Story Three: The Nanny

Synopsis: Mercedes is fresh out of college and is waiting for her for her dream job to come available but in the meantime she needs cash and fast, so when her best friend suggests applying to be a nanny for a wealthy family she doesn't hesitate.

Mercedes closed her eyes exhaling as she waited for the meeting to start. She smiled seeing an older couple walking into the room. Standing she extended her hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Evans it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Well you come highly recommended, we checked your references, we went over your qualifications, but we want to know, why do you think you are qualified for this position?"

"Well I got my BA in Early childhood education because I love working with children. From your ad I saw you are looking for someone who can not only help get the children to and from school but also work with them on their studies. I can do that, and I am very good with children. I am sure even though there are two of them, I can handle it."

Mary looked over to Dwight as the door opened and two nine year olds ran in the room with a man who looked to be about the same age as she was.

"Ah perfect timing, Mercedes these are the twins Stevie and Stacey, and their big brother Sam. Guys this is Mercedes."

The three stood in front of her and Mercedes stood. "It's a pleasure to meet you three." She moved over to Stacey and Stevie. "Okay hmmm let me try to guess who is who."

Stacey giggled. "You can't tell?"

Mercedes shrugged. "Oh see that's not fair, with a laugh like that you have to be Stacey."

Stacey nodded. "Yes! And that's Stevie, he's not as fun as me though."

"Yahuh I am funner than you!" Stevie said.

Mercedes looked at him. "Oh I believe you, you are fun aren't you."

Stevie smiled widely. "I am! I hit a home run today. It was awesome!"

"A home run? You must be an awesome ball player!"

"Sammy taught me how to play and he said I'm better than him." Stevie beamed.

Mercedes smiled and stood her looking up to Sam. "It's a pleasure to meet you too."

Sam looked at her before giving her a curt nod. "Likewise." He said before looking over at his parents. "I need to get back to the office, these two are banned by the way." He said before looking back at Mercedes once then walking out.

"Well, he approves." Mary said and Dwight nodded while Mercedes looked confused.

"Approves?" She asked.

Mary smiled and stood up along with Dwight. "Our son, Sam, approves large financial decisions for our family since he's our family accountant." Mary explained but Mercedes was still confused and it showed.

"This is a live-in position, you'd be living on our property, which means we'd need to get you an approved vehicle, medical insurance, we'd need to allocate funds for your daily expenses, your rate of pay and any other bills you may accrue. Not to mention furnishing, bedding and a weekly gas stipend."

Mercedes let everything she said sink in. "I wasn't aware it was a live-in position… I have an apartment and my own car that I just got." She explained.

"We'll take care of those things for you." Dwight said. "Should you accept the offer that is." He added with a warm smile.

"I would be a fool not to accept huh?" She asked with a nervous laugh.

"No, you wouldn't. This job is not easy and you'd be our sixth nanny this year alone. Here's the formal offer letter along with how much you would make every week, we go on vacation three times a year and you would be expected to come along. You'll get paid triple for those weeks you are with us on vacation, we also have a strict no smoking policy as the twins are asthmatic." Dwight explained before handing her a folder.

"Now we want you to read this over first before accepting, we will need to get the guest house clean first anyways. Should you accept, you'll start next month after we get the place furnished and you set up with health insurance." Mary added. "Did I miss anything?" She asked Dwight.

"Oh, we have a gala for our business partners and their families. You would need to be in attendance to monitor the kids, this is also detailed in your offer letter." Dwight said.

Mercedes looked at them trying to keep up with everything they were unloading on her. "Okay, how soon will you need an answer?" She asked.

"A week." Mary said, smiling. "Alright you two, let's get ready for soccer."

"It was lovely meeting you and we do hope you accept our offer." Dwight said, guiding her out of the room as Mary and the twins went off to get ready for their afternoon activity.

Mercedes said her goodbyes and headed out the house as Sam walked back up the steps. She nodded towards him as he continued towards the door. Grabbing the keys out of her bag she felt him before he spoke.

"You don't remember me do you." Sam asked and Mercedes turned to him. Before she could answer, he smiled. "A year ago, we were at a house party, you caught my eye, I asked you to dance amongst other things."

Mercedes blushed staring at him. "I remember those "other things" very well."

Sam stepped closer to her. "You left without leaving me your information. I woke up and you were gone…to be honest a part of me thought it was a dream."

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip. "I had an exam the next day and I had to leave. I would've stayed if I could have…I really liked talking to you.

"Ah so you did like me." Sam said triumphantly.

Mercedes nodded. "I just…I don't' go around doing things like that. I am not that kind of person and I hope that won't make you change your mind about your parents offering me the job." She said looking up to him, she still wasn't 100 percent sure she would take it but she didn't want him thinking less of her and them taking it away.

"They like you and I only manage the finances so my say is only so much. You should consider it though, it's a good opportunity and having them on your resume is a door opener." Sam encouraged.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." She said before waving and walking to her car.

Sam hesitated. "Wait…here take my number." He handed her his card, "Sometimes my parents don't answer, so if you have any questions about the job or something. My cell is on the back."

She eyed his card and smiled. "Thanks."

He nodded walking away, and she looked after him, before taking off for home.

When Mercedes got back home she immediately looked over the offer letter and they kept it light because it was more like a booklet.

Weekly wage: $1500.00

Vacation wage: $4500.00

Weekend Protocol: Every weekend day, you will be given an additional $500 for spending expenses. Your work day will start at 9:00am and end at 2:00pm giving you time to spend time with family/ friends.

She read over the entire thing before making her decision, which was a no brainer, she would accept the offer.

Picking up the phone she sat back dialing her best friend Quinn, smiling at her greeting.

"How did the interview go, tell me they weren't stupid enough to let you get away."

"They offered me the job, but that isn't why I am calling you. You remember that party we went to about a year ago, where you definitely left me with Mike's friend when you two ran off."

"First of all we didn't run off, and it seemed like you enjoyed yourself. You were all over him."

"Yeah well when you told me about the ad, you could have told me that Sam is the oldest son of Mary and Dwight Evans." Mercedes said, putting the phone on speaker as she put her hair in a messy bun.

The line went quiet for a moment. "Okay in my defence it was a year ago and I didn't even remember til this very moment that Sam was well the guy you had a one night stand with and dip. Is working for them going to be a problem."

Mercedes held up Sam's card sighing. "It shouldn't be…I would be a fool to turn down their offer, what they are offering me, and I get to work with kids, its a great opportunity."

"Well I think so too, though they can't seem to keep a nanny, so stay on your toes."

"I got this." Mercedes said trying to convince herself. "Q I am going to finish unwinding and going through this booklet for the job, I am going to call you okay?"

After hanging up with Quinn, Mercedes toyed with the idea of texting Sam, even if it was just to talk about work. After going back and forth she decided to just do it.

M: Why have your parents gone through so many Nannies? BTW this is Mercedes.

S: I assumed it was you when you asked about Nannies. Truth is they couldn't handle the demands of the twins, though from what I saw this afternoon you are leaps and bounds ahead of them in that department. You got them to talk to you.

M: Don't they talk to everyone?

S: Nanny number two, the twins refused to speak to them and they quit in a week.

M: Why didn't they speak?

S: Who knows? They are a handful I won't lie, but also really great kids. Does this mean you are accepting the job?

M: It means I am seriously considering it.

S: Well before you accept the job and you start working for my parents, I just want to say that I never forgot about you, the way you taste,smell, feel. That night I did something reckless for the first time in my life, and the only regret I had is that I didn't get your number or last name.

M: It was my first time being reckless as well, and I wish I would have given you my last name or number too. You were funny, and sweet. Not a lot of guys were like that.

S: You know, if you look at that booklet, there is no rule that says you and I can't hangout.

M: Oh? Do you make it a habit hanging out with nannies?

S: No! But when it comes to you, I would make an exception.

S: Just think about it, I am not trying to bed you or anything like that I just want to get to know you

M: Okay well get to know me then…

S: Okay then tell me what your dreams are.

M: My dreams? Shouldn't you start with like favorite color or something?

S: Why would I do that? I want real not superficial

M: Okay well I used to want to be a superstar, you know Diva and all that stuff, but when I got older that changed and now I want to work with kids. I am good at it, and its always been a dream of mines. What about you? Did you always want to be in finance?

S: No I wanted to create comic strips for Marvel…or DC if that was the only choice I had. But as I got older I realized that I needed stability, and I found I was really good with numbers and money.

Mercedes hadn't even realized they had talked into the early morning, she really enjoyed getting to know him better.

M: It is almost 3am and I have to get up to get everything together to take to your parents today.

S: So you are taking the job, even if it comes with me?

M: You are a bonus to an already great job.

S: Can I text later?

M: I would like that.

S: Goodnight Mercedes

M: Goodnight Sam.

Y'all thought we were kidding about it being cliffhanger city? lol