I placed the phone aside with a sigh only to be replaced with a gasp. There was a plethora of Dior makeup. As in, a whole line of makeup.
Mascara, a hand full of eye shadow pallets, blush, foundation, concealers, brushes, on top of La Prairie skin care—which I didn’t even have skin care in my purse! This must have cost him thousands of dollars! And I had only lost a few items…I saw a Louis Vuitton folder. I opened it to see new college ruled notebook inside. Sky would flip out! Not even she, Ms. Little Rich Girl, had ones of these! She’d die, indeed. Next to the package was a nice array of Godiva chocolates and bouquet of dozens of pink roses that filled the limo with fragrant smells. He really went all out to make me feel better. This again made me feel so special, giddy, and almost glad I was robbed! Imagine that! But it felt so nice to feel pampered.
As I went through my new makeup and admired the beautiful colors, we finally made our way to Penelope’s school. I hadn’t even realized we had stopped until the door was opened for me by Will.
“Are you ready Ms. Chelsea?” And with that, Will escorted met to her adorable classroom.
“Chelsea!!!” She ran to me and hugged my legs. “Oh, I just knew you’d come!”
“Did you?”
I couldn’t help but laugh as the teacher waved by to me. “Mr. Maxwell informed the school you’d be here today picking her up. You’re fine to take her.”
So his last name was Maxwell.
My jaw hung open and nothing came out. I was shocked. But then again not shocked. Had he known I’d really come to pick up his daughter? So much had happened today. It was such a crazy day.
We made our way back into the limo. Penelope immediately made her way to the flowers. “Awww…these are beautiful!”
“Why thank you, princess.”
“You think I’m a princess?” Her big eyes looked up at me.
“Well, of course I do.”
“And look at all of this make up.”
She sounded so excited. I couldn’t help but to giggle at her admiration and her enthusiasm.
“Would you like to have a little make up play date in the limo on the way home?”
She nodded excitingly as she closed her eyes as if ready for me to apply her makeup. “But you mean car,” she corrected me.
“Oh, right. Of course. The car.”
Limo! Car! Oh her little world she lived in. To say that she’s adorable is an understatement. I’d never met such a cute little girl before. Her hair was in long golden waves like Rapunzel. Her big eyes innocent, brave, and daring like a Disney character. And her little heart on display, a full ranging spectrum of emotions of loss, sadness, excitement and exuberance; which I in this moment was able to bring her to such a place of high spirits. The highlight of my day.
Entire neighborhoods dropped off and there was nothing but pretty wilderness and then more neighborhoods and back to wilderness again. Definite outskirts, but gorgeous farmland, incredibly gorgeous. Horses roamed free, as did sheep and other wild life. The pastures were deep green, so green if they were any more vibrant the blades of grass would simply burst into song and dance. I was just sure of it. So much beauty to admire. Farm houses, rolling hills, incredibly small roads.
Penelope’s head rested on my lap, her cute little hands reaching for my knee. She was out cold. My heart responded warmly to her genuine affection towards me. I didn’t want to wake her, so I decided to keep as still as possible.
The hum of the limo driving along the rocky road filled in the silence as I was lost in my thoughts and daydreams.
The driver finally turned. It was the first time he’d turned down another road in about half an hour. This road was narrower, with more trees and a few houses starting popping up from behind the awesomely big trees. Huge houses. Big trees and huge houses and nice cars and dogs that looked like they could be in those fancy dog pageants.
There it was. The castle on a hill. An enormous ivory French country mansion surrounded by pristine gardens with bursting vibrant flowers and green lush rolling acreage. They even had gorgeous horses galloping freely next to a nice sized private lake with a deck and gazebo. It was the English countryside ideal scene from PBS movies. Immaculate white fences separated the horses’ land and the exquisite gardens. There was so much to look at. I didn’t even know where to turn next.
The limo door opened, causing excitement to stir. The urge for an adventure was building in my chest.
“Ladies,” Will addressed us.
Penelope let out a long yawn as she stretched her arms wide and long. She looked at me and smiled, her pink lip gloss shimmering all the more. I had dusted her eyelids with periwinkle and her cheeks with light pink.
“Well, welcome to my home, Chelsea.”
“That’s Ms. Chelsea, dear,” Jackson had corrected. There he stood in the entry way of his grand estate in a white polo, blue jeans, and barefoot. He smelled as is he just got out of the shower. So fresh. Crisp. Sexy. I had to focus on the giant light oak door and the burning gas lanterns so I wouldn’t lust over his incredible hotness!
“Well don’t you look beautiful, Penelope.” He picked his daughter and she hugged his neck.
“Thank you. Ms. Chelsea did my make up!” Her eyes practically doubled in size with her cute bubby enthusiasm.
I could see the genuine appreciation warm Jackson’s face. “Well, she did a lovely job.” Ah, swoon. That accent. I’d never get over it.
We stopped in the corridor, which was a small white closet-sized area with a small gold chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
A man dressed in a suit with white gloves stepped forward to take my things.
“Chelsea, this is Theadore. Theadore Ms. Chelsea Pierce.”
“Nice to meet you, my lady.”
“Uh, likewise?” I had answered him with the inflection of a question. I wasn’t used to such formality. I felt myself blushing.
“Theodore, please bring Chelsea and I refreshments and cucumber sandwiches in my sitting room. Penelope, darling. Why don’t you go into the kitchen with Theodore for your afternoon snack?”
“But I want to stay with Miss Chelsea.”
“You will. But we need to discuss a few things. Why don’t you let Theodore put on your favorite show, yes?”
We were led into “his sitting room,” a near circular living room with old wooden floors with roughly one inch nails securing each plank. A large window with white sheer curtains contrasted against the dark wood, making it a chic man’s room. It was very rustic and went against the French design a bit, but it definitely screamed man room. A gigantic plasma TV took up an entire wall and framed photographs of Marilyn Monroe decorated another the wall.
The ceiling was huge, and there was an iron wine rack. Jackson took a bottle of wine out and two glasses.
“Wow, this is…”
“So this is where I like to relax,” Jackson shamelessly interrupted me. “Sit.” He patted the spot next to him. “Theodore will be bringing us some snacks soon after of course, he gets Penelope situated. He’s having to do two jobs at the moment since I’m currently nanny shopping.”
“Ouch…” I winced as I sat down.
“I’m sorry…you’re in so much pain. My daughter’s mother would always kiss her scraped knees. Nothing like the soothing comfort from lips that care,” he said as he opened the wine and filled our glasses.
He spoke the words so fast with that accent of his. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I finally thought I was getting the hint from him. The sexual charge was so thick it could light New York City. It was such a forward statement. I wanted him to speak more of this. My chest vibrated with electricity, with nerves exploding through my body.
He handed me a glass of red wine, and I tried my best to swirl it like we had the day before. I felt a bit stupid honestly. But, oh well! I took a sip of wine before nearly chocking as I felt his touch on me. I quickly swallowed before clearing my throat.
“How is it?”
“The�
�� the wine?” I stammered.
His hand cupped my knee before his fingers trailed softly around my bandage, making me forget completely about the momentary pain.
I couldn’t breathe.
“No precious, your knee.”
He then trailed lightly over the sticky adhesive of the bandage, causing me to let out a small moan. I was mortified. Did that just come out of my vocal box?
It was the strangest thing. It hurt like hell, yet I didn’t want his touch to stop. I actually wanted him to lightly graze over my wound in some strange sadistic way. What had come over me?
I felt my desire growing down there and naturally re-crossed my legs, feeling utterly and completely embarrassed. He retracted his hand and shifted himself in the sofa, all the while with a sly smile. As if he’d been caught. As if he could read my thoughts. As if he could smell my desire.
“Sorry…um…that tickled a bit.”
“Are you ticklish?”
“Very.”
Again. The smile, the half smile making him look so devilishly sexy. “Hmm…”
“Tell me something…“Chelsea, why did you come to London?” he asked.
“To…study…to learn, in my acting extensive?”
“You sound like you’re asking me,” he said, opening a magazine and lazily flipping through it. Jackson had a nice mouth – perfectly white teeth that looked strong, and that sexy stubble. It commanded a presence. Something was suddenly coming over me – I felt very aroused again. The way he looked at me…
“I’m not.”
“That also sounded like a question. I think what you need is direction, Chelsea, and you’re not going to get it at that sad little coffee shop with Harry. Most jobs only exist because…humans…” He pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes. “Are so fucking lazy. We could all make our own coffee in the morning…” He dropped his hand and opened his nice blue eyes again. “Anyway, I’m getting off track. What are your parents like?” Jackson asked me again, in a very reserved tone.
“Well my mom worries a lot and my dad…died…died when I was twelve.”
“I’m sorry.” Jackson sipped his wine. I liked how he apologized. It was all that needed to be said, his apology, he knew dragging out sympathy would just be awkward and sad. It was time to move on. Everything Jackson said, along with the way he said it, seemed so well practiced.
“Did your mother remarry?” he asked.
“No…”
“She just focused all of her attention on you – too much – so it was overbearing.”
“Yes.” Wow, he really got it. I thought about what I wanted to say. I was a bit shy and my southern accent embarrassed me, especially when it was always followed by his snappy polished British accent. “Um, she didn’t want me datin’ guys. I guess my dad cheated on her so she believes every man is evil.”
“Every man is evil,” Jackson cut me off. “But…they can choose whether to practice that side or not.”
“Yeah.”
“Was your dad good to you?” he asked.
“I don’t know, I guess.” I felt passive all of the sudden. I sipped my wine. This was becoming a buzz kill. I wanted to think about my new summer and exciting ventures. Or perhaps him? I wanted to feel those goose bumps again. I wanted to feel that electricity. I was feeling a little better after I took a couple more sips. I think Jackson was about to speak when he looked up and saw Penelope standing in the doorway.
“Well hi there.” Jackson managed to soften his voice to the kindest of tones around her. It made me want to listen to his every word. Especially with that accent! It also made me want to curl up closer to him. He leaned over with ease and placed his drink down before walking over to Penelope and picking her up. She sleepily placed her head on Jackson’s sturdy shoulder. He sat back down with Penelope on his knee. Her big brown eyes looked at me, really looked at me, with a type of lazy curiosity. Her mother must have had brown eyes, I suddenly thought. And long dirty-blonde hair too. Penelope was beautiful; she looked like a living doll, especially painted with the make up.
“Daddy is she my new nanny?” she asked, her voice muffled because her mouth was against Jackson’s shirt.
“No,” he said, rather disappointingly.
“Why not!” Penelope pouted.
“Because she has a very important job already…” He hooked his blue eyes on me. “At a coffee shop.”
I couldn’t help but to laugh.
“I want to go to the park, I’m bored,” Penelope said.
“Have Louise take you there.”
“No!”
“Penelope, do not shout. I’m busy.”
“You are SO not.”
“Yes I am, deary. I’m chatting to Miss Chelsea here, trying to convince her to be your nanny. And wouldn’t you like that very much?” Her eyes went really wide as she smiled an endearingly angelic smile. It was so hard not to say yes to that face!
“Go play with Theo.” He placed her down on her feet.
“Okaaaaay…but only if Miss Chelsea promises to be my nanny.”
She looked at me with her doe-like eyes and I took another sip of wine before resorting to, “Ummmmmm…see, I just moved here and I have a job. I have to talk to my boss,” I explained slowly and sounded like a kindergarten teacher.
“Well just tell him you’ve got a new job,” she whined.
“Theo!” Jackson called out.
Theo walked back in. “Come on deary, let’s catch a few fire flies before dinner, shall we?”
She stood with her arms crossed, with tears about to well up in her big eyes. “But I want to stay with you, Miss Chelsea.”
“She’ll be right here for dinner. Won’t you Miss, Chelsea?”
“Well…well yes. I will.” I was hungry after all. Might as well stay. It was getting hard to say no to these people. Especially Jackson. Especially when those eyes were on me and I was potential moments away from being touched again. Butterflies.
My cheeks flushed pink. I was blushing again.
“Ohhhh…okay…” she pouted as she walked heavily out of the room with Theo, her footsteps louder than normal. I couldn’t help but to laugh. “She’s the cutest thing ever!”
“I know. Isn’t she? That’s why you should be her nanny. I will pay you more, substantially more you know. Plus…you will have down time to study your lines and rehearse and what better place to do so than here? In beauty? You’re surrounded by it.”
I opened my mouth to say something. I wanted to call him beautiful. He was! But he continued speaking.
“You will save money on taxi fair, in addition to keeping your beauty rest. A young beautiful woman like you should not waste her youth. You need your rest. Especially if you are to be a big star one day.” He winked at me. I wasn’t sure if he was winking out of politeness, mocking, or just him being him. No, no. He wasn’t mocking. He was probably just used to dealing with Penelope.
“My personal limo can pick you up at your extensive from which you will then proceed to pick up my daughter at her school at 2:30. From then, you will be taken back here. By the time you arrive back at the estate it’s 3:30. Penelope has a snack and then likes to play. You needn’t worry about making dinner because well, our chef does so. After playtime, dinner is at 6:30. Then it’s her bath time. Story time. Two books. Then her prayers. Then bedtime. Lights out by 7:30.”
“Seven thirty pm?”
“Beauty rest. Children need their sleep. She awakes at six AM.”
My eyes were wide. I wasn’t used to dealing with children and didn’t realize they slept so long! She was so cute, like a little doll. I mean…how hard would all of that really be? I was really starting to entertain the thought, especially in my tipsy like state. The beauty. The limo, the beautiful estate. Him.
“I will pay you a thousand euros a week… I mean, dollars if you prefer.”
My hands went up. “A … thousands dollars a week for…” I counted the hours on my fingers. “For five hours a day watching
her? That’s only twenty hours a week. That’s…”
“She is my daughter. She’s worth it. Do you not think you’re worth it?”
I took another sip of wine. I was about to say I was, but he continued on his soliloquy.
“And I would require that you stay here until I come home each night. Which can be quite late at times. Might as well get used to being a night nanny, which she always sleeps through the night. Which, about that…well,” He raked his fingers through his hair and leaned back in the couch, sipping his wine. “There may be a night or so a week I’m held over for business and in that case, I’d need you to stay over. Well, uh, I’d need to up your pay to two thousand a week in that case. For your valuable time that is. I could be potentially keeping you from being out dating handsome lads so I must compensate, indeed.”
“Ho…how late? And I’m sorry, what? Two thousand dollars?”
“It varies.”
“And the other nannies had this schedule, too?”
“Indeed.”
“So, I would be like a house sitter.”
“A nanny.”
“But she’s asleep though at 7:30. It appears…sorry. Don’t mind me … but it appears that you have an entire staff at your disposal should anything…if anything would ever happen.”
“If Penelope ever wakes and I’m not here, I want her to feel comforted that you are here. Since losing her mother…” His eyes lowered, and he cleared his throat as if he was trying to keep his composure at bay. “If, let’s say…I did come home in the wee hours of the morning, you’d be perfectly welcome to stay over here and start your morning here. The driver would take you to your extensive, not to mention a fantastic breakfast you’d always have. You would be free to use the gardens as you wish since you would not be working for me in the morning. My home would be your home.”
I couldn’t help it anymore. I spewed out in laughter. “But you barely know me. How…how do you know you could trust me?”
“Oh, I can trust you. I am a good judge of character, trust me. Besides, my daughter is ravenously happy with you. I can promise you, you will have a lot of fun, too.”
Being His Nanny (A New Adult Romance): Part 1 Page 5
