“Why the change?”
I shrugged. “I wanted something that would bring in more income. Figured if I was going to go into debt, I may as well pick something that would pay it off a little faster.”
“Do you like children?” she asked, marking on a piece of paper like she was keeping score.
“I do.”
She put her pen down and locked her eyes with mine. “So this job is around-the-clock care. Monday through Friday. It’s not like a regular job where you have a designated time for lunch. If you want lunch, you eat when she eats, or you wait until nap time. It really will be like she is your own child. The goal is to hire another nanny to cover the weekend shifts, giving you some time off. However, until I find someone, I’ll be the weekend relief. You won’t even have nights off. You’ll put her to bed and get up with her if she wakes. It’s a lot for anyone to take on, and you’re so young, I’m worried that you’re getting more than you’re bargaining for.”
“No, it’s fine,” I assured her. “I need this job. I need the pay, and I need the place to stay.”
“I feel like I should warn you. We have a hard time keeping people in this position.”
“Why is that? Is the child troubled?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“No, it’s nothing like that. The child… she’s as sweet as can be. It’s her father. He… well, he lost his wife, and he hasn’t been the same since. He isn’t involved with his daughter in any sense of the word. He can be…” She bit down on her lower lipas she thought. “Unpleasant, to say the least. He sets impossible standards and then is very vocal when his standards can’t be met. But word is getting out, and fewer and fewer people are interested in accepting this job, so we can’t afford to be picky. I did a background check on you last week when you applied for the job.”
“You did?”
She nodded. “You came back clean. I was wondering why you wouldn’t put your last name on the application, but then I reminded myself that we couldn’t afford to be picky. Whatever you’re hiding isn’t any legal matter, or it would’ve been on your background check. So whatever your reasons are, they are just that. Your reasons.”
“Are you offering me the job?”
The corners of her mouth pulled upward. “Will you take the job?”
I smiled widely as relief washed through me. “Of course.”
“Welcome to the team,” she said, standing and holding out her hand to shake. “I hope you’re tough. You’ll need to be.”
I swallowed but nodded.
I could handle Roman.
FOUR
ROMAN
Someone knocked on the door of my home office, and before I could tell them to go the fuck away, the door opened. I looked up from my laptop to see Monica walking toward me.
“I didn’t tell you to come in.”
“I didn’t ask. You’re lucky I gave you a warning.” She came to a stop in front of me.
I arched an eyebrow. “You feel like looking for a new job?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, jutted out her lip, and rolled her eyes while scoffing. “Please. Are you going to fire me? Who’s going to do everything around here?”
I tightened my hand into a fist. I knew she was right, but damnit, it didn’t make me feel any better. I missed the days when she used to fear me. “What do you want?”
“I’ve hired a nanny. Would you like to meet her before she leaves?”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “No.”
“Alright, then I’ll have her move in right now. Don’t jump down my throat later when you bump into a stranger in the hallway.” She turned to leave.
“No, wait,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose as annoyance surged through me. “Bring her in.”
“I thought you’d see it my way,” she said, carrying on toward the door.
