[Chapter 39: Linton Estate, Two Female Guests]
The next day, Mira and Seth went to handle the house title transfer, while Linton interviewed the housekeeper and estate maintenance staff recommended by the domestic service agency. They hired a housekeeper named Amy Sydney.
Amy was a young British woman of Eastern European descent. She was above average in looks, not exactly stunning, but had a gentle demeanor that easily inspired trust. She had graduated from a British housekeeping school, obtaining certifications, and previously worked as a housekeeper for a female movie star in London. When the star got married and the job ended, Amy heard that English-style butlers were highly sought after by wealthy Americans with good salaries, so she moved to Los Angeles.
Amy was lucky to land the housekeeper role just after arriving in LA. Linton also hired four maids and four gardeners. Amy oversaw the day-to-day estate affairs; the maids handled cleaning inside the estate and around the roads and plazas, and the gardeners took care of the plants and trees.
Goodman processed employment paperwork for Amy, the maids, and gardeners, and had them sign confidentiality agreements.
...
Linton said to Amy, "From now on, this estate is yours to manage. I've renamed it Linton Estate. Contact an advertising agency to make new signs and logos. Also, please help me hire a chef."
Amy, dressed sharply with golden short hair pinned back in a distinctly British style, softly replied, "Understood, sir. Any specific requirements for the chef?"
Linton nodded. "I don't care where the chef is from, as long as they're highly skilled in all major global cuisines. Further, make a list of anything else the estate needs, and have Mira accompany you shopping to decorate quickly. I want to move in soon."
Then he took Amy to the game room and asked her to partition it into two rooms, converting one into a vocal training studio. After all, he was a singer and needed ongoing vocal practice.
...
Later, Linton and Danny went to a car dealership and bought a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI as his main vehicle. The Cadillac would be kept at the estate as a backup. They also bought a Ford pickup truck for estate work.
Next, they stocked the wine cellar with over a million dollars worth of fine wines from a large liquor store.
Such a grand estate needed security. After several months observing Danny, Linton was very satisfied with him. After consulting Danny, Linton bought out Danny's contract with the security company so Danny could oversee Linton Estate security.
Danny was tasked with contacting four reliable former comrades willing to work in security. After background checks and processing by Goodman -- including confidentiality agreements -- they would be managed by Danny and stationed at the estate as needed.
---
News quickly spread. Cameron Diaz, Naomi Watts, and Winona Ryder all called to congratulate Linton on his new estate. Winona was filming out of town but promised to visit as soon as she returned to Los Angeles. Cameron and Naomi said they'd come by that evening to see the estate and offer their congratulations.
Linton figured they probably knew about each other already. Since they wanted to come, fine -- the situation wouldn't be awkward. He wasn't dating either. Hopefully, they'd get along.
He sent them the address and informed Amy that two female guests would arrive tonight, telling her to prepare dinner and tidy the master bedroom. He planned to move in that day.
...
Los Angeles gossip reporters were relentless. The day after Linton signed the house purchase contract, before the title transfer was complete, entertainment papers ran headlines like "Pop star Linton splurges on luxury mansion, rumored secret romantic interests." The story sparked widespread discussions.
Fortunately, the focus was mostly on how much money Linton had earned in under a year. He was celebrated as a new symbol of achieving the American Dream, extending into debates about what that dream meant for ordinary people.
---
That evening, Cameron, impeccably dressed, arrived early at Linton Estate. The entrance now gleamed with a grand new sign reading "Linton Estate," exuding impressiveness.
Cameron was immediately struck by the estate's lavishness. She handed a bottle of red wine to the housekeeper and hugged Linton's arm. "Darling, this is your new estate! It's amazing. Show me around."
Linton smiled and said, "Hold on a moment. There's another guest arriving soon."
Just then, a red BMW pulled up. Out stepped Naomi, equally stunningly dressed. She too was awestruck by the estate's grandeur. Noticing Cameron beside Linton, both women's expressions shifted briefly, their eyes flashing as if exchanging a silent challenge.
But they quickly put on warm smiles. Naomi brought a bottle of wine as a gift too, handed it to Amy, then hugged Linton's other arm. "Darling, your estate is so beautiful."
Linton paid no mind to their little exchange and cheerfully introduced the two to each other. They actually knew one another already but played along with polite smiles and greetings, officially meeting face to face. Linton then introduced Amy to them.
...
Amid their delighted compliments, Linton gave the ladies a tour of the estate. The luxury surpassed both their expectations. Cameron and Naomi's eyes sparkled seeing the indoor heated pool. "It's gorgeous! I want to swim a few laps."
At the huge private theater, they said, "Darling, now we can watch movies here."
Seeing the enormous bed in the master bedroom on the third floor, they blushed, privately cursing Linton for being a bit of a pervert.
The mansion was so stunning they both thought simultaneously, "I want to claim a room here."
...
After the tour, Cameron couldn't help but kiss Linton on the cheek. "Darling, can I move in?"
Before Linton answered, Naomi also kissed his cheek playfully. "Darling, I want to move in too."
Linton figured it was best not to offend either. Since they wanted to come, so be it. It will even help with his abilities.
However, he laid down ground rules. "Sure. You can pick your rooms on the second floor. Decorate however you want, or have Amy handle it. But here's the deal: you're strictly friends who can stay long-term. Neither of you is my girlfriend or the lady of the house. Can you accept that?"
Both women fell silent, feeling annoyed but also relieved Linton hadn't chosen between them. He knew they needed time to consider, so didn't push.
"After all that, I'm hungry. Let's eat," Linton said, leading them to the dining room.
...
Amy had already prepared dinner. Seeing Linton arrive, she said, "Sir, the chef isn't here yet. Please try my cooking tonight."
The table was laid with black truffle potato salad, smoked salmon, sturgeon caviar with seafood cream sauce, pan-seared deep-sea red snapper, beef Wellington with foie gras and mushrooms, pumpkin seed soup, two fruit salads, and for dessert, a fine chocolate raspberry cake. A bottle of red wine was opened.
The three toasted to Linton's successful home purchase. After trying the food, they all praised Amy's culinary skills.
Cameron and Naomi ate sparingly, mostly fruit salad; most dishes were devoured by Linton. However, they drank quite a lot of wine. After finishing one bottle, they eagerly opened another, savoring the evening.
*****
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