I undress, getting my pyjamas on. Eden is already in astarfish shape, leaving me to perch on the edge of the bed. This was going to be another restless night, like the many other times Eden has slept in my bed since Julia left. No matter how many times she starts off in her own room, she always ends up with me.
Grabbing my phone, I make sure it’s silent. It takes a while, but I find what I’m looking for—Gemma’s account. I want to see what type of things she posts, to get a feel for her. I’m greeted with videos of her and music in the background, she doesn’t seem to talk in any of them. Then one video stops me. She’s in a barely there white bikini on a luxury yacht, with the sun setting in the background. Not very appropriate. I begin to question if I should contact her or not.
It's not long before I’m up, I only had the one beer, but my head feels like I was at an all-night drinking party. The kids are eating their breakfast at the table. Ace is on his iPad, and Eden is watching cartoons. I take my phone out of my jeans pocket. Gemma’s card is on the kitchen unit where I put it last night.
I send her a text.
Hi, Gemma, it’s Alex. I’m in desperate need of a nanny for my two children. It will be from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sometimes I may require you to work weekends. I need you to take the children to school and clean the house. The salary is fifty thousand a year. I need you to start ASAP. Alex.
I set my phone down and sip my coffee, but I get a response almost straight away.
Please send me your address.
I text back with my details and Gemma responds again.
I’ll see you Monday.
I sigh with relief and look over at my children, I hope I’m doing the right thing. I don’t have much time
GEMMA
Twenty minutes earlier
My head is pounding; how much did I have to drink last night? I don’t remember getting home. A loud banging on my bedroom door isn’t helping matters.
“What?” I shout, ready to kill the person waking me up. Brody storms into my room. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing, breakfast is almost ready.”
So, he’s just being a jerk as usual.
“Did you hear back from the sugar daddy last night?” he teases.
“Not yet, but I will.” I wink at my brother. “Pass me my dressing gown, please,” I ask him.
“What did your last slave die of?”
He stands at the door in his tennis outfit with his arms crossed. Oh, now he is asking for it.
“I’m naked,” I warn him as I start pulling back my quilt. I’m not going to give in; he doesn’t seem to move, either. It’s not until my legs slip from underneath the blanket, he throws me the gown.
“That wasn’t hard.” Slipping it on under my quilt, I get out of bed and head into my bathroom.
After my long shower, I’m refreshed and relaxed. At least I was until I find Brody is still in my room, lying on my bed with his tennis shoes on. They’re filthy, and my lovely white silk bedsheets are covered in mud and stinking man sweat. More importantly, my phone in his hand.
“What are you doing?” Running over, I grab it from him.
“Your password was far too easy to guess, but chill. Sorry, I deleted a message by accident, but Alex from last night wants to give you a job.”
My eyes light up and I can’t contain my smile. “He wants me?”
“Yes, Monday morning seven a.m. It’s for forty hours a week, maybe more.”
“You’re kidding me. Hang on, seven a.m.? Don’t you mean p.m. I’m confused… He wants me to go over. He’s not just going to send me stuff?”
“No, a.m. as in before work. He wants you to earn it.”
“Oh… okay.” It wasn’t what I’d expected, but it’s a job, and an easy one at that.
