Crown

N/A: Hey all! Here I am posting a other story so obviously I'm crazy. This is a shorter story, probably about 15 or so chapters and is almost completely pre-written. I want to thank all the people who read and review my stories, y'all are amazing. As I always state, rude and trolling reviews will get deleted, I respect your decision to flounce if a story is not your cup of tea, so just leave quietly. Thanks always to the ladies who read and re-read and hold my hand; Lamomo, Dawnbreaker8, Littleashes17, sassyNoles, 2 brown eyes, Maplestyle, and jo seventy utterly. As always the amazing, awesome Mel C betas. You ladies are wonderful. Alright, so strap in and onto the story.

I dropped my purse on the floor the minute I walked inside my apartment and face planted onto the couch, screaming into a throw pillow. Here I was, a smart, independent twenty-three-year-old woman, eight months out of college and I was still working at a daycare center, where I had been at for the last two years. I had gotten a bachelor's in early childhood education, but I had never really pursued a job to further use it. I had planned on going for my master's, but I had maxed out my financial aid and couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I loved the fact that I got to work with kids, but I had always pictured it being a much smaller group; like five or less would be great.

Once I felt a little better, I made my way into my small kitchen to make dinner. I worked 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, so I never had the time to do anything fancy with dinner. I plated my grilled cheese and ladled tomato soup into my bowl, carrying both to the table. Halfway through eating my meager meal, my phone rang. I chuckled when I saw it was Rose. She and Alice have been my best friends since we were little. My mom took off when I was five, leaving me with my dad. He had no idea how to raise a girl on his own, and he was the chief of police in our small town, so my dad dropped me off with Rose's mom every day to watch me, and that was when I met Rose and Alice. Alice shared her dolls, and Rose came up with the best stories to act out. We have been inseparable since then, forming our own dynamic trio.

"What up, bitch?" I asked.

"Ew, hoochie. Why do you have to start with name calling? You still need to get laid?"

I laughed. This was how we talked to each other. Most people thought we were being mean, but it was just the way we had always been. "Okay, I'm going to hang up on you."

"Hold on. I had a reason for calling other than to talk about your non-existent love life." Rose rushed her words out.

"So, spit it out, Ro."

"I saw an ad at that staffing agency I work for. There is someone looking for a nanny, B. I know you wish you could do something a little different from group care. This would be awesome 'cause the kids are the perfect age. I think you should apply."

"I don't know, Rose. I think—"

"Bullshit, B. I know all the stupid excuses you are thinking of and they're all just crap. You really are a sadist."

"Masochist, Rose. Sadists enjoy causing pain to others. Masochists enjoy being in pain."

"Whatever. I'm sending you the job ad with the info and the link to apply. Go check your email or I'll just apply for you."

"Jesus, were you always this big of a pain in the ass, or has it just grown over time?"

"You're the one who likes pain. Toodles, bitch."

The line went dead, and I sighed. I grabbed my laptop from my desk, engaged the deadbolt on the front door, slid the chain in place, then went back to my room. I took my clothes off, pulled a fitted t-shirt from the closet, tugged it on over my head, leaving my boyshort underwear on, and climbed into bed. Once I was settled, I opened my laptop and pulled up the email Rose had sent. I read over the description: it was a live-in nanny position to a four-year-old and a seven-year-old. The dad was a single parent who worked long hours. They would expect me to take the older kid to school and pick them up. The youngest would be with me half a day, after preschool. It was all pretty standard basic expectations. It didn't give a salary, but I imagined it was because they wanted to wait to see who was being hired and base it on experience.

I filled out all the required information and attached my resume to the online application. Now all I could do was wait. I sent Rose a text letting her know I had applied for the job, and she said she knew. Rose was serious about her job, so she had her work email set up on her phone. I tossed my phone on the bed next to me and set the laptop aside. I looked at my alarm clock and it was only 8 p.m. It was sad that as a woman in her early twenties, this was what my nights were.

I was pathetically single, and I could almost hear my biological clock ticking. Not that I didn't have offers. Not to brag, but I was fairly attractive, but men were always a disappointment. Men my age were just worried about getting themselves off. So, I looked for older men and that had brought on its own headaches, mostly finding married men more than willing to cheat on their spouses. I just decided to swear off men for the time being. It took less effort to get myself off, and even though the orgasms were nowhere near earth-shattering, it was better than nothing.

Which is exactly why I went to take a shower. My handheld showerhead was a great way to get myself off and get clean for work tomorrow. Once I was done with my shower, I didn't even bother getting redressed. I just fell into bed in a semi-satisfied heap and drifted to sleep.

I woke up before my alarm the next morning, which was always a pleasant treat, unless it was because your life was sad and you went to bed at 9 p.m. I crawled out of bed, getting dressed mechanically, and then headed to my kitchen to make coffee. I was useless without it, and my head fell forward as I tapped my nails on the formica counter, waiting for my black nectar. I snagged the creamer out of my fridge and wasted no time in pouring in a generous amount and stirring the mixture. I chugged about half of the cup before I transferred it to a large thermos and filled it up, adding more creamer.

I was zooming down the freeway when the sound of my phone ringing poured out of the speaker. I saw on my stereo display it was Alice; my bluetooth connected to my stereo. "Well, well. If it isn't our little Alicat. You disengage yourself from Jasper's lips long enough to call me?"

"Ha. Ha. That joke is still so funny. No, Rose told me you applied for some upscale nanny job. Her boss called her to let her know your resume was perfect. I mean she doesn't know you're friends with Rose, but I would say expect a call from her boss today."

"Really?" I asked, a little surprised.

"Well yeah, Bella. You have a degree and tons of experience in childcare. Most women your age that apply to be a nanny have very little experience and just want what they think will be a cushy job."

I knew I had a lot of experience and my credentials were on point, but I really expected little to come out of applying for the job. "I know that I'm impressive on paper, but I tend to let my mouth get ahead of my brain sometimes, and I haven't had an interview in over two years."

"Yeah, but anyone can see the intelligence under the spaz."

We both laughed and talked for a few minutes, wondering who the employer was and if the pay would be better than what I was making now. By the time I got to work, I had to bid Alice farewell and start my busy workday, hopeful that I would have a message waiting for me by the time I took my first break.

When I got home that day, Rose, her boss, and some unknown number had called me. I called both Rose and her boss at lunchtime. They were going to pass my resume with a recommendation to the person who was hiring. I assumed that was who the unknown number was, but I was too scared to check the voicemail. Rose gave me a verbal smackdown/pep talk on my way home, and when I had psyched myself up and calmed down, I finally called my voicemail.

A smooth, masculine voice greeted me and told me they were interested in meeting with me about the position. They spouted off a number, and I hoped calling them back at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday night didn't upset them. I tapped my foot as I waited for the other line to pick up. That same smooth voice answered. He had said his name was Edward, but I wasn't comfortable being so informal with someone I hadn't even met that may become my boss.

"Yes, hello, sir. My name is Bella. I'm returning your call about the nanny position." There was nothing but silence, and I wondered if we had been disconnected. "Hello? Are you there?"

There was a throat clearing on the other end and a cough. "Yes, sorry. I was wondering if we could set up an interview?"

I smiled and accepted. We talked for a short while, setting up a time and place to meet. We made plans to meet at a nearby coffee shop in the morning.

The minute I got off the phone, I three-way called Rose and Alice. They told me they were both coming over, and I paced, chewing on my thumbnail, until I heard the knock on my front door. Alice had a garment bag, and Rose was carrying a bottle of wine. I took it from her, ushering them inside. While I uncorked and poured three glasses, Alice was pulling several outfits from the bag she brought. I was glad that none of them were the normal ridiculous stuff she tried to sell me on. She never won, but she still tried.

"Okay, so I have a pantsuit—it's feminine while still showing assertiveness. Then I have a lovely little sundress with a cardigan—still casual but cute and fun. Then there is the full maxi dress. It's sweet and modest. What do you think?"

"Wow, Alice. I'm surprised that you picked these. I was expecting... Well, not this."

"I know my audience by now, Bellsy. Plus, this is an interview. Not the same as when we go clubbing."

I chuckled and smiled. After much discussion, I picked the sundress with the cropped cardigan. The dress was pink and had colorful butterflies on it, and then the cropped cardigan was a darker grey and knotted right between my breasts. Alice also pulled out a velvet bag, both her and Rose smiling as they handed it to me. I was instantly suspicious but took it from them. Opening the bag, I tipped it to empty it of its contents. A wide strip of pink caught my eyes. I picked it up and realized that it was a thick pink choker necklace. I laughed, because this was an inside joke between me and them.

"Just open it, Bella."

I opened the jewelry box and inside was a strip of burgundy red velvet with a pearl drop jewel hanging from it. It was one of the most beautiful necklaces I had ever seen. I gasped, trying not to cry. I unclasped it but when I tried to put it around my neck; it was fairly tight. "Oh, no. I don't think it's gonna fit."

"It's a choker necklace, B. It's supposed to be tight like that."

"Yeah, we figured since you like being choked, this would be a perfect necklace for you."

I laughed and Alice helped me put it on. It took some getting used to, but I found after a while, I didn't notice it was there. I felt the pressure from it, but it didn't bother me.

Since that day, for every birthday or a special occasion, they got me a new choker necklace. I had quite the collection, and I always wore one.

I took off the black skull one I had on and put the new pink one on. This one was different because it was thicker than the others. It covered about three-quarters of my neck, but I still loved it. I thanked them for it, and we shared a group hug.

We sat around, talking and joking, just hanging out. I stopped after one glass of wine because I didn't want to be hung over for my interview. Rose and Alice drank about two and a half before stopping, but I still told them they could stay. I would need help in the morning with hair and makeup because I would be nervous. We all fell asleep in my enormous California king-size bed. Yeah, I was single and had a huge bed; it made no sense, but I was an enigma.

When my alarm clock sounded the next morning, I was almost tackled to the floor when I tried to hit the snooze button. Alice was too damn hyper in the morning, and it never failed to surprise me. I had no idea how she didn't have a heart attack when she had caffeine. So much energy in that little body had to get out somehow. She did my makeup, and I just kept my hair down. It was all fairly simple. Just a little bit of eyeshadow and some lip gloss.

After me trying to back out of the interview and Rose threatening to find all my lingerie and sex toys and turn them into shreds, I left the house to go meet my potential new boss. I reached the agreed upon location about ten minutes early and found a table by the window.

I waited about five minutes when a man walked in. He was wearing a full-on suit, and I hoped to whatever deity there was that this was Edward. He was entirely gorgeous. His hair was a unique shade of bronze and brown, almost a caramel auburn color. His face was perfect, his nose in perfect proportion to his face, pink lips that looked like they could wreak havoc on the female anatomy, and a perfectly chiseled jaw with just a hint of stubble. His head turned toward me, and when he saw me, he took his sunglasses off and the most stunning shade of green eyes met mine. I smiled at him, and he returned his own smirk, walking over to me.

"Are you Isabella Swan?"

I nodded and stuck my hand out for him to shake. "Just Bella, please, sir."

He got a weird look in his eyes, but with a shake of his head, it was gone. "Well, then I must insist you call me Edward." I smiled and nodded. He gestured toward the counter. "Did you order?"

"Oh, no, not yet."

"Well, let me know what you want, and I'll order for both of us. I need caffeine this early in the morning."

"Um. Anything with caramel and caffeine, but nothing with vanilla."

He cocked his eyebrow. "No, vanilla?"

"Yep, the only vanilla I ever want is in my cookies. I hate vanilla."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he shook his head again and chuckled as he walked away to go order. I just watched him as he talked to the barista and gave the girl his order. He gave her a charming smile, and she blushed and dropped the cup. I snorted, because he either had no idea he was dazzling her, or he was a cocky son of a bitch. There was always the chance he was maybe a bit of both. He was hot as sin, and my body started to heat up watching him, so I looked out the window, studying the people going by. I could feel his stare on me, but I refused to acknowledge it.

After a few minutes, he came back to the table and put a cup down in front of me. "I hope you like it. They recommended it for caramel lovers."

I took a drink, and it was great. I nodded and gave him a thumbs up, as my mouth was full.

He smiled. "So, tell me about yourself, I—Bella."

I gave him a wink and a smirk, glad he caught himself trying to call me Isabella. "Well, I graduated from UDub about eight months ago with a degree in early childhood education and have worked in daycare since I was eighteen, and before that, I babysat for several families. I've always wanted to work with children."

"Why?"

"'Cause they're amazing," I exclaimed. "They aren't afraid to have fun, even if it makes them look foolish, and they are honest. They aren't afraid to tell you the truth, even if it might hurt your feelings. It's refreshing. We as a society could learn a few things from children."

"You don't think it's important to protect someone's feelings?" His stare was intense and his eyebrow arched.

"Not by lying to them, no. There are ways to tell them delicately or be constructive, but lying to them so they aren't upset only upsets them further when they find out you were dishonest."

"You seem to have experience in this." It was a statement, not a question, but I still decided to explain.

"I don't conform to society's ideas of normal, so yeah I've had my feelings 'protected,''' I said, making air quotes.

He nodded, acknowledging what I just confessed. We didn't know each other well enough for me to expand. "I like your outlook on children. My children are definitely energetic and talkative." The grin that overtook his face when he talked about his children was breathtaking, and if possible, it made him even more beautiful.

"The ad didn't specify, but are they boys or girls?"

"Well, the seven-year-old, Archer, is a boy. The four-year-old, Sophie, is a girl. I thought it best they not be here for the interview, in case anything went wrong. I read your resume and experience, Bella, and I wanted to meet you to make sure I could trust my kids with you." He grinned at me. "You seem to have a passion for working with children, not just in it for the money. I still have to follow up with your references and do a background check. Are you able to do a live-in nanny situation?" he asked.

"I would be able to move out of my apartment, yes. I'm on a month-to-month contract now. I wanted to ask about pay—the ad didn't specify—and as much as I would love to work one-on-one with your kids, I can't take a pay cut," I told him simply.

"Well, you wouldn't have any rent to pay or utilities, unless you wanted extras, like faster wi-fi, and food is covered as well, again unless you want something we don't normally eat, but salary would be about $4000/month," he informed me. My eyes widened minutely before I schooled my features.

"I work every day from 8 until 5:30. Some days I have to stay late or go in on the very rare weekend. On the flip side, I do work from home several times a month. You will be responsible for waking both the children up and getting them dressed, fed, and off to school. Sophie is in preschool; she only goes for half a day, so you will need to pick her up. You're free to choose the afternoon activity. Then you will need to pick up Archer and they will both need a small snack. Dinner is usually served at 6 p.m." He looked at me to make sure I was listening.

I nodded.

"I have a maid that comes by a few times a week, and I have someone who takes care of dinner and makes Archer's lunch for the next day; their breakfast and Sophie's lunch will need to be handled by you. During the school week, they are not allowed to have more than one hour of screen time a day, and they always have to have all devices off an hour before bedtime. During the weekend, I usually allow more time, but my one hour before bedroom rule is year-round."

Oh, so he was a dad that actually didn't just sit his kids in front of the TV.

"Sophie goes to bed at 7:30 p.m., and Archer at 8:30 p.m. I will take care of their bedtime unless I am held up at work. The weekends and evenings are to do with what you will, unless something comes up last minute. I will always try to give you advance notice, but it isn't always possible. Does that all sound acceptable to you?"

"That's a lot, but yeah. I didn't hear anything I couldn't handle. Just a lot of information all at once."

"I thought you graduated with honors," he quipped with a smirk.

I chuckled at that. "It all sounds great, si—Edward. Sorry, twenty plus years of manners just getting thrown out the window; I will get used to calling you Edward. "

"Let's hope so. I should have all the information back by mid next week. As long as everything goes through, it looks like you will be my nanny. I do, however, want you to meet the kids before you move in. Can we set something up when I call you with my findings?"

"Sure. Believe me, there is nothing to find. My life is pretty tame."

Edward's eyes roved up and down my body. "Somehow I find that hard to believe."

I just smiled as we shook hands again, and he was off.

Once he was out of sight, I blew out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Well, that was definitely interesting. I shook my head, chugged the rest of my coffee, ordered three more to go, and headed back home. This situation got a little more complicated.

A/N: So, there you have it. Thoughts, concerns, let me have it all. I'm still working on Il Dottore Della Mafia, so that will still post as planned, this is just a fun side project. Oh, and kudos if anyone can figure out the theme in the chapter names. Pay attention and see if you can figure it out. See you lovelies next week!