6
1219 Words
Ring, ring.
If I don’t answer it, who will? I’m the only adult home, so…
I tentatively pick up the phone. “Hello.” I frown.
“Hello, Miss Brielle.” The voice is stern and commanding, and I feel my stomach flutter.
It’s him.
“Oh, hello, Mr. Masters.”
“Is everything all right?” he asks. “I’ve been emailing you, but you haven’t responded.”
Emailing me?
I shrug, because I really don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. “ Of course, everything is fine.”
“Are the children dressed? Have they had breakfast?”
I frown harder. “Erm...”
“If you’re having any problems, you do have all of the information on the list on the fridge.”
Oh s**t, there is a list. I remember now. I walk over and take the piece of paper from the fridge.
6:30 a.m. Wake children and prepare their breakfast.
My eyes widen and I glance at my watch. It’s now 7:25 a.m.
Shit.
“The children are upstairs.” Which is not technically a lie because they are upstairs.
"You have to leave in ten minutes or they'll be late," he says.
“Late?”
“Yes, late. Willow starts school at 8:00 a.m., and it’s a half hour drive from our house.”
My eyebrows rise. Oh crap. “Of course, Mr. Masters. I have to go now, though, so we can leave in time.”
“Janelle will be there at 9:00 a.m.” He says it casually, like I should already know all about this.
“Janelle?” My eyes widen. Who the hell is Janelle?
Honestly, did I listen to anything that came out of that perfect mouth of his last night?
“She’s the cleaner and our cook. She cleans the house today and normally arrives around 4:00 p.m. each day to prepare the night’s meal.”
“Yes, okay,” I snap, because I really need to get off the phone and wake these children up as a matter of urgency. “I’ll see you tonight then?” I ask.
He pauses on the other end of the line. “You sound in a rush to get off the phone. Talk to me for a moment. It sounds like you have everything under control.”
Jesus Christ, I don’t have time for this s**t. “Definitely in full control, just not a big phone talker,” I add.
“I see.” He pauses, and I can almost hear him smirking on the other end of the phone. “Don’t forget our meeting tonight, either.”
“Julian, I really need to go.
“Goodbye, Miss Brielle. Stay out of trouble.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, I will. Goodbye.” I hang up and run to the stairs, taking them two at a time. f*****g hell. Willow is likely to give me a black eye when I wake her up this late.
The list. Why didn’t I remember the list? It seems like a lifetime ago that he told me about it. So much has happened since then. What with all the wanking and sniffing aftershave we’ve both been doing.
I get to the top of the stairs and run down to Samuel’s room.
I open the door to see that he’s still sleeping soundly.
“Sam,” I whisper. “Sam, wake up, baby.” I rub his little head and he frowns with his eyes still closed. “Sammy, wake up. We’re running a little late this morning.” He rolls on his side to face me. His hair is tousled and his face is so sleepy. He is the epitome of cute, and I can’t help but smile down at him. “I love your pyjamas. I wish I had some like that.”
He rubs his eyes. “You have to get them from Grandma, these are my birthday pyjamas.”
“Oh, I see.” I grin. “Go to the bathroom and wash your face. Do I need to help you dress?” I ask. He puts his little arms up for a cuddle, and I feel myself melt. I hold him for a second.
“No.” He hops out of bed. “I can do it myself. I’m big, you know?”
“Okay, good. I’ll go and wake up Willow while you wash.” I leave him to go to the bathroom, and I make my way down to Willow’s room, where I tentatively open the door. She’s lying in her bed with her back to me. “Willow, you need to wake up. We’re running late.”
She ignores me. Great, I’m going to have to go in.
“Willow?” I repeat.
She rolls over and looks at me with no emotion. “What?”
I force myself to fake a smile. “I didn’t realize that I was meant to wake you up earlier.”
She puts the phone back to her ear. “Yeah. She’s finally decided to turn up.” She listens for a moment and then passes the phone to me. “He wants to talk to you.”
I frown as I stare at the phone in her outstretched hand. “Who is it?” I ask.
She smirks sarcastically and climbs out of bed before she disappears into her bathroom, shutting the door hard behind her.
“Miss Brielle?” Mr. Masters snaps, pulling me from my thoughts.
My eyes widen in horror and I put the phone to my ear, what’s he on f*****g speed dial? “Yes?” I reply meekly.
“I thought the children were up and dressed already?”
“Me, too.” I cringe. “Weird, huh?”
“You’re just waking them up now?”
I scratch my head. I can’t believe I’m getting caught out on my second lie this morning.
This whole day is already one huge monumental f**k up. It’s a conspiracy.
“They are going to be late for school,” he growls. “Why didn’t you wake them up earlier?”
“Why didn’t you tell me I had to? This is new to me, you know. I can’t be expected to remember all this s**t,” I whisper angrily. “I forgot about the list, okay? And you should have called, emailed me, or whatever the hell you were meant to do, earlier.”
He stays silent on the other end of the phone, and I scrunch up my face. Oh God, just shut up, Brielle.
I’m totally blowing this job.
He stays silent for a moment longer before he speaks. “I’m putting this down to jetlag, Miss Brielle. Take the children to school and go back to bed yourself before you make any more...” he pauses, “bad judgements.”
I roll my eyes and feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Yes, sir.”
He stays on the line and awkward silence hangs between us.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I sigh.
The line clicks as he hangs up without another word.
Willow appears out of the bathroom and glares at me. “Get out of my room. Thanks a lot. I’m going to be late.” She sneers.
- Writer
