2. Dante
Chapter 2
Dante
W ho in the hell did that woman think she was? Yelling at me like her car getting hit was my fault. Okay so maybe it was my fault, just a little, but I needed to get home to my daughter. Lena was all alone at home, so this was an actual emergency. I didn’t actually think what I had to do was more important than the next guy—or girl for that matter—but it actually was more important today. Anyone with children would agree with that.
I drove home at a slower pace now that I had been properly dressed down by a beautiful but annoying woman with golden hair and a sweet smile. “And that sharp tongue…” I reminded myself in the privacy of my SUV.
I couldn’t help but think about the reason I was in such a hurry in the first place. The Nanny Situation, as I had started to refer to the problem I had with finding and keeping a good nanny. The nanny, well, now the ex-nanny, had upped and left in the middle of the day, with nothing but a nasty voicemail as warning. She’d abandoned my daughter all by herself in the house. Fortunately, my landscaping contractor, Billie, was on the grounds as that wretched woman had left. Billie had thankfully agreed to check in on Lena and stay on the property until I made it home to my child. Or until Dotty, our housekeeper, got back from running errands.
Why the hell was is it so hard to find a nanny who actually wanted to do her damn job? Why did every woman who showed up on my doorstep want a promotion into my bedroom? It really was unfathomable. I mean sure, I’m rich, and some might consider me good looking, but they were all perfectly normal during the interview process. I’d had hope for each and every one of them, but somewhere around the one month mark, things always went sideways.
They dressed a little sexier, showing off more skin in outfits highly inappropriate for spending time with a four year old girl. They stuck around for dinner, and issued more invitations for more activities with daddy and daughter. Month after month, for the past six months, it was the same damn thing.
Nanny trying to kiss me.
Nanny showing her tits.
Nanny naked in my bed.
Nanny offering me a blow job.
If I were a different man I might have taken a few of them up on what they were offering, but I had no plans to shell out money for sexual harassment lawsuits when I had no problem finding a woman to warm my bed when I wanted one. It wasn’t my style to mix business with pleasure, and after the way things had gone with my ex-wife, I needed my home to be stable and conflict free. For me and for Lena.
I broke down and called the nanny agency my assistant had recommended months ago. “Elite Nanny Service, how may I assist you today?”
My shoulders relaxed at the woman’s professional, cheery tone. “I’m in need of a nanny as fast as you can send one.”
There was a beat of silence and then a different woman’s voice sounded in my ear. “Hello. This is Serenity Majors, with whom am I speaking?”
“My name is Dante Rush, and I need a nanny for my four year old daughter, Lena.”
“Mr. Rush,” she sighed. “I’m a big fan of your fashion.”
“You know who I am, that’s good. It means you know I’m serious about this, and that I need a nanny immediately.”
“Yes, I’m aware of who you are, so we can skip the part where I tell you that my nannies are all professionals with degrees and years of experience, and as such, expect to be compensated appropriately for their services.”
“I assure you I plan to pay above minimum wage. When will she be available to start?” I sounded like a grumpy asshole and I knew it, but I was already over this day even though it was just after noon.
Serenity laughed, the sound soft and musical, easy on the ears, even if I didn’t know what the hell was so damn funny. “It doesn’t work that way, Mr. Rush.”
“Well how does it work Ms. Majors?”
She sighed, like I was some child she had to explain things to slowly. “How did you last agency match you?”
I frowned. “I’ve never used a nanny, ah, agency before.”
She gasped. “A man with your wealth and looks? Please tell me you didn’t put an ad in the paper or online.”
I frowned inside my car. “Okay, I won’t tell you that.”
This time Serenity laughed loudly, and for far too long for a professional phone call. “All right Mr. Rush. There’s a certain science to matching a family with the right nanny, and that starts with a questionnaire. Normally parents come to the office and fill it out, but I’m assuming by your tone that you’re too busy for such a detour?”
“That would be a correct assumption.”
“All right. Do you have the time now?”
Now? “If it means you’ll send a nanny immediately, then sure.”
Ms. Majors started with basic questions about my work hours, marital status and yearly earnings before she moved on to questions about Lena, her likes and dislikes.
“Is she an active little girl?”
“Why does that matter?”
“The same reason it matters that you make high end, designer clothing for women of all ages and sizes.” At my silence she sighed. “Because I have quite a few older nannies who do well with indoor kids, those who like to spend their time drawing, playing video games and things like that.”
“Oh.” There it was again, that feeling that I was an asshole. “Lena is both. She loves to play with her dolls and stuffed animals, but she also loves to be outside.”
“Will Lena require any educational time during her days?”
“I would really appreciate that,” I said in an effort to sound more accommodating.
She asked what felt like about one thousand questions before we were finished. “Thank you for your time and patience, Mr. Rush. I will get back with you soon with a match or two. Will you make yourself available to interview the prospective nannies?”
“Yes,” I grunted. “Just be sure she’s competent and won’t try to worm her way into my bed.”
“Noted,” she said with a hint of amusement. “And you make sure you don’t prey on a pretty young nanny who’s reliant on you for a pay check.” Before I could defend myself, Serenity ended the call.
“Damn!” I smacked the steering wheel and stepped from the SUV. I waved at Billie who was packing up her van parked on the driveway.
“Hey Billie, thanks so much for staying until I could get home.”
“No worries Dante, I know how hard it is to find good childcare when you’re a working single parent.” Billie was a single mom to a seven year old son herself. Little Jeremy often accompanied his mom on her jobs on the weekends, and sometimes after school. “Lena’s fine, just looked in on her, she’s playing and doesn’t seem to be upset.”
After Billie drove off, I took a rare moment to let the Texas sun beat down on my face before I stepped inside the sprawling ranch style mansion that I had moved into after my divorce.
“Lena?” There was nothing but silence, but a beat later I smiled at the sound of Lena’s tiny feet smacking against the tiled floor just outside her playroom.
“Daddy!” She rushed towards me and I bent to scoop her in my arms. “You’re home!”
“I am. How are you?”
Lena shrugged, her big blue eyes darted left and right. “I’m good Daddy.” She sighed. “Lisa is gone.”
I hugged my girl tighter. “I know honey but I’m working on getting you a nanny who will stick. I promise.”
“You can stay home?” There was such hope in her eyes.
“I can for a while, but sometimes I’m needed at the office Lena. You know that.” I barely had any time in my day for anything but the necessities, but I made sure we ate dinner together most nights. Still, I felt like I was failing in the fatherhood department.
“I know Daddy.” She sighed and her tone was so sad it was like someone had punched me in the heart.
“How about after I check a few emails, we go out for lunch? Your choice.”
Her eyes and smile both widen with excitement. “Okay Daddy. Promise?”
I nodded, hating that she needed a promise to believe me, but running a fashion empire was more than a full-time job, and there were many times in her short life that I had to break a promise.
“I promise Lena. One hour.”
“Okay.” She squirmed out of my arms and I lowered her to the floor. “One hour!” Lena ran off back to her playroom.
I followed her down the hall at a far more sedate pace and went to my home office to get sixty minutes—no more— of work of done before spending time with my kid.
Hopefully Ms. Majors would call with good news before the day was over.