The late afternoon sun dipped below the tree line outside the tall windows, and the massive Kingsley estate grew very quiet. The household staff retreated to the lower kitchens to prepare dinner, leaving the upper floors to us. We stood up from the dark leather sofa in the formal study, and we walked upstairs together to begin our new arrangement.
Mason stopped at the entrance of the master suite while I continued walking down the long carpeted hallway toward the east wing. I reached the large guest room I had occupied for the last month.
I pushed the wooden door open and looked around the spacious room. When I first arrived at this property, this guest suite felt like an expensive hotel room. I treated the space with extreme caution, because I assumed I would only stay here until our twelve-month corporate contract expired. I kept my personal belongings neatly packed in my small bags, and I never bothered to fill the empty drawers.
