She ignores me. Great, I’m going to have to go in.
“Willow?” I repeat.
She rolls over and looks at me with no emotion. “What?”
I force myself to fake a smile. “I didn’t realize that I was meant to wake you up earlier.”
She puts the phone back to her ear. “Yeah. She’s finally decided to turn up.” She listens for a moment and then passes the phone to me. “He wants to talk to you.”
I frown as I stare at the phone in her outstretched hand. “Who is it?” I ask.
She smirks sarcastically and climbs out of bed before she disappears into her bathroom, shutting the door hard behind her.
“Miss Brielle?” Mr. Masters snaps, pulling me from my thoughts.
My eyes widen in horror and I put the phone to my ear, what’s he on fucking speed dial? “Yes?” I reply meekly.
“I thought the children were up and dressed already?”
“Me, too.” I cringe. “Weird, huh?”
“You’re just waking them up now?”
I scratch my head. I can’t believe I’m getting caught out on my second lie this morning.
This whole day is already one huge monumental fuck up. It’s a conspiracy.
“They are going to be late for school,” he growls. “Why didn’t you wake them up earlier?”
“Why didn’t you tell me I had to? This is new to me, you know. I can’t be expected to remember all this shit,” I whisper angrily. “I forgot about the list, okay? And you should have called, emailed me, or whatever the hell you were meant to do, earlier.”
He stays silent on the other end of the phone, and I scrunch up my face. Oh God, just shut up, Brielle.
I’m totally blowing this job.
He stays silent for a moment longer before he speaks. “I’m putting this down to jetlag, Miss Brielle. Take the children to school and go back to bed yourself before you make any more…” he pauses, “bad judgements.”
I roll my eyes and feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Yes, sir.”
He stays on the line and awkward silence hangs between us.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I sigh.
The line clicks as he hangs up without another word.
Willow appears out of the bathroom and glares at me. “Get out of my room. Thanks a lot. I’m going to be late.” She sneers.
I stare at her, and suddenly, I’m feeling so overwhelmed that I don’t think I can take it. My eyes fill with tears. This isn’t how I imagined my exciting new job to be. I drop my head and leave her room quickly so she doesn’t see my tears.
Screw this.
I want to go home
Julian
I end the call and pinch the bridge of my nose.
Here we go again. Another catastrophe of a nanny, and this one seemed so promising according to her resume.
“Morning, your honor.” Marcy smiles as she walks in and holds out my morning coffee.
“Thank you,” I mouth as I take it from her. I won the jackpot seven years ago when I hired her as my personal assistant. Best thing in this damn courthouse.
“How did the new nanny go?” she asks as she slides into her seat at her desk and sips her coffee.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t ask. Nightmare,” I sigh as I pick up my phone. “I’m calling the agency now and requesting someone else.” I wait on as the call goes through.
I get a vision of Brielle in her white silk nightdress in my bedroom this morning. It wasn’t light, and yet I could see her every curve, the way it hung over her hard nipples. Her caramel skin with her Australian tan. Her big brown eyes and red lips that looked like they belonged around me…
I close my eyes and inhale deeply.
Fuck me, if she isn’t every man’s wet dream, I don’t know who is.
I drag my hand down my face. I need to get out more. Drinking red wine and jerking off to a photo of my children’s nanny is unacceptable Thursday night behaviour.
I clench my jaw as I feel myself harden at the thought of her, and uneasiness sweeps over me. She’s the nanny.
Cut it out.
The sooner I get her out of my house, the better.
“Hello, Andersons Agency,” the receptionist answers.
“Hello, this is Julian Masters.”
“Oh, hello, Mr. Masters. How can I help you, sir?’
“My new nanny arrived yesterday.”
“Yes.” I hear her flick through some papers. “Brielle Johnston.”
I purse my lips. “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Can you arrange some interviews for me to find someone else, please?”
She hesitates for a moment. “But…”
“No buts. I’m not happy. I would prefer someone else.”
“Mr. Masters, Brielle is over here on a working visa. If she doesn’t have another job to go to, she will have to go back to Australia immediately.”
I frown. “What?”
“When you signed her au pair contract, you agreed to sponsor her for her visit to the United Kingdom for a twelve-month period.”
“I did no such thing. I signed an employment contract for a nanny.”
“Yes, you did, sir. The employment contract is the working visa contract for an au pair, which is different to a nanny. It’s in section 6a. I have the paperwork.”
I pause for a moment, and Marcy frowns as she listens on. Our eyes meet and I shake my head in disgust. How the hell did I miss that? “Her visa isn’t my problem. I want a new nanny as soon as possible.”
“That’s really disappointing, sir. We really feel that Brielle will work out if you just give her a chance.”
“No. Arrange other interviews.”
“Leonie, my manager, isn’t here right now. Can I get her to call you when she gets in?” I exhale heavily. “Fine. I’ll be available after five.”
“Thank you, Mr. Masters.” She hangs up.
I sit back in my chair and roll my pen on my desk as I think.
“What’s wrong with her? Are the children safe?” Marcy frowns.
“Yes, of course the children are safe.”
“What? Does she seem rough or something?”
“Quite the opposite.” I stand and remove my suit jacket, placing my judge’s cape over my clothes. I slowly fasten the buttons down the front. “She’s just young and not the right woman for the job, that’s all. Willow and her have a personality clash.”
Marcy watches me for a moment. “I hope I’m not talking out of turn, sir, but Willow has a personality clash with everyone.”
My eyes meet hers and I exhale heavily. “I know. Even me, lately.” With a heavy heart, I pick up my pile of court documents and make my way into the courtroom with Marcy following close behind.
“All rise,” the secretary calls.
The courtroom stands, and I nod and walk in to take my place at the front of the room. I look around at the full courtroom, with the jury sitting to my left. My eyes roam to the man in front of me, accused of both rape and murder. Contempt fills my every pore. He’s been in my court before, although we didn’t have enough evidence to charge him. I hope today’s result is somewhat better. “You may be seated.”
Brielle
I stand at the front door with the keys in my hand as I wait for Willow so I can take them both to school. Samuel is ready, waiting with his backpack on his back. I look up at the stairs. I want to scream out hurry the hell up, but I don’t want to upset her.
She seems troubled, and for some reason, I don’t think it’s just because of me. Eventually, she comes into view and starts walking down the stairs. Her dark hair is in two braids, and she’s wearing a snooty looking grey tunic uniform. Her skirt hangs below her knees with big box pleats, her legs covered in thick grey tights and finished off with black school shoes. She’s pretty, in a scowly kind of way.
I smile. “You look nice.”
She rolls her eyes in disgust.
I smile. “Come on, let’s go. I hope I can drive this van.”
“Van?” Willow frowns. “We’re not going in the van.”
I stare at her for a moment. “Why not?”
“Because it’s embarrassing. Like I want to be seen in that crap car.”
“Oh, please,” I snap. “Stop being such a snob.” Her eyes meet mine, and I internally kick myself. Did I really just say that out loud?
“A snob?” she repeats, as if shocked at my audacity.
“What I meant is, I don’t want to crash your dad’s fancy SUV. So when you are with me, we are taking the van.”
“Well, I won’t be seen dead going anywhere with you.” She sneers. “I’m not into hanging out with dumb bimbos. Just fuck off and go back to the hole you came from.”
I inhale sharply, and we stare at each other-a silent standoff.
Samuel takes my hand, and I can’t help but think it’s a silent apology for his sister’s rudeness. Something snaps inside of me, annoyed that she would put him in a position to hear that and feel so uncomfortable. What a selfish little bitch.
I smile down at him and hand over the keys. “Go out the front, baby, and open the car for me, will you?”
He snatches them and runs out the door.
Willow lifts her chin defiantly.
I raise my eyebrow. “Let us get one thing straight here, dear Willow.” I sneer.
She puts her hand on her hip in disgust.
“I’m here to look after Samuel, and I really don’t care whether you like me or not-”
“I don’t,” she cuts me off.