Chapter 2 – Addison
Chapter Two
ADDISON
Y ou’d think by now I’d be used to being around wealthy people, having worked for the Conrads for three years, but it still makes me uncomfortable. I think it was more the Conrads. They were always more laid-back, and Claire hadn’t come from money. Both Claire and her husband were very successful in their own right. Her husband had grown up in a wealthy family, but not her. She fought to get where she was.
She was a lawyer, and her husband worked for some fancy company as a high-powered CEO. When Claire got pregnant with the twins, it had been a surprise for her. She was in over her head, I recall her saying. The woman could rip a man apart on the stand in court, but two crying babies sent her into a panic.
But in true Claire fashion, she was a natural and kicked ass at being a mom. I still helped where I could, and I loved the twins. Then her husband got a job offer in Europe he couldn’t turn down, and Claire was ready to leave the legal world behind, wanting to try motherhood full time.
It was hard to tell them goodbye. I’d grown so close to the kids at that point that I knew it was going to be a big adjustment for me not to have them around. I'd never really felt a part of a family before, but with them, I had for a few years. Of course I knew they weren’t really mine, but it was still nice to pretend.
Claire had begged me to go with them, but I couldn’t. At the time, I was wrapping up the last semester of college, which they had helped me pay for. Plus, Claire didn’t really need me anymore. I know they adored me, but I didn’t want a pity job.
“Can I help you, miss?” the security guard behind the counter asks.
“I have an appointment with the Remingtons,” I tell him.
All the positions I pursued were for live-in nannies. When I was with the Conrads, they’d given me their guesthouse, which was way better than the dorm I’d been living in. I’d moved back into the dorms for my last semester, but now that I’ve graduated, I’ve been living in a hotel. I was worried that if I got an apartment, I might have to break the lease, but now I’m going on almost two months of living out of a suitcase. Not that I have much stuff anyway, but still. It’s gotten old really quickly.
“Identification.” I pull it out of my purse and hand it over. I’m not so sure I’d want to live in a condo or penthouse. Perhaps I've grown accustomed to living in a guesthouse. It gave me a sense of my own space. Living in a building might feel like we’re on top of each other.
I shake the thought from my head. I don’t even have the job.
“Mr. Remington has cleared you to come up.” I take my ID back from him.
“Mr. Remington?” I follow the man over to the elevator. “I thought I was meeting his wife,” I ask as if this man would know. He's just the building's front-desk security.
Of course he doesn’t answer me; instead, he waves his arm for me to step inside the elevator. I have to admit, it’s the fanciest elevator I’ve ever been in. There aren’t even buttons to press. The security guy proceeds to follow me in. He keys in a number before stepping back off the elevator.
"The door will open into Mr. Remington's home," he tells me as the doors start to close. “He’s not married.”
“But—” It’s too late. The doors are closed. I get an uneasy feeling when I step off the elevator.
“Miss Parker.” A man in a suit greets me. I swear I know him from somewhere. He reminds me of one of the slimy stock brokers you see in movies.
“Mr. Remington.” I give him a smile and take his outstretched hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“Now, Addison. You’ll hurt my feelings.” He doesn’t let my hand go. That sense of unease grows. I hate the way he said my first name. “This isn’t the first time we’ve met.”
Then it clicks. Robert Remington. I met him once when the Conrads threw a holiday party last year. He’d hit on me. I turned him down. He’d been aggressive and handsy.
“Right.” I have to force myself to keep a smile on my lips. What I really want to do is hightail it the heck out of this place, but I remain professional. “I didn’t know you had children.”
“Not yet, but soon.” I pull harder on my hand, and he finally lets it go.
“Your wife is pregnant?” I hedge, trying to keep the conversation on the reason I’m here. The doorman said he wasn’t married, but there could be a girlfriend around here.
“No wife, I’m still single.” He winks at me.
What the hell? “A girl I had a one-night stand with ended up pregnant. You know how it goes.”
No, I don't, but I keep that to myself.
“Is she here?” I’m not taking the job, but I need to play along. There is no way in hell I’d ever work for a guy like this. I may be desperate to get out of the hotel but not that desperate.
I don’t need him to report back to the agency I just landed with that I was rude. I only got in with them because the Conrads gave me a glowing recommendation. If he offers me the job, I will simply decline it, stating that it's not a suitable fit for me.
“We don’t get along. Partly why I’ll need you.” My stomach sours at the way the need you rolls off his tongue. I’ll never understand how women find men like him attractive. I’d rather die a lonely virgin than ever be with someone like him.
“I read through the job description you gave to the agency, but why don’t you tell me a little bit more of what you’re looking for.” I want to shove the words back into my mouth when a creepy smile forms on his face. His eyes are roaming my body as though I were offering him myself.
For the next hour, I have to go back and forth with him about the position. What’s weird is that he says the baby won’t be born for another few months, but he wants me to move in so we can get comfortable with each other.
“Would you like me to show you where you’d be staying?” He makes the offer as if I had accepted the job.
“Oh, I really can’t.” I make a show of pulling out my phone. “I have an appointment.” I’m lying right through my teeth. There is no way in hell I’m going anywhere near a bedroom with this man.
“I hope not for another nanny position because you’re hired.” I want to tell him that’s not only up to him, but I don’t. I don’t want to have any sort of confrontation with him. I’m already leery of being alone with him right now.
“Nope, personal stuff.” I wish it was for another position. I need to find a job, but I’m not desperate enough for this one.
“A date?” he pushes. “I’m not sure how I’d feel about you dating while living here.”
"It's not a date, but I really need to go." I make my way to the elevator.
“I have to open it.” I swallow hard at his words, but I don’t let my nervousness show.
“Please do.” I force a playful laugh. Thankfully, he does. The second the doors open, I rush on.
“I’ll call the agency and get everything started,” he informs me. I don’t respond. The doors have closed.
I let out the breath I was holding and fall back against the elevator door, somehow knowing it’s not going to be that easy to get away from Robert Remington.