Chapter 5
Chapter Five
NOVA
If I thought the building was fancy, this house is a whole other level.
Although maybe this is considered a mansion.
I’ve babysat for rich people, but this is wealth.
I need to google Kellan Eve. I should have done that before.
My brothers would kick my ass if they found out about all of this, but I’m not rushing to tell them.
If one person in Cheerful knows, then everyone does.
"I could get lost in this place."
"I did once," Aurora says, making me snort a laugh. Of course she did.
"I’ll have to Hansel and Gretel my way around," I tell her, but Niles clears his throat from behind me.
"I would rather you didn't leave trails of food behind you." Niles is every inch of what you'd think a butler would be, but he informed me he’s actually the house manager. Tomato tomahto.
"You know what would be crazy fun in this house?" I ask Aurora as Niles leads me down another wing on this house tour. The hallways are massive. You could stand six people shoulder to shoulder across it. Well, maybe only three of Kellan.
"What?"
"Hide and seek." Aurora's face lights up with excitement at the suggestion.
"That would be fun." Going off Niles’ expression, he doesn’t agree.
"This is Aurora's bedroom," Niles tells me, while Aurora opens the door and bounces right in.
It's as massive as the rest of the house, and there’s even a fireplace. I hope I have one, but I’ll probably be placed in a maid's corner somewhere around here.
"You can swim in my tub," she informs me.
"The pool will open in April," Niles tells us as if to discourage us from swimming in the bathtub.
"There's a pool?" Maybe they’ve got a bowling alley or a small coffee shop too? Who am I kidding? Nothing is small around here.
"Yes, but it's heated. It can open earlier."
That's pretty cool, but I don't see myself being here in five months. I'll be shocked if I make it one. Kellan’s demeanor was a bit stiff when talking to me.
I take in all of her room and decide this isn't for a young girl. It's very much for an adult, and I wonder if Kellan would let us make a few changes. That could be something Aurora and I do for fun to help make this place feel more like her own home.
“Shall I show you to your room, Ms. Galloway?”
“Nova,” I tell him for the third time. He really doesn’t want to use my first name. “I would love for you to show me."
"This way,” Niles says. "Chef Carl has prepared you a snack, Ms. Aurora. Dinner won't be for a few hours."
This place has a full running staff. Kellan mentioned needing extra help, but there seems to be plenty of people around for that already.
"Okay," Aurora tells him before she grabs a book off the nightstand to head downstairs.
"I'll see you in a little bit," I tell her. "Unless I get lost."
Aurora giggles, the sound sweet and what I was after. I'm sure the past month has been a lot to deal with, so seeing her happy feels like a win.
Niles leads me across the house to another wing. "Bet you get lots of steps in walking around this place." I tap my watch, and he only nods at my question. "Wouldn't it be better if I stayed in that wing?" I point my thumb behind me from where we came. I’d prefer to be closer to Aurora.
"Your room selection has already been made. If there is an issue, you'll need to address that with Mr. Eve."
"Okie-dokie." Yeah, I won't be doing that. I'm already on thin ice with him, and I haven't done anything.
"Here we are," Niles tells me when we're almost to the end of this wing.
I glance toward the doors at the very end that gives the impression that it's the primary bedroom. But I don’t know anything about mansions this size, so it could be a room where Kellan stashes all his money, Scrooge McDuck style.
Niles opens the door for me, and I look around the space.
It’s a nice-sized room, bigger than I’ve ever stayed in before.
It matches the rest of the house, screaming wealth with simple furniture and muted colors.
My trash bags and the one piece of luggage I could find sit in the middle of the room, appearing as out of place as I am.
"I'll leave you to unpack. Dinner is at seven."
Does that mean I'm eating with them, or will they have a plate ready for me? I guess I'll find out when I go downstairs, because I don’t want to ask Niles and make things more awkward.
"Thank you," I tell him.
Niles seems to get stuff done quickly. It’s rather impressive. I thought my bags were still back at the office, but I was told my truck and things would be brought over.
"Also, Mr. Eve alerted me about the possibility of a uniform. I'll have them brought up when they arrive."
I only nod this time because that comment actually burns. A uniform? Jeez, were my clothes that bad? I’m a nanny, not a doctor.
Niles shuts the door behind him when he leaves, and my smile drops. It was hard to hide my emotions since they always show on my face. Normally I don't care, but if I didn’t feel less than suitable before, I really do now.
Doing my best to shake it off, I explore the room. There’s a small bathroom and closet, but something about the room doesn't appear complete.
"Oh," I say to myself when I see I missed a whole freaking doorway.
I step through to find a massive bedroom, and then I pause. I glance over my shoulder to my room and then back to the massive one. What the heck is this? Why are there two rooms?
That’s when I realize this is meant to be a nursery that connects to the primary bedroom.
I’ve heard of them before but never seen one.
But then, the nursery can’t be my room if that’s the case.
Surely the primary one is my room. I don’t think Niles would make a mistake on which room is mine.
I bet he never makes a mistake at all. Grabbing my bags, I bring them over to the bigger room.
Aurora might be able to swim in her bathtub, but when I see the bathtub attached to the big room, I’m pretty sure I could do laps in it. It’s going to be hard to give up all these luxuries when it’s time for me to go. I can’t let myself get too comfortable.
Not wanting to unpack now, I search through my bags to try and find a different outfit to wear before I leave the room. I want to peek around the house more. Niles showed me most of it, but I didn't get to really take it in. This place is impressive, and I want to see all of it.
I want to take it all in. I also want to get back to Aurora and spend as much time with her as she wants. I don't want to smother her, but I want her to know I'm always here and close by. I believe above everything that’s what she really needs right now.
Her whole world has been flipped on its head, and she needs something stable she can hold on to. I think that will bring her comfort, even if she doesn't know on a deeper level that’s what she might be searching for.
“Score!” I find a pair of wide-leg black pants and a white turtleneck. It’s boring, but I’m sure that’s what Kellan would prefer.
As soon as I strip off my clothing to change, one of the double doors swings open. Kellan comes striding in like he owns the place, and I suppose he does. I let out a small scream of surprise as his eyes lock on me, but all I can do is stand there.
When he slowly looks me up and down, I realize that I’m almost completely naked. An embarrassing whimper rises out of my throat, and I clutch my clothes to my chest.
I’m so getting fired.