Andreas sat on a gorgeous beige damask couch, staring at the luxurious bespoke furnishings all around him, there were handpicked antiques and period pieces from around the world and specially commissioned modern pieces that evoke La Belle Époque.

A global selection of modern art pieces lived alongside old masters and classic paintings, and there were sculptures including an entire collection of the Royal African bronzes by Cecilia Wilmot – the only one he had ever seen in person.

Who owned this Palladian-style “private hotel” that could easily accommodate entertainment and functions on a royal scale? He drew his eyes together into a frown yes this could very well be a private hotel to the royals.

These must be the fantastically wealthy Landlords to have such a masterpiece stand empty with only the staff and house sitter in attendance. His thoughts drifted. I wonder if they would sell it to me, I would love to purchase this masterpiece and live here.

Andreas dear are you feeling better now that you have a strong drink in hand and have had a chance to come down from your itty bitty shock?

He must be feeling better because the velvet of the damask pattern was reminding him of smooth pale skin that felt just like it and beautiful hazel eyes flashed in his mind. He coughed slightly, yes. Yes, thank you Joan I feel tons better now. But I think we have to have a little chat about why you can offer me a room till my house is renovated. And then you can introduce me to the agent for this place so I can put in an offer.

She grinned at him, why would she be grinning at me? Andreas was like a lost little lamb right now and she would lead him to the slaughter and he would enjoy every step of the way and be happy about it. She would make sure of that.

Well young man, let’s take you to your room so you can have a look-see, oh I almost forgot to ask you do you need to book out of the inn you were staying in? She lifted an eyebrow.

I can sort that out tomorrow, all I have to do is call them as I have my suitcase and belongings in the car that I had with me, the Inn was a little too seedy for me to leave my possessions there on a daily basis so I got into the habit of taking it all with me to work, silly aren’t I? No, dear, you are not silly, I think you have a good head on those broad shoulders of yours, hopefully, you use it often. Oh! Forget I mentioned that why don’t you? Oh, and the Gatsby isn’t up for sale it’s been scheduled for a trust inclusion sadly, otherwise I’m sure the owner would be living here herself.

I’m starting to really like this old lady. I see it’s sad that she cannot enjoy the splendour of her own house then, maybe you can explain that to me sometimes.

I most likely will at some point dear. Joan said quietly.

Joan led him upstairs, wait this balustrade is it solid marble Joan? He asked in awe.

Yes dear it’s all the way from Venice you know and the huge door you walked through coming in it’s all the way from Argentina. She couldn’t help herself she was having fun at Andreas’s expense, but she couldn’t tell him who the house belonged to or why she was living here as caretaker, not just yet. She knew he was a billionaire and could easily purchase the place with some pocket change, she just didn’t understand why he had been living in the tiny inn.

Joan led him into a Huge Bedroom; it featured a double-sided marble fireplace, a private lounge, a bathroom en-suite, a Jacuzzi bath, separate ladies' and gentlemen’s dressing rooms, two toilets and double rain showers, the bed was enormous it looked so big that he knew even his big frame would fit perfectly with room to spare, this was heaven. Are you sure about this Joan? Andreas asked his receptionist cum caretaker of this mansion.

Yes, dear, it will be perfectly fine, get yourself settled and come have some toasted Chicken mayo-avocado sandwiches with me downstairs.

Joan hadn’t told Laelia that the lovely Doctor was going to be occupying one of the rooms that he was in fact occupying the master suite. That could wait; she had some toasted sandwiches to prepare. While she walked downstairs she reflected on Laelia’s pregnancy, I wish I was there to slip her the morning-after pill after the last insemination damn you, Dr Miles. I won’t let Paul’s legacy ruin my daughter’s future even if I have to ask Andreas’s help in persuading her to get an abortion, I can’t think of another way, she will lose out on so much she has built up over the years and all because of that con man.

…

Standing under the rain shower soaking up the heat from the water and stretching his taught shoulders all Andreas could think about was smooth velvety pale skin with a scattering of freckles and hazel eyes, he was getting hard. He touched himself and hissed he was so hard from just thinking of her, he tentatively stroked his aroused flesh once, twice on the third stroke he exploded against the wall, and I was so wound up by her that I didn’t even last a few strokes.  

I must apologise to Mrs Hart as soon as possible, tomorrow, yes tomorrow when she came for dinner, dinner is in this opulent mansion. I wonder if she also finds it strange that Joan was living in a palace.

He resolved to beg for forgiveness if he had to, he would do anything to touch her again, feel her smooth skin under his fingers, to ply her muscles and feel her tremble. Andreas turned the water in the shower to cold brrr, Oh! Not even the ice-cold water could distract his body from wanting, from desiring her he was hard again.

This was definitely going to be difficult. Did she have a boyfriend? Had she moved on since her husband’s passing, then again would any boyfriend happily sit around while his woman tried to become pregnant by another man’s frozen sperm? I think not, he said out loud and startled himself.

I wonder what she is doing right now, is she still angry with me?