The Billionaire and His Driver

CHAPTER TEN

When the car stopped in the circular driveway at Bradshaw Manor, Ronny hopped out before Brina could get out and open the door for him, and he made his way inside. Brina, certain she was done for, got out and made her way to the side entrance that was one of the servants’ entrances. She went inside defeated. She was glad that nobody was in the staff room except Elvira.

Elvira was seated at the table going over the housekeeping budget for the week. “How did it go?” she asked without looking up.

“Terrible.” Brina plopped down at the table.

“Everything’s terrible to you. I told you about your tendency toward exaggeration.”

“I’m not exaggerating, Mrs. D. I think he’s going to fire me.”

Elvira looked up. That got her attention. “What happened?”

Brina had a stricken look in her big, brownish-green eyes. “He didn’t like that I was wearing a man’s uniform and wanted me to go to one those shops at his country club and buy some clothes.”

“Buy clothes?With what?Air?”

“He offered me several hundred dollars,” Brina said.

Elvira stared at the younger woman. She was unusual in how high her ethical standards were. That was what endeared her to Elvira. “You’re still wearing Jockey’s uniform so I’m to assume you didn’t accept the money?”

“That’s right.”

Elvira frowned. “But why, Brina?”

“You should have seen the way he shoved that money in my face like I was a dog or a beggar who wanted a handout from him. I’ve never begged anybody for anything in my life, Mrs. D, and I’m not about to start now. And with a man like him?”

“What do you mean a man like him?”

“A man who fires people like their livelihood is a game to him. I’ve heard horror stories about him.”

“Do you believe everything you hear?”

“No ma’am, but--”

“But nothing! You don’t even know him, so don’t tell me what you’ve heard. Tell me what you know. Base your experience of him on your experience and nobody else’s. You hear me?”

Brina was a little surprised that her supervisor would defend him so forcefully. But then again, she’d known him since she was a teenager and he was a baby. “Yes ma’am.”

“Besides,” Elvira added as she returned to reviewing her budget outline, “if he wanted to fire you, you’d be fired already. How did it go upstairs? Did he say anything about it to you?”

Brina was puzzled. “Upstairs?”

Elvira looked at her again. “Yes upstairs. You did prepare his bath, right?”

“ Prepare his bath ? I’m supposed to do that?”

“Yes, you’re supposed to do it! Every time he returns from a trip, Jockey runs his bath and takes care of whatever he needs. That’s part of being his driver. Don’t tell me you didn’t even run his bath, Brina?”

“You didn’t tell me to do that.”

“You know Jockey’s duties. Who else was going to do it? Get upstairs and do it now!”

Brina jumped up from the table and was about to hurry out of the room, but she stopped and looked at her boss. Only the most senior staff cleaned the areas Mr. Bradshaw frequented in the manor. “Where upstairs?” she asked her.

“The fourth floor. It’s the only bedroom up there. Hurry! And don’t forget to ask if there’s anything else he needs.”

Brina ran out of the staff room, down the hall, and ran onto the back elevator. She pressed the button to the fourth floor repeatedly. She hoped that he was preoccupied and had not yet realized his bath wasn’t ready and waiting for him.

When she made it to the fourth floor, she hurried into the bedroom.