Page 11 of The Accidental Nanny
I call Alex on my phone. “Hi, it’s Gemma. I’m outside.”
“Oh, brilliant. I didn’t think you would show. Type in ‘four-three-five-two’ on the keypad. It will open the gate.”
I reach out of my open window and input the numbers. The wide gate swings open, and I pull my car up next to his Volvo–it’s a bit of an old man’s car in my opinion. I adjust my black mini skirt as I climb out of the Lamborghini. Approaching the house, I knock on the front door as loud as I can, making sure he can hear me.
“Hi, Gemma,” Alex greets me as he opens the door in a grey suit.
I was expecting all smiles, but he looks at me with a straight face. He opens his mouth but pauses to look at my outfit, and his face registers confusion. I feel a blush creeping up my neck, a rare sensation for me.
“Am I okay?” I ask, fiddling with my skirt.
“You’re wearing heels. Not very appropriate for what you have to do.”
Did he want me naked?
“Tomorrow, can you come in something a bit less revealing? I’m sorry, but I’ve got to rush off.”
“Rush off?” Now I’m puzzled.
“I have an emergency in the office, but I’ll see you when I’m home. I’ve left a list on the counter in the kitchen.”
He opens the door further and looks at my car, his face screwing up.
“Erm, fuck. The car… You know what, take mine. The office isn’t far. I can walk.”
He gives me his keys, and I stare at them for a moment, wondering what’s happening. What’s wrong with my car?
Then I burst out, “Take mine.” I hand my keys to him, thinking of how odd this is.
“It’s bright pink,” he says, scrunching his nose at me.
“Does that matter?”
“No, I suppose not.” He takes the keys from me, like they are diseased. “Thank you. I’ll get your references later, but your brother highly recommended you.”
“What? My brother… What did he say?” I shake my head, even more confused. “And why?”
“Why wouldn’t he? Look, Mum is with the children, but now you’re here, she’ll leave soon. I’ll see you later.”
He gets in the car before I can digest what he said.Children.
Walking into the house, I pull down my skirt. The home is stunning on the inside, even if it isn’t as posh or large as my parents’ house. Looking across the space, I see a door that could lead to the kitchen. When I open it, an older woman is helping a little girl with a jumper that has the local school logo on it, and a boy is sitting at the kitchen bar eating cereal.
The woman looks up and smiles. “Hello, dear. It’s Gemma, isn’t it? I’m Jill, Alex’s mum.”
“I think there has been a mistake.” I glance at the kids, who stare back.
“What’s the matter, dear?” The older lady narrows her eyes at me. “Give me a few minutes and we can talk. I’ll get us a coffee.”
I stand in the kitchen, ready to dart off. But if I don’t have a job, I’ll be out of the house. There’s only one person I want to talk to—Brody.
“I need to make a quick call,” I say with a smile that looks more like a grimace, before darting back into the hallway.
“You are dead!” I scream at my brother when he answers the phone.
Brody only laughs loudly. “I got you the job. You’re welcome.”
“I thought he was after companionship, not a nanny for the children,” I growl at him.
