Love Outside my Reach

"They sent you here?"

Lina Cavanaugh's gaze moved slowly from Chloe's shoes to her face, lingering just long enough to make the assessment sting. "Pathetic. What's your name?"

She sounded quite haughty.

Chloe felt really nervous under such look.

The agency she applied to for a house keeping job had said the position was urgent. A last-minute replacement. Good pay. Accommodation included. She had clung to that promise all the way down here, through the long drive and the knot of fear in her stomach. Standing now in the vast luxurious living room of the Cavanaugh mansion, she wondered if desperation had made her careless.

"I am..." she began, clearing her throat.

"Chloe Carson."

The voice came from behind her.

It was masculine. Deep and cool.

Chloe turned.

He was leaning against the banister like he belonged nowhere else in the world. Tall and broad-shouldered. His brown hair sat carelessly on his head, ruffled as though a whirlwind ran through it. Chloe could not stop her eyes from wandering down to the mass of hair that sat on his bare legs as he was on denim shorts. He held an apple in one hand, biting into it with lazy indifference as his eyes settled on her.

Their eyes met.

Chloe felt the moment stretch, uncomfortable and intimate all at once. He did not look away, he rather studied her curiously.

"You know her?" Lina Cavanaugh asked coolly.

He shrugged, chewing. "No. You asked her twice already. And she answered."

The woman drew her lips into a thin line. "Jordan, must you speak with food in your mouth?"

"When is she starting?" he asked instead, nodding slightly toward Chloe.

She noticed it then, he had not looked away from her once.

"I haven't decided," Lina replied. "I don't hire strangers blindly."

Jordan took another bite. "You trust the agency enough to invite her into your house."

"You think I trust paperwork," she snapped. "And not people?"

Chloe stood silently, her hands clasped in front of her, resisting the urge to apologize unnecessarily. She reminded herself she had done nothing wrong and rather focused instead on breathing, listening and observing.

Jordan finally pushed away from the banister and dropped onto one of the couches, stretching his legs out casually. "She looks harmless. Besides, what's the point? The agency sent her here, they sent you her papers and documents too, didn't they? All they need from you is to go through her details, see her face, which you have, and approve her. Easy peasy. I mean... you trust them, they have been doing this for a long time and they don't ever just send anyone, plus..."

Lina Cavanaugh sighed as she glared at her son. "You would not teach me how to run my household."

He smiled faintly, unfazed. "Just saying."

The sound of heels interrupted them.

Chloe turned as a young girl descended the stairs. Elegantly dressed in a tight sleeveless red glittery gown that stopped right below her butts, heavy red lipstick and long dark curly hair that frames her face.

"Where is the new housekeeper?" the girl asked. "My room is a disaster."

Her gaze landed on Chloe.

"What are you staring at?" she said flatly. "That's rude."

Chloe looked away immediately.

"Lily," their mother said. "This is not the time."

"I am going out," Lily continued, scrolling on her phone. "My room needs to be cleaned now."

Jordan snorted softly. "On a date with Mack again?"

"I need a reply mum. I need that room clean in five. Tasha would be here any moment from now and I would not like her to meet it in that condition." She ignored her brother, her eyes on her mother.

"Not like it would be her first time." Lina muttered. 'Where are you girls off to anyway?" She asked with a frown.

Jordan stood, rolling his shoulders. "You don't expect her to tell you the truth about where she is going or what she wants to do, do you? Meanwhile, I was just wondering how long before Mack figures her out."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "At least I don't pretend to be something I am not. And hey, what's with your bad energy? I am not the cause of your breakup with Angela Cranes. Ouch! Messy news all over the internet," she snarled.

The atmosphere suddenly seemed tense.

"Enough," their mother said sharply. "Both of you."

Jordan's eyes settled on Chloe's again. "See you around" he said lightly as he walked away. "Welcome to the family... or rather, household."

In that moment, Chloe felt it, a certainty she could not ignore. This wasn't merely a job. And Jordan Cavanaugh was more than just another spoiled son.

Chloe averted her gaze to the girl muttering to herself and pacing impatiently across the room. Lily Cavanaugh. She was examining a minor rip on her gown. She pulled off her wig in frustration, revealing a short, uneven bob.

She glowered at Chloe.

Chloe blinked, unsure where to look. "What are you staring at?" Lily snapped at her. "Get out and get to work! Now!"

Chloe hesitated, wondering what to do or where to go. She glanced toward their mother, who was sitting stiffly in the armchair, with an unreadable expression. "The third door to your left," Lily barked, pointing toward the hallway. Chloe nodded and quietly stepped toward the staircase, dragging her bag behind her.

The hallway upstairs was long and lavish, yet unwelcoming. She stopped in front of the third door and slowly opened it. Her eyes widened. Saying the room was a total mess was an understatement. It was a disaster zone. Drawers had been pulled from their places, the cream-colored curtains were stained, broken glass glittered on the floor, and clothes littered everywhere, as well as junk wrappers and leftovers.

Chloe pressed a hand to her chest. How can someone live like this? she thought.

"Oh my God. Is she such a slob, so spoiled she can't even clean up after herself?" She stepped in and shut the door.

"What do you think?"

She gasped in shock as she turned and saw Jordan standing in front of the bathroom staring at her. He leaned against the wall with arms folded across his chest.

Chloe felt tongue tied for a moment. What was he doing here? She felt flustered. She was certainly not in the wrong room? Or was she?

"No, I mean... I don't mean..." she stuttered, unsure what to say.

"Do you stammer?" His voice was calm, as he arched a brow at her, but it carried an edge she could not ignore.

"I... I just..." Chloe looked at the floor, trying to find her words. None came.

"Never mind. Go on with your work." His eyes lingered as he assessed her. Chloe swallowed hard, aware of his gaze following her every movement. He did not change his position. He just stood there. Would he really stand there watching her work?

She could feel his eyes on her. It felt intense.

Chloe bent to pick up the first pile of dirty jeans and undergarments, carefully folding them. The task steadied her for a moment, but Jordan's gaze remained on her, observant and testing.

"Where are you from?" he asked suddenly, in a casual, yet compelling tone.

"Nebraska," she mouthed in a low voice.

"Nebraska? All the way here?" He sounded intrigued, almost amused.

"No... I am staying with an aunt in Alamosa. It is about a four or five-hour drive from here," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

He nodded slowly, stepping slightly closer. "And you will be passing the week here?"

Chloe's stomach knotted. "I... haven't discussed it with your... my... boss yet."

"How old are you?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

"I will be twenty in a couple of months."

He regarded her for a moment, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good. You are not a child then. That matters here."

Chloe went still, feeling the weight of his gaze. Not a child... His tone carried a sort of subtle warning. Everything about him suggested that in this house, age and experience meant nothing, only awareness of danger mattered.

"Go on with your work," he said, stepping back.

Chloe let out a quiet breath she had not realized she was holding. Her hands shook slightly as she resumed folding clothes, glancing occasionally at the chaos around her.

I have to survive this... Chloe thought. One step at a time.

After what felt like an eternity, she had organized the piles into neat stacks. Her bag was carefully placed in a corner, and she had a sense of fleeting accomplishment. That was when she heard footsteps approaching. Lily and another girl, Tasha, entered, chatting and laughing as though Chloe weren't there. Their attention was on their reflections, their selfies, their own world.

Lily's sharp eyes caught hers. "What are you still doing here? Like you're gonna spend the whole day working in my room which isn't so much work by the way. Please take your filthy self out." she said impatiently.

Chloe backed away, feeling annoyed, though she couldn't show it.

"Where is my bracelet and earrings?" Lily demanded, suddenly shifting focus to some missing accessories.

Chloe opened her mouth to answer, but Lily interrupted.

"Never mind, just get out," she snapped, snatching up a clean cloth and wiping a smudge off her face.

Chloe picked up her bag and stepped outside, shutting the door gently. She slid down the wall and sat on the floor, hugging her knee against her chest and tried to think. Could she really work here?

"What do you think you're doing?", came Lina's plummy voice.

Chloe jumped to her feet.

"Your room is the first door to the left, down at the staff quarters," Lina continued. "Twenty bucks per hour. Mondays to Fridays. You work six hours on Saturday and go home for the weekend. Am I clear?" she held her ear for emphasis.

"Uhn? Yes ma'am." Chloe responded.

"Are you crying? What are you doing?" Lina queried in a harsh manner, ignoring her countenance.

Chloe quickly rose and smoothened her long checked gown unnecessarily. "I was...I only wanted to..."

Lina did not let her finish. "After cleaning, head down to the kitchen. Theresa is the chef, she will hand you your uniform. We have standards here. And don't think this is the only thing you will do today." She walked away toward another door, but paused, glancing back. "Congratulations on your new job." She said flatly, almost perfunctorily.

Chloe blinked, momentarily stunned. Deep down she was really glad she had gotten the job and with an accommodation at that. The other troubles can come later. "First door to the left." she murmured as she heaved her bag along.

Chloe hurried up, dropped her bag and went to the kitchen where the chef, Theresa, waited, her face neutral, hands on her hips.

"That, is your uniform," Theresa said, pointing to a neatly folded pinafore and white shirt. "You will change and then start on the laundry. There is a dry cleaner that comes occasionally for the occasional wears so you will have to handle just these regular casuals. Be careful. This house has rules."

Chloe nodded, grateful for some guidance. "Yes, ma'am," she said softly.

Theresa studied her briefly and went off to the pantry.

Alone in the kitchen, Chloe allowed herself a small exhale. She picked up the uniform and changed quickly. She could feel the weight of the house pressing on her, but she also felt something else: a small, stubborn spark of resolve.

Chloe gathered the clothes Theresa had instructed her to handle, her hands trembling slightly as she approached the laundry room. The towering piles of garments, some fresh from the dryer yet still requiring pressing, seemed overwhelming. A sharp pang of hunger gnawed at her stomach, and she squatted against the wall, pressing her hand over her abdomen.

"God I am so hungry..." she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Hey."

The single word made her jerk upright. Jordan stood in the doorway, relaxed but impossible to ignore. There was a quiet pull to him, and the calm, teasing way he spoke made her catch her breath.

He held out a small package of sourdough bread and a medium pack of yogurt. "Have this."

Chloe blinked, surprised. For a fleeting moment, she forgot the oppressive weight of the mansion and the exhausting day.

She hesitated, unsure if she should feel grateful or flustered, then she allowed a small smile to spread across her face.

"Why are you blushing?" he asked, startling her.

"I am not blushing. I am just... smiling," she said quietly, wishing her face would stop betraying her.

"Well, your smile is blushing," he countered with a smirk.

"You are... silly," she muttered, cheeks warming.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "What did you say?"

"I said... thank you," she whispered, unsure why her chest tightened at his nearness.

"No. You said something else."

Chloe could not reply as they heard the sound.of approaching feet.

Before she could react, Jordan scooped up the snacks and, almost impossibly, dove into the broken industrial washing machine, disappearing behind its metallic bulk. Chloe quickly draped a bedsheet over it. Not sure why she did that.

Theresa appeared with another basket of laundry, heavy and brimming with expensive fabrics. "These belong to Mister Cavanaugh. I expect you to know that not everything goes in the machine. Handle carefully."

Then she added in a warning tone, "In fact, be very careful with everything you do here. Perhaps I should let you know, Lily could be a storm to handle sometimes. Jordan can be super sly and super devilish, like a ... puzzle. So beware. Their mother is, calculative. Observe and learn quickly. You will need it." She left as abruptly as she came, leaving Chloe breathless and a little more aware of the house's unspoken rules.

Jordan emerged from the shadows a moment later, carrying her untouched snack.

She stared at him; Super sly and super devilish. Plus, super handsome.

His grin was infuriatingly confident. "Yeah, I'm a super guy. And none of Theresa's warnings are the whole truth."

He handed her the meal. Chloe could not say no.

He yawned and stretched. "You are lucky I will be free for the rest of the evening, so l will help you iron this batch." He pointed to a heap by the corner.

Chloe felt herself drawn to him, she wanted to step back in caution but fascination rooted her to the spot.

"You want to help me?" She wasn't sure she had heard him right.

"Yup. Don't I look like a nice guy?" He opened a cabinet and selected an iron, then plucked a long, exquisite gown from a pile.

"So...you grew up in Nebraska?" he asked casually as he plugged in the iron.

"Yes," she answered, not sure why her heart was racing.

"Where? Countryside?" he pressed, his eyes scanning her features as if reading a secret.

"Why do you think so?" she asked, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. He had probably gone through her papers already.

He exhaled slowly, stretching the gown across the board. "You look... There's a groundedness about you. Different from the city air here."

Chloe almost dropped her bread. "Is that a compliment? Or you're being sarcastic?"

Mischief danced briefly in his eyes. "You can decide."

She finished her snack hastily, focusing on the laundry to steady her racing heart.

"Warning," he said suddenly, gesturing to another iron. "Do not make use of this one I am holding. It is quite faulty. You can make use of that green one instead."

Chloe gasped at the big triangular hole in Lily's dress just after the smell of something burning got to her nose.

"Oh my God, Mister Cavanaugh!" her trembling hands threw themselves across her mouth.

"What? Never seen a burnt gown? Tell whoever asks, that you used a faulty iron, cos you didn't know. And consider this, a lesson... and a gift," he said with an air of nonchalance.

"Think of it as a... uhm, payback. For calling Lily spoiled, and for enjoying your meal without owing me." He added.

"I don't understand you," she murmured, her voice breaking.

"Neither do I," he admitted, shrugging, eyes softening for the briefest instant. "But I have always wanted to see this gown like this. It is prettier now. By the way, it is, Jordan. Without the Mister bla bla." He winked and stepped back, leaving her to absorb the complexity of his presence.

The thought of twenty dollars an hour echoed in her mind, a faint comfort against the dizzying uncertainty of the house.