Read Online A Bona Fide Gold Digger by Allison Hobbs - Free Book Online Page A

continued. “My time on this earth, I’m afraid, is coming to an end.” He gave a regretful sigh. “Six short months—that’s all I have left. But I’ve accepted that fact,” he continued, nodding solemnly as he spoke.
    Milan nodded in return and offered as sympathetic a look as she could manage.
    “However, as my last day draws closer,” he said, “I find that I’m not as brave as I’d hoped to be. You see, I’m without family and I now realize that I’m afraid to die alone. I’d like someone by my side when I take my last breath. And I don’t mind paying for peace of mind,” he added in an upbeat tone, as if discussing pleasant weather conditions instead of his imminent demise.
    “Elise, did you discuss Milan’s duties and responsibilities?” he inquired drowsily.
    Milan felt a sudden dread at the sound of the words duties and responsibilities , but was greatly relieved when Mr. Brockington closed his eyes and slumped into the mountain of pillows.
    “Yeah, I told her about the job.” Elise seemed perpetually defensive. Her words, spoken in a boisterous tone, echoed inside the spacious bedroom.
    Milan sensed that Elise hadn’t told her everything about the position. She had a sneaking suspicion that she would be expected to do more than just read boring books and play music. Feeling vaguely troubled, she wondered what other irritating tasks she’d be required to perform.
    Mr. Brockington was silent. The sedative the nurse had administered was obviously starting to have the desired effect on the eccentric older man.
    Suddenly, his eyes popped open, startling Milan. “Did you speak to her about the soothing?” he asked Elise.
    “I didn’t get a chance to bring it up,” Elise snapped.
    “Well, don’t dawdle. It’s time for my soothing,” he said, agitated.
    Soothing! The word suggested something calm and gentle, but there was something unsettling in the way he said it. The word soothing held a creepy ring when spoken from the lips of a sick and cranky man.
    Under her breath, Milan cursed Elise. She cursed Sweetie for getting her involved in this lunacy. She cursed the board members and she cursed her insufferable new charge, Noah Brockington, for causing her to feel so uneasy. She shuddered at the thought of whatever the hell this so-called soothing entailed. What did the old boy want her to do? Bring him a glass of warm milk and cookies every night at bedtime? Sing him a freakin’ lullaby?
    “I forgot to mention that Mr. Brockington likes to be rubbed down right before he goes to sleep,” Elise explained in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
    Milan shot a glance at Mr. Brockington’s bony shoulders and grimaced. Eeew! I’m not touching him.
    “It doesn’t take very long to soothe him,” Elise said. Her voice carried an apologetic tone. “A couple of strokes and he’s a goner. Sleeps like a baby,” she chuckled, her expression sheepish.
    “What are you talking about? Giving a massage sounds like a nursing duty. I’m not qualified to—”
    “Get another companion, Elise,” Noah Brockington barked. “Show Milan to the door and hurry back upstairs. I need my soothing!”
    “I’m so sorry, Milan. You’re gonna have to leave.” Elise put an arm around Milan’s shoulder and steered her toward the doorway. “I’ll be right back, Mr. Brockington,” she told the ailing man.
    “I don’t understand,” Milan said, looking over her shoulder at Mr. Brockington for clarity. He abruptly closed his eyes, refusing to look at her. He sank down into the pillows with his eyes shut tight and his bottom lip poked out.
    Elise escorted Milan out of the room. She apologized profusely as they descended the stairs.
    “I don’t get it. What just happened?” Milan asked.
    “Mr. Brockington’s such a weirdo. You’re probably better off. Look, it didn’t work out, so don’t even worry about it.”
    “You don’t understand, Elise. I have to worry about it. I thought this job was a sure