Page 47 of Nanny for the Bossy Billionaire

“And how do I know that?” I fold my arms.

“Do you think I treat every other member of my staff the way I treat you?”

“I don’t know…”

“You know that I care about you. A lot.”

“Yeah, just not enough to help me.”

“What you are asking me to do is inappropriate. Even though Gabriel is my friend I don’t want to interfere in his business.”

“I’m not asking you to interfere in anything. All I’m asking for is an introduction. Tonight would’ve been the perfect time to do that. It would’ve been so easy. You wouldn’t have had to go out of your way at all. Instead, you chose to play these stupid childish games.”

“I don’t know how this turned into my prosecution, but I do not appreciate it. You can’t force me to do what I don’t want to do. I don’t want to introduce you to Gabriel, so I’m not going to.”

“You’re right. I’m asking too much. Forget it.”

I get back in bed, turn away from him and pull the covers over my head.

“Naomi, please, don’t be like this.”

I don’t respond to him.

“Naomi… How are you feeling now? Do you still need the doctor?” Still no answer.

He sits there in silence for the next few minutes. Then he gets up.

“Hopefully by tomorrow morning we both will have cooled off. Maybe then we can have an adult conversation about this. Good night.”

He leaves.

What the hell was I thinking? Reid was never going to introduce me to Chef Aranda. He said as much. Everything I know about him should have told me he wasn’t going to change his mind. Also, what a stupid plan it was to hang around here in the hope that I would run into Chef Aranda. That’s exactly what happened tonight, but I was too chickenshit to do anything about it.

Then there’s also the complication of getting involved with Reid. Man, was that a dumb decision. For a second I thought he actually cared about me. I allowed myself get fooled into thinking something was growing between us. He still clearly sees me as a naïve little girl who works for him. I thought he had more respect for me than that. Apparently not.

Should I quit? That seems a little extreme, but what’s the point of me staying on here? My plan to weasel my way into Chef Aranda’s restaurant has been dashed.

Maybe I can getAlchemyto take me back. It won’t be ideal, but I need to get out of here.

However, although this isn’t what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, it pays well. I could stay on until I have a real plan, but that means I will have to deal with Reid indefinitely. I’m not sure I can do that.

How did I get myself into this mess?

16

REID

Ican’t remember a time when I was more ashamed of myself than when Naomi walked in on the dinner party. The look of hurt on her face when her eyes landed on Gabriel wrecked me.

It felt wrong to introduce her as Ethan’s nanny. It had embarrassed her, but I did it anyway and then doubled down later when I went to check up on her.

I know I am being stupid. I know that, but I can’t help myself. The truth is, I’m afraid of introducing her to Gabriel, because what happens if it works out?

She leaves me.

I know how Gabriel works. There’s a reason he is a world-renowned chef. He’s a slave driver. If she gets in with him I’ll barely ever see her. I’m not comfortable with that. Also, she’ll definitely have to quit as Ethan’s nanny. I think that’s what I’m dreading the most. Ethan has already lost his mother, then Stephanie. Now there’s a possibility he’ll lose Naomi, who it can be argued he’s had more of a connection with than anyone. I don’t want to be the one to engineer that loss for my son.

However, at the same time I care about Naomi. I want what’s best for her. I want her to have the things she wants.

---