Chapter 4
First Impressions it’s gonna happen. ”
She hummed and nodded in agreement. “What you think about going back to work? Your supervisor said she’ll always have a spot for you, remember?”
“I thought about it, but that field isn’t for me anymore, D. Those emergency calls are still stuck with me today, and I can’t handle it.”
I was an EMT for two years when I met Kaleb, and I loved my job.
Between the rush it gave me and the satisfaction of being a first responder, I never saw myself quitting.
And then someone died on my shift. The whole scene messed me up bad.
I’d done everything in my training to save the eight-year-old kid with a gunshot wound to the stomach, but we lost him.
After seeing how it affected me weeks after, Kaleb and I made the mutual decision that it was best for me to quit.
I found out I was pregnant with KJ weeks later, and the decision turned out to be for the best.
“I get it. So, what you gonna do?”
“Remember that night we were talking about jobs we’d wanna try out to see if we’d like it?”
“Yeah. I said stripper, and you said a nanny.” She laughed. “We went to the club that night for research purposes, and I quickly surmised that I am no nasty dancer for money.”
We both cracked up laughing. D had her face so scrunched up the entire night, you would’ve thought she smelled something foul.
“Bitch, you had a whole attitude.”
“Yes, because I got to see firsthand just how cheap niggas were when it came to tipping the dancers. I make more with my regular salary at the diner. I was too through.”
“Yeah, well, we know why you make more at the diner. What that man make you, like employee of the year?” I snickered.
“Of the month, heffa. And that’s simply because a bitch be on her j… o… b. Not because the owner’s brother wants something he can’t have.”
“Mmhmm. Well, it’s my turn to do field research. I made a profile on , and I’m headed to my first interview.”
“Well, damn. You could’ve given a better heads up, Thyri. I ain’t even get to look into where you going. No address or nothing. You think you grown?” She playfully scolded with her hand on her hip.
“Just a lil’ bit,” I said, using my fingers to specify a little.
She laughed. “You right but still send it to me. People pose as something they ain’t all the time. You don’t really know who you meeting until you meet them.”
“Which is the point, crazy girl. But I’m gonna tell you the address now. Write it down.” I rambled the address off from my memory.
“Okay, got it. This should be interesting. Easy too if it’s not a bad ass kid. Speaking of kids, how was pick up with KJ?”
“I’m meeting the kid today too. You know I love kids, so I’m sure it’ll be cool. As far as my kid, he’s still not feeling me and didn’t give me any more conversation other than a dry ass ‘hey’ when he got in the car and fake went to sleep.”
She chuckled. “How you know he was faking?”
“Cause as soon as his phone rang, his eyes popped open to answer it. KJ is full of it.”
“He still mad at you. He’ll be aight. Christmas around the corner, so he want his gifts.”
“Mmmhmm. Anywho, I just pulled up. Let me see where I can park at, so I’m not late.”
“Okay. Good luck, boo. I’m at the diner til’ seven tonight. Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.”
“Bye, Nae Possible.” Ending the call, I spotted a car pulling out of a spot and quickly reversed into it.
Double checking the address from the email, I nodded my approval.
It wasn’t the commercial building I expected to find.
This was modern, sleek. The frosted glass doors had the name Sullivan & Co.
Cleaning on it all sophisticated and shit.
It gave luxury from the outside, so I could only imagine what the inside looked like.
Stepping out of the car, I looked down at my attire – a fitted, white, button up, collared shirt, black wide-legged pants, and a pair of Sambas on my feet.
I wanted to be cute and comfortable. But after seeing the building, I felt like I was underdressed.
I couldn’t turn back now, so I continued forward.
Pulling the doors open, the lobby didn’t disappoint. From the waterfall to the bright lighting and marble flooring, it didn’t look like a cleaning business was run out of the place. It screamed ‘money’.
“Welcome to Sullivan & Co. How can I help you?” A young woman seated behind an oversized desk greeted with a smile.
“Hi, my name is Thyri Anderson. I’m here to see…”
“Me.”
I was cut off by a rough, but smooth, commanding voice that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
The smile on the woman’s face grew wider like she knew something I didn’t.
Or maybe her body had reacted the same way as mine at some point.
I turned to find a fine ass man, about 6’4” in height.
He was brown skinned with eyes that warned you.
Whether the warning was good or not, I couldn’t tell, but there was a warning.
I took in the tattoos on his neck that were partially hidden by a crew neck sweater and scanned his whole body, stopping at the Timbs on his feet. Yeah, he was fine as fuck.
“Mr. Sullivan?” I asked for clarification, but I had a feeling that it was my potential employer.
“Enzo,” he said, walking closer and holding his hand out for me to shake.
He didn’t smile at first. He assessed. And not in a bad way.
In a way that let me know he was observant.
Like he saw everything at once. I placed my hand in his and immediately wanted to take it back.
There was no reason my body was acting like I’d never touched the opposite sex before.
It was like up close, he was even more fine and… present.
“I’ll take it from here, Kalia.” He spoke to the woman behind me with my hand still trapped in his. “Let’s talk for a few then you can meet EJ. Cool?” he asked, finally releasing me.
“Sounds good.”
“Good. Follow me.”
I let him lead the way, following a few steps behind him, as I got a good look at the building. Sensing that I was lagging behind, he stopped mid walk and turned to me. I caught the silent ‘walk up’ in his look and smiled.
“I could walk a little faster, huh?” I joked, taking a couple steps forward so that I was at his side.
“You good,” he replied.
Continuing forward, side by side, I felt so small next to him.
I was 5’6”, and he towered over my small frame.
He opened the glass door to what looked like a conference room and let me enter first. I didn’t know if it was the gentleman part or the way he looked down at me as I walked past him inside the room.
Whatever it was, it had me secretly blushing hard.
Gesturing to a seat at the table, he sat down across from me and rested his arms lightly on the table.
“So,” he started, “before we go into me asking whatever questions people ask in an interview, let me start by saying this is out of the norm for me. Not just seeking a nanny but the whole asking for help outside of my family. And even then, they gotta pull it out of me before I volunteer the ask.” I caught a small, shy smile when he mentioned family.
“Just a quick rundown, as you know, my name is Enzo. I own Sullivan & Co. Cleaning, which is obviously the building you’re in now.
I’m a single father of a two-year-old boy, Enzo Jr., who we call EJ.
I’m seeking a nanny who values family and who can work around my schedule, which can get busy at times and things come up suddenly, but for the most part, I’m present.
Most of all, I’m looking for someone who can keep up with my kid in my absence. ”
I digested his introduction, listening intently as he spoke, before responding. “Well, since you’re being upfront, I’ll follow suit. I have zero nanny experience. But I do have fifteen years parenting experience. I love kids. I have a medical background. I was an EMT for two years.”
“What made you apply?” he asked.