CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Eleven
Cal got out of the car hesitantly, not sure
what to expect. His chauffeur asked him kindly, "Would you like me to
stay, or pick you up later?"
He had an indescribable urge to say stay, but
immediately shook the thought from his head. "I’ll call when I want you to
come back."
As he wandered on through the immense path to
the front porch, he laughed at himself. You fool. What are you afraid of?
Dawson is new money. He’ll never last. Besides, how far is that chauffeur
straying? A fifteen minute walk from here. You’re just being silly about this.
He came to the front door, and almost laughed
out loud. So, this is the man I’ve been so nervous about meeting, he
thought, the NO GIRLS ALLOWED sign giving him courage. Lifting a proud
hand, he rang the doorbell and waited. No answer. He waited some more. Still no
answer. Getting annoyed, he rang it three times in a row.
Finally, the door opened, to reveal a marble
entrance hall with French doors leading off to the right and left, a round
hallway next to the left door, and an exquisite staircase leading to the second
story of the house. Everything had a pure feel about it, as if no evil could
ever come its way. The young man who had opened the door smiled. Glancing at
his clothes, Cal couldn’t figure out why he was there. Surely this was no
butler.
"Nice to meet you," the man said.
"I’m a friend of Jack’s. He’s waiting for you upstairs. It’s the very last
room on the left." Then, the man disappeared through one of the doors, and
Cal was left alone.
With a short sigh, he started up the stairs.
"What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered under his breath.
*****
Jack looked around his office. Nervous about
seeing Cal again, he had invited a dozen of his friends to sit around and wait
with him. Some, Chad and Rich among them, were enjoying the view from the
balcony, lounging on the couch, or doing anything they could to entertain
themselves.
*****
This must be it, Cal told himself. He opened the door and braced
himself for whatever was going to happen next.