She Was Paid to Decorate a Home, Not Knowing the Owner Was a Millionaire Watching From Afar

The Mysterious Mansion and the Broken Chandelier

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the empty mansion as Kira Bennett’s ladder wobbled precariously beneath her. The crystal light fixture she’d been installing now lay in glittering fragments across the Italian marble floor, mocking her usually steady hands.

“Great, just perfect,” she muttered, climbing down to survey the damage.

“There goes half my fee.”

As an interior decorator specializing in high-end residential properties, Kira had handled expensive items before. But this particular chandelier had been custom-made in Venice and cost more than her car.

She pulled out her phone to call her client contact, a pleasant but mysteriously distant property manager named Helen. Helen had given her complete creative freedom and an astonishingly generous budget for this renovation project.

Helen answered on the first ring.

“Is everything all right, Miss Bennett?”

“Not exactly. The Murano chandelier for the foyer just had an unfortunate meeting with the floor. I’m so sorry; I’ll take full responsibility for the replacement costs.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Helen said smoothly.

“The owner anticipated some mishaps during the renovation. I’ll arrange for a replacement to be delivered tomorrow. Please continue with the rest of your work.”

Kira frowned.

“Are you sure? That piece cost—”

“Money is not a concern for this project, Miss Bennett. Your artistic vision is what matters. The owner specifically requested you because of your unique aesthetic sensibilities.”

As Helen disconnected, Kira stared at her phone in confusion. She had been in the business for five years. While she had developed a solid reputation in Seattle’s design circles, she wasn’t exactly a celebrity decorator.

Why would someone with seemingly unlimited resources specifically request her for this massive lakefront property? Shaking her head, she began carefully cleaning up the glass. The owner, whoever they were, remained a complete mystery.

All she knew was that she’d been hired through an intermediary to completely redesign and decorate this stunning 15,000-square-foot mansion on Lake Washington. The property had apparently been purchased recently.

The new owner wanted it transformed before moving in. What made the project even more unusual was the security system. The property manager explained that high-definition cameras monitored every room for security purposes, with the feed going directly to the owner.

Kira had found it strange but figured the ultra-wealthy had their peculiarities. The thought that someone might be watching her work occasionally crossed her mind. She’d mostly forgotten about it as she immersed herself in the project.

After cleaning up the glass, Kira decided to move on to the library. She’d envisioned it as a warm intellectual space with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, leather chairs, and subtle lighting.

As she entered the room with her tablet to review her plans, she noticed something odd. A book was sitting on the otherwise empty desk. It was a first-edition copy of The Great Gatsby, her favorite novel.

Kira approached it cautiously. She was certain it hadn’t been there yesterday when she’d measured the space for custom shelving. Opening it carefully, she found a handwritten note inside.

“I think you’ll appreciate this more than I do. Consider it inspiration for the library design. G.”

Kira’s heart skipped a beat. G? Was that the mysterious owner? How did they know about her literary preferences?

She’d mentioned her love for Fitzgerald in a few interviews for local design magazines. But it seemed like an oddly personal touch from someone who had thus far remained completely anonymous.

Setting the book aside, she tried to focus on work. Her mind kept circling back to the strange gift. By the end of the day, she’d made significant progress on the library design.

She hadn’t shaken her curiosity about the mansion’s owner. As she was packing up her supplies, Helen called again.

“Miss Bennett, the owner would like to know if you might be willing to extend your daily hours? He’s quite eager to see the project completed and would be happy to increase your fee substantially.”

“He?” Kira asked, before she could stop herself.

Helen paused.

“Yes. I thought you knew the property belonged to Mr. Nash.”

“I wasn’t given any details about the owner,” Kira replied, her curiosity mounting. “Just the property specifications and design preferences.”

“I see. Well, Mr. Nash is a rather private individual. He’s very pleased with your work so far and would like to expedite the completion if possible.”

Kira considered the request. She was already devoting most of her waking hours to this project. She had put her other clients on hold due to the generous compensation package.

“I suppose I could start earlier and stay later, but I’d need to know more about the timeline expectations.”

“Excellent. Perhaps it would be best if you discuss the details directly with Mr. Nash. He suggested dinner tomorrow evening at Canley’s to go over the project plans.”

Kira nearly dropped her phone. Canley’s was one of Seattle’s most exclusive restaurants with months-long waiting lists.

“Tomorrow at Canley’s?”

“Is 8:00 p.m. acceptable? A car will collect you at 7:30.”