by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 3
Georgia
I took the subway to one of my favorite stores: Target. No matter which city I was in, Target never once let me down. I needed a few things, and since I was already out admiring the city, I stopped to pick some things up. As I walked into the store, I grabbed a basket and headed down the main aisle until I reached the feminine products aisle. As I was selecting what I needed, I heard a baby screaming at the top of its lungs. Pushing my cart around the corner, I saw the cart with the baby in it, but nobody else was around.
“Hey there, beautiful girl.” I smiled at her as I grabbed her tiny little hand. “Where’s your mom?”
The baby stopped crying, and I took my finger and wiped the tiny little tears that fell down her face.
“It’s okay, little one,” I said as I unbuckled her from her seat and picked her up. “I’ll stay with you until we find her.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of mother would just leave her baby unattended like that.
“Excuse me, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” An incredibly good-looking man approached me.
“This child was screaming and I’m looking for her mother.”
“Her mother left her. She’s with me.”
“Oh. Well, just so you know, you shouldn’t leave her alone in a cart, in a store. Someone could have stolen her.”
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
“Thanks for your concern, but you can put her back in her seat. I’m just trying to figure out what kind of diapers to buy.”
“What kind does she wear?” I asked.
“Who the hell knows.”
I stood there holding the baby as my brows furrowed at the man.
“You don’t know what diapers she wears?”
“Actually, I don’t. It’s complicated.”
“Where’s her diaper bag? Maybe there’s some in there.”
“I didn’t bring it. Why would I?” He looked at me as if I was stupid for even asking.
“Maybe because you might need something from it while you’re out?” My brow arched at him.
“Do you know anything about kids?”
“A little bit.”
“Then which diapers would you recommend?”
“These.” I pointed to the Pampers Baby Dry.
“Great. What size?”
“How much does she weigh?”
“How the hell do I know?”
Wow. I thought to myself. This man was either a complete idiot or he kidnapped this kid.
“Did you kidnap this child?” I asked with seriousness.
He looked over at me with his mesmerizing blue eyes.
“Are you serious? Do I look like a man who would kidnap a kid?”
“You never can be too sure these days.”
“What the hell? If you want to know the truth, she was delivered to me today at my office. Her mother, whom she claims I got her pregnant, left her. I didn’t know she existed until a few hours ago.”
“So she is your daughter?”
“I’m not claiming that right now. She could be anyone’s kid. But for now, she’s in my care and I need to buy some goddamn diapers!” he snapped at me.
“Okay. Okay. Judging by how she feels in my arms, I’d say a size 2.”
“Size 2 it is.” He grabbed one package and threw it in the cart.
“Um, I’d buy a few packages if I were you.”
“Why? She isn’t staying with me long. Once the paternity test comes back showing I’m not her father, she’s going elsewhere.”
“Okay then.” I went to put the baby back in her car seat and she screamed, so I stopped and held her. Rocking her back and forth on my hip, she laid her head on my shoulder.
“She seems to like you,” the man said.
“All babies seem to like me. We kind of have our own communication thing going on. Don’t we, little one?” I smiled as I tickled her, and she laughed. “Anyway, I’m happy I could help.” I tried to hand the baby to him.
“Just put the child back in her seat,” he said.
I furrowed my brows as I set the baby back in her car seat.
“I feel sorry for you,” I whispered to her.
“What was that?” the man asked.
“I was just telling her goodbye. Have a pleasant night.” I smiled.
“Uh, thanks. You too.”
Julian
I stared at her as she took her cart and walked away from us. She was a beautiful woman who stood about five foot six with long wavy brown hair and big brown eyes. I was rude to her, and I knew it, but this whole situation stressed me out. Kevin was useless in helping with the diaper situation and I was frustrated. In fact, the entire day was frustrating, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I grabbed some shaving cream on the way to the checkout, paid for my items, and stepped outside. I saw her walking down the street, all bundled up in her black coat, and I did something I normally would never do. But I felt I owed her for helping me out.
“Excuse me!” I shouted.
She stopped and turned around.
“This is my cab here. We can share it if you’d like.”
“That’s okay. It’s cheaper for me to walk.”
“It’s my treat. Consider it a thank you for helping with the diaper situation.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
She walked over to where we stood and climbed in the back of the cab. As soon as I set the car seat inside, she reached over and buckled Ella in.
“So now you meet random women in Target?” The smart-ass cab driver asked.”
“Shut up.” I frowned at him. “Where do you live?” I asked the beautiful woman.
“36 West and 106th. Actually, it’s the corner of Central Park and 106th.”
“That’s at least a twenty-five-minute drive. You were going to walk all that way?”
“No. I was going to take the subway.”
“Oh,” I said as the cab pulled away from the curb.
“So, what’s this cuties name?” she asked.
“Ella.”
“What a beautiful name.” The corners of her mouth curved upward as she looked at me.
“I guess.”
Ella was cooing in her seat as I watched the beautiful woman talk to her. She seemed like a natural with babies. The cab pulled up to the curb of the building and my eyes fixated on it.
“This is where you live? This is a hostel?”
“I know.” She smiled. “Thanks for the ride.” She climbed out and shut the door.
“Dude. I wouldn’t even stay here,” The cab driver said. “This place is as sketchy as they come.”
“Wait right here! I’ll be right back.” I unbuckled Ella from her seat and took her out. Opening the door, I ran after the woman.
“Hey.” I shouted as she headed up the stairs.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she turned and looked at me.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“Sure. Come on up.”
I followed her up the stairs as I held Ella in my arms and cautiously looked around the surrounding area. She slid her key in the door, opened it and flipped the light switch. Stepping inside, I looked around at the tiny space.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
“How long have you been staying here?”
“I just checked in today. Why?”
Ella began to cry, and the woman immediately took her from me.
“May I ask why you chose to stay here of all places?”
“It’s cheap and I’m on a budget. It’s not that bad.”
“Actually, it’s horrific.”
“Listen, why are you here? If you’re going to insult my choice of places, you can leave.”
“I apologize. I’m offering you a job.”
“What?” she laughed.
“I would like you to look after Ella for me.”
“You mean you
want me to be Ella’s nanny?”
“I guess. But it’s short term. Very short term. I’ll pay you well, so you never have to come back to this place again. What do you say?”
“I don’t even know you. You don’t even know me, and you trust me with your kid?”
“She likes you, and that’s good enough for me. So, pack your things and let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“To my penthouse.”
“Excuse me? You want me to live with you?”
“Yeah. As the nanny. Most nannies in New York live with their employers, I think.”
“I’m sorry, but who are you?” Her brows furrowed at me.
“My name is Julian Chamberlain. You are?” My brow arched.
“Georgia.”
“Nice to meet you, Georgia. Now, let’s go. I’ve had a long day and I’m tired.”
“You want me to come now? As in right this very second?”
“Yes. What is it you are not understanding? I need someone to take care of the kid while I sleep and work. That’s it. I promise you it won’t be for very long. Then, you’ll have nanny experience and you can move on to another family if you wish.”
Chapter 4
Georgia
I stood there in total disbelief at this guy. This was sheer madness on his part. But he mentioned he had a penthouse, and it would sure be a hell of a lot better than this place. Plus, he said he’d pay me well, and it’s short term. Probably just long enough until I moved on. What did I have to lose? Absolutely nothing.
“Okay. Let me grab my suitcase. I haven’t unpacked yet, so I’m ready if you are.”
“Excellent. You hold the child and I’ll grab them. Is that one of them over there?” He pointed.
“Yeah. That’s it.”
“Where are the rest?”
“That’s the only one.”
“This is the only suitcase you have?”
“Yep. My entire life is in that suitcase, so be careful with it.” I smiled as I opened the door and stepped out. “I just have to check out.”
I walked down to the desk and told the girl sitting behind the counter I was checking out as I slid my key to her.
“You booked for two weeks. So, I’m going to have to charge you for the full-two weeks.”
“What? No way. Show me where it says that.”
“I don’t make the rules.” She chomped away on her gum.
Julian put his hand up. “I got this. I just want to get the hell out of here.” He reached in his wallet and pulled out a credit card.
“NO, DON’T!” I grabbed the card from his hand.
“Excuse me?”
“You never give these people your credit card. Cash only. Trust me.” I handed him his card.
He reached in his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash, counted out the total and threw it on the counter.
“You’re paid in full and we’re leaving,” he spoke to the girl.
“Enjoy and thank you for staying with us!”
He rolled his eyes as we walked out the door.
“You didn’t have to do that. I was going to fight it.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t about to stand in that place any longer than I had to.”
I put Ella in her seat and buckled her in while Julian put my suitcase in the cab’s trunk.
“I know this is none of my business, but it’s been a weird day with you, buddy,” the cab driver spoke.
“You’re right. It is none of your business. 301 East 61st Street.”
When we arrived at his building, I unhooked the car seat and Julian grabbed it after paying the cab driver. When I stepped out, I stared up at the tall creamy stone building with the Target bags in my hand.
“Here you go, ma’am,” the cab driver said as he handed me my suitcase. “Good luck to you. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you coming?” Julian turned to me.
Stepping through the door, an older man greeted us.
“Good evening, Mr. Cambridge.”
“Evening, Louis. This is Miss——” Julian looked at me.
“You can call me Georgia.”
“Nice to meet you, Georgia.”
“Georgia will be staying with me for a while.”
“Very good. I’ll put her on the list.”
We took the elevator up to the nineteenth floor. The top floor of the building. As soon as the elevator door opened, I was greeted by a gray marble floor and a beautiful wrought iron winding staircase.
“Wow,” I spoke as I looked around.
He set the car seat down and walked over to the bar that sat in the corner of the living room.
“Can I pour you a drink?”
“No thanks. I’m fine.”
He poured himself a scotch, took a large gulp and looked at me.
“There’s three guest bedrooms upstairs. Take whichever one you like.”
“And the baby?”
“She’ll stay with you in your room. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Although there isn’t much. I’m barely home. Just make yourself comfortable.”
“Thanks. I know this is a stupid question, but do you have a crib or a pack n’ play for Ella?”
“No. Why would I? I just got her today. She can sleep in the bed next to you. Like I said, she won’t be here long.”
“She’s six months old. What if she rolls off the bed?”
“Then it’s your job to make sure she doesn’t.”
Ella began to cry which quickly escalated to screams. I took her out of her car seat and tried to calm her down.
“When was the last time she ate?”
“I have no idea.”
Oh, my God. I couldn’t believe this guy.
“Rebecca left instructions in the diaper bag. I’m heading to bed. I have to be up early and get to the office. Try to keep her from crying.”
“Of course. I’ll get right on that,” I spoke with sarcasm.
As Ella screamed, I went through the diaper bag and found a couple cans of formula and two bottles. Was this all there was? I shook my head as I tried to calm her down while I prepared her bottle. Taking her to the couch in the living room, I sat down and held her while she drank from her bottle.
“I am so sorry, sweet one. You do not deserve any of this. He’s a mean old man. Yes, he is. Just a meanie.”
“I heard that,” Julian said as he walked into the room.
“Heard what?” I smirked at him. “I was singing a song.”
“Right.” He rolled his eyes as he grabbed his glass of scotch and went back upstairs.
The next morning, Ella woke up at six a.m. She had slept through the night and I wasn’t surprised, considering the eventful day she had yesterday. I, on the other hand, was up all night for fear that she’d roll off the bed.
“Good morning,” Julian said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed a muffin from the container sitting on the kitchen counter.
“Morning. Can you hold her a second while I prepare her bottle?”
“Uh, no. She might get something all over my suit.”
“Right.” I pointed at him.
I spread the blanket on the floor and sat her down. Pulling out the stuffed elephant she had in her diaper bag, I set it in front of her.
“Wow. Look at that. She sits up,” Julian spoke.
“I would hope so. She’s six months old.”
“Did you sleep well? I’m sure you did. A lot better than you would have slept in that disgusting hostel.”
“Actually, I didn’t sleep at all. I was up all night worried that Ella would roll off the bed.”
“I’m sure she was fine.”
I made her bottle, picked her up and took her into the living room where I sat and fed her.
“I’m leaving for the office. Is there anything you need before I leave?”
“Yes. She only has enough formula for one, maybe two bottles left, and she’s almost out of wipes.”
<
br /> He pulled his wallet from his suit coat and handed me his credit card.
“Go to the store and get her some more.”
“Thanks.”
“By the way, here’s my business card if you need to get a hold of me. It has my cell number on it.”
“I’m sure I won’t have to, but thanks anyway.”
“Enjoy your day. I need to leave.”
“You too.” I gave him a fake smile.
He didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye to Ella. What did I get myself into?
Chapter 5
Julian
I stepped into the office, set my briefcase down and headed to the break room for a cup of coffee.
“Hey, Julian,” Kevin spoke as he patted my back. “I’m surprised you’re here today.”
“Why? Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“Because of Ella. Where is she?”
“At home.”
“You left her there by herself?” he asked as he poured some coffee into his cup.
“No. Of course not. She’s with Georgia.”
“Who? Who the hell is Georgia?”
“This girl I met last night at Target.”
“Say what?” He spit out his coffee. “You left your kid with some strange woman you met at Target?”
“It’s complicated. I met her while I was looking at diapers. She helped me pick some out and she’s good with Ella and Ella likes her. So, I hired her to be my nanny until I find out that Ella is not my kid.”
“Wait a minute.” He put his hand up. “You hired some random chick you met at Target to be Ella’s nanny?”
“Yeah. I did.” I brought my cup up to my lips.
“Are you crazy, man?! What do you even know about her?”
“I know her name is Georgia, and she’s good with kids. She was living in a hostel and I temporarily moved her into the penthouse.”
Once again, he spat out his coffee.
“You moved her in? Who the fuck are you right now?”