Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“You’re going to act like you don’t know me?”
“I don’t know you.” He hissed, looking right through me. “The woman I thought I knew was a reputable nanny with an agency who would never put her coworkers at risk.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Mr. Dawson suspended everyone who has ever interacted with you so he can do more thorough background checks,” he said. “He said that his judgment must be off, and he can’t trust anyone anymore.”
“I never thought—”
“About anyone but yourself, I know.” He tossed his cigarette to the ground. “So, if you don’t mind, I have a job to do. I was only spared because, unlike you, I would never lie to someone for personal gain.”
“But I didn’t gain anything.”
“That’s even worse…” He left me standing in the cold, never once looking back.
“Excuse me, Miss?” A blond guy rushed up to me as I returned to the sidewalk. “Do you live here?”
“No,” I said. “I was just hoping to chat with an old friend.”
“Do you have your old friend’s contact information by chance?”
“Please leave me alone.”
“Have him or her call me.” He pressed his business card into my hand. “I’m willing to pay a high rate if they can give me any information on Mr. Dawson’s sudden staff restructuring. Bonus points if they can put me in touch with his nanny. I believe he’s been sleeping with her.”
I crumpled his card and left it behind.
FORTY-FIVE
PIERCE
How did I miss this for so fucking long?
That question tumbled through my mind, leaving me livid with every spin. No matter the angle or the reason, Harlow had betrayed me and it hurt like hell.
All our kisses, whispered conversations, and every moment from our very first encounter were all lies.
I tossed back my last shot of vodka and tried to bury myself in emails.
Subject:New Nanny Applicant Check
Subject: Nanny Applicant Interview
Subject: Interview Times for New Nanny
Fuck.
“I finally did it!” Olivia rushed into my office with her hands behind her back. “I made a flan-style tiramisu triple layer cupcake without burning the center.”
“Congratulations.” I closed my laptop. “I’m sure it’s perfect.”
“Where’s Miss Hawthorne?”
“Probably preying on her next set of victims.”
“So, she’s running late?”
“No,” I said. “I fired her last night.”
“That joke wasn’t funny the first time…”
“It’s for real this time,” I said. “She’s done here.”
“But I thought we agreed she was the best.”
“Regardless of how you feel about my decision—” I raised a hand, motioning for her to let me finish. “Miss Hawthorne will never be allowed to come anywhere near you or the twins ever again.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s a goddamn liar.” I couldn’t filter the harshness from my voice. “She was never a real nanny. She’s been cosplaying as one this entire time.”
“She seemed like a real nanny…”
“She had a CPR certification, and that’s it.” I still couldn’t believe it. “She’d have no idea how to handle things in an actual emergency, and you and the twins were her very first family.”
She set a cupcake on my desk. Then she slumped into the chair.
“I’m sorry I didn’t let you say goodbye to her, Olivia,” I said. “But I can’t afford to have just anyone around you and the twins, and I’ll do my best to make sure the next nanny is better for all of us. She won’t tell a colossal lie like Harlow.”
She let out a long sigh, and I braced myself for a tantrum.
“I hate you, Uncle Brooks,” in three, two…
“Was her lie that terrible?” she asked.
“She told more than one,” I said. “But yes. The main lie was.”
She stared straight ahead for several moments, then pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.
“If she’s never coming back, then you and I have to make some crucial adjustments as soon as possible.”
“Like what?”
“Well, for one, I’m sending you a link to a video, because you’ll need to learn how to do a good French crown braid as soon as possible,” she said. “I can start it off, but you’ll need to finish it from the halfway mark.”
“Two, you’ll also need to accompany me to a few monthly Broadway shows, and stay after so we can do meet-and-greets with the cast. Not to mention picking me up from school early at least once a week so we can try whatever new pop-up bakery uses the empty bookstore in Times Square.”
“Harlow did all that with you?”
“Yes, she was really amazing.” She smiled, but she must’ve noticed the look on my face, because she slowly let it slip.
“I can do those things with you, Olivia,” I said. “What else?”
“You have to treat me to a Central Park Frappuccino every Sunday morning, so we can catch up on my weekly tea.” She paused. “Oh, and you need to leave Wednesday evenings open for me in our kitchen, so I can try to remake whatever Chef Wolfson bakes for dessert that week. Deal?”