The Billionaire and His Driver

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Ronny reached for Brina before he opened his eyes. When he didn’t feel her next to him, he woke up to find himself alone in bed. He leaned up, to see if she was on the couch or in the bathroom or somewhere else in his room, but she wasn’t there. And the thought that she was out of his sight, and his reach, upset him.

He threw the covers off of his naked body, got out of bed, and threw on his bathrobe. Sliding into his slippers, he made his way out of the bedroom, across the landing, and down the backstairs that led to the servants’ quarters. He was convinced, knowing the kind of person Sabrina appeared to be, she would have felt it her obligation to go to work. Which pleased him that she was a devoted employee. But it angered him too. Didn’t she realize everything had changed?

But as he made his way downstairs, he realized he was assuming facts not in evidence. They slept together, made love together, but what else really changed? But as he made it to the ground floor, he stopped walking to think about that. Did everything truly change? Was he really ready to commit his life, his entire being, to this person? When he was determined to never let anybody play him like that? And just like that, in one night, he was ready to cast aside his entire lifestyle? He was ready to go against everything he said he’d never go against? What was he thinking???

But as he turned to go back upstairs and let her be, he stopped in his tracks again. Because the very thought of her not being a full part of his life scared him too. Maybe even more than that dreaded word called commitment. Maybe even more than that horrifying word called love. Maybe even more than being played. And she was still in danger too? His security apparatus hadn’t found her attacker yet. She was still vulnerable. And he was going to just let her be?

He couldn’t.

There was no way.

He turned back around once again and made his way back down to the ground floor and through the double doors that led into the servants’ quarters. When he entered the room, Elvira and James, who were seated at the elongated table talking amongst themselves, immediately stood on their feet.

They both were floored to see him, and to see him standing there in his bathrobe. It was a first for both of them.

James began moving toward him. “Mr. Bradshaw, sir, may we help you?”

“Where’s Sabrina?” Ronny looked past his house manager and over at his housekeeping supervisor.

Elvira was as stunned as James was, but she maintained her composure too. “Miss Hawkins is cleaning her assigned rooms, sir.”

“ Cleaning rooms ? What the devil for? She’s my driver!”

“Jockey is your driver, sir.”

“Did he show up for work today?”

“Yes sir.”

“What was his excuse for not showing up yesterday?”

Elvira and James exchanged a glance. “He had no excuse, sir.”

“He’s fired. I was leaving it up to you, Elvira, but I see you’re not up to the job. He’s out. I will not have a drunk driving me anywhere. I thought that was understood when he didn’t come to work yesterday and didn’t call in. What floor?”

“He’s . . .I think he’s outside, sir.”

“Not him! Where is Sabrina? What floor is Sabrina on?”

“She’s . . .on the second floor, sir,” Elvira said, and Ronny hurried back up the back staircase.

James looked at Elvira. “In his bathrobe looking for her. Well I have never!” He was astounded.

But Elvira said nothing. She was astounded, too, but she was more worried for Brina.