Page 4 of The Accidental Nanny (All Of You #1)

CHAPTER FOUR

Gemma

O n Monday morning, I put the address into my sat-nav, which directs me to Clive Street. When I reach the destination—a large house with electric gates.

I call Alex on my phone. “Hi, it’s Gemma. I’m outside.”

“Oh, brilliant. I didn’t think you would show. Type in ‘four-three-five-two’ on the keypad. It will open the gate.”

I reach out of my open window and input the numbers.

The wide gate swings open, and I pull my car up next to his Volvo–it’s a bit of an old man’s car in my opinion.

I adjust my black mini skirt as I climb out of the Lamborghini.

Approaching the house, I knock on the front door as loud as I can, making sure he can hear me.

“Hi, Gemma,” Alex greets me as he opens the door in a grey suit.

I was expecting all smiles, but he looks at me with a straight face. He opens his mouth but pauses to look at my outfit, and his face registers confusion. I feel a blush creeping up my neck, a rare sensation for me.

“Am I okay?” I ask, fiddling with my skirt .

“You’re wearing heels. Not very appropriate for what you have to do.”

Did he want me naked?

“Tomorrow, can you come in something a bit less revealing? I’m sorry, but I’ve got to rush off.”

“Rush off?” Now I’m puzzled.

“I have an emergency in the office, but I’ll see you when I’m home. I’ve left a list on the counter in the kitchen.”

He opens the door further and looks at my car, his face screwing up.

“Erm, fuck. The car… You know what, take mine. The office isn’t far. I can walk.”

He gives me his keys, and I stare at them for a moment, wondering what’s happening. What’s wrong with my car?

Then I burst out, “Take mine.” I hand my keys to him, thinking of how odd this is.

“It’s bright pink,” he says, scrunching his nose at me.

“Does that matter?”

“No, I suppose not.” He takes the keys from me, like they are diseased. “Thank you. I’ll get your references later, but your brother highly recommended you.”

“What? My brother… What did he say?” I shake my head, even more confused. “And why?”

“Why wouldn’t he? Look, Mum is with the children, but now you’re here, she’ll leave soon. I’ll see you later.”

He gets in the car before I can digest what he said. Children.

Walking into the house, I pull down my skirt.

The home is stunning on the inside, even if it isn’t as posh or large as my parents’ house.

Looking across the space, I see a door that could lead to the kitchen.

When I open it, an older woman is helping a little girl with a jumper that has the local school logo on it, and a boy is sitting at the kitchen bar eating cereal.

The woman looks up and smiles. “Hello, dear. It’s Gemma, isn’t it? I’m Jill, Alex’s mum. ”

“I think there has been a mistake.” I glance at the kids, who stare back.

“What’s the matter, dear?” The older lady narrows her eyes at me. “Give me a few minutes and we can talk. I’ll get us a coffee.”

I stand in the kitchen, ready to dart off. But if I don’t have a job, I’ll be out of the house. There’s only one person I want to talk to—Brody.

“I need to make a quick call,” I say with a smile that looks more like a grimace, before darting back into the hallway.

“You are dead!” I scream at my brother when he answers the phone.

Brody only laughs loudly. “I got you the job. You’re welcome.”

“I thought he was after companionship, not a nanny for the children,” I growl at him.

“You should be thanking me. You’re using your childcare qualifications.” There’s still amusement in his voice.

“You will pay for this. I will get my revenge.”

Brody hangs up on me, leaving me fuming.

Where is Alex’s mother? I go back into the kitchen. As I enter, the little girl looks up at me and smiles. She’s kind of cute.

“I’m Eden,” the little blonde girl introduces herself. She has flower clips in her hair. “You’re pretty like Mummy.”

“Thank you,” I manage to say, although it’s a little awkward. “Where is Mummy?”

“Mummy is having a break,” Jill replies.

“She left us,” the boy says matter-of-factly.No mother, good-looking father; maybe this can still work in my favour.

“What’s your name?” I flash him a sweet smile.

“Ace,” he answers. He doesn’t look happy that I’m here.

“Don’t be rude, Ace.” Jill gives me an apologetic look.

“Alex had to run off this morning, but he left a note about things that need to be done around the house while he’s not here.

I’ll come with you this morning to introduce you to the children’s teachers.

Alex will get you on the approved list for pickup.

He drives them in the morning, or we walk. ”

Jill looks at my heels, and that blush rises again. What is wrong with me?

“I thought we were just meeting today. I didn’t realise I was starting. My brother must have deleted the message and didn’t tell me. I think it’s his idea of a joke.”

“Come with me. Ace, watch your sister, please. We’ll be five minutes.” Leaving the kitchen, I follow Jill up a set of stairs to the bedrooms.

“This is the spare room. Alex put his wife’s things in here. I’m sure you can borrow something for today. You look like you’re a similar build.”

The room is of a decent size; maybe half the size of my room, but it does have a double bed. Jill opens the wardrobe door. She pulls out a yellow summer dress with flowers on it and some white pumps.

“It’s a bit old for you…” she muses.

“It’s okay, just for today. I need some trainer socks.”

She carries on looking, rummaging through some drawers, and finding a new pair. I’m relieved I won’t have to wear anyone else’s, even if they had been washed.

“Thanks, I’ll be down in a moment,” I tell her as she leaves and closes the door behind her.

I look cute in the dress. It isn’t a designer, but it suits me well. I head down to the children and Jill. I pick up the paper with my name on it. It’s the list of jobs Alex wants me to do while the children are at school.

Cook a healthy meal for dinner tonight.

Do the washing in the laundry room.

Clean the kitchen.

Pick the children up at 3.15 p.m. and stay with them until I come home at 5 p.m.

Any reading and spelling.

What the actual fuck? Alex wants me to cook and do housework. Not to mention laundry when I’ve never used a washing machine in my life and help with homework. This can’t be happening.

“Are you okay?” Jill asks me.

“Yes. What do the children like to eat?” I ask, wondering how this could be happening to me.

“They would eat takeaways if they could.”

“Pizza.” Eden smiles with delight.

“No, Daddy said only once a month. Chicken, veg, fish. Anything like that.”

“Okay, good.” This was not good, not good at all.

After the kids finish their breakfast, we take them to school without any issues. Then, I return to Alex’s house alone, as Jill is no longer needed. I debate asking her to stay, but as much as I don’t want the job, I need it.

The house seems huge and lonely without anyone in it, and the tasks are too daunting to start. I stare into space for what seems an eternity.

“Fern, she’ll know what to do,” I say aloud to myself. I grab my phone, calling her. She is first on my list, as always.

“You’re up early,” she says, yawning.

Why isn’t she at work? I look at my watch—yes, she should be. I shrug.

“I need help.” It comes out like a whine.

“What do you need?” There’s resignation in Fern’s voice, making me wonder how often I rely on her for things like this.

“I got a job.” I’m met with a deathly silence. “Fern?”

“Sorry, did I hear you right? Gemma Winters got a job?”

“Yes, and I’m screwed. How do I clean?” I plonk myself down on the sofa in the living room.

“What kind of job is this? ”

“A housekeeper slash nanny. But he’s so fit, and he’s single.” I fill her in on the missing parts.

She can’t even wait for me to finish before she bursts out laughing at my situation. “I’ll be over in an hour,” she assures me.

While I’m waiting for Fern to arrive, I decide to make a start.

“This is nice,” she says, looking around as she steps through the front door.

“Great. I’ve put a load of washing on.”

“You’ve done what? I said to wait for me. You’ve never used a washing machine in your life.” There’s panic in her eyes.

Now, I’m uncertain about what I did, although I think I did okay. I lead her down to the laundry room, hesitating at the door. When I open it, my mouth drops.

“Shit.”

Fern gasps behind me. Soap suds cover the floor, and more are coming out of the washing machine.

“Gem, how much detergent did you put in there?” Fern asks in a whisper behind me.

“I don’t know; half a bottle, or so…” I shrug. It’s not my fault. Alex should have left instructions.

Fern wades through the bubbles to the shelf with the soap. She picks up the bottle of liquid.

“One bottle is enough for 40 washes.”

“Oh. I thought it meant temperature.”

“Yes, that’s why there is a basket sign next to it. Oh, my God. Let’s clean this up. How much have you got to do?”

“All the washing, clean the kitchen, and make dinner.” I point to the mixed clothing.

She picks it up, looking through it. “Did you separate the clothes you put in the washing machine?”

“What?” I tilt my head in confusion.

“The clothes, did you separate them? Whites, darks, pinks, lights?”

“Ermm… no. I just chucked them in. Was I supposed to?” Why did my mother never teach me this?

“Let’s clean up this mess first,” Fern says with a sigh.

We find a mop and bucket and clean the floor. Well, Fern cleans, and I panic as I watch her, biting my nails.

“Gemma, you need to help me!”

“Okay, okay… What do I do?”

“Clean! Get a mop. Jesus.” Fern sounds like she might be annoyed.

I look around not being able to spot one, so she hands me hers. She looks in the old washing basket grabbing some towels. She places them down, soaking up the water, then wrings them out in the sink before doing the same thing again.

“Gemma.” She’s snapping her fingers.

“I’m trying.” I lightly push the mop around—this is too much work.