Dinner for Four

By Lateshia Cameron-Christophe

Layla Harrison seems to have gotten more than she expected when she was hired as a live in housekeeper and errand girl for Wayne Patterson, his brother Elton, his best friend Dennis and his cousin Brian. To help pay her way through college and desperate to stay out of her mother’s cramped house with four other siblings, Layla does whatever she can to stay financially independent. As she embarks on her new occupation she makes every effort to stay focused on what she was hired to do and not bring any attention to herself. But when sexual tension builds between her and one of the men in the house, she begins to experience a series of adverse events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479782277

Lateshia Cameron-Christophe

Lateshia Christophe is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Though born as an only child, she was raised in her grandparent’s loving and lively household of ten. Her love of writing and storytelling began at an early age as she was often inspired by stories her mother and grandfather used to tell. With her interest in urban romance and experiences shared with her by a few of her closest friends; Lateshia decided to set out on writing her very first romance novel in 1999.

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Copyright © 2013 by Lateshia Cameron-Christophe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. Date: 11/29/2021

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Contents

The Interview

Settling In

All Work . . .

Old Acquaintances

The Morning After

Falling For You

Fishing

Getting out

Office Rules

Revenge

Full Circle

In her apartment hanging out with her best friend Kate, Layla browses through the Want Ads looking for work. Being a college student and from a family of little means she is no stranger to hard work. She is the type who doesn’t wish to go to the salon to get her hair and nails done every week, or shop the malls for the latest trends. Layla is easy going, down to earth, and not at all vain about her looks, though she could very well afford to be. Her 5' 7", 130 pound, brown sculpted body got her more attention than she desired.

Girl, check this out. Layla sat straight up in her bed.

Whaaat? Kate asks as Layla interrupts her reading celebrity gossip.

Reading aloud from a newspaper ad, Wanted. Live-in household caregiver to clean, run errands and occasionally prepare dinner for four. Separate living quarters provided. Call Wayne at 997-8283. Kate, this is perfect! This is just what I needed. If I get a job like this I could finally get out of this overpriced, glorified matchbox they call an apartment, and live rent free.

Yeah Layla, but you’ve never been a live-in maid before. How do you know you can handle a job like that? It sounds like a lot of work to me. Cleaning up after people, cooking, and playing errand girl? That’s just too much responsibility. I mean, what if this house has a couple of bad, snot-nosed brats that you can’t handle? Girl you’re gonna be grey-haired before you’re 25.

"Look Kate, it didn’t mention anything about babysitting. I’m just gonna call them up and get more details about the job; then I’ll decide if it’s something I want to do. Besides, it’s no more responsibility than caring for four younger siblings while my mom worked from sun up to sundown. Cooking, cleaning, and helping with homework . . . Heck I even bathed the little monsters until they were able to bathe themselves!"

Okay. Suit yourself. Call them. I just can’t see having to clean up behind people day in and day out, let alone cook. Ehhhh! Shivering as if a chill went down her spine

Well Kate. You won’t have to ever worry about that. You ever heard of the Last Supper?

Yeah. She cautiously responds.

"Anyone that ate your cooking—that would be their last supper . . . "

You ain’t exactly Betty Crocker yourself.

Yeah, maybe so, but at least what I cook ain’t lethal.

Layla makes the call. The phone rings and a man answers in an out of breath tone.

Hello.

"Hello. I—I’m Layla Harrison and I was calling about the ad in the paper. Is Wayne in?

Oh yeah, the ad . . . ! Hold on a minute and I’ll get him for ya.

This is Wayne. How may I help you?

Yes, this is Layla Harrison and I was calling about the ad in the paper for a housekeeper. Has the position been filled yet?

Well, not yet. We have talked to a few people and have a couple of prospects in mind but no decision has been made. Would you like to come in for an interview?

Sure.

Well, first let me tell you briefly what the job entails. We have a bi-level, five bedroom house with four and a half baths and guest house out back.

Are there any children?

Oh no—Only adults live here. We might behave like children from time to time but other than that—no children. Laughing to himself Let me fully inform you of what you’re getting into here. There are four men who live here including me. I’m the owner of the house and over the course of a few years my brother, my cousin and a close friend of ours moved in with me. It’s only a temporary arrangement of course but the house is quite spacious so we don’t get in each other’s way. Our only problem is we are all so busy we haven’t given that much attention to the day to day upkeep of the house and we desperately need someone to come in and make this place livable again. I’ll have to show you what I mean when you get here, provided I haven’t scared you off already.

Laughing Oh no, I’m fine with that. When would you like me to come and meet with you?

How about tomorrow around 3 o’clock . . . ? I’ll be interviewing some other applicants and you’ll get a chance to meet a couple of the guys also.

Okay 3 o’clock sounds fine.

Alright, see you then.

Layla flashes a sheepish grin which Kate notices immediately.

Okay what’s up?

Layla looks at her still grinning and doesn’t respond.

Layla! She says in a more stern tone.

What, Kate?

Tell me about the job! She insists.

Well, it’s not exactly what I expected.

What do you mean?

I mean there are no kids to care for. In fact there are just men living there. The house is owned by one of them and the others are just living there with him, one of whom is his brother.

Four guys living in a house together? Are they gay? Did he sound gay?

No! Girl I don’t know! Why don’t you call him back and ask him.

"You mean to tell me you’re gonna be the only woman living there, in a house full of single men? Oooh—you’d better hope they’re gay!"

"Now what is that supposed to mean!? Besides, I’m not going to be in the same house with them. The ad said separate living quarters. Holding the ad up to Kate’s face He said there is a guest house behind the main house."

"Layla, are you sure you want to do this? I mean you’re too smart and attractive to be working as someone’s housekeeper and errand girl. Besides, they’re probably looking for someone middle-aged or older who has a lot more experience at this. This is not going to be like taking care of some kids. These are four grown men being taken care of by one woman; a young, attractive woman. That spells trouble with a capital T."

"Look Kate, if this man is talking the right amount of money, I’m not turning this job down. I’m very low on cash right now and perish the thought of going back to live with my mom. I mean I can’t get any studying done there, and I’d like to be able to give my mom a little cash to help out with my brothers and sisters every once in a while. So if they are going to provide living quarters, my money can go towards other things. And as far as me having any trouble out of those men—I’ll worry about that when and if it even happens!"

Well, if they are like most men I know, it’s bound to happen.

Layla thinks for a moment, walks over to her closet, pulls out a box of old clothes and opens it.

What’s that? Kate asks with a frowned expression.

If I get this job, these will be my work clothes.

No. You’re not actually gonna wear these?

I most certainly am.

And these shoes . . . !? Pulling a pair of old loafers out of the box

Yep. All of it. Look Kate, if I’m going to pull this off, I’ve got to at least look like someone who can do the work, not like someone who’s afraid to get her hands dirty. I think I can do a better job without worrying about some guy ogling me. I just want to do the work, get paid and get out of there.

Okay Layla, whatever you say. All I know is you’d better hope they won’t be able to see past all these awful clothes you’re about to pile on.

Oh, stop worrying and help me pick out something to wear to this interview.

So the transformation beings; Layla layers on the oversized scrubs and finishes her ensemble with a pair of beat-up loafers.

Oh my goodness—you look hideous!

Layla then pulls out a pair of her old black framed glasses with thick lenses and positions them squarely on her face.

No. Now I look hideous. She jokes as Kate bursts into laughter

"Girl when this is all over I’m taking you to see a doctor because you have got to be out of your mind to want to wear that out in public.

You’re a very supportive person, you know that?

The Interview

The next day after her classes, Layla types a list of references to take with her, pops a microwave dinner in the oven, eats a few bites and begins to get ready. Prior to her arrival, the other applicants are being interviewed.

(The old woman hard of hearing)

What’s that you say? Putting her hand to her ear

I said we may require you to do some extensive cleaning! Do you think you can handle that!? Elton repeats in a