Ride
We pulled up to a beautiful home, it was probably considered a mansion to most people. The car was pulling up while the sun was setting, and the landscaping lights were turning on. It was about a 45-minute ride from the airport, much farther than the hotel we were headed to.
Made of slick large concrete pads, the horseshoe driveway was offset to the center of the house. The exterior of the house was an elegant mixture of stacked stones and stucco. Exterior landscaping lights place in the ground, gave a glowing look to the entire outside.
It appeared as if a party were happening, but it was just a casual evening. The architecture featured arches and a retaining wall to the left of the door. A large six-tiered, two-story fountain was housed in the courtyard below.
The garage entrance was down a path past the fountain. It looked like a single-story house, but it was two stories on the left side because it was built into a hill. Truly remarkable, as I tried not to stare and gasp at each detail I noticed.
Stopping in front of a stone path that led to the door, the driver opened my door. Giving me a hand, he helped me out of the car followed by Cameron and his mother. Those two had been silent for over half of the ride.
“You have a beautiful home.”, I told them.
“Try not to get lost.”, he nudged me.
Walking inside my head spun in every direction drinking up each inch of this home. Valerie let me know that it was almost 12,00 square feet and there were 5 master bedrooms, with two guest bathrooms. Plenty of room for an entire family, yet one woman lived here alone.
Everything was in a designated space and the interior was free of debris, clutter, and dust. It appeared as if no one lived here, but it was well cared for. There was a grand staircase, but it didn’t go up. It went down to the level below on the side of the house.
We walked past a formal sitting room and formal dining room to get to the main living area. This part of the house was an open concept. It featured a large stone fireplace, pointed ceilings with large wooden beams, and a wall of windows overlooking the mountains.
We weren’t shown to a room, so I assume she knew we wouldn’t be staying.
However, I didn’t mind if we did because this place was a palace. Unsure if we would be able to room together was enough to make me prefer the hotel. I am still in shock that Cam grew up in a place like this.
“Please sit, the butlers will bring tea.”, Valerie pointed toward one of the three large sofas surrounding the fireplace.
“Let me be clear, mom. We aren’t staying here.”, he was stern with her.
She paid him no attention and didn’t give him any acknowledgement. You could tell she was used to getting what she wanted. It was impressive that she was able to afford a place as massive as this, with a full wait staff.
Walking over to a maid she whispered to her before turning to us, “Your Uncle Donny will join us.”.
When she said the butler would bring us tea, I just assumed a glass of iced tea would be handed to us. Four butlers came around the couch with trays, baskets, and tiered displays of food. They covered the entire sofa table with a white linen and then set up a food display.
Once the food had been set up, two butlers came back out with serving trays containing a tea pot and two cups each. We were handed a small white porcelain cup on a saucer with a little spoon. Then they poured our tea for us, before leaving the trays on the table.
It was like a tea party dream that most girls would die for, it was a bit much for me. I could tell that Cam was uncomfortable in the situation we had been placed in. This was not how I expected my evening to go, I’d prefer to be naked and alone.
We were sipping on our tea in silence when a maid pushed a man into the living room. He was confined to a wheelchair, and he appeared to be in poor health. Not speaking a word, he was rolled beside Valerie.
“Please go get Donny his special tea.”, Valerie whispered to the maid.
“Uncle Donny!”, Cam got up and went to hug the man.
You could tell that he was a very important person to Cameron. His face was plastered with disappointment when the man did not reciprocate the enthusiasm of affection.
“Mom, what’s going on with him?”, he asked Valerie.
“We aren’t sure Cammy. His maid found him in his home unconscious. He fell and hit his head.”, she didn’t show any sign of sympathy toward the man.
“But you’re a nurse. Why can’t you help him!”, Cam pleaded.
Wow she was a nurse and could afford a place like this? Now I was starting to feel uncomfortable because there was no way a nurse could comfortably afford a house of this size with a pool and tennis court too.
“I am sorry son. The doctor took a brain scan and there is very little activity. He hit his head pretty hard, and he isn’t a young buck anymore.”, still lacking any emotion.
Cameron sat at the man’s feet and laid his head on his lap. He began to sob; this was the first time I had seen him so vulnerable. Our weekend romance appeared to be over, but I wasn’t in the mood anymore after seeing the pitiful state of this poor man.
He was very old, but something about him seemed decrepit. There was not an ounce of strength left in him to nod his head, smile, or walk. It was as if all of the life had been sucked right out of him.
His eyes wondered, almost as if he were vocally and physically paralyzed. I watched as his eyes bounced around the room taking in everyone who visited with him. Furrowed brows as if he were confused at what was happening to him.
The teatime lasted for over an hour, and he didn’t seem to move while the rest of us ate and chatted. This man was in rough shape, and I was alarmed that a nurse would make a man riddled with fatigue endure such a long social event. Things just were adding up.
It wasn’t my place to ask questions, but I couldn’t help but stare at the man. His white hair neatly combed to the side and the clean outfit would appear that he was taken care of. The large live in staff would be in charge of his care and it seemed as if he were just a declining man.
Neither Valerie nor the staff offered him anything to eat, only the tea they had brought from the kitchen. It was as if they didn’t acknowledge his existence in the room. I felt sorry for the man.
Taking a deeper look at the man, he looked oddly familiar. I had seen a lot of people working for the magazine, but he wasn’t someone I knew from work. Maybe I read something about him in a tabloid somewhere.
It wasn’t uncommon for older women to find themselves a sugar daddy who was on his deathbed. That would make sense because there was no way her salary covered this lifestyle.
Cam touched my leg to pull me out of my thoughts. I didn’t realize I had been burning a hole in the man’s head by staring so hard. It was a peculiar feeling, but I knew that man and I needed to figure out where I knew him from.
And then it hit me, I knew exactly who that man was. He didn’t look as young and happy as the photo I had seen weeks ago. His health must have taken a turn for the worst.
That man, Uncle Donny, was Don VanCooper from New York.
Not believing my own eyes, I didn’t dare ask. If his mother was the love interest of this man, then there was no doubt that she could afford this lifestyle. He was the wealthiest bachelors in the city.
There was no record of a wife or children, but it appeared as if he had been playing Uncle Donny for years. I wonder if Cam knew they were seeing each other or if his mom was actually Mr. VanCooper’s sister.
Two possible scenarios, but only one person I could think to ask without being nosey.
I decided to head to the ladies’ room to use my phone, not wanting to cause a scene in front of Cam.
It was too coincidental not to text Adrian, “Hey did you know that your boss is Cam’s uncle?”.
“What are you talking about?”, he replied confused.
“Mr. VanCooper is Cam’s Uncle Donny. I am looking at the guy right now and that’s him.”, I replied as I leaned against the sink.
“Where are you?”, he demanded.
“Cam’s house. His mom surprised him at the airport and took us to her home.”, I turned on the sink to let the water run.
“Leah, get out now!! I am on my way.”, he scared me.
*Knock Knock*
“Everything okay?”, Cam came to check on me.
I opened the door, “Yes, I am just getting tired.”.
“We can stay here in my old room.”, he nodded his head in the direction.
“What about the hotel reservations and plans for the weekend?”, I pouted.
“You’re right. I have a spa day set up for you tomorrow. I can come spend some time with my uncle then.”, he rubbed my arm.
I grabbed his hand, “I’m sorry; we just agreed not to involve family, and this is too personal. I can go home if you need time.”.
He kissed my hand, “I could use a little distraction. Let’s get out of here.”.
Pulling me down a long hall, we took an elevator down to the ground floor. The doors opened to a garage and there were three luxury vehicles parked neatly in a row. He grabbed the keys off of the wall and pressed the unlock button.
“Here, this is my old car.”, he opened the door for me.
I got in and he closed the door. It was like we were teenagers sneaking out to go to a party and hide from his mom. Excited because this is just what I needed to ignite that sexual fire that had been put out earlier.
This ride was electrifying but riding him later will be exhilarating.
-To be continued-