Perfectly Too Far (5 page)

The
house finally came into view.

That's
no house, that's a god damn mansion!

Judith
covered her mouth, baffled by the sheer size of the place. The land
was surrounded by lemon and fig trees, hiding the home from the
outside world. It was a picturesque realm of privacy, green and alive
and so unlike the area she lived in.

The
house sprawled with shingled roofs, tall tower like spires; old
school in style and in complete contrast of the Spanish adobe style
homes in LA. Lorraine had said Benedict was a big donor to the
college. It had been implied he was well off, but this was simply
outlandish.

“
Here
we are,” the driver said casually, pulling around the side and
parking on a flat circle of stone. There were other cars there,
shining bright in a rainbow of color.

But
Judith was still just gawking up at the mansion.

“
Benedict
lives
here?
”

“
Of
course,” the driver said.

Shaking
her head, she sat there until the older man exited, coming around to
open her door. He offered a hand, but she didn't take it. Sliding out
into the air, the red-head craned her neck to try and see the whole
house at once. “This is amazing,” she stated. The driver
flashed a slight smile, closing her door, gesturing.

“
Follow
me, please, Ms. Flight.”

Both
him and Benedict, calling me that, it makes me sound so important.
I'm too young to be a Ms. Anything.

The
pair entered through the tall front door, the wood pure white, the
handle bronze and sparkling. Inside, Judith inhaled sharply, staring
around at the view before her.

The
entrance room was huge, a wide circle that extended upwards. From the
plush carpet under her, to the sparkling chandeliers above, the whole
place was opulent. A curling staircase stretched from her left, going
up and around a long hallway above. She turned, spotting bookshelves,
windows, and plush couches arranged with style.

In
the walls there were several wide openings, clearly leading to other
rooms. As she let her gaze roam, Judith noticed only one door was
closed. It was set into the side of the giant staircase, bright red,
like it was coated in lacquer. It was out of place among all the
pearl and ivory.

She
had so many questions, yet she was too overwhelmed to voice them.

“
Ms.
Flight,” a familiar voice called, causing her to look at the
railing above. Benedict watched her, leaning against the curling wood
that kept him from falling to his death. He was dressed as sharp as
the first time, dark charcoal and a crisp jacket. In one hand, she
saw he had a small glass, but she couldn't tell what he was drinking.
“I'm glad you made it, how was the drive?”

“
Good,”
she said too quietly. “Uh, good! It was very scenic.”

He
nodded, waltzing down the stairs in such a relaxed manner. Swirling
his glass, he took another sip, then gestured to the driver with it.
“Thank you, Corbin, you can go. I might need you later, if Ms.
Flight desires to return home.”

'If'
I desire to return home?
She
was puzzled by the way he had worded that.

Corbin,
as he was apparently called, bowed his head to the both of them. In a
second, he'd exited out the front door. As it closed crisply, it
finally hit Judith.
I'm
alone with Benedict.

He
paused at the bottom of the stairs, seeming to consider her with
those curious eyes of his. “Welcome, officially, to my home.”

Watching
his elegant hand, how it drummed on the hard railing, she laughed
uneasily. “Thanks, it's quite... I mean, I don't even know how
to put this. It's amazing, really.”

“
Thank
you,” he inclined his head, then reached out to offer her his
hand. “Let me show you around.”

She
hoped, when she reached out and took that smooth palm, that he didn't
notice how sweaty her own was.

Together,
they wandered up into the hall above, a long length of white wall on
one side, railing on the other. The view below was beautiful, Judith
could see the front door, the luxuriously designed carpet, and once
more, that alluring red door.

Benedict
led her along the corridor, pointing out a room here or there, from
studies to foyers to grand marble bathrooms. She noticed a number of
bedrooms, but none that looked particularly lived in. The tour
continued downstairs, where she found a beautiful kitchen. It was
modern in its touches, despite the mansion's vintage feel.

A
pair of huge sliding glass doors displayed the backyard, shady green
grass and purple flowers. More notably, a refreshing looking pool
shaped like a kidney bean.

There
was clearly much more to see, but Benedict walked her back to the
kitchen, pouring her a drink. “Do you like it?” he asked,
handing her the suspiciously crystal glass, a thing that made Judith
nervous just to hold.

“
Oh,
uh, I really shouldn't. I'm technically too young.”

Snorting,
he poured another splash into the glass. “In Europe, it would
be legal. Besides, who would ever know?”

Frowning,
Judith squinted into the cup.
Oh gosh, how expensive is
this glass, or this wine, even?
Sipping
the red liquid, she watched him over the rim in thought. “You
asked if I liked your house. It's very impressive, but it's also so
big! Do you live here all alone?”

“
Not
entirely. I have a staff, and often clients or guests will come by.”
Shrugging, he set his empty glass by the sink. “I entertain a
lot, as well. Hence, why I wanted your services.”

“
Right,”
she blinked, trying to imagine how fancy a gathering here must be.
How
does he afford all of this? What does he do to make money?
“Can you show me where I'm supposed to paint? I didn't see
anywhere obvious in the rooms you showed me.” Lifting an
eyebrow, a thought hit her. She pointed out of the kitchen towards
the main entrance room. “It is out there?”

“
Precisely,”
he flashed those perfect pearly teeth.

Judith
returned the smile, almost relieved. “I thought so, that red
door was like, the only place you didn't show me. So is that another
dining room down there, or—”

“
No,”
he snapped, startling her. For the first time since she had met him,
Benedict's lovely features were twisted in a harsh frown. “No,
not there.” His blue eyes softened, as if he had realized how
curt his tone was. “Sorry, it's just... that room is off
limits, is all.”

Remembering
to breathe, Judith inhaled slowly, her smile forced and fragile. “Oh,
uh, sorry. I didn't know.”

“
Of
course, how could you have?” Gesturing towards the archway, he
guided her back out to the main room, standing in the middle beneath
the chandelier.

Judith
shot one look at that crimson door, wondering why his reaction had
been so visceral. “So, you did say it was out here that I was
painting, then where...?”

Benedict
chuckled, and she followed his eyes as he rolled them up to the long
length of white wall above. It was where he had been standing when
she entered, leaning on that intricate railing.

“
I'm
painting that?” She gasped, nearly dropping her wine glass.
“That whole thing?”

“
That
is exactly, Ms. Flight, what I am hoping for.”

Looking
at it again, taking in the size, the knowledge it would be the first
thing people would see when they entered the mansion... Judith felt a
flush of both pride, and fear. Lifting her glass, she drained the
contents, then exhaled loudly.

“
That's
going to take me at least a week, Benedict.”

“
I
know, that's why I said I'd take care of anything you'd need.”

“
Supplies,
all that?”

Benedict
tilted his head, reaching out to gently take her empty glass. “No,
Ms. Flight. I mean
anything.
”

She
felt a tingle at the base of her neck, his words seeming to have a
double meaning. “I don't understand, what else could I need
besides paints and such?”

Tapping
a finger around the rim of the container, Benedict narrowed his
cobalt eyes and laughed. “For starters, food. On top of that,
as I said, I'm willing to let Corbin escort you back and forth.
However...” He trailed off, his gaze moving back up to the
hall. “There's a few spare rooms here, I'm more than happy to
allow you to stay until this mural is complete.”

“
Stay
here?” she asked. The idea was exciting, but she also felt the
rumble of nerves.
Everything
here is so expensive, what if I break something?
“I...
I'm not sure...”

“
It's
fine,” he said, lifting a hand as if to calm her. It didn't
help, her heart still thrummed. “For now, let's just get the
paperwork signed, and know that it is entirely an option. You're free
to come, and to go, and I will outline in the contract what areas of
my home you can peruse at your leisure.”

The
way he said that, implying she wasn't allowed just anywhere, it made
Judith shoot a curious glance at that red door over his shoulder.

“
Shall
we, then?” He beamed, those sharp cheek bones making his smile
even harder.

“
I...
Yes, yes, let's do that.”

Once
more he gave her his hand, and once more, she took it. This time, she
knew it would be impossible not to notice how clammy her skin was.
But more than that, how she trembled.

The
contract ended up being far more in depth than Judith expected.

A
stack of papers, thick as her wrist, outlined everything from
liability, to time line, to rules of the house. Flipping through it,
she had given it a once over before simply staring at Benedict. “Is
this really necessary?”

“
I
have a very private life, Ms. Flight. I need you to understand what
you can, and cannot, do while you are here.” He folded his
hands together, watching her over them as he sat behind his grand
desk. They had relocated to a study for the contract signing, a room
entirely too dark for her taste. On the walls, she could see placards
and awards, but she also couldn't help but notice a few bare
sections. Recently bare, she felt, and wondered if some of her art
from the gallery was meant for there.

“
That's
fine and all, Benedict, but this is just so much! Is there like, a
break down, a summary? Just tell me the basics that will keep me from
getting the letter of admission I need.” She heard her own
frustration, and wondered if her faux professional aura had already
cracked.