MAID FOR THEM

THAT DAMN DOG!

LIORA

Titan’s bark was a violent explosion of noise, shattering the peace of the library. I jumped back as my heart leapt into my throat.

The confidence from my dream evaporated like mist in the glare of sunlight.

Jeronimo finally looked up, looking annoyed. He slammed his book shut and put a hand on the dog’s head.

“Easy, Titan.” He scratched the dog behind the ears which only seemed to make him growl louder.

Jeronimo offered me a polite look. He was tired. “I am sorry, Liora. He has been very protective lately. He doesn’t seem to want anyone near me.”

His words implied I was the cause of the disruption. He just didn’t know how to say I was the one causing trouble and not the dog.

“It’s fine, sir.” My cheeks felt hot. I couldn’t lean over the desk now. I couldn’t even touch his shoulder when I couldn’t get past the wall of protective fur.

Jeronimo tugged a little too harshly on Titan’s collar. “I said hush!”

“I was just checking if you needed a fresh pot of coffee. I will leave you to it.”

I retreated, walking backward slowly until the door closed. As soon as I left, I heard him settle back down with a heavy thump.

The failure felt ten times worse than before because this time, I failed due to a dog.

I tried again at lunch. However, this was more public and more humiliating.

Jeronimo was eating alone in the large dining room. I walked in with a fresh bottle of expensive red wine. I positioned myself next to Jeronimo and used the excuse of pouring him a glass to lean down.

The curve of my neck was exposed. “I hope you had a better morning than I did,” I was going to say as soon as we settled into the allure of the wine.

I uncorked the bottle and as I lowered it toward his glass with a careful movement, I heard the menacing sound start again.

It was softer this time but definitely directed at me. I realized to my horror that it came from right under the table, near my foot.

Two dark eyes were staring up at me with a hostile look.

Before the wine even reached the glass, Jeronimo moved his hand instinctively, pulling his glass away from the wine I was about to pour.

“Maybe just leave the bottle, Liora,” he said dismissively. He didn’t even look at the bottle of wine or me. “The dog is on edge. I don’t want him knocking the glass over and making a mess.”

He’d seen my approach and chose to use Titan as a shield.

Well, crap!

“Certainly, sir.” My hand trembled slightly as I placed the full bottle on the table.

My seductive move had been completely ruined and now I felt like the clumsy help who might spill something.

I quickly left the room in shame. Who knew how many maids were present in the house to witness that?

The third attempt was in the evening.

The darker it grew, the more desperate I became. I found Jeronimo walking down the long upstairs hallway toward his study. Brutus was right behind him with his nose practically touching his heels.

I wasn’t even five feet from the pair when Titan saw me. The instant he registered my presence, he reacted immediately with a loud bark.

It echoed off the walls of the quiet hall.

Jeronimo stopped walking. Without looking at me, he just sighed. The exhaustion of constantly managing his dog in my presence was very visible.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Liora, I need some peace. I’m sorry, I have too much work.” He didn’t wait for a response after.

Just yanked his door open and shoved Titan inside, closing the door with a firm click. The barking ceased immediately.

I was left standing in the hallway with a silk scarf I had planned to “accidentally” drop.

FUCK!!

***

I couldn’t get close to Jeronimo without causing a commotion that led to him withdrawing further into his sanctuary.

That dog was a vicious wall who didn’t like me one bit.

I went back to my room feeling an overwhelming sense of failure. All of that confidence and femme fatale energy meant nothing against a loyal German shepherd.

How was I supposed to achieve mine and Avaline’s aim?

I grabbed my phone and called her, having run out of all options.

“I hope it’s good news you have for me this time,” Avaline sounded confident as she picked the call.

I’m shaking with barely contained rage. “I know he wants to look. I can see the moment of confusion in his eyes before he hides it. But that dog! Titan won’t let me near him.”

“Liora, control yourself,” Avaline snapped on the other end. “Stop whining.”

I forced myself to gather control. “I can’t do my job. Jeronimo is a prisoner in his own house and it’s all because of the dog. When I tried to serve Jeronimo wine, he pulled his glass away saying the dog was on edge.”

She sighed heavily. “That dog. He is too loyal. He senses you are a threat to his master and perhaps the energy shift. He reads that as danger to Jeronimo. Smart dog.”

“So what do I do? Get a dog charmer? Give him treats! He won’t even take a treat from me now!” I complained. “Every time I step out of my room, he barks. Your husband avoids me so the noise stops.”

“Jeronimo is a hard nut to crack. He is using the dog as a shield to hide behind because he knows deep down, he is vulnerable to you. You must apply more pressure and remove the obstacles.”

At this point, her words sound like parables.

“Remove them?” The word felt heavy on my tongue.

“If you want the check, you will fix this. You have to get close enough to make him want you. Get him alone and make him need you. Make him forget about that dog for one night.” Then in a lower voice, adds, “Or for good.”

Then the line went dead with a click.

I stared at the phone as the meaning of her words got lost on me. What did she mean by removing the obstacles?

I walked across the room to my small cupboard where I kept my cleaning supplies. I opened the door and pulled out the kit I used to tidy my own space.

Deep inside, hidden beneath a bottle of lemon polish, was a small bottle.

It was white powder. Rat poison.

This should work.