Chapter 6

I felt like crap. My head was pounding and my cell phone was not making it any better by ringing at this time of the night. I noticed the daylight seeping in through the curtains just as my thought train completed. It was not night. It was morning. Or afternoon. I had no damn idea.

All I remembered was flopping onto my bed after finding out my parents were doing everything in their power to force me to get back together with Max. I vaguely remembered being told all about the cellar in the hotel basement where VIP guests were allowed to take the drink of their choice. In my emotional stupor, I'd made a beeline for the cellar and grabbed way more wine than I could finish on my own.

Apparently, one bottle was not too much when I was feeling like crap. My head felt like it had been run through a mincer. I had a feeling I'd enjoy that more than my life right now. Opening the curtains wide, the rush hour traffic caught my eye even though cars looked like toys from my window. I'd snagged a suite on the twentieth floor. Maybe…

"No." I shook my head. What the hell was I thinking?

I glanced out again. The light must have just turned green as the cars were now speeding away. My heart raced. It would be over before I even got there, right? I inched closer and pressed my palm against the glass window. What about the accident I might cause? But who cared? My parents would gladly pay for the damages. Or at least the Robinsons would, using part of everything they were trying to steal from me.

The phone went off in another shrill ring, reminding me how I'd woken up. My phone had been ringing incessantly. It had stopped at some point and the caller was probably trying their luck again.

I dragged my lazy bum to the nightstand and picked it up, frowning at the caller number I didn't recognize.

"Hello?" I tried not to sound as horrible as I felt.

"Miss Clair?"

It took me moments to recognize my middle name, which I had been using as my surname lately.

"Speaking." I cleared my throat. At least it was not the media or they would have been using my actual surname.

"I'm calling in regards to your application you submitted online for the Lexington family. Mr. Lexington would like to interview you at six o'clock."

My first instinct was to check the time. Shit. That was in half an hour. Besides, what the hell? "Interview?"

The woman on the line went silent for a few seconds, probably processing my confusion. "Are you Miss Bella Clair?"

"I am." I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.

"Well, you submitted your application last night and I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted. Your future employer would like to meet you before you report to work. However, you have nothing to worry about. It is just a formality; Mr. Lexington is quite pleased with your resume."

My mind was spinning a mile a minute. What kind of prank was this? Did Misa plan this? I wanted to deny it, but then I remembered. "Who is my employer?"

"Tristan Lexington. He has one daughter."

Shit. It made sense. A hell lot of it.

I remembered seeing an ad from an employment agency and filling it in, and, with my luck, a job posting popped up as soon as I signed up. Tristan Lexington. The name had rung a bell I couldn't quite place. I remember clicking the icon to apply for the job, but did they accidentally accept me?

It was insane. Heaven knew whatever I had filled in my resume was a lie, if the name she had called me was any indication. Wasn't the agency supposed to run a gazillion background checks on potential nannies before letting them take care of anyone's child?

"I'll come." I stuttered. I loved children and if I could help, I would do my best. Besides, I needed the extra buck now that I was stuck using my brother's credit card with all my accounts frozen. I hated relying on anyone, especially on Rhys who'd earned every cent he had after hundreds of sleepless nights.

…..

This is the best I could have possibly looked, I justified the mess I was when I accidentally caught a glance of my reflection in a car window. Having no clothes to change into, I bought a dress and stockings at the nearest boutique on my way to the address I had been given. My hair had definitely seen better days. At least I had on a pair of oversized glasses that hid my puffy eyes a little bit.

"Hello, I'm here to meet Mr. Lexington in regard to my application."

The receptionist impatiently interrupted me. "Bella Clair? Please take a seat, Rina will be here soon." She excitedly showed me to a lounge. "Sorry, I was too anxious. It was the last minute and it was urgent."

I nodded. Was that why they instantly accepted my application?

"We should probably discuss the details of your employment before Mr. Lexington gets here." She started, then looked up in relief. "Ah, Rina's here. Let her take you through everything."

I nodded as the beautiful blonde strode toward me with a smile on her face. "Hello, you must be Bella. I'm Rina."

We shook hands and she immediately sat down to tell me all I needed to know. We went through my resume. I had lied about having taken care of six children in the past but she didn't question it, maybe in a rush to hire me. It was a little confusing.

"Mr. Lexington has only two requests." She continued. "If there is anything wrong, he would like to know about it before finding a resignation letter on the kitchen counter."

I frowned. Did previous nannies do that? "What's the second request?"

"He would like you to be patient with his daughter and give her a chance before you run for the hills."

That proved my suspicion. Was his daughter some kind of nightmare to nannies?

She looked nervous, debating whether or not to tell me. In the end, she leaned in and lowered her voice. "I don't want to get in trouble, but Aurora is a little devil. She has had almost twenty nannies in the last month."

I cringed. "Doesn't that mean they usually don't last more than a day.?"

She let out a breath. "Honestly, I think she is a sweet child. She just doesn't show this side of her to nannies. Seeing as you have taken care of many kids in the past, I believe you might be able to understand her more. I hope you can be more patient with her. At least until new year's. Finding a nanny at this time of the year is hectic. Add the fact that she has to be a live-in, and it becomes harder than winning a mega jackpot."

I liked her already. She was quite honest.

Even then, I couldn't make any promises if all my predecessors only lasted a day.

Luckily, hurried footsteps saved me from having to answer her immediately, then a small body launched itself at me. "Bella!"