Chapter Eight

**Genevieve**

As soon as our business is done, I head out of the door breathing in the crisp New York air as the reality of what I have done settles in.

"Excuse me, Miss Hudson"

I turn around to see the driver Greyson sent a few steps behind me.

"Mr Maddox told me I must also take you home, would you mind?"

He takes a few steps the car before opening the door for me.

"There really is no need I can make my own way home Mr."

I search is face and chest for a name or at least a name tag but he doesn’t have one.

"My name is Jack and I’ve been assigned as your new driver if you won’t get in the car at least allow me to follow you in the car to your next destination to ensure you arrive there safely”.

"Jack there is no need I’m just going to head to the subway”.

A slight hint of fear washes over his eyes at my words.

"Miss Hudson please Mr Maddox won’t like that, and he will be angry if I let you get on the subway”.

He ushers once more to the car door, sensing the concern I climb into the back of the car and I see the relaxation on his face as he shuts it after me.

Once inside jack turns to me and asked me where I would like to go, I give him my address and a short while later we are outside my building, I brace myself to face Alex in 2 days I’m moving out and I have to try my damn hardest to not tell him the real reason why I don’t want him to think any less of me and the truth will do just that.

"Miss Hudson"

I turn on to see jack still stood beside the car.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it’s just Mr Maddox informed that I am to pick you up in 2 days is this where I should collect you from?"

"Yes, it is, I will see you again then at 1 o'clock. Oh, and Jack if you’re going to be my driver you really don’t have to dress so formally”.

He smiles and nods before getting back in the car.

As soon as I enter the apartment Alex is there.

"So how did it go did you get the job?"

I can see the hopefulness in his eyes at the thought of me getting a proper job.

"I did Alex”.

He pulls me in for a cuddle and then drags me towards the kitchen where he already has two glasses and wine out.

"So, what did he say the infamous Greyson Maddox?"

I start by telling him where we met and what the job would be, reiterating it would be like a PA to his private life. Alex seems pretty interested asking questions some of which I knew the answer to others I had no idea.

"The thing Alex, he wants me to start right away so I’ll be moving out in 2 days. I just... well I wanted to ask."

I found my words all seem to be stuck as I’m trying to get them out.

"You want me to let you keep your room here?"

It’s like he sensed exactly what I was going to say.

"Yes! I mean I know I haven’t paid any rent and you’re covering it, but I need a place to call home and to come back to when I get time off, I was hoping that could be here and as soon as I get paid ill pay you everything I owe”.

I look up at him hoping he would agree, to let me rent the room and not actually live in it or pay him any money for it for a while.

"Gen you are funny, of course, you can stay here when I offered you to stay here, I never expected anything in return, I care about you, I mean would rent and food money be nice? Absolutely, but when you first got here you were broken and I could help fix that, the room is yours for as long as you will need it”.

He causes me to break down in tears everything he just was so sweet and caring and the memories of him picking me up from the airport flood back as I landed with nothing but the clothes I was wearing.

He comes around to my side of the counter and pulls me in for another hug, waiting for me to calm down and stop crying. We stand in silence like this for another 10 minutes.

Pulling away from him, still holding his arms.

"Alex, I still don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you”.

I break my hands away from his.

"How about I make us something to eat and we watch a movie, I know its super late, but we might not have another chance if I’m leaving in 2 days?"

As I step around the counter and into the kitchen, I thought I heard Alex say something but when I turn to face him, he’s heading into the front room.
Looking through the cupboards there isn’t really anything to eat but I do see a packet of popcorn and a share sized bar of chocolate, pulling them out I head to the front room to enjoy one of the last nights ill have with my best friend.

**Friday, 13.30pm**

As if the last few days haven’t been crazy enough, here I am surrounded by half-packed boxes a barely packed back and driver waiting out the front of my building to take me to Greyson’s.

I knew when Alex said I should pack the last few days he was right but somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to do it and now here I am sitting in the mess I’ve made wondering if any of this is really a good idea.

After another hour I manage to decide what I’m taking with me and shove the other stuff in the wardrobe praying to any god that will hear that Alex never opens those doors.

As soon as I get downstairs, I apologise to Jack for making him wait, it is then I notice he is wearing normal clothes and I think it puts us both at ease. As soon as I’m in the car I apply the pleasantries to Jack asking if he has a family and desperately trying to avoid answering any of his about my own.

A short while later we pull up outside one of the biggest apartments building, I think I have ever seen, it towers over New York. Jack gets out and opens the door for me then moves towards a larger man standing by the door.

I don’t think anything of it and head to the back of the car to pull out my stuff opening the boot and that’s when I hear him, looking around the side of the boot I can see Greyson shouting in Jack's face.

I run over there and put myself between the two of them Greyson still shouting.

"What the hell do you think your wearing and why on earth is she."

He waves his hand in my direction as if I am merely a random passer-by.

"Getting her stuff out of the car while you stand and have a chat, once the stuff is out of the back, consider yourself out of the job”.

Although he is shouting his face remains completely natural like he’s made of stone. Jack starts pleading with him about needing the job and before Greyson can retort I jump in.

"He's wearing his own clothes because I asked him too if you insist on him driving me around, which by the way I did not agree too! and I was getting my bags out of the car because I have a perfectly good set of working arms. You have no right to fire him for doing what he has been asked”.

He doesn’t say anything, but I can see the muscles in his cheek clenching, but he doesn’t say a word just looks between Jack and me.

"of course, if there is a problem, I can just have jack turn this car around and take me home”.

With that his eyes flash to mine dark with anger, I know full well he won’t do anything now as he needs me to stay and follow through with his ridiculous plan.

He points to Jack.
"Bring her bag upstairs, Miss Hudson and I have a lot to talk about”.

He grabs a hold of my arm a little too tight for my liking and pulls me inside the building and to the Lift. Once inside I pull away from him.

"Let’s get one thing straight Greyson, you don’t ever grab me the way you just did, I might work for you, but I am not your property and I’ll be out of here”.

I’m stood in front of him raised to my full height, nothing but anger resonating in my words as the Lift dings to signal we have made it to the floor I turn away from him and step out.

He follows but I realise I have no idea where I’m going so, I stop, and he bumps into the back of me.

"Why did you stop? "

Rolling my eyes before turning to him as the sheer sound of his voice annoys me.

"Well, I don’t know where you live so I’m waiting for you to show me”.

He laughs in my face and then an arrogant smile crosses his lips.

"This is where I live, the lift goes right to my apartment this is the hallway the whole floor is mine”.

My insides do a little flip as what he just says as I look around and then I notice there is only one door up here a black one at the end that he is now stood in front of staring daggers at me.

"Are you coming in or are you planning on sleeping out there?"

I walk up to the door and past him being careful not to meet his gaze, I’m still angry he grabbed me the way he did. The door clicks behind me and I look forward to seeing 3 people stood in front of me. An older woman a slightly younger one and a man, the three of them look to be related.

Greyson hands his coat to the boy who takes it and turns to hang it up, he then turns to me.

"This is Beverly, she is my housekeeper and cook”.

The lady smiles at me and nods her head politely.

"There are her grandchildren who live with her and work here when they are not at school. This is Emma and Daniel the three of them live on the floor below ours if you need anything, they are who you should ask”.

They both nod and say a timid nice to meet you. Greyson pulls Beverly to one side whispers something before turning walking away to a room at the end of the corridor leaving me stood there with three random strangers.

What a wholesome welcome he offers the little dickweed.

My eyes are snapped back the focus on the 3 people stood in front of me Beverly is smiling before she takes me hand in hers.

"Mr Maddox has asked me to show you around and then show you to your room before we get going is there anything you require?"

How long was this tour going to take? I shake my head and then follow her as she makes her way in the opposite direction of where Greyson went.

As we wander through, I realise just how massive this place is, he has a terrace with a pool and home gym that I cannot wait to pretend doesn’t exist for the next year.

Finally, we reach a
large room all decorated in white with a large bed, wardrobe and tv mounted on the wall, as well as a huge on-suit bathroom. Beverly shows me how the shower works and then lets me know that the three of them do not stay in the house all the time but if I need her to press a button that sits on a control pad with several other buttons, the purpose of them all I have no idea, but I can’t wait to press them and find out.

"Mr Maddox told me to inform you to come down to his office once your settled”.

She lets me know his office is the one he went into, before turning to leave a caring smile on her face.

So, this is my life again, housekeepers and entitled males, who have nothing to say to me.

What an absolute joy, I tell myself to think of what the money will do before I throw myself onto the bed and let the softness of it consume me.