Eva Barrington, Edmund’s first wife, had died twenty years ago.
I stared at pictures of the family. Edmund Barrington was stately, with piercing eyes, gray hair, and an immaculate suit.
Both William and Rhodes were handsome and intimidating, with thick, dark hair, broad shoulders, and dark eyes.
There were only a few pictures of Miranda Barrington—she was attractive but cold-looking, with auburn hair that was lighter than mine, classic features, and a downturn to her mouth.
I blinked at the images of Rhodes Barrington. He didn’t look real. He was too impossibly handsome and wealthy to inhabit the same world as me.
I hit the button, and Yves lowered the screen. “Yes, Miss?”
“Um… Hi.” I cleared my throat. “How much longer until we get to Barrington Manor?”
“About an hour and a half, Miss.” He waited for me to say more. “Is that all?”
“Um…” I racked my brain for something I could ask the driver without giving myself away. “Have you seen Mr. Barrington today?”
Yves slightly arched an eyebrow. “Not today, no. But I’m sorry, I’ve been instructed to keep the privacy screen engaged. If that’s all,” he added hastily.
I nodded, my head jerking. “Yes, that’s all.”
He quickly put the divider back up. My unease kicked into high gear. Why couldn’t the driver talk to me? Why hadn’t the client given Elena more details about why he was hiring me? Or had the Madam been hiding something?
More importantly, there was the tragic loss of Edmund and Willian Barrington.
Why the hell was Rhodes Barrington hiring me as his bride a few days after such a devastating event?
Elena had said something about his trust obligations.
But I didn’t know what that meant. I just knew that his family was incredibly wealthy, that he’d just endured a tragedy of epic proportions, and that this arrangement was moving at a breakneck speed because he must’ve been desperate.
At least we had that in common.
My stomach tied itself into a knot as we left the city behind. Dusk descended, the longest day of my life finally receding toward evening, even though there was no relief in sight.
Soon, we’d arrive at Barrington Manor—and there, I would meet my future husband for the first time.
The highway in New Hampshire was mostly empty, the mountains rising in the distance, the stars beginning to peek out just as Yves turned off the main road.
The private driveway seemed to last for miles.
At long last, we reached a large security gate.
I watched as a guard came out and spoke to Yves, but I couldn’t hear them.
My heart hammered in my chest. A guard? A security gate? Who lived like this? But of course, I was about to find out.
After a moment, the gates opened, and we slowly drove through.
A knot formed in my stomach as the winding road continued, illuminated by small, tasteful lights.
Even in the darkness, I could sense how isolated we were, how far removed from any of the small towns we’d passed.
After a few minutes, the mansion came into view.
“Oh my goodness.” I put a hand over my heart.
Nothing could have prepared me for Barrington Manor.
A grand, circular driveway boasted a fountain bubbling in the center.
It was lit from within. The house that rose above it was majestic, mesmerizing.
Tasteful spotlights revealed a pale cream stone facade, classic New England black shutters surrounding enormous windows, and an expansive, grand entrance.
The mansion was elegant and timeless, like something straight from a movie.
An enormous lawn stretched out on all sides, but it disappeared into the darkness. Still, I felt like I had stepped into a billionaire’s version of a Hallmark movie—part Disneyland, part dream mansion. It seemed too perfect to be real.
Yves finally lowered the screen. “We’re here, Miss.”
“I—I see that.”
He chuckled as he took in my expression. “Everyone feels like that when they visit Barrington Manor for the first time. Wait till you see it in the morning—the mountains are incredible.”
I nodded. Already overwhelmed, I was almost afraid for Barrington Manor to be even more incredible.
Yves helped me out of the car, and I was grateful for the Chanel suit and ridiculously high heels.
If I’d arrived at Barrington Manor in my worn-out leggings and flip-flops, the security guard would probably throw me out.
A man in a suit burst from the house and strode down the steps. Tension rolled off him in waves. He rudely brushed past Yves. “You’re late.”
I recognized him at once: Rhodes Barrington. The billionaire was ridiculously tall and handsome. His suit stretched against his big shoulders and broad chest. He was almost too attractive to look at.
Yves looked crushed. “My apologies. There was traffic in the city, Sir.”
“I don’t want your apologies; I want you to do as you’re instructed. Now, bring Ms. Harris’s bags inside. Philips is waiting.”
“Yes, Sir.” Yves grimaced as he retrieved my bags. He didn’t give us a backward glance as he brought them into the house, leaving me alone with the angry billionaire.
Thanks a lot, Yves.
Rhodes Barrington looked me up and down, hesitating. Then, as if he’d decided something, he barged toward me, wrapped his arms around me, and pressed his lips against mine.
I made some sort of noise, but it got drowned out by his powerful embrace.
I’d never been kissed like that before—hell, I’d never been kissed.
Rhodes Barrington surrounded me. His lips crushed against mine.
I was shocked, and something like a jolt of electricity shot through me.
Rhodes Barrington was a man, strong and powerful, and he smelled like money.
When he broke our embrace, we were both breathing hard.
“Being late is absofuckinglutely unacceptable,” he said, eyes flashing. “Now follow me inside and speak to no one. But look happy. Do you understand?”
My mouth gaped open—but behind his imposing figure, I caught a glimpse of movement in the house. A flash of a curtain being closed in one of the upstairs rooms. Was someone watching us?
He leaned over me and growled, “It’s imperative that you do exactly what I say. Do. You. Understand me?”
“Yes, Sir,” I squeaked.
He rocked back on his heels, staring at me for a moment. His dark eyes bore into mine, and time seemed to stop. He’s so handsome, he’s making me disoriented!
But as soon as I thought it, the spell was broken. Rhodes Barrington moved fast. He firmly put his arm around me, then resolutely marched me up the stairs to his mansion, forcing me to cross the threshold to his billionaire world.