by Emma Quinn
Copyright 2019 by Emma Quinn
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The Billionaire’s Nanny
Emma Quinn
Content
The Billionaire’s Nanny
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Extract from the book: The Nanny’s Secret
The Billionaire’s Nanny
Emma Quinn
1
L
ooking up at the cute, pink cursive script of the sign above the door, Alana sighed gustily. Here we go again, she thought as she pushed open the door.
“Alana!” Tina, the blonde receptionist at Nannies Inc., smiled as Alana came in. Tina was always cheerful and Alana wondered if she was actually that happy or if she was a real pain in the neck at home. Alana distrusted overly-cheerful people. “We haven’t seen you in ages!” she said as Alana came up to the desk.
“Well, that’s the goal, right?” Alana replied rhetorically. She smiled as she said it and hoped Tina wouldn’t take offense. Alana was just not having a good day. She’d been working as a nanny for the twin toddlers of the O’Hallorans, a well-off Boston family, for the last two years and, just when she’d thought she had it made for the next five years or so, they decided to move to Europe. They’d invited her along, but she couldn’t leave her father and sister to cope on their own and had had to say no. So, here she was, back at Nannies Inc.
But Tina didn’t take offence, she just fluttered her fingers and laughed. “You’re so funny, Alana,” she said.
Alana smiled half-heartedly. The truth was, she was a little sad. She’d really like the two little boys and would miss them.
“Anita will see you in just two seconds, okay?” Tina continued. “Just take a seat and she’ll be right out.”
Alana nodded and headed to the stylish white couches that lined the bright reception room. Taking a seat next to a large tropical plant, she picked up the latest issue of Vogue and started idly flipping through the pages, hardly even noticing the beautiful clothes and glossy images passing under her eyes.
Somewhere down the hall a little boy squealed with laughter and Alana looked up instinctually, her heart clenching a little at the thought of her little twins. Different kid, she reminded herself, forcing herself to concentrate on the magazine.
But, before she could really take in anything, her named was called.
Looking up, Alana smiled to see Anita, her manager, sticking her head around the door and beckoning to her with one perfectly-manicured hand.
“Hello, darling,” said Anita as Alana crossed the room, leaving the Vogue beside the potted plant. When Alana reached her, Anita made a show of air-kissing her on both cheeks, a habit she’d picked up from their enormously wealthy clients. Anita thought it made her seem more cultured, but Alana personally thought it just made her seem silly – not that she would ever tell her that.
In truth, Alana really liked Anita. For all her airs and affectations, she was an excellent manager and always did her best to find her nannies good placements. And, unlike a lot of other managers, she always stuck up for the women who worked for her.
“Hi, Anita,” Alana smiled as she followed the black-haired woman down the hall to her office, “How was Thailand?” she asked, referencing Anita’s last holiday.
“Oh, divine, darling. Simply divine. You must go,” Anita waved a hand as she talked, flashing her long, red nails.
“I’ll add it to the list,” Alana agreed passively. The reality was that she wouldn’t be taking a holiday any time soon. Too many bills to pay.
They got settled in Anita’s office, the autumn sunlight streaming through the high, narrow window, warming Alana’s skin and making her feel little less sad.
“Well, the O’Hallorans left you a stunning reference,” Anita told her, tapping busily at her computer. “Which helped a lot, let me tell you. And which, of course, you deserved, darling. You know you’re one of my top girls. Which is why I’m sorry to offer you what I’m about to offer you.” Anita stopped typing and clasped her ringed fingers together on the desk between them. Alana swallowed. She didn’t know if she could take more bad news just right now.
“What is it?” she asked hesitantly.
“Have you heard of Jack Menuda?” Anita asked.
Alana thought back and shook her head. “Should I have?”
Anita shrugged. “Not necessarily. Anyway, his wife passed away about five years ago, when his daughter was two. And they’ve been cycling through nannies ever since. The girl is pretty wild by all accounts. He’s not bad, though. I’ve never had anyone complain about him. Absent most of the time, but not a bad employer. Nothing inappropriate,” Anita raised her eyebrows pointedly.
Alana nodded. She knew all too well what Anita meant by “inappropriate.”
“Anyway, it really all depends on how quickly you want to get back to work,” Anita continued. “The Menudas aren’t an easy placement, but the father is desperate for a nanny after the last one walked out on him last week. I wish I had something lovely to offer you right off the bat, but with so little notice it’s difficult. If you want to give me another month…” Anita let the question hang.
Alana shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’m up for a challenge. And I can’t afford to wait another month without working.”
Anita nodded. “How is your father doing, anyway?” she asked.
Alana sighed. “He’s doing a lot better, thanks,” she said. “The physio is really helping. But they say it’ll be another year at least before he’s totally healed. He’s got surgery coming up in another few months that’ll hopefully help.”
Anita shook her head. “Is he claiming workers’ compensation or something at least?”
Alana made a face. Her father, a carpenter, had been seriously injured nearly a year ago while visiting a new condo building downtown to oversee the installation of the cabinets. The accident had injured his back and was entirely due to negligence on the part of the developers, but they were claiming that he’d been walking in a part of the development he shouldn’t have been. This was nonsense of course, but the lengthy process of fighting the claim would take more money than they had – and the developers knew it. “He’s getting a little money, but not from the developers,” she told Anita.
“That is just so absolutely shocking,” Anita said, shaking her head. “If one of my girls got hurt like that on the job, I’d have the employers’ head on a platter.”
Alana smiled. “Why do you think I keep coming back to you?” she asked.
Anita chuckled and patted Alana’s hand comfortingly. “He’ll get better soon,” she said. “And, in the meantime, he’s so lucky to have such a good daughter like you looking after him.”
Alana nodded, looking down at Anita’s desk.
The other woman eyed her younger employee for a second. “You wanted to go with them to Italy, didn’t you?” she asked finally.
Alana nodded, looking up to meet Anita’s eyes. “Yeah,” she admitted. “It would have been magical. But the
re’s always next time, right?”
Anita smiled, squeezing Alana’s hand. “That’s the spirit, sweetheart,” she said. “You’ll get there one day. But in the meantime, what should I tell Mr. Menuda?”
“Tell him I’ll be there tomorrow bright and early,” Alana smiled.
“Excellent. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. I’ve made sure to let him know he’s getting one of my top nannies.”
“Thanks, Anita,” Alana smiled, gathering up her purse. “I’ll go sign the paperwork with Tina.”
Anita nodded, already turning back to her computer. “Excellent.”
“Thanks again, Anita.”
“Anything for my favorite,” Anita winked as Alana headed out the door.
Twenty minutes and a lot of paperwork later, Alana emerged into the crisp sunlight feeling relieved. She’d been worried Anita wouldn’t have anything for her on such short notice. And so what if the little girl was troubled. Alana could handle troubled children. After all, she had grown up without a mother too. Besides, she could use a challenge to keep her mind off everything else.
2
“ S
urprise!” Claire whispered so as not to wake their father.
“Aw,” Alana smiled, taking in the delicious-looking breakfast Claire had laid out on the kitchen table for her. “When did you make this?”
“While you were in the shower,” Claire replied, pouring steaming coffee into Alana’s mug as they sat down. “I didn’t want you to go off to your first day of work without a good meal in you. Besides, I won’t see you for weeks. I’ve got to feed you while I can!”
Claire was a cook at a hip brunch spot near Harvard and made excellent breakfasts – which Alana only got to enjoy on her day off every two weeks. The rest of the time she lived with the family she was working for. It had taken Alana a little while to get used to living with strangers, but it meant that Claire and her father could rent out their house and stay in a little apartment near Claire’s work, using the money from renting out their family home to pay for their father’s medical bills. It was crazy to think how much their lives had changed in the last year. Before, Alana had been saving up, but now all her money went straight to supporting the family.
“How are you feeling about the new place?” Claire asked, sipping coffee as Alana got down to business, pouring syrup on her waffles and piling them high with fruit.
“Good,” Alana said around a delicious mouthful of crispy waffle and sweet syrup. “I mean… I’ll miss the twins, but you know me. I love a challenge. Besides,” she shrugged, “I feel bad for the little girl. They haven’t even been able to keep a nanny for a month, so she’s clearly doing her best to push away any adults she feels she might get attached to. She’s probably still really hurting from her mother’s death.”
Claire nodded. “I’m just amazed you have the patience for all those kids. If it were me and the kid was misbehaving, I’d just leave.”
Alana shrugged. “You just gotta get them to talk about it. There’s always a reason that they’re doing what they’re doing. And, I mean, sometimes they’re just spoiled, but often there’s something else at play.”
“Well, better you than me, is all I can say,” Claire smiled. “But I guess that’s why you take all those seminars and classes on kids and psychology and stuff.”
Alana nodded again, polishing off a piece of crispy bacon. “For sure. They’ve really helped me take better care of the kids.”
Claire reached out and gave her sister a one-armed hug. “Maybe this time it’ll be your forever family,” she said.
Alana had been a nanny since finishing high school six years ago and had been looking for a family to stay with ever since. But no position ever really lasted more than a year or two – the families always moved away. It was the one downside to the job. Often families were only in Boston for a limited time because of the parents’ contracts.
However, Alana had always wanted to be a nanny and took it very seriously. Between jobs she often took workshops and classes, and had even learned German, French, and a little Arabic to be able to work with the families of visiting CEOs. Next she wanted to start on Italian. But all that was on hold until her father got better and they had paid off his medical bills.
“Who could have guessed that showing you Mary Poppins would have such an impact on your life,” Claire joked, stealing a blueberry off Alana’s plate.
Alana chuckled, nodding. “I know, right? What can I say? One look at Julie Andrews’ costume and I knew I wanted to be her when I grew up.”
Claire laughed. “I still need to get you a parrot-headed umbrella! One day I’ll find the perfect one.”
It was a long-running joke between them. Alana had always loved the movie Mary Poppins and Claire blamed it for her desire to become a nanny. Now Claire insisted that, to be a nanny, Alana needed a magical umbrella like Mary Poppins had, but she had yet to be able to find one anywhere. Alana was certain that, one day, however, she’d open her birthday presents and there it would be. Claire was not one to give up easily.
Just then, Alana’s phone chimed softly. “Oops!” she said, putting down her fork and taking a gulp of her earl grey tea. “Time to go!” she smiled. “Thank you so much for breakfast!” She gave her sister a quick, tight hug and waved as she headed out into the hallway. “See you in a few weeks. Say bye to dad for me!”
Claire waved back as Alana scooped up her jacket and suitcase and headed out the door.
Stuffing her suitcase into the back seat of her tiny yellow VW bug, Alana squeezed her long legs into the driver’s seat and stuck the key in the ignition. The engine turned over, grumbling, and Alana rubbed the steering wheel lovingly. “Come on, buddy,” she encouraged it. “Let’s go. You can do it.”
As if responding to the encouragement, the engine finally engaged, the low growl making the whole car vibrate. The car had belonged to her father. He’d given it to her when she graduated, knowing she would need it to get to work, but thinking she would want to get a new one as soon as possible. But Alana loved the tiny old bug and had never even thought of replacing it, even though she could have afforded to before her father’s accident. Her father did his best to keep it in as good condition as he could, but with every year his warnings about engines and transmissions became more and more dire. But Alana was perfectly happy to keep driving the car until it fell to pieces.
“I’ve known that car since I was twelve!” she’d insisted to her father. “I can’t just trade it in for a fancier model. It’d be like abandoning a friend!”
Her father had rolled his eyes, but he kept looking after the car and humoring his daughter.
As she rolled out of the driveway and into the city, Alana sang along to the radio, bobbing her head and enjoying the feeling of her long dark ponytail swinging from side to side behind her, trailing the smell of her floral shampoo. The sun was just beginning to rise and everything was still dark on the road, but Alana felt hopeful about this new job. Maybe Claire was right. Maybe this would be her forever family: the family she’d stay with until the child grew up. But those kinds of jobs were few and far between.
As Alana pulled up to the gated driveway of her new home, she was impressed despite herself. She’d work in some fancy homes over the last six years, but this took the cake. Tall brick walls covered in ivy hid the house from view and, behind the tall, wrought-iron gate, the long driveway meandered through a large rolling lawn dotted with willows and other trees. It was hard to believe that downtown Boston was just half an hour away.
A uniformed guard came out to meet her and, after checking her ID, nodded to her with a smile.
“Good luck in there,” he said. “She’s a tough cookie, our Lottie.”
“Lottie?” Alana asked.
“Charlotte,” he said, referring to the little girl. “But everyone calls her Lottie.”
“Good to know,” Alana smiled. “Got any tips?”
The guard shrugged, smiling conspiratorially. “Just giv
e her whatever she wants,” he said.
“Right,” said Alana, mentally shaking her head. “Thanks.”
Heading up the long gravel driveway, Alana sighed. Probably the last thing this kid needed was another adult who just threw gifts at her and ran away.
But as she drove, her thoughts drifted away from her new charge, distracted by the house that had just come into view. It was like something out of the Jane Austen novels she used to read in high school. It was a beautiful old brick mansion, probably from the first wave of wealthy businessmen that had called Boston home, and its walls were covered in a rustling, red-leafed creeper, making it look a little mysterious. Through the delicate leaves, large windows looked out over the beautiful lawn and large rose bushes that had grown up around the pillars that held up the rounded roof of the large front entrance. When she was a child, Alana would have killed to grow up in a place like this.
The front door opened and a maternal-looking woman in her early fifties stepped out, waving as Alana pulled to stop in the groomed circle of gravel where the driveway ended.
“You must be Alana,” the woman smiled as Alana grabbed her purse and crossed the gravel expanse.
“Yes,” Alana smiled in return. “Pleased to meet you.”
First rule of nannying: always get the other staff on your side.
“Likewise,” the woman held out her hand to shake. “I’m Maria, the house-keeper, cook, and general Jack of all trades.”
“Oh boy,” said Alana sympathetically. “You must have had a lot on your hands since the last nanny left!”
Maria nodded, leading Alana into the house. “Oh honey, you have no idea how glad I am to see you! Come right on through and meet the family.”
Maria led Alana across the high-ceilinged entrance hall, through a side door and into a cozy sitting room with a view of the side garden. Nothing much was growing now that it was autumn, but judging by the pruned back plants, in the spring and summer the view must be mostly roses.
