26. Riley
On the nightof the gala, I get dressed and ready in my room.
It’s been a long time since I had to dress myself up for an occasion, and I don’t think I’ve ever been to an event as fancy as this one, so I pull out all the stops.
Of course, for me, that isn’t much. I wash my hair carefully and blow it dry rather than putting it in the usual high ponytail. It wafts around my shoulders in sleek curtains; I can’t stop running my fingers through it, surprised by the softness.
I use a little bit of makeup, but not much. A slight blush, a little bit of nude eyeshadow, and a tasteful mascara. I don’t want to show up bare-faced, but I don’t want to look like a clown, either.
Figuring out how to walk the line makes me a little nervous. It’s so rare that I try to make myself look presentable like this. Usually, when I’m just working with Archie, my goal is only functionality. I try to get my hair out of the way, and that’s about it.
When I’m finally almost ready, it comes time to put on the dress.
I’m almost afraid of it. It’s been hanging off of the mirror in the corner of my room, waiting for me—almost taunting me.
I know that Cole doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but… well, I know enough about fashion to know how much he must have spent on something like this.
And I know how it must look to other people, him spending that kind of money on his nanny. They certainly won’t think I could afford it for myself.
A trickle of nervousness goes through me. I have to imagine that all of the people at this gala will be just like the other parents at Archie’s daycare—judgmental, wealthy, and able to sniff out imposters like bloodhounds.
I swallow hard, steeling myself, then put on the dress. I didn’t try it on before tonight—I couldn’t bring myself to—but of course, it fits my body perfectly. Cole wasn’t kidding. He must have all of my curves mapped out in his mind.
I turn to face the mirror, and the skirt twirls, the diamonds in the fabric flashing. It’s gorgeous. It hugs my torso and waist, the neckline deep, but still classy. It’s almost certainly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn.
I have to catch my breath at my own reflection. I spend more than a few minutes taking it in before I snatch up the heels on my chair and head downstairs.
Cole and Archie are both already dressed up, waiting in the foyer. They’re wearing matching suits, which is adorable. Cole’s is tailored to perfection, and I can’t help but think how sharp he looks.
Cole is always well-dressed to begin with, but in black tie, his handsomeness is intense, like a knife’s edge.
While I stare at him, his gaze sweeps over me in the same fashion. We both avert our eyes. He clears his throat.
“You look very handsome, Archie,” I say, trying to diffuse the tension.
Archie beams, puffing out his chest.
“Everyone ready to go?” Cole asks brusquely. “The car’s out front.”
He holds the door open, and Archie runs ahead, out to the sidewalk. As I pass by him, I feel Cole’s hand come to rest on the small of my back.
His breath tickles my ear as he whispers to me, “You’re absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to take that dress off of you.”
I shoot him a fleeting look, unable to suppress my shiver of desire at the heat in his gaze. Then I follow Archie over to the waiting car.
The ride is relatively short. The driver pulls the car up in front of the venue’s double doors. The gala is taking place in the ballroom of an old hotel in midtown, the sort of place I would walk past on my way to work but would never imagine I could enter.
As we make our way through the lobby, heading toward the ballroom, I can hear the echo of hundreds of murmuring voices. I allow myself to move slowly, taking in the sparkle of the crystal chandeliers, the oil paintings decorating the walls.
Catching up to Cole and Archie, I feel almost giddy with excitement.
The room is full from wall-to-wall with designer suits and flashy, gorgeous dresses like my own. I follow closely behind Cole as he begins to mingle with the crowd, suddenly relieved that he provided me with something appropriate to wear.
At least with the dress, I don’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Cole wades confidently through the room, and it’s easy for me and Archie to follow in his wake. Archie slips his small hand into my own, and I guide him along, making sure he doesn’t get lost.
Eventually, Cole stops at a cocktail table against one wall, where there are two other tall, impeccably dressed men lingering with their drinks. There’s a woman with them, blonde, with a heart-shaped face and sparkling green eyes.
“You made it,” the taller of the two men says, pushing his slightly messy hair back. “Thought you weren’t going to show.”
The other man at the table, dark-haired and more serious-looking, leans over to glance at me. The blonde woman, her arm wrapped around his, follows his gaze.
“Hi,” she says, waving a little. “I’m Sophie. You must be Cole’s new nanny.”
“Um, yes,” I reply, trying not to look as flustered as I feel. “I’m Riley. It’s nice to meet you.”
Cole gestures to the blonde woman, then to the intimidating man beside her. “This is Sophie, and my childhood friend, Declan,” he says. “And that asshole right there is Reed.”
Shyly, I lift a hand in greeting. They give me friendly nods, and Reed immediately makes a face at Cole.
“Don’t go around telling people I’m an asshole,” he says, laying a hand over his heart as if clutching invisible pearls. He glances back at me with a wink. “Declan and I have known Mr. Robot here since we were kids, so I guess he feels like he can just say whatever.”
Cole scowls, but freezes at the sound of a laugh I couldn’t suppress. He gives me a puzzled look.
“Sorry,” I say, grinning. “It’s just… nice to meet…”
I trail off mid-sentence. As my gaze moves back over the group of them, I notice Declan watching me carefully, his gaze assessing. Nerves flutter in my stomach; what if he thinks I don’t belong here, and he’s trying to catch me messing up?
“Friends of yours,” I finish lamely, frazzled.
Reed smiles, but Declan is still staring at me with narrowed eyes, like he’s working on one of Cole’s Sudoku puzzles that’s etched across my face.
Self-conscious, I give the room a cursory survey. I wonder, suddenly, just how weird it is for me to be here. Not just because I was handed the invite, and because this world—the one with caviar plates being carried around by tuxedo-clad wait staff—is completely foreign to me.
But because I’m the nanny.
How many other nannies are here? Technically, I’m on the clock, but I feel as though I’m crossing about a million lines.
My eyes rake the room, searching for someone else with a child. There are a few small children accompanying their parents to this gala, so that in and of itself isn’t odd. But… my heart pounds uncomfortably as I realize that the women holding their hands are most likely their mothers.
And on top of everything… if there were other nannies in this ballroom, how many of them are fucking their bosses?
Maybe that’s why Declan was staring at me. He knows something.
For the next few minutes, while Cole talks to his friends, I do my best to keep my eyes off of him. I focus on a piece of the dance floor ten yards away, watching an endless parade of designer shoes cross the hardwood.
When I finally look up at the door, I see exactly the person I was hoping to see.
Olivia hovers by the ballroom entrance, wearing a deep purple dress that she wore to another friend’s wedding a year ago. She looks a little lost.
I glance up at Cole, then down at Archie, who looks bored out of his mind. I tap Cole on the shoulder. “Do you mind if I take Archie for a lap? I’d like to greet Olivia, if that’s okay.”
Cole looks at Archie, who has begun fitfully playing with the tablecloth, and nods. “That’s fine. Just keep your phone on.”
“Hey, kiddo.” I reach down to take Archie’s hand. “You wanna come meet my friend?”
Archie looks up with huge eyes. “You have a friend?”
I laugh, and even Cole smirks in amusement. “I sure do. Come on, let’s go talk to her.”
Archie and I make our way across the crowded ballroom. As soon as we’re within sight of Olivia, her shoulders drop in visible relief, and she rushes over to us.
“Oh, thank god,” she says. “I was starting to worry you were playing some kind of fu—” she stops abruptly halfway through the word, realizing that Archie is with me. “Um, some kind of funny joke!”
“Nice save,” I tell her.
“I don’t know how you do it day in and day out. I’d have slipped up a million times by now.” Olivia and I hug, and then she bends down to greet Archie. “Hey there. You must be Archer. I’m Riley’s friend, Olivia.”
Archie is often a gregarious kid, but with the noise of the ballroom and the sheer number of strangers around him, he’s a bit shy tonight. He half-hides behind my leg, but does reach out to give Olivia a handshake.
“You’re just like your dad,” I say, which makes him smile. “All business.”
“So, what have I missed?” Olivia asks, popping back up to my eye level.
“Not much.” I shrug. “Cole introduced me to a couple of his friends. There’s artwork.” I gesture to the sides of the room, where several dozen display easels hold paintings. I’ve been meaning to take a walk around the room and survey the artwork, but between Cole’s friends, Archie, and my own nerves, I haven’t gotten the chance.
“You look amazing, by the way,” Olivia says, reaching out to feel the fabric on my dress. “When did you get this? I feel like I would’ve remembered it!”
“Oh.” I drop my voice, embarrassed. “Actually, Cole got it for me. He ordered it, and it just… showed up a few days ago.”
Her jaw drops, almost comically. “No fu—”
I cough to interrupt her, and she puts a hand over her mouth as if silencing herself. Archie looks up at her, taking everything in.
“Sorry, sorry! I mean… no freaking way. That dress is gorgeous. It must’ve cost—”
“A fortune.” I sigh. “I know. But he insisted.”
She gives me a significant look. “Riley…”
“Don’t start.” I wave a hand, shaking my head. “Believe me, I’ve already been thinking about this for the past few days. We’ll talk about it some other time.”
I incline my head slightly to indicate Archie, who is looking between the two of us as if he’s watching a tennis match.
At his impossibly round eyes, Olivia can’t help but smile. “Okay,” she says, shooting Archie a wink. “Later. For now, do you want to get drinks and find somewhere to stand?”
“Let’s do it,” I agree. “How about an apple juice, Archie?”
Archie perks up at that suggestion. “Okay.”
We head over to the open bar, and once we’re all set—one apple juice in a plastic cup for Archie, a glass of chilled white wine for Olivia, and water for me—we find our way to an unoccupied table.
The table is too tall for Archie to reach, so Olivia and I take turns helping him get his apple juice up and down. As we hang out, idly chatting, Archie starts to open up to Olivia. In no time, the two of them are chattering away, Archie describing his recent trip to the petting zoo.
“—there were how many goats?” Olivia exclaims, pretending to be shocked.
“Five!” Archie pauses for a moment, frowning, then shakes his head. “No! Six!”
“Which is it?” Olivia gives me a look, one eyebrow raised.
“I wasn’t counting,” I say. “Archie is the goat expert here.”
While Archie describes all of the animals he met, I keep an eye on the table where Cole and his friends are gathered. Every few minutes, I look up and meet Cole’s gaze directly, then quickly look away again.
He can’t stop looking at me, and I can’t stop looking at him, even accidentally. How long can we really keep this up?
After a while, I notice the taller of Cole’s friends—Reed—leave the table and start heading toward ours. It takes a few seconds, but Olivia eventually notices him too. At once, she stiffens.
She curses under her breath, quietly enough that I can hear, but Archie probably can’t.
Then, to my surprise, she takes a few steps back.