Black Rose by Suzanne Steele

worked very well for not only him, but his employees in the past. When my boss envisions a project, or a prospective job, it usually means more than just one person will benefit. Such will be the case of you caring for Ms. Jones.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off.”
    We pull into a driveway connected to a home which looks like it came out of a suburban sitcom. Everything is pristine, right down to the landscaping.
    “Come,” the driver speaks as he opens the door for my son and me to easily exit the luxury Cadillac.
    “We will look at the apartment first and see if it is to your liking.”
    To my liking? Normally no one gives a shit about what I like or don’t like.
    Tommy bounces in my arms, still gleefully sucking on the teething cookie the driver provided. We make our way to the back of the house and I already know I’m going to love it here. The apartment looks like something from a fairytale and it only gets better when he unlocks the door.
    We walk in and there is a dining area and kitchen to the right. A living room sits off to the left. Someone has taken great care to furnish this place and it is beautiful.  It has a contemporary country look and feel to it which makes it immediately feel very homey. It’s just the kind of place I would love to see my son grow up in.
    I make my way through the apartment and back into the master bedroom with an adjoining full bathroom. Everything is perfect. The huge antique poster bed with a flowered duvet and plush pillows is the central piece of furniture. The room also houses a dresser, a chest of drawers, a vanity—complete with high end cosmetics and beauty supplies—and a wardrobe, not to mention the huge flat screen TV on the wall. I make my way around the room touching things, as if it will solidify the reality of it all. A walk-in closet catches my eye and I carefully make my way into it, pulling Tommy’s saliva filled, cookie stained hands back from the designer clothing. Curiosity causes me to look at the tags but, instinctively, I already know they are my size. Now I’m a little freaked out. This mysterious man is proving to be very precise in matters that pertain to my son and me. Who is this guy?
    I look up to see the driver holding an expensive cell phone out for me to take. “It’s the boss. He is certain you have questions.”
    My hand trembles as I take the phone and try to juggle my son in my other arm.
    “May I?” The driver asks, offering to hold him.
    I hand Tommy to him and speak into the phone, “Hello?”
    The rich baritone voice on the other end of the line makes me wonder what the man behind that sexy ass voice looks like.
    “I’m certain you have questions, Melanie. I want you to stay at the apartment. Everything you and Tommy need has been adequately provided for you. If you have need of anything else, you may call me on this cell phone you are presently using. This is your cell phone and it has my number already programmed into it. You have also been provided with a top of the line laptop which is located in your office.”
    “Why are you doing this?”
    “I don’t like being questioned Melanie, but I will allow it due to the circumstances. I have already informed you through my driver, my aunt is in need of a caretaker of sorts. She adores children and she will adore you, just as I already do. Now be a good girl and go meet her and get settled into your new home.”
    “Wait a minute, what is your name?”
    “You may address me as Sir … and Melanie, I will be very displeased if you go back to that dump of an apartment you used to live in. Is that understood?”
    Not completely understanding why, I answer. “Yes, Sir…”
     



Chapter Eight
    Black Rose
    I hang up the phone and make my way back out to the sun room where I am having tea with my mother, Rose Wentworth.
       “Oh my,” she states. “It seems they have dubbed this serial killer The Black Rose Killer .
        “If you ask me he is doing