Finn St Just cleared his throat impatiently.
“Did you read it then?’ he said in a cold voice, and it took me a minute to figure out that he was asking me about the contract that I was holding in my hands.
I quickly began to read in earnest.
The entire document was couched in legal language and fleetingly, I wondered how many such women had read the deeds I held in my damp, sweaty hands.
For surely, I was not the first!
I had no illusions about myself. Or the brothers lounging splendidly before me.
*
In return for my ‘services,’ as it stated, I was to be given a handsome remuneration every month. My mind boggled as I saw the sum. I had never seen even a quarter of that in my life!
Then again, as I read, I felt my incredulity grow.
*
I would, apart from the handsome stipend, be given a car of my own, an apartment and a sizeable income, that I could continue to keep even after my one year was up.
I blinked and looked over at Liam O’Grady.
*
I gaped up at him.
St Anne’s was a prestigious school that offered many opportunities for students, for the subjects they specialized in included drama, a subject my sisters loved.
“But…the fees…?”I began for it was uber expensive, and Finn grated,
“Will be taken care of.”
Liam continued, delicately,
“Your…uh…mother might need some help.”
Shamefaced, I lowered my head.
“So, we are considering sending her to the Retreat for a change. She’ll be monitored, with medication and will have round-the-clock help.”
I had seen the glossy pictures of the Retreat, a home for addicts and senior people, again, way above my pay grade. The rolling green lawns, the manor in the background and pictures of the smiling staff had made me pause as I flicked through a magazine a long while ago.
It was a statement of fact and for the first time in many months, I felt a sense of relief. Someone else was shouldering my burden…
He rocked back on his heels, his eyes on my face.
I absorbed all this.
“Why are you…doing all this?” I said finally, my heart beating so loudly, I was sure they could hear it.
Liam sank down to the seat, close to me as he growled,
“Because my pretty little innocent, Bianca Cruz, you’re going to be giving us your most prized possession. Your virginity.”
*
A server had entered noiselessly, and he kept the glass of chilled lemonade at my elbow.
‘Drink up,’ said Liam, and I heard the amusement in his voice, indulgent and fanciful.
Obediently, I lifted the glass and sipped, licking my upper lip with the tip of my tongue, relishing the sweetness.
Feeling O’Grady’s eyes on me, I looked up and flushed. He was staring intently at my mouth and I quickly replaced the glass on the side table.
“Is it not to your liking, then?” This was Finn, his voice was curiously hoarse.
I looked at him from beneath my lashes and nodded.
“Yes, it is,” I said softly.
“Yes Sir,’ he growled and I stared.
“You are to address me and Liam as Sir when you are alone with us. Do you understand, little Bianca?’
I nodded, as the full weight of what I was expected to do, began to sink in.
*
“Have you ever been with a boy, little Bianca?’ asked Liam and I whirled to face him, my face turning pink as I shook my head. He had moved to stand beside me, looking down at me intently.
‘Been kissed?’ this was Finn, amber eyes narrow and curious.
I looked down, my face growing warm, as I shook my head unhappily.
“Harry Walters, who was in my class, kissed me once, at prom.” I stuttered,” But…No, I have never…slept with a …anyone.”
There was a shocked pause.
Then Liam O’Grady’s voice was incredulous as he cried,
‘Are you saying that you are a virgin, Bianca Cruz?’
I nodded, biting my lip.
*
Without lifting my head, I knew that the brothers were exchanging looks of astonishment and disbelief.
And then, I almost jumped out of my skin as Liam’s large hand, with the wiry black hairs, landed on my wrist.
“Look at me, Bianca Cruz,’ he said, his voice gentle and I raised my fear-filled eyes to him.
‘Ah, lass…” he sighed and I felt my eyes fill.
‘Aren’t you going to help me then?” I whispered, as I realized that somehow, something had altered, some dynamic between the three of us; the two brothers on the one side, and I alone on the other side.
*
Liam cupped my mournful face with one large hand, his blue eyes steady on me as he said,
‘Ah never, little Bianca, never that. We would never step back and leave you to handle this mess. Not anymore.”
And Finn growled,
“We will just need to go a little slow, a little gently, eh Liam?’
The last word was uttered more as a question and I sighed in relief.
Then I sat up straighter as I remembered something that I had been meaning to say all during the journey here.
Finn came to stand behind his brother and I looked into his eyes as well as I breathed,
“But there is one thing…’
*
Both brothers stiffened.
“What is it?’ growled Finn as Liam sat forward, his arms resting loosely on his thighs, close to me, attentive and still.
Liam’s bright blue eyes were burning into me and I felt my face turn pink again.
“Ah Jaysus, how she blushes,” he breathed and that made me blush harder.
‘I… Nelson…” I felt them stiffen.
“What about Nelson,” grunted Finn, menace in his deep voice.
‘He …he has taken my father’s bakery into his possession,” I sighed, my shoulders drooping,
“And he has also got the deeds of our house…”
Then, for it was such an embarrassing thing to confess to these two strangers,
“He threatened me this morning, saying that we would be turned out of the house by this evening.”
I raised my eyes, now weeping in earnest as I said in a broken voice,
“We have nowhere to go. Please, please arrange for my mother and my sisters to stay somewhere.”
I looked from one to the other.
Liam rose heavily, sighing, and I watched him, dismay on my features.
Was I no longer an attractive proposition for them? I wondered in bewilderment. Finn frowned at his brother and he followed Liam.
They moved to the fireplace and stood, talking in low voices.
*
After what seemed like an aeon, they turned and came back to where I sat, anxious and frightened.
Liam sat down, our knees almost touching and Finn stretched out on an armchair beside him.
“Bianca, we have been thinking. You can shift to our house tonight.”
I sat up, alarmed, licking my dry lips.
“As for your mother and sisters, we shall move them to a house we have in the city. Right away.”
I listened, my heart pounding.
“Heather, I mean, my stepmother…” I began uncertainly, but O’Grady completed my sentence for me.
‘Is an alcoholic, we know that, little bird,” Said Liam, his eyes glowing as he watched me.
Then, he placed his hand on my knee, gently as he spoke,
“Do your sisters go to the local grammar?” he went on and I nodded.
“I plan to get them admitted into St Anne’s on the Cliff.” He rose as he spoke, his hands thrust into his pockets, towering over me as he made the pronouncement.
*
I gaped up at him.
St Anne’s was a prestigious school that offered many opportunities for students, for the subjects they specialized in included drama, a subject my sisters loved.
“But…the fees…?”I began for it was uber expensive, and Finn grated,
“Will be taken care of.”
Liam continued, delicately,
“Your…uh…mother might need some help.”
Shamefaced, I lowered my head.
“So, we are considering sending her to the Retreat for a change. She’ll be monitored, with medication and will have round-the-clock help.”
I had seen the glossy pictures of the Retreat, a home for addicts and senior people, again, way above my pay grade. The rolling green lawns, the manor in the background and pictures of the smiling staff had made me pause as I flicked through a magazine a long while ago.
It was a statement of fact and for the first time in many months, I felt a sense of relief. Someone else was shouldering my burden…
He rocked back on his heels, his eyes on my face.
I absorbed all this.
“Why are you…doing all this?” I said finally, my heart beating so loudly, I was sure they could hear it.
Liam sank down to the seat, close to me as he growled,
“Because my pretty little innocent, Bianca Cruz, you’re going to be giving us your most prized possession. Your virginity.”