I Do, Maybe: A Novella Page 2

  Mr. Lewis turned around in his seat. “Your mother cries all the time because she’s a big softie. She cries during those toilet paper commercials, the ones with the little puppies. She’s useless,” Mr. Lewis laughed. So did Fraser.

  I managed to smile.

  When we arrived at the airport, we were driven past all the buildings and onto the tarmac, where a private jet awaited. The car door was opened by another man in a black suit. I thanked him and looked up at the aeroplane.

  “Do you like flying?” Fraser asked as he appeared at my side.

  “I’ve never flown before,” I answered honestly.

  “Oh, well,” Fraser started toward the plane. I followed him. “It can be a bit bumpy on take-off and the landing, but once you’re in the air it’s smooth, unless we get turbulence.” He stopped at the bottom of the steps and motioned for me to walk ahead of him. “Ladies first.”

  “Thank you.”

  A middle aged woman greeted me at the top of the stairs. “Welcome aboard Miss Watkins.” She motioned for me to move to the right. “What would you like to drink?”

  “Oh, water please.”

  “Certainly, take a seat anywhere you like,” she smiled.

  I walked to the middle of the plane and took a seat in a large black leather chair. Fraser sat down opposite me. I fiddled with the lap belt.

  “You only need to wear that during landing and take-off. We won’t be leaving for another ten minutes or so,” he said.

  “Okay.” I placed the belt down on the chair beside my thighs.

  Mr. Lewis boarded the plane, his mobile phone to his ear. He rolled his eyes and sighed as he took a seat at the back of the plane.

  “Dad always sits at the back. Apparently, it’s the safest place to be if the plane crashes.”

  “What?” I looked back. “Should we move to the back?”

  Fraser laughed. “No. I reckon if the plane is falling to the ground, the safest place to be is…not in the plane.”

  I took a deep breath and felt my fingers knot together nervously on my lap. “For some strange reason, that didn’t help to ease my nerves.”

  Fraser laughed. “It wasn’t meant to.”

  Once the plane started moving along the tarmac, Fraser leaned over and opened the shield on the window. “I love watching the ground fall away,” he said. “You should watch it too; it’s the best bit about flying.”

  Mr. Lewis spoke up from the back of the plane. “Belts on kids.”

  “Belts are on, Dad,” Fraser said rolling his eyes. “And I believe Emily prefers not to be referred to as a goat.”

  “Oh no, a kid is fine,” I corrected. “Kid, kitten, chick, puppy, any of those are fine. Just don’t call me a cow or a sow or a goose. I’ll take offense at being called a goose.”

  “What about a piglet? Can I call you Piglet?” Fraser asked, a cheeky smile crossing his face.

  I smiled. “Piglet would be fine, although there is a temptation to abbreviate it to pig or piggy. So, perhaps you’re better off sticking to Em.”

  “Em? Is that what your friends call you?” Fraser asked.

  “Yeah, Em or Emmy, which is not that much shorter than Emily so personally I don’t see the point.”

  “I think I’ll stick with Piglet,” Fraser said, looking back out the window. “We’re getting ready to take off.”

  I shifted my gaze to the window and watched the flaps on the wing move. My body tensed and I grabbed onto the armrest, squeezing with all my strength as the plane’s engines revved. When the plane started to move, I took a deep breath as my body was pushed back into my seat.

  Fraser looked at me. “Hey, relax. It’s okay.” His hand moved out to mine and he gently rubbed it. “Watch,” he said as he looked back to the window.

  Then it happened and strangely enough I did relax. I felt a strange light floating sensation as the plane left the ground and only a few moments later, building and cars and houses seemed like small dots on the ground.

  “Cool, huh?” Fraser said.

  “Yeah, it is,” I said. I looked down to where Fraser had settled his hand on mine. I’d never held a boys hand before, other than John’s but I don’t think that counted. My eyes went to Fraser. He would be my first everything, my first boyfriend, my first kiss, I was going to have to have sex with him. I’d lose my virginity to this awkward looking boy. Everything I did for the next fifteen years was because he wanted me to. But then it occurred to me. Did he want me? Or was he being forced into this as much as I was?

  “Can I ask you a question?” I said quietly.

  “Sure,” he replied, moving his hand from mine and settling back into his seat.

  “Did you get a say in all of this?”

  He nodded his head. “I was given five portfolios. I narrowed it down to two, and then Dad made the final decision.”

  “Why did he pick me?”

  “For a lot of reasons,” Fraser’s body language changed then. He suddenly seemed older. “You’re very smart. You finished first in the National Mathematics Competition last year. The essay you submitted for the National Writing Competition on the history of ancient Rome was ranked highest for your age and in the top ten for the entire country. You’re young, you’re healthy, and you’re beautiful.” He looked away for a moment, his cheeks flushing pink. “You have a good sense of humour. I’m hoping none of that will change.”

  “My portfolio said all of that?”

  “Everything except the good sense of humour part. I figured that one out on my own.”

  “Where did you get my portfolio from?”

  He looked back at me. “We run a program…well, really it’s more like a tax deduction. Once we, my brothers and I, earn over a certain amount of money, we need an offset for tax reasons. So my dad started up the Lewis Scholarship. Have you heard of it?”

  I shook my head. “No, I haven’t.”

  “It’s basic. We contact small business owners and they send in their child’s portfolio. It’s a very detailed questionnaire. We run a lot of background checks, we meet with the candidates and the winner gets their education at an influential school. I can claim all the expenses as a tax deduction.”

  “So then why was I chosen before you even met me?”

  Fraser smiled at me. “You’re smart Emily, not much get’s by you. You’d make a great lawyer.” He shifted in his seat and looked down. “I needed a tax deduction quickly. A big one. Normally I wouldn’t need it for another couple of years, but I’m having a good year so far, financially speaking, so I needed the offset.”

  I’d only known Fraser for two hours, if that. I was no expert on body language and I definitely didn’t know Fraser well enough to comment on his persona. But if I had to say anything about him at that moment, I’d say he was a big fat liar. There was something bigger going on and it seemed that no one was going to tell me.

  I smiled to quench the suffocating discomfort that was slowly developing between Fraser and I and decided not to ask any more questions about this bizarre situation I had found myself in. I’d wait for the timing to be right and ask more questions then. “Since you know so much about me, can I ask you a few questions?”

  “I don’t like to talk about me. You can Google me later,” he answered gruffly.

  “But I only want to know what’s true.”

  “It’s all true,” he said quietly. “Everything they write about me is true.”

  Suddenly I was very interested to find out what this ‘everything’ was.

  “So who was the other girl? The one who lost out to me?” Even at moments like that, I couldn’t help my competitive side coming out.

  Fraser laughed. “I can’t remember her name. She had long blonde hair though.” He shrugged. “She wasn’t as…” He took a deep breath, searching for the right words. In the end, he shook his head. “I was hoping Dad would pick you.”

  *****

  The apartment was huge, modern in its style. It was on the seventeenth floor and overlooked th
e harbour with views of the Opera House.

  “Wow,” I said as I was instinctively drawn to the window.

  “It’s pretty cool, huh?” Fraser said.

  “Very cool.”

  “I’ll give you a quick tour,” Fraser beckoned me to him. “Through here are the bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. You’ve been set up in the master bedroom, since this is your apartment.”

  “My apartment?”

  “Yeah, your apartment. You need somewhere to stay when you’re not at school.”

  “I thought I’d go home, to Melbourne.”

  “You will sometimes, but weekends and some holidays you’ll have to stay in Sydney.” Again his body language had changed and he was all business. “This is your room.” He walked into an oversized room which held an oversized bed. Greens and blues swirled together on the bedspread. “Through here is your wardrobe.” He pointed to an open doorway. “And your bathroom is here.” He pointed toward a closed door.

  I went to my wardrobe not sure what to expect. But as I walked through the doorway, lights switched on and I was presented with a room almost as big as my entire house.

  “Wow,” I said. I made my way through the circular room. The outer walls were completely filled with clothes, everything from jeans and pants to shirts to dresses, and gowns. The centre island held accessories, shoes and wraps and jewellery and handbags. A small row of drawers revealed sleepwear and underwear.

  “Who bought all this?” I asked.

  “Some woman,” Fraser answered shrugging his shoulders. “If it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it just let Georgiana know.”

  “Who is Georgiana?”

  “Your house keeper. She’ll be here any minute. If you need anything at all, she can help you. There’s just one more thing I have to run by you.” He started to walk from the bedroom. “This way.”

  He took me back to the main living area and through to a room which had been set up as a study. “Do you know how to use a laptop?”

  “I’ve never had one, but it can’t be too difficult.”

  “It’s not. This is your lap top and this is your phone. An email address has been set up for you. You can only send and receive emails from me, my father and mother and your mother.” He handed me the phone. “Same with phone calls. If you make any friends and would like to add their email address or number, you need to be given permission from my father or me.”

  “Could I add John’s number, I’d like to…”

  “Who is John?” Fraser asked, taking a step toward me, his tone changing to almost aggressive.

  I took a step back. “He’s my cousin. We’re really close.”

  Fraser narrowed his eyes at me. “He can contact you via your mother’s number.”

  “Okay.”

  “You understand that you’re not to have any contact with men outside of my family and your father. It’s in the contract.”

  “I know, but John is my cousin. We’ve grown up together. He’s like a brother to me.”

  Fraser stared into my eyes. His gaze was intense and I felt myself blushing under his look. “He can contact you via your mother’s number,” he repeated.

  “Thank you,” I said, realising for the first time that Fraser was already a business man, and some things would be non-negotiable.

  His stance relaxed. “This is your home away from home, Emily. Make yourself comfortable.”

  “Thank you.” I followed Fraser out of the study.

  “Tonight you’ll meet my mother. Dinner will be at seven.”

  “Where do I go for dinner?”

  “The penthouse. My parents own it. Between me, my father and my brothers we own the whole building.”

  “You own an apartment?” I asked.

  “Two, this one and mine. I’m on level eighteen, although, we don’t visit here very often so at the moment, you’re the only permanent resident, besides staff. They live on the lower floors.”

  “Oh,” I said quietly.

  Fraser smiled. “You’ll get used to it.”

  “I’m sure I won’t.”

  He turned and looked at me. “You will. Dinner’s at seven. Don’t be late.”

  *****

  I loved Georgiana from the second I laid eyes on her. Mostly because she smiled in a way that made me feel it was okay to be sobbing while I stood alone in the middle of a large strange apartment that I had only minutes before been told to make myself comfortable in.

  “Emily, sweetheart. It’ll be okay,” Georgiana said as she approached me and hugged me. She was a mother, I could tell. “Come with me,” she led me to the couch. “Sit and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

  “Okay,” I sobbed pathetically and followed her to the couch.

  I stopped crying while Georgiana made me a cup of tea.

  “I can’t imagine how this must feel for you, but please rest assured, the Lewis family are wonderful people. Mrs. Lewis would be heartbroken if she saw you like this.” Georgina placed a teacup on the coffee table.

  “I’m okay, really. Today’s been a busy day. I’m just tired. I feel a bit tense, that’s all.”

  “Take a few deep breaths and relax. What do you like to do to relax? A hot bath? Chocolate? There’s chocolate in the pantry.”

  “I’d like to go for a swim. Is there somewhere I can swim?”

  Georgiana smiled. “There’s a swimming pool on the first basement level.”

  I returned Georgiana’s smile. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

  The swimming pool was a full length 50 meter pool, but it was only 10 meters wide. I instantly got the impression that not very many people used the pool. I swam for an hour, lap by lap letting go of all my anxiety and nerves.

  Georgiana helped me pick an outfit suitable for dinner and after a long hot shower I dressed and readied myself to eat with my future husband.

  “Husband,” I laughed.

  “Excuse me?” Georgiana asked.

  “I am thirteen years old and I’m about to share my first meal with the man I’m going to marry.” I laughed again. “I thought this moment would be a whole lot more romantic.”

  Georgiana laughed. “You do what you can to make it romantic.”

  “Should I play footsies under the table?”

  “Why not, just be sure that the feet belong to Fraser. I’m not sure how Mr. Lewis would react to under the table seduction.”

  Georgiana informed me that from my apartment, I had clearance to the penthouse, level eighteen - Fraser’s apartment - and the three basement levels. The pool was on on basement level one, basement level two housed a fully equipped gym and basement level three was the car park.

  Georgiana kissed my cheek. “You look lovely. I’ll be waiting here to hear all about your first date.”

  “Thanks Georgiana.”

  I was calm until I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse. I entered my access code and as the doors to the elevator closed, Georgiana waved goodbye, smiling as I wiped my sweaty palms against my black skirt.

  Georgiana recommended a simple but elegant outfit for my first dinner with my new family. I wore a short black flowing skirt, which sat just above my knees and a red fitted short sleeved blouse. It was silk with small frills around the sleeves and waist. I wore my hair loose, long brown hair that hung to half way down my back. It had a natural loose curl, girls envied my hair. It was thick and full of body.

  I didn’t wear any make up; there was none at the apartment. I knew my dad had a say in that. I had everything else a girl could possibly want, from expensive perfumes to an array of nail polishes, but no makeup; my dad hated make up.

  When the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by a man in a black suit. But this one I recognised as the driver from earlier in the day.

  “Miss Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are expecting you.”

  “I know. They invited me here. And you can call me Emily.”

  “Very well Emily.”

  “An
d what shall I call you?” I held my hand out to him.

  He put his hand into mine and shook it. “Lawrence, you can call me Lawrence.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Lawrence.”

  Lawrence didn’t smile but he opened the door to the penthouse. “They’re waiting for you in the lounge room.”

  I stepped through the doorway and looked around. “And where exactly would the lounge room be, Lawrence?”

  That got a smile out of him. “Follow me.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Lewis smiled when Lawrence announced my arrival. They each stood and welcomed me.

  “Thank you, I feel bad for arriving empty handed but I haven’t had a chance to get to the shops. I’ve had a very interesting day.”

  Mrs. Lewis laughed. “Oh, you’ll fit in just fine.” She looked to Mr. Lewis. “Charlotte is going to love her.” Mrs. Lewis approached me and kissed each of my cheeks. “I’m Beverly, Fraser’s mother.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Lewis.”

  “Come and sit with us, Fraser will be with us in a few minutes. He’s just wrapping up some business.”

  “All business, no play?” I asked as I sat down in a large leather armchair.

  “That’s the Lewis way. You’ll get used to it.”

  “We play,” Mr. Lewis said, feigning offence.

  Mrs. Lewis laughed. “Oh yes, sorry. I stand corrected. They do play Monopoly. And it’s far from a friendly game. They are vicious. You should see it.”

  “Maybe we can play a game after dinner,” I suggest.

  Mrs. Lewis drew in a deep breath. “You are one brave woman, Emily.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “How bad can it be?”

  Dinner with the Lewis’ was not at all how I expected it to be. There was no fancy three course dinner. We didn’t sit at a set table with napkins placed over our legs.

  Instead, Mrs. Lewis pulled an array of meats and marinated vegetables from the fridge and we each put together our own pizzas.

  When I asked for BBQ sauce, Fraser screwed up his face at me. “Who puts BBQ sauce on a pizza?”

  “You mean to tell me you’ve never had a BBQ meat lover’s pizza?” I mimic his expression, wrinkling my nose. “You’ve had such a sheltered life, Fraser.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Lewis laughed.