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inclined his head, then reached out to offer her his
hand. “Let me show you around.”
    She
hoped, when she reached out and took that smooth palm, that he didn't
notice how sweaty her own was.
    Together,
they wandered up into the hall above, a long length of white wall on
one side, railing on the other. The view below was beautiful, Judith
could see the front door, the luxuriously designed carpet, and once
more, that alluring red door.
    Benedict
led her along the corridor, pointing out a room here or there, from
studies to foyers to grand marble bathrooms. She noticed a number of
bedrooms, but none that looked particularly lived in. The tour
continued downstairs, where she found a beautiful kitchen. It was
modern in its touches, despite the mansion's vintage feel.
    A
pair of huge sliding glass doors displayed the backyard, shady green
grass and purple flowers. More notably, a refreshing looking pool
shaped like a kidney bean.
    There
was clearly much more to see, but Benedict walked her back to the
kitchen, pouring her a drink. “Do you like it?” he asked,
handing her the suspiciously crystal glass, a thing that made Judith
nervous just to hold.
    “ Oh,
uh, I really shouldn't. I'm technically too young.”
    Snorting,
he poured another splash into the glass. “In Europe, it would
be legal. Besides, who would ever know?”
    Frowning,
Judith squinted into the cup. Oh gosh, how expensive is
this glass, or this wine, even? Sipping
the red liquid, she watched him over the rim in thought. “You
asked if I liked your house. It's very impressive, but it's also so
big! Do you live here all alone?”
    “ Not
entirely. I have a staff, and often clients or guests will come by.”
Shrugging, he set his empty glass by the sink. “I entertain a
lot, as well. Hence, why I wanted your services.”
    “ Right,”
she blinked, trying to imagine how fancy a gathering here must be. How
does he afford all of this? What does he do to make money? “Can you show me where I'm supposed to paint? I didn't see
anywhere obvious in the rooms you showed me.” Lifting an
eyebrow, a thought hit her. She pointed out of the kitchen towards
the main entrance room. “It is out there?”
    “ Precisely,”
he flashed those perfect pearly teeth.
    Judith
returned the smile, almost relieved. “I thought so, that red
door was like, the only place you didn't show me. So is that another
dining room down there, or—”
    “ No,”
he snapped, startling her. For the first time since she had met him,
Benedict's lovely features were twisted in a harsh frown. “No,
not there.” His blue eyes softened, as if he had realized how
curt his tone was. “Sorry, it's just... that room is off
limits, is all.”
    Remembering
to breathe, Judith inhaled slowly, her smile forced and fragile. “Oh,
uh, sorry. I didn't know.”
    “ Of
course, how could you have?” Gesturing towards the archway, he
guided her back out to the main room, standing in the middle beneath
the chandelier.
    Judith
shot one look at that crimson door, wondering why his reaction had
been so visceral. “So, you did say it was out here that I was
painting, then where...?”
    Benedict
chuckled, and she followed his eyes as he rolled them up to the long
length of white wall above. It was where he had been standing when
she entered, leaning on that intricate railing.
    “ I'm
painting that?” She gasped, nearly dropping her wine glass.
“That whole thing?”
    “ That
is exactly, Ms. Flight, what I am hoping for.”
    Looking
at it again, taking in the size, the knowledge it would be the first
thing people would see when they entered the mansion... Judith felt a
flush of both pride, and fear. Lifting her glass, she drained the
contents, then exhaled loudly.
    “ That's
going to take me at least a week, Benedict.”
    “ I
know, that's why I said I'd take care of anything you'd need.”
    “ Supplies,
all that?”
    Benedict
tilted his head, reaching out to gently take her empty glass. “No,
Ms. Flight.