Harley
“?”
I look up to see a familiar face beaming down at me, and I straighten up.
“Yaz?”
I lean forward and wrap my arms around her in a tight embrace, pulling her in toward me and not wanting to let her go.
“It’s great to see you, . What are you doing here?”
We pull apart but keep holding hands, and I eye her up and down. I know it’s only been a few weeks since we last saw each other, but damn, she still looks and smells good.
“I’m here running some errands for my boss.”
“Your boss? So, you got a new job?”
“Yeah. Jeez, I guess we have a lot to catch up on.”
I look around the store and locate the kids. Violet is trying on one of many outfits that she’s picked out, Kit is trying on a navy-blue suit, and Tristan, well, Tristan is being Tristan. Resting his back against a wall and scrolling through his phone as usual, not giving the slightest bit interest and wishing he were somewhere else.
“Tell me, who are you working for? What are you doing?”
“It’s quite funny actually. I work for a guy named Jasper Harding.”
“Jasper Harding? Wait, isn’t he the guy you spilled wine all over at the restaurant the night you were fired?”
I nod. “Yep, he felt responsible for me losing my job and he wanted to make it up to me by offering me a job. After I was fired, he found me having a moment outside the restaurant, approached me and told me how sorry he was, even though I constantly told him it wasn’t his fault. Scott was just looking for an excuse to fire me and he found it. He insisted on making it up to me, so we went to another restaurant for a coffee and that’s when he presented me with an offer.”
“What kind of offer?” Yaz asks.
“He offered me a job to be his live-in nanny. Or as we like to refer to it, manny.”
Her eyes meet mine, and they stare at me for too long, almost like she’s waiting for me to retract my statement and admit that I’m joking.
“Let me see if I understand this. Jasper Harding, one of the richest men in America, offered you a job as his live-in nanny to look after his children full-time.”
“I know! That was my exact reaction, too,”
I tell her.
“No offense, but do you even know anything about looking after children?”
I chuckle. “You know, you’re not the first person to ask me that question. Of course, I know nothing about looking after children, but it’s been a few weeks now and I’m kind of getting the hang of things.”
Yaz raises an eyebrow. We worked together at the restaurant for a long time and we quickly became best friends, and unfortunately for me, the woman can read me like a book. I, on the other hand, have trouble figuring out if she’s joking or being serious half the time when we’re having a conversation. Like right now, for example, there’s this look on her face that I know all too well. It’s the look she gives me every single time something wild or crazy is swirling around in her head. This is the first time we’ve seen each other since I was fired from the restaurant, so I’m actually curious to know what’s going on inside that head of hers.
“Go on, say it,”
I tell her.
“Say what?”
she replies, casually.
“I know you, Yaz, and I know that look. What have you got brewing up inside that brain of yours?”
“What makes you think––?”
I raise my eyebrows at her before she even has a chance to finish that sentence.
“I just never saw you as the type who would be a live-in nanny for a multi-billionaire, that’s all.”
“Well, it wasn’t exactly a job I thought I’d be putting on my resume either, but sure enough, here I am. And I’m a manny not a nanny. The two are very different.”
She raises both her eyebrows this time and continues to admire one of the outfits she had removed from the rack earlier.
“What’s the house like?”
“Oh. My. God. I could have died the first time I set foot in there. Actually, I think I did. Yaz, it’s like … I don’t even know how to describe it because it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I’d say it’s like working for a Hollywood celebrity, but I’ve never worked for one, so I wouldn’t know what that would be like. But there’s a housekeeper who takes care of all the everyday chores. Seriously, I could be living in Buckingham Palace.”
“Housekeeper? Sounds very chic.”
“Yeah, we didn’t quite hit it off in the beginning but we’re practically friends now. It just took her some time to get used to me. And honestly, I think it had a lot to do with me reassuring her that I wasn’t interested in Jasper’s money because it was him who hired me, after all.”
“And what about the kids?”
she questions.
I turn around. Violet is standing outside one of the dressing rooms, wearing one of the many outfits she’s tried on and staring into the mirror.
“That one there is Violet. She’s the youngest of the three and a real sweetie. I’m crazy about her.”
I then notice Kit adjusting his bow tie on a new outfit he’s trying on.
“That’s Kit. The middle child.”
“Ah, middle child syndrome.”
“No, not really. To tell you the truth, he’s actually a good kid. We get along really well together.”
And then I focus my attention on Tristan, who is sitting on one of the armchairs in the corner of the room on his phone, as usual. I still can’t quite work this kid out. His constant mood swings, the late-night parties and not to mention, his attitude. Not even I was that bad when I was his age.
“And that’s … Tristan. The problem child,”
I tell her.
“Oh?”
she inquires.
“Yeah. It seems he has a problem adapting to change. The oldest child and all, you know? Rebellious.”
“Poor kid. So … what’s he like?”
she fishes.
“Who?”
“The president! Jasper, of course. What’s it like working for him?”
I’ve been living with the man for almost a month now, and in all that time, I can’t recall the last time I sat down and had a proper conversation with him other than my first day on the job. The guy does work hard, and it’s obvious that he’s a loyal and devoted father. I just wish I knew more about the man.
“It’s been great. I mean, what’s not to like about it? I get to live in a mansion. I have all my expenses paid, and all I have to do is look after three kids. It’s not that hard really. Okay sure, it’s not as easy as waiting tables in a restaurant or serving drinks at a bar. But even I can’t screw this up,”
I tell her.
That has her chuckling. I quickly look over at the children and make sure they’re still okay. Kit and Violet are now admiring each other’s outfits, and I can see one of the store staff attempt to help Tristan with a suit. Although, judging by the look on his face, he’s far from impressed, and it’s obvious that he would rather be anywhere else but here.
“Space cadet?”
Yaz snaps her fingers and pulls me out of my trance.
“Huh?”
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“It’s Tristan. I just don’t know how to get through to him, Yaz. He thinks I’m a threat, and the last thing I need is for the kid not to trust me. After all, we live in the same house.”
“Have you tried talking to him?”
“Many times,” I reply.
“And?”
“He’d rather spit in my face.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m sure he wouldn’t,”
she insists.
“Don’t be so sure, Yaz. I knew in the back of my mind that this job was going to have its challenges, like all jobs. But this is next level and I have to tread carefully. I can’t afford to make an enemy.”
“Are you listening to yourself right now?” she asks.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’re letting a spoiled little teenager tell you what to do.”
“I am not,” I retort.
She glares at me and raises her eyebrows. “Really? What would you call it then?”
“I call it … someone who is being cautious of what he says and does in front of these children. They are the one thing that can come between me and my job.”
“Only because you’re not showing him who’s boss. Seriously, are you going to let this kid dictate every detail of your life?”
I hate to admit it, but she makes for a compelling argument. Tristan is just a kid, a very troubled kid, but a kid nevertheless. I’m the one in charge here. After all that’s what I get paid for, isn’t it? To be in charge and take care of these children. And I’m not going to stand here and let some entitled little––child, tell me what to do. No, sir!
“You’re right,”
I finally say.
I step away from where the two of us are standing and move toward Tristan who is still refusing to cooperate with the salesperson.
“I’ll take care of this,”
I tell her.
She throws me a smile, then hands me the suit that she’s been waving in front of Tristan for the past five minutes.
“Take care of what, exactly?”
Tristan says in a sarcastic tone.
“Of this situation. Your father is holding an event tonight, and he’s asked me to make sure the three of you are suitably dressed for the occasion. Now I suggest you drop this little attitude of yours because let’s face it, it stinks, and you do exactly as you’re told.”
Okay, a little more aggressive than I would have liked, but damn that felt good!
“You’re not my father. I don’t take orders from you,”
he replies.
Ohhhh, so we’re going to play that card, are we?
“Really? Well, I think it’s about time you started listening to me, Tristan. You see, whether you like it or not, from the moment the sun comes up in the morning and you get your behind out of bed, until the sun goes down at night and you crawl into bed, I’m in charge. And when I’m in charge, you do exactly what I say, and if you refuse to do that … well, let’s just say I’m very good at manipulation and being convincing.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Wanna find out?”
I ask coyly.
He gives me a death glare and locks his eyes with mine for several long seconds, and I know he’s trying to think of a comeback. But for the first time since I started this job, I finally have the upper hand.
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m warning you. Now are you going to go and try that suit on, or am I going to call your father and tell him that you’re being a stubborn little––”
“Asshole?”
he offers. “It wouldn’t be the first time. He’s used to it. He doesn’t give a shit about me. About any of us. He’s too busy worrying about how much money he’s going to make in his next business transaction to be thinking about us. We could literally fall off the face of the earth and he wouldn’t even notice.”
“Tristan, that’s enough.”
I hear Kit’s voice behind me and I turn around to see his face turn a bright shade of red and his eyes full of fury.
“What? It’s the truth.”
“No, it’s not, and you know it isn’t. You’ve been this way since … since Dadda died and I hate what you’re turning into. is only doing what he’s being paid to do, which is to look after and take care of us while Dad is working.”
There’s something about the way he delivers that speech that makes it sound like I’m only doing this because it’s what I’m being paid to do. And while that may technically be correct, I actually don’t like the way it sounds, now that I think about it. As I stare at the children, one by one, I find myself more and more drawn to them, like something more than just a job. I’ve only been doing this for a short period of time, and I don’t know what it is, but I’m starting to feel really close to these kids. Like really close. Almost like they were my very own and I love them. Now I know that sounds completely nuts, especially when I’m still getting to know each and every one of them. But the more time I spend with them, helping them with their chores, their homework, and cleaning up after them, the closer I feel toward them.
“Just shut up, Kit.”
“Hey!”
I say loudly. “Don’t talk to your brother like that. Whether you like it or not, Tristan, I am here to stay for as long as your father will have me. I know that is going to take some getting used to for you, especially because I know how hard change can be for you, but you’re just going to have to accept the fact that I’m not going anywhere. So, you can stop the rebellious act, go into that change room and try this suit on.”
There’s that glare again, and his stare moves from me to Kit, and when he realizes that there’s no use arguing further, he reluctantly takes the suit from my hands and enters the changing room.
“Bravo,”
Yaz says, clapping her hands together.
I let out a loud breath in relief and as I’m about to say something, Kit leans in, wrapping his arms around my waist and he says, “Thank you.”
“For what?” I ask.
“Finally saying something. I was starting to worry that he was going to make you so angry that you would quit and leave us. And I don’t want that to happen because I really like you.”
He squeezes me tight and I get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside my stomach. I place a hand on his head and begin stroking his hair. That is probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me in a very long time. I turn to Yaz and she has one hand placed on her heart and lets out an inaudible, “Aww.”
I pull Kit away from my waist, then angle my head down at him. “Oh, buddy, that is never going to happen. I’d never leave you. Never. Unless you want me to. I’m here for as long as you and your dad will have me.”
“But what if Tristan continues to make trouble? He’ll have you fired and then we’ll never see you again.”
“No one is getting fired, buddy. I’ve got very thick skin, and it will take more than a troubled teenager to make me lose my job.”
“Troubled? Is that what I am?”
Shit!
I feel my heart sink all the way down to the pit of my stomach. I slowly turn around and see Tristan standing behind me, dressed in his suit.
“Tristan I––”
“You what? Just proved that you’re nothing but a complete asshole!”
“Tristan!”
Kit says, horrified.
“Well, he is. And I’m not going to stand here and allow him to continue slandering me. Father can shove his party tonight.”
“Tristan––”
But before I have the opportunity to say another word, he turns and heads back into the changing room. He reappears moments later dressed in the clothes that we arrived in, then brushes past me in a hurry and out of the store, slamming the door shut behind him.
“What’s the matter with Tristan?”
Violet asks.
“Nothing sweetie, he’s just … upset.”
“Upset is an understatement. I’d say he’s furious,” Kit says.
“Thank you for the clarity, Kit. Let’s just get our stuff and get out of here and go home,”
I tell them.
I gather all the clothes that the kids have tried on, including the ones Tristan left in the changing room and a suit I picked out for myself. Yaz follows me and the children to the register and I place our garments on the counter. The cashier rings us up, then I hand her Jasper’s credit card and she swipes it through the card reader. After finalizing the order, she packs the clothes into separate garment bags and carefully hands them to me, and after thanking her, the kids and I, together with Yaz, exit the store. There’s a slight breeze in the air once we step outside, so I tighten the scarf around my neck.
“What are you going to do about Tristan?” Yaz asks.
“Oh, he’ll come home eventually. I just hope it’s before the party tonight because I really don’t want to have to explain to Jasper what happened. Although I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to anyway.”
“It sounds like you have your hands full. Maybe we can catch up one day next week if you’re not too busy playing manny.”
The last remark is delivered with pure sarcasm, but I don’t mind because it’s just the way Yaz is. And I know it’s also said with love.
“Yeah, that would be good. I’ll call you,” I reply.
She leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek, then waves to the children before walking in the opposite direction. I pull my phone out of my pocket, then go to my contacts and click on Tristan’s name. Not surprisingly, it diverts straight to voicemail. I know he’s going to take a little time to cool off, but I really need to make sure he’s going to be present at this party tonight. I don’t know what Jasper will say or do to me when he finds out Tristan isn’t there. With that that thought pondering in my mind, I take Violet’s hand and the three of us head home.