by Komal Kant
“Zero,” he said.
“What?” I blinked, completely confused.
Was this guy deranged, too?
“That’s how many shits I give about your opinion.”
With a widening sneer, he started to turn, but I reached out and grabbed his arm. I felt like an over boiling kettle right now, ready to blow. I was about to kick this guy in the baby maker.
“Listen here, you’re the one being obnoxious and holding everyone up. Just get your damn coffee with no milk, and leave.” No one was going to miss him.
He pulled his arm away from me as his eyes flicked over me like he was appraising a garbage dump. “When you can afford to dress the way I do, then your opinion matters to me. Until then, be on your way, baby.”
Baby? BABY? Who the hell was he to call me baby?
I couldn’t believe the level Jerkface had taken this to. I’d been trying to keep it classy, but clearly he liked to play dirty. I knew I wasn’t dressed anything like him, but there was nothing wrong with what I was wearing—jeans, a white tee, and a pair of black Converse.
Yet, somehow he really did make me feel like an ugly duckling the way he was staring me down with his piercing, blue eyes—like I really wasn’t good enough to address him.
I maintained my composure as I spoke, though from the unimpressed look on his face, I knew he couldn’t care less about what I had to say.
“I am not your baby!” I fumed. “You go around acting like you’re better than everyone else, but really you get a kick out of making everyone feel like shit so you can feel better about your own inadequacies.”
Harsh? Maybe. But that “baby” comment had pushed me over the edge.
“I don’t have any inadequacies, but I can see that you certainly do.” His expression darkened, and if looks could kill then this was lethal. “Plenty of them.”
My face flamed immediately, but before my jumbled mind could think of a biting comeback, he pushed past me and strode out of The Java Bean.
The encounter with him had definitely been unnerving. The way he’d stared at me with those blue eyes was hard to forget. It was too bad that someone so attractive had such a horrible personality. I didn’t like getting into pointless fights, but I wasn’t a pushover.
“Thanks for stepping in. I was trying not to lose it,” the server, Aria, said, shooting me a grateful smile as she tightened her ponytail. “Now, what can I get you today?”
Still feeling rattled, I managed a faint smile in return as I stepped up to the counter. “A coconut mocha, please.” Then I added, “With an extra shot of espresso.”
I would not let Jerkface ruin my day, and that extra shot was a great way to start.
Nick
I was gripping my car keys so tightly in my hand that they were starting to cut into the flesh of my palm.
No one ever talked to me like that before, and even though I’d kept a cool demeanor, the mouthy girl had definitely shaken up my morning.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to relax as I put distance between The Java Bean and myself.
That girl had sass. She didn’t seem affected by me like most women were.
I didn’t like her. But I liked a challenge.
Girls like her didn’t fall into my life very often.
Maybe it was a good thing I’d never see her again.
Sky
Here I was, trying not to be nervous.
Here I was, failing miserably.
I couldn’t help it though. I’d never felt this out of place before. I was pretty sure I’d never looked this out of place before.
I was standing in the most expensive foyer I’d ever set foot in and quickly coming to the realization that there was no way I would fit in here.
The red and gold, velvet rug I stood on had probably cost twice as much as everything I owned put together. There was a cream-colored chaise lounge placed against the wall, exotic looking potted plants in every corner, and expensive oil paintings of scenery hanging on the walls.
I definitely wasn’t a materialistic person—I liked to think that I was pretty down-to-earth—but standing here in this moment, I felt pretty inadequate. Jerkface’s words from earlier were haunting me. Maybe I did need to dress better.
For a split second, I almost considered turning around and walking back out of the oak double doors, but that was just me being ridiculous. There was a reason why out of so many applicants, I had been the one chosen to work here at the Ruggarson mansion. Sure, my mom’s best friend, Tori, knew the Ruggarson’s and had put in a good word, but they still could’ve turned me down.
Just to be straight, it wasn’t some amazing position; I’d been hired as the live-in nanny for Oscar Ruggarson’s niece, Madeline Stanley, but it was still overwhelming considering their status.
The Ruggarsons were one of the many wealthy families that lived in Beverly Hills. Their wealth came from Oscar, who was a successful entertainment lawyer with numerous high-profile clients. His wife, Chloe, was what you would call a “socialite”. I wasn’t too sure what she did exactly, but Tori had told me she liked to throw extravagant parties and spend her husband’s money.
Tori had also informed me that Oscar and Chloe had two children—Nick and Emily. Emily was eighteen and had just started college, while Nick worked with his father. Apparently, Nick was also somewhat of a womanizer who had a new woman in his bed every night. He didn’t sound like my kind of person.
When I’d first told my best friend, Erin Campbell, about my new job, she’d shrieked for an entire five minutes about what a big deal this was. She was easily excitable and a drama queen.
Since this was my first proper job in the childcare field after recently graduating from college, I just had to focus on doing my very best and not letting the Ruggarsons’ wealth and glamorous life overwhelm me.
“Sky Hudson?” a sharp voice inquired.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I glanced around to find a middle-aged woman approaching me. Dressed in chic, royal blue, tailored pants and a loose, white blouse—not to mention the gold jewelry that adorned her—it was easy to assume this was Chloe.
This was my first time meeting her—I’d previously met Oscar and their current nanny, Mrs. Potts, who was soon to retire, for my interview, but Chloe hadn’t been present.
Crap. Maybe I was underdressed after all. In all honesty, I’d been way too broke to buy anything dressier than my usual attire. Having student loans and credit card payments could do that to a girl.
I needed to chill out. It wasn’t like I was here to do anything fancy. I was here to take care of a four-year-old, for God’s sake. My job description didn’t require me to dress up. Four-year-olds were messy. Everyone knew that.
“Y-yes?” I frowned at how shaky my voice was. I wanted to project myself as calm and confident, not as a nervous twenty-one-year-old who was incapable of speaking coherently.
I took two deep breaths to compose myself.
Chloe looked me up and down, disapproval clear across her face. “Obviously, you are aware of who I am, but I will introduce myself anyway. I am Chloe Ruggarson.”
She said ‘Ruggarson’ like it was some sort of royal title that had been bequeathed to her. The introduction wasn’t necessary, so I nodded to show her that I was familiar with who she was.
“Yes, I do know who you are.”
What I didn’t add was that I identified her as an arrogant socialite who had probably never worked a day in her life.
Chloe gave me a thoroughly unpleasant look, and it was obvious that she wasn’t impressed with me at all.
“I’m glad that even the lower class has heard of my name,” she finally said, once she was done analyzing my appearance. “Now, come with me. Oscar is waiting for you in his office.”
“Um, okay. What about my bags?” I glanced over at the worn out suitcase and duffel bag I’d brought along.
Chloe followed my gaze, and her upper lip curled in a sneer. “We have a butler for that, silly girl, but I
guess you’re not used to that kind of thing, are you?”
All of a sudden I felt like I was one of those hideous insects that everyone was always trying to squish, like a roach. I didn’t want to be a roach; I wanted to be a butterfly.
“Okay, then.” My voice sounded just as small as I felt.
“Follow me.” Without another word, she spun around and began click-clacking across the tiled floor in her black heels.
Quickening my pace, I followed after her and down a hallway, trying to take everything in as we walked. They definitely hadn’t been sparse about the paintings and plants—they were everywhere. Not that they weren’t nice to look at; it was just so lavish and over-the-top.
Finally, Chloe stopped outside a door with a small, gold plate which had ‘Oscar Ruggarson’ engraved on it in pretty cursive.
“This is where Oscar usually works from if he doesn’t go into the office.” Chloe’s tone was curt as she pushed opened the door and stepped inside ahead of me. Rude alert.
Trying not to let her coldness get to me, I entered the office after her, my jaw dropping when my eyes fell on the interior.
The office was immaculate and even grander than I had expected. A mahogany desk was positioned in front of large, bay windows, letting the summer sunlight stream in through the glass and creating a warm glow throughout the room.
There was a large shelf filled with books lined up against one side of the wall and an antique-style fireplace on the opposite wall. It was like they’d hired an interior decorator that had puked paintings and potted plants everywhere.
It really was beautiful, though.
A large painting hanging above the fireplace of a beautiful, young woman with blonde hair and hazel-green eyes caught my attention. I wondered if she was related to the Ruggarsons—their daughter, maybe?
“Chloe, I see you’ve brought Miss Hudson.” An aging man sat in the large chair behind the desk. He had streaks of silver through his dark hair and wore wire-rimmed glasses. There was a pleasant smile on his face as he studied me.
This was Oscar Ruggarson, self-made millionaire. From our previous meeting, I had decided that I liked him. There was a kindness and warmth about him which immediately made me relax.
“Yes, here she is.” The sneer in Chloe’s tone didn’t go unnoticed by me as she shot me a sideways glance. This woman was very quickly starting to become one of my least favorite people. After Coffee Shop Jerk, of course.
Oscar stood up and extended his hand across the desk, and I hurried forward to shake it. “It’s so nice to see you again, Miss Hudson. I hope the drive down here went smoothly.” Unlike his wife, there was a smile in his voice as he spoke.
“Yes, Sir, the drive was fine.” I didn’t bother mentioning that my piece of crap, 1999 Toyota Camry had almost failed to start, because that was just embarrassing.
“Please take a seat.” His tone was pleasant as he gestured to the seat across from him.
As Oscar and I sat down, Chloe walked around the desk and pulled up a chair beside her husband. She folded her hands on top the table and stared at me as though she was trying to make her status clear.
Yeah, I got it, lady. You were married to the boss man.
Before Oscar could even speak, Chloe was already grilling me. “You signed a confidentiality contract when you accepted this position. I want to make sure you understand what that means.”
Well, obviously. Unless this was a trick question.
“That I have to keep details about my job confidential?” I said it like a question because I wasn’t sure if this woman was for real.
There was a snicker, and I looked over to see Oscar trying to hide a smile. Chloe shot him a glare and he covered the snicker with a cough. Clearly he thought his wife had asked a silly question, too.
Chloe redirected her glare at me. “It’s more than that. Under no circumstances are you permitted to speak about our family, anyone associated with us, or what your duties are.”
I nodded. “Yes, I’m aware of that.” You know, because that was exactly what they’d told me in my interview and what the contract I’d signed had outlined.
“I think she understands, Chloe.” There was a smile in Oscar’s voice. “Maybe we should let her get settled in.”
Chloe seemed miffed that her husband wasn’t following her line of interrogation. “Well, I need to approve of her, Oscar. I can’t just have anyone working for us.”
“I don’t think Sky is just anyone, dear. She passed the interview process and I believe is more than capable of taking care of our darling niece. Mrs. Potts and I both approve of her.”
Chloe’s face flushed pink and she gave her husband a hard look. She definitely didn’t like it when he didn’t take her side. She probably wanted him to be more severe with me, but it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
“Well, I guess she’ll do.” Her eyes took in my outfit again. “You won’t have a uniform, but we expect you to dress appropriately. You are working for the Ruggarson family, after all, and we have many influential people going in and out throughout the day. This isn’t some $10 an hour, after school babysitting job, is that clear?”
“Crystal.” I knew my tone was curt, but I was really getting sick of Chloe talking down to me.
“I’m going to tell our daughter, Emily, to come down and get you.” Oscar quickly reached for the phone on his desk, obviously sensing the friction between his wife and me. “She’ll take you to see Madeline and then show you to your room.” He became distracted when the phone connected. “Emily, dear, will you come downstairs and show the new nanny around?”
As we waited on Oscar, I tried to avoid eye contact with Chloe. Despite not looking at her, I knew that she was staring daggers at me. For some reason she didn’t like me, and I had a feeling that first impressions—the way I dressed, the way I’d done my hair, the way I didn’t fall over myself trying to pander to her—had played a big part in her behavior towards me.
But, really? How was I to know that wearing jeans would offend her?
I wondered if their daughter was anything like Chloe. If she was then we were going to have a problem.
“Emily will be waiting in the foyer for you.” Oscar’s voice cut into my thoughts as he replaced the phone receiver.
“Okay, thank you, Sir.”
“Not at all. And if there is anything you need then don’t hesitate to ask me. Our son, Nicholas, also lives here and I’m sure you’ll run into him soon. Mrs. Potts will tell you everything you need to know about taking care of my little angel.” A fond smile appeared on Oscar’s face as he spoke about his niece. “She is the sweetest little girl in the world and I’m sure you’ll have no trouble with her.”
“Yes, she is too perfect for words,” Chloe added.
I stared in surprise as Chloe gave her first genuine smile. I guess they both loved their niece.
Oscar nodded toward the door. “Emily is waiting for you. She’s very excited to meet you.”
“Okay, Sir, um, thank you again.”
As I turned to leave, Oscar spoke again. “Oh, and Sky, we will be having a dinner tonight with close friends of the family. I would like it very much if you were there.”
Feeling overwhelmed and a little flustered that he wanted me at an important dinner, I managed to nod like an idiot. Chloe didn’t look at all impressed by this and shot her husband a death glare which he pointedly ignored.
“And, Sky, one more thing,” Chloe said, giving me an unkind smile as her ice blue eyes stared me down. “Don’t go out of your way to socialize with anyone here that you don’t have to.”
“Um, okay,” I responded, wondering if she was referring to anyone in particular.
Wanting to put distance between myself and the Evil Queen, I opened up the door and left the office wondering what the heck I’d gotten myself into.
<
center> Thank you for reading books on Archive.