Chapter Three
Jessica
“Bitch, fill me up!”
Jessica shot a dirty look at her roommate, Ashley, who lounged by the kitchen table with a smug smile on her lips.
“I’m not your intern,” Jessica snapped. She walked by and pushed Ashley’s feet off the table before fetching her harvest grain toast from the toaster.
“You can always use the practice, babe.” Ashley smiled sweetly.
Jessica pursed her lips, then took out two mugs and poured coffee into each one.
She frowned as she blew on the coffee, her grumpy demeanor not entirely due to the ungodly hour. Ashley, damn her, hadn’t even gone to bed yet, but Jessica had to be up and at work by 7:00 a.m. If she had gotten the internship at the San Diego Zoo – which she had wanted, which would’ve actually been applicable to her degree – she might not have minded getting up at the ass crack of dawn quite so much.
As it was, she was headed to a boring office job, and to add insult to the injury of being rejected from the job she wanted, this office job was really just working for her dad.
Jessica loved her dad, she did, but she’d rather spend time with him binge-watching cooking challenge shows while splitting a nice red wine. He had convinced her, though, that she really had to get some real experience, something she could put on a resume, before she graduated next spring.
So, she nursed her coffee as she stumbled around the apartment and attempted to make something presentable of herself. She’d laid her outfit out the evening before: a vertically striped button-up blouse and a below the knee pencil skirt. Her wardrobe ranged from a few going out dresses to study-wear, so she was going to have to get creative for a five-day-a-week job arrangement.
“You look marvelish!” Ashley said, making a kissy face.
Jessica pulled her hair into a bun on top of her head. “Are you still drunk?”
“Jealish?”
“I’m jealous of you getting to stay home today, but your liver is probably jealous of mine right now.”
She should’ve known better than to get an apartment off campus with a couple of her sorority sisters. Ashley wasn’t too bad most of the time. But the concept of a regular daily schedule was beyond her willful actress’ spirit. Jessica turned to the mirror on the back of her bedroom door to give herself one last check.
***
When she arrived at the office, her father wasn’t even there yet – just his personal assistant, Garrett, who looked over her outfit (very unsubtly) and took her to the breakroom to show her how to make the coffee.
“Half the time they want you to go out and get them something anyway, but just make it, and the assistants will drink it,” Garrett explained.
“Will they give us money to go get Starbucks or something?”
“Rarely. If they ask you to get them an Americano or latte while you’re out, save the receipt and I’ll reimburse you with petty cash.” Garrett leaned back against the desk. “But mostly, you don’t have too much to worry about for the first couple of weeks. Get things when they ask for it. Take things where they want them. Ferry messages back and forth with papers, mostly. They can text for everything else.”
His eyes dropped to her shoes. “And those are gorge, but you’re gonna want to wear more comfortable shoes from here on out. In fact, no one is going to care if you come in a clean blouse and a nice pair of jeans. Just no holes or anything.”
Jessica raised a brow. “Dad—Er, Mr. Billings made this sound like it would be a lot more formal.”
“He’s wrong. I have to be formal. You have to be neat, clean, and timely.” The phone rang, and Garrett reached behind him to pick it up. “I’ll try to make sure they don’t trap you in any meetings or piles of paperwork until you’ve been here a while. It’s a learning curve, but it’s not too steep, honestly, if you have good organizational skills.”
“Good morning,” Garrett chirruped, “you’ve reached Billings and Cash, LLP. This is Garrett. How can I help you today?”
Jessica was a little mesmerized by how fluidly the greeting rolled off Garrett’s tongue. Like a song, almost.
***
By midmorning, Jessica had discerned that gofer-ing was her primary duty with the company. She’d gotten breakfasts, picked up copies from the printer, taken checks to the bank, and come back with two trays full of various specialty coffees.
The job wasn’t so bad. It seemed boring but easy, and the people were friendly. Well, mostly. Some of the accountants had gotten grumpy with her for things like not knowing where someone’s office was or having to be shown how to fax something (who faxed instead using email anymore?), but on the whole, her day hadn’t been bad. At least she was getting paid, which was more than she could say for most interns her age.
Jessica could roll with it. Disappointment would fade, and there would be other opportunities. Or so she told herself. In the meantime, she would keep up with her latest Sarah J. Maas audiobook while flitting all around town.
“Hey, munchkin,” her father said as she appeared in his doorway. “How have they been treating you? I’m sorry I haven’t been around to show you the ropes.”
“No problem. I’ve got this. Garrett’s shown me everything I need to know, and it’s no worse than waitressing. Probably better, honestly.” She entered and dropped into one of the wide chairs in front of his desk.
“I’d take you to lunch today, but we’re really slammed.”
“Isn’t tax season over?”
“Generally, but we have a lot of clients who filed for extensions, and we need to take care of them. Plus, we took on a new start-up last week, and their books are a mess.”
Jessica took off one of her shoes to massage her arch. She smiled at the way her father’s eyes, deep brown like her own, crinkled at the corners as he studied the papers before him. He was so hardworking. She was really proud of him, especially lately. In addition to co-leading this firm, he was the CFO at an independent studio, and they had gotten one of their films nominated for an Oscar last year.
“So, raincheck?” Allen looked up at her questioningly.
“Of course. Whenever you’ve got the time. I’m but a mere intern here,” Jessica teased. “When you have need of me, just call.”
Allen looked up at her with a wry smile. “How about I get you dinner after we’re both off? I’ll be in the office later than you’ll be expected to stay, but I can give you a call.”
“That sounds great.”
“Be thinking about where you want to go.” He picked up a pile of papers from his printer and started flipping through it, making circles and crosses on each page. “And now, I have a job for you.”
“Oh?” Jessica put her shoes back on and walked around the desk.
“I’m going to have you send this over to Brent Sanderson at the movie studio. He’ll need to sign these and send them back to me today. If he can just hand them back to you, all the better.”
“I’ll make sure he does,” Jessica promised.
“Ah, these young interns – so eager to prove themselves. Right, Garrett?” Allen looked behind Jessica, and she turned her head.
There Garrett was, in the doorway.
“Like yappy little puppies.” Garrett handed Jessica a list. “Could you pick up lunch on your way back? I already called in the order to the deli across the street. They should have everything ready by the time you get there. Just check the order to make sure it’s right and haul it over here.”
Jessica bounced on her heels and gave them a salute. “Can do!”
Allen laughed softly and looked at Garrett with fond pride. Jessica hoped she could make him proud with more than a good attitude in the near future, but it was what she had to work with.
***
“The proper word is ‘nanny’,” Brent said. “What do you think, Jessica?”
Cara glanced up at her with uncertain, but hopeful green eyes. She looked so vulnerable, with her slouched shoulders and shorn hair. And she’d already had such a terrible day. It sucked to be bullied like that, and nothing you could do about it, really. You were so powerless at that age.
“Well, I guess… Double the money, just to hang out with you?” Jessica leaned over and bumped Cara’s shoulder. “How can I say no?”
Cara clapped her hands together over her mouth in excitement. Though Jessica wondered how she was going to explain to her father that she was quitting on her first day, she couldn’t help but be happy to spend her time helping this girl, rather than just running errands.
“I have to get everyone lunch first though. They’re waiting for it right now,” Jessica explained.
“Can I go?”
Brent Sanderson towered over the two of them. “I don’t see why not. After that errand, would you take her out to get her hair fixed?”
“That I can definitely do. I know just the place.” Jessica rose to take the envelope full of papers from him. “I promise I’ll be careful with her, too.”
“I trust you, Jessica. It took me a moment to recognize you, but you’re Allen’s daughter.” Brent crossed his arms. “He’ll have to forgive me for stealing you after he sees Cara with you.”
“You’re Uncle Allen’s daughter?” Cara hopped up and came to stand by Jessica.
“Um, yeah, that’s me.” Jessica held out her arm for Cara to take. “We’re practically family already, huh? Well, let’s go feed those cranky accountants, and we can have a little makeover.”
Cara wrinkled her nose, but after they’d left the office, Jessica tilted her head toward Cara. “We’ll get you something cool, I promise. And it’ll be easier when you go out on the field to just have it short.”
“Oh, good point.” Cara huffed a sigh. “I liked my pigtails though.”
“I know.”
***
Jessica and Cara appeared in the office laden with sandwiches, soups, and little bags of chips. Garrett gave Jessica’s little helper an odd glance as they set everything out in the breakroom.
“Did you kidnap a child?”
Jessica separated out her father’s lunch and gave the sandwich and small fruit container to Cara to carry. “Yes. She was just sitting there on the street, and I thought to myself: Orphan Servant. Come, servant. To the master!”
Cara giggled.
When they reached the office, Allen was embroiled in a phone call and typing away on his computer. Jessica set the envelope on his desk and then began setting out his lunch. It took him several minutes before he noticed that Cara was beside her, and his brows shot up in recognition and surprise.
Jessica sat with Cara in the chairs by Allen’s desk and opened an extra bag of chips, which Jessica had swiped. The two of them passed the bag back and forth between them while Allen finished his call.
“Well, this is a surprise! I didn’t know you’d be at Brent’s office,” Allen said to Cara the moment he hung up.
“I got sent home. Jessica is gonna take me to a haircutter.”
“Is she?” Allen shook his head. “Jessie, don’t let Brent order you around. You do work for us, not the studio.”
“Well, about that…” Jessica shot Cara a conspiratorial look.
“Not anymore. She works for me now!” Cara said.
Allen looked between them in confusion.
***
Jessica ended her day by dropping Cara off at home. It was somewhat foolish. Even though her father was a successful accountant and financier of various projects around L.A. and she’d rarely wanted for anything, she wasn’t mega-millions wealthy. That shouldn’t matter, but the Sanderson family had been telecom moguls long before Mr. Sanderson had set up his indie movie studio. Driving up to a house with its own huge iron gate and a drive longer than a city block was a sight to behold.
Jessica put the car in park and then leaned over to speak to the security guard. “Hi! I’m Jessica Billings. I’m Cara’s new nanny.”
The guard narrowed his eyes and checked his clipboard. “I don’t see you on the list.”
She gulped. “Well, I was just hired today. I know that Mr. Sanderson is a very busy man so maybe he forgot to let you know I was bringing Cara back from her haircut.”
Cara rolled her eyes. “It’s true. You know I understand stranger danger. It’s not like she lured me in here with puppies and candy only to bring me right home.”
Jessica shot her charge a look. Sarcasm probably wouldn’t help in this case, judging by the slightly constipated look on the guard’s face. “Do you need to call him? I…” She let out a sharp breath, thinking back to the moment her father had seen Cara that afternoon. “I’m Allen Billings’ daughter.”
The guard’s demeanor changed instantly. He stood straighter, and his eyes went wide, almost as if he were scared. As if Jessica had that kind of power. If she had, she certainly wouldn’t use it against a guy doing a good job of keeping the house and Cara safe. “Mr. Billings? Oh, I’m so sorry, Miss, I didn’t realize.”
Jessica leaned back in her seat. She’d never used her father like that before. Granted, he’d given her the world’s shortest lasting internship as a bit of nepotistic favor when the San Diego Zoo spot fell through, but she’d never been the type before to say, “Do you know who my father is?” Partly because the masses didn’t care about who financed what in this town. But mostly, she avoided it because it wasn’t who she was. It seemed petty and over the top.
Then again, she did have to get Cara tucked home safe for the night. That was a key part of babysitting – return the kiddo.
“Seriously, Grandpa makes sure that Cecile has the food on the table by six, Danny. Can we go?” Cara asked, and damn if she didn’t bat her eyes to make herself look just that much more like a wounded anime character.
Jessica was impressed. Her charge was good at winding the men of the house around her little finger or, at least, getting the guard to cut her slack.
“Of course, and I’m sorry for the delay. You understand that—”
Cara coughed politely. “I don’t want to be late for dinner with Grandpa. He wouldn’t like that either.”
The guard seemed to gulp, and that didn’t leave Jessica with a good feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Good point, Miss Cara, Miss Billings. You both have a good evening.”
Jessica smiled and pulled through the opening gates. “Thanks for the help back there, kiddo.”
Cara beamed at her and pushed a short strand of her brand-new swing bob behind her ear. “That’s okay. Danny means well. He’s pretty nice. Sometimes, he brings his daughter over so we can hang out. She’s younger, like nine, but it’s nice to have someone sometimes.”
“The girls at school can really suck, huh?” Jessica asked as she pulled into the corner of the driveway closest to the garage (she assumed it was a garage even if it was easily as big as the place she shared with several girls off campus) and put the car in park. “I didn’t like middle school much either.”
Cara sighed and looked down at her knees. “We had a good day today, and I’m glad you helped me get that haircut this afternoon. I don’t really like talking about school when I’m not there. My teachers are nice, and what we’re learning is neat, but the mean girls…”
“Are the worst. I hear you on that,” Jessica finished. She eased her way out of the car and then, politely, got the door for Cara. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring over some great activities. I have a few ideas I’m already percolating on for after-school stuff.”
“Great!” Cara said and then squealed, “Hey!”
Confused, Jessica turned her attention to the grandiose double oak doors that marked the entrance to the mansion. An older gentleman stood there, one whose blue eyes reminded her both of Cara and of Brent Sanderson. Otherwise, he was smaller than his son, wiry and lean, and with a well-trimmed white beard and a mane longer than she’d expected for salt-colored hair.
“Grandpa!” the girl shouted as she ran into the older man’s arms.
He took a few steps back but managed not to tumble and then set her down. Stroking her short hair, the older Mr. Sanderson clucked his tongue a bit. “Cara Virginia, what on earth happened to your beautiful hair?”
Cara’s eyes welled with tears. “These girls at school.”
Mr. Sanderson arched an eyebrow at his granddaughter. “Can you give me their names?”
Cara bit her lip and then answered. “You don’t have to do anything to them, Grandpa. Dad’s gonna have a meeting with the principal.”
“Yes, but I have ways of making their parents’ jobs disappear.”
Jessica just managed to keep her jaw from falling slack. Surely, Mr. Sanderson was joking to make his granddaughter feel better. He couldn’t really do that, could he? Then again, looking over their massive estate and the palatial Spanish-style mansion that took up its own zip code, it was possible he could do just that.
The girl giggled and hugged her grandfather again. “No. I won’t tell you anything. I’m going to get cleaned up for dinner. I hope Cecile made spaghetti like she promised.”
“She did, and I’m sure she has extra meatballs in the kitchen for you too. You get ready, and I’ll make sure she adds a few to your plate.”
Cara gave him a last hug and rushed into the mansion, which left Jessica alone with the older Mr. Sanderson. She swallowed hard before speaking. While he’d been kind and effusive with Cara, he’d still possibly threatened to end people’s careers. Not that the girls hadn’t been complete jerks (bordering on mini-sociopaths) to Cara, but Jessica tended to shy away from any Machiavellian, slash-and-burn plans. The older man turned his gaze to her, and Jessica swallowed hard at the intensity of his calculating gaze.
“And who are you?”
“I’m sorry,” she croaked out, offering her hand. “My name’s Jessica Billings, and I’m going to be Cara’s nanny. I’ll be here after school and also around on weekends while Mr. Sanderson is working. It’s nice to meet you.”
He pointedly declined to shake her hand, even as his lips curled up into a condescending smirk. “I don’t shake hands with the help. You understand that, don’t you?”
Reeling back as if she’d been slapped, Jessica tried to keep the smile planted on her face. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sanderson. I didn’t mean to overstep. I just wanted to let you know I’d be taking care of Cara from now on.”
“And are you taking care of anyone else in my family?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.
“I don’t understand the question.”
“You’re very pretty – that wavy dark hair and those brown, doe eyes. Well, my son has always had a type. Tell me, were you sleeping with him before he came up with this sinecure to spend more time with you?”
“Excuse me?” she asked, even as tears sprung to her eyes.
“Enough, Father,” a voice called out behind her.
Spinning around, Jessica was relieved to see that Brent Sanderson was behind her. “I… Mr. Sanderson, I’m so sorry. I was just making sure Cara got home from her haircut okay.”
He shook his head, and something Arctic-levels of cold had filtered into his blue eyes. “No, that’s quite all right, Jessica. I apologize for my father. He’s never had any manners.”
The older man shrugged. “Perhaps, but I know enough to manage my peccadillos. Miss Billings, I’m sure I’ll see you around.” With that, he turned around and trudged back into the house.
Bastard seemed pleased with himself, even whistled an upbeat tune as he did it. Maybe he liked sewing that kind of discord. Based on how angry Brent Sanderson was, Jessica was willing to bet this really wasn’t an isolated incident.
But that was more than she signed up for. She didn’t need the money, but she’d seen how upset Cara was, how badly the young girl needed a friend. As a result, Jessica was sticking out this assignment for Cara’s sake. After her encounter with the patriarch of the family, she definitely wasn’t staying for the paycheck or because she didn’t have other summer plans. Still, with the humiliation fresh in her mind, she wasn’t dying to make small talk with the man before her either, just so he could calm his conscience.
Tears threatened to drip down her cheeks. Desperate, she tried to brush past Mr. Sanderson but slipped on the marble stairs and started to fall. Moving her arms wildly, like a spinning windmill, Jessica tried to avoid tumbling forward and into sure broken bone territory. But she failed. Pitching forward, she screamed but soon found herself enveloped in strong arms. Breathing deeply even as her heart hammered in her chest, Jessica tried to pull herself together.
But it was hard.
Hard to concentrate on getting home when her nose was filled with the tang of his cologne, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. Hard to move again when she stared into eyes as blue as the ocean and as haunted as any she’d ever seen.
“Thank you for helping me, Mr. Sanderson.”
“Brent,” he said, helping ease her to the cobblestone of the driveway a few steps below. “You should call me Brent. ‘Mr. Sanderson’ is my bastard of a father.”
“I don’t know if I should call my employer something so casual,” she said, trying to ignore the way her cheeks warmed against her will. She had to be blushing brighter than a fire hydrant.
He finally broke away from her, and she tried to ignore the sense of loss lancing through her at the break in contact. That was crazy. She was just overly emotional from his father’s rudeness. That had sent her senses into overdrive and nothing else.
Leaning down, Mr. Sanderson… well… Brent set a firm hand on her shoulder. “My father’s a jerk. He’s always been about needling me and about power games. He’s jumping at horrible, unfair conclusions because he’s frustrated I never remarried after Cara’s mother passed.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised her voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes, so please ignore him. He’s usually working late when it’s not family dinner night. You won’t see him much, and when you do, just ignore him. I’ll let Cecile, Danny, and the rest of the staff know that they need to buffer you from his more vocal outbursts when he’s around. It’s not about you, Jessica.” He punctuated his point by squeezing her shoulder. “With him, it’s always about me, about whatever lesson he thinks I have to learn. I really do apologize for this. The last thing I thought was that he’d beat me home.”
She breathed in slowly and nodded. “That’s all right. I think I need to get home now. I’ll need a lot of rest to keep up with Cara once she’s home from school tomorrow. Your girl has a ton of energy.”
Brent smiled. “That’s good, and I’m glad she had you on a day like this. I can’t always be good at the girl stuff. I don’t have the same frame of reference, but after all the abuse those girls put on her today, I’m glad she had someone to help her through it.”
His smile was magnetic. It had a pull on her almost as strong as the one between the moon and the tides. Jessica wanted to let it keep dragging her toward him, wanted to abandon her caution and speak more freely with him. Get to know him more. But that was just the adrenaline talking and her own nerves. What was there to know? He was her employer and her dad’s close friend and business partner at the studio.
That was all.
Even if he smelled of cinnamon and other dark spices she’d love to sample more fully.
“I’m glad I could help. I’ll see you and Cara tomorrow.” Then, Jessica hurried to her car before she could humiliate herself any further or do anything she’d regret.