Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Prologue: The Perfect Life : Part 1
Ian sat in his study looking out of the window that presented the beautiful view of his estate. His residence was not only huge but also one of the finest architectural creations laid out, surrounded by rolling parklands.
The Maxwell estate was a vast piece of land situated next to a splendid lake separated from the estate by sparse woods, where he loved to take long walks. His handsome two-floor Manor stood in the fore of the estate. Two gates afforded entrance to the estate. The first one was the so-called official entrance; the other was placed in the right wall that had the woods on one side and the right wing of the Manor on the other. He used this gate more often since it was near his part of the house, and it opened to the woods.
The left wing of the house was meant for hosting the massive and popular Maxwell parties. This was because the area was farthest from Ian’s wing of the house – where he preferred peace. The area behind the Manor was the greater part of the estate; the lakeside region of the estate housed horses – the companions of his favorite sport! Next to the stables were his servants’ quarters. The rest of the area was nothing but parklands; he had intended to do something with it but his busy schedule never allowed him to do so.
This house though perfectly built on the exterior looked more like a photo gallery and an exhibition of his achievements and awards on the inside, than a home. This was why the right wing of the house was dearer to him. The ground floor contained the huge hall in the front, and dining hall on the right, Ian’s office, study & library, and family area in the back. The only thing he did not like was the office being on the right of the house; it brought interference to his peace. He had wanted it on the left. The ‘left’ was reserved for his people and parties!
The bedrooms were housed on the first floor. The right wing had only one bedroom, his, most of the other area being taken by his two-floor library, connected to the one of the ground floor by means of a staircase. The center and left wing’s bedrooms were for his family when they visited and for any guests who were invited or decided to stay over. A half floor above this one had the attic of the house where he stored all that was old: old-fashioned, old pictures, old furniture, old clothes, old gifts, old memories; it was so full, from his habit of not discarding anything old, that he considered extending it. He had two swimming pools made: a huge curvy one to the left complete with an artistic bridge over it, and a small simple one on his side for his personal use.
The study where he sat now faced the right gates, which when open showed the woods.
A bit of the parkland studded with a few trees here and there, his favorite horse galloping in the stables, the concrete road beyond the gate, a light sprinkle of the woods went on to quite a distance getting slightly thicker in each row, beyond which the ground sloped out of view to meet the lake, the late afternoon sky showing between the trees that bore the signature of spring in all its glory, the sun still making up its mind whether to set or to enjoy the site for some more time – it was this beautiful view that presented itself to his eyes, just the way he liked it.
Normally.
But now it mattered nothing to him.
The clock struck four. The time he liked his evening tea. Normally.
The door was knocked upon and opened by his faithful butler, Carlton, carrying the tea.
“The tea, Sir.” announced Carlton. He placed the tray quietly and left.
Ian didn’t make any reply, didn’t even take notice of the tea and continued to stare out of the window.
Carlton closed the door behind him, walked the few steps to his pantry, and sat down wearily. He was now quite beyond his middle age. His service in this household was twenty years strong. Ian was a child when he joined as a butler and had taken a paternal feeling towards him; Ian too had always treated old Carlton as one of the family. It pained him to see Ian so lost, depressed ... so lifeless.
Just a month back, everything was so good, so perfect in this most perfect of all places… Ian was going to get married …
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