Chapter 7

• Taking a deep breath she tried to steady her nerves before straightening up; squaring her shoulders. She finally got out of her car and made her way up the front steps. She was just raising her fist to knock on the large oak door when it was opened by a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, wearing a stern expression. "Miss Ruby," he gave her a nod and stepped aside ushering her in. "Thank you," pasting a tight smile on her face to cover her nerves she nodded back at him and walked into the house.
• The inside was just as magnificent as the outside. The front door brought her into a main room, a large white marble fountain at its center, with two cupids’ back to back arrowed poised and ready to shoot as the highlight of the masterpiece which reached up past the first floor and to the second. On either side of her, was a staircase leading to the second floor, which overlooked the first. Wow. She knew there would be a look of marvel on her face, but at that point she didn't care.
• The inside of his home, at least the first room reminded her of an Arabian palace, with all the gold coloured trim and marble. She halfway expected belly dancers to appear and dance their way down the winding staircase. But, of course, they didn't "This is a beautiful house," she managed to gasp. She looked over at the man who had opened the door and caught a glimpse of humour in his eyes, which faded quickly as he nodded, the stern expression reappearing.