Page 22 of That First Night
That explains why I was never able to find her again. For a while after the charity gala, I would find myself walking the streets of the city and keeping my eyes open and waiting for a golden blonde-haired beauty to walk the crosswalk. You know, like the movies where they find the girl they have been dreaming about for so long and it’s all in slow motion? Yeah, I was waiting for that moment with her, but it never came.
“That explains it.” I nod.
“That explains what?” She tilts her head, questioning me.
“Why I couldn’t find you again.”
“Y-you looked for me?” She gasps.
“Every day for almost a year, Peyton.”I didn’t want to admit this to her right now, thinking to myself, after the words came out. I should have kept my mouth shut because I don’t want to scare her away. She’s here to discuss the job. Fuck, I hope she hasn’t changed her mind at my confession.
Her eyes go wide and she’s completely still and silent, as if she doesn’t know what to say in response to me. “Let’s get back to why you’re here, Peyton.”
“Of course, yes. Why I’m here,” she repeats nervously, giggling and playing with the delicate strand of her hair.
God, her fucking laugh is the cutest sound I have ever heard.
Rein it in, boss!Fuck.
I let out a light laugh with her. “I know it’s very short notice to get things moving, but James starts school on Monday and Emiline also starts nursing school the same day. So I am going to need you to move into the penthouse within the next couple days,” I pause, looking her directly in the eyes. “No later than this weekend. Does that work for you?”
“A penthouse.” There was no sense of question in the words that just came out of her mouth.
“Yes, you would have your own space. We would be completely out of your hair and vice versa when you’re off shift.” I let out a breath before I continue, “But I just have one important rule.”
“What’s that?”
Looking her directly in the eyes, I say, “Let me know ahead of time if you are going to have any male guests in the apartment. James is a very curious kid and questions a lot and I don’t want him to start questioning you.”
She blushes at my request.
“You have nothing to worry about in that department.”
I breathe a fucking sigh of relief. I hope that means what I think it means and that she’s single. My request was more for me to find out because I don’t plan to pursue her since she will be my employee. But fuck, I don’t like the idea of seeing her with another guy in my own living space.
After what feels like minutes of silence, I feel a strange hesitation radiating off of her as she sits there spinning her curls in her hair as if she’s nervous to say the next words that come out of her mouth.
“H-how much is the pay?” she finally stutters.
Returning my gaze back to her, I let out, “Six thousand a week and that includes your housing.”
Her eyes go wide, and you would think her eyeballs were about to pop out of her head. She clearly was not expecting me to offer her that amount of money to live in my house and take care of my son. She should know by now that I have more money than I know what to do with and James is worth it to have the best nanny.
“I-I don’t even know what to say,” she says as her gaze turns to the floor. “That’s a lot more than I expected.”
I stand up from the chair as she continues her rambling and nervous thoughts.
“This is my first nanny job, and my only experience is working in a daycare and substitute teaching. I-I don’t have the experience for that kind of pay. I—”
I interrupt her thoughts, moving over her small frame, putting my finger delicately under her chin to guide her gaze up to look me in the eyes.
“You’re worth it, Sunshine.”
I’m left speechless as I look up at him from my seat while his fingers delicately touch my chin.
There is no way this man is seriously about to pay mesix thousand dollarsa week to live in his home and watch his son during the week. I don’t have any experience being a nanny and the experience I do have with kids, it’s from working part-time in a daycare center. I wonder if he’s on some sort of drugs today, or has he been drinking? It’s eleven o’clock in the morning. I think maybe he’s just crazy.
Part of me could really use that money while I try to make something of myself in the city. I have spent most of my life dependent on my parents. This nanny job wouldn’t be a forever thing and this amount of money would definitely get me out of the hole I’m currently in. I want to be able to help my grandma out with medical bills and living expenses, so she isn’t living check to check with social security. I would be able to save enough that I can move back to the suburbs and buy my own house with a yard closed in by a white picket fence and a long driveway.
