House Rules
By the time you've finished with Gabbie and retrieved what's left of your composure, it's barely noon. You pick back up the laundry basket and head down the hallway.
You're passing the bathroom when you hear your name. Charlotte's voice, flat and unhurried as always.
She's in the process of taking off her sweater, red leggings still on, and she doesn't pause or cover herself when she sees you standing there.
You stare at the wall just past her shoulder. It doesn't help.
"I need you in here," she says.
"I...right now?"
"That's generally what 'I need you' means, yes."
You step inside.
"Is this... I mean, is this something that falls under my duties? Because I'm not sure the contract specifically..."
"It does," she says simply. "I'll show you exactly where, if you'd like to spend the next twenty minutes going through it together."
You would not like that.
"No, it's fine," you say. "What do you need?"