The Nanny Read Online Free Page B

kids in front of the TV and sack out for a couple of hours.’
    ‘I can’t. Maggie’s left me a list of jobs a mile long.’
    ‘So? She doesn’t pay you to organize her entire life. You’re a nanny, not a bloody slave. You need to put your foot down. If I was you, I’d – Hector, leave that
alone! You know Mummy doesn’t let you— Oh, fuck. Hang on, Jen.’
    I knock back the Resolve and root around in Maggie’s cupboard for the expensive shortbread biscuits she always hides at the back. Upstairs, Galen and Tatiana are battling it out in the
playroom. It’s my policy not to intervene till there’s blood on the floor.
    ‘Little bastard,’ Kirsty pants, picking up the phone again. ‘He broke that vase on purpose. If Fran tries to knock it off my wages, I’ll quit.’
    ‘Yeah, as
if
. You’ll never get a job this good again. She didn’t even fire you when she caught you smoking on the nanny-cam.’
    ‘Only because she knows I’d go to Rod and she’d get fucked in the divorce.’
    ‘Maggie’s got no idea what a pain it is dragging two kids all over town,’ I mumble through a mouthful of shortbread. ‘You need a bloody Physics degree to get them in and
out of those fancy car seats of hers. It’s not fair on the kids, either. No wonder they’re so bratty, they’re bored shitless. She might as well – oh fuck. She’s on
call waiting. I’d better go.’
    ‘Who were you talking to?’ Maggie demands.
    ‘Cold caller—’
    ‘Yes, well, never mind that. You need to take the children to get new ski outfits this afternoon,’ she snaps. ‘We’ve decided to go to Val d’Isère at
half-term after all. And you’ll have to buy yourself a decent jacket, the one you wore last year was
totally
inadequate.’
    Yeah. That would be the one you made me pay for myself, Maggie.
    It suddenly registers. ‘Actually, Maggie, I’m off that week.’
    ‘So? You can have the week after off instead.’
    ‘But I’m going to Malaga with Jamie. We discussed it months ago—’
    ‘I can’t be expected to recall every little conversation, Jenna.’
    ‘I’ve already booked the flights!’
    ‘Well, you’ll have to change them. I can’t
possibly
go skiing without a nanny.’
    Has she got any idea how up her own arse she is?
    ‘Perhaps Jan and Curran’s au pair could—’
    ‘Oh yes, that reminds me. We’re doubling up this year to save money, so you’ll be looking after their three boys too. You’ve got to go with Galen and Tati to ski school
anyway, so it’s not as if it’ll put you out.’
    ‘Maggie, I really can’t,’ I say desperately.
    ‘Jenna, there isn’t much point me having a nanny if she’s not going to be there when I need her,’ Maggie says pointedly. ‘Most girls would be
thrilled
at
the idea of a holiday in France,
especially
when someone else is paying for it.’
    The threat hangs in the air. We both know how much I need to keep this job with Jamie not working. I’m two months behind on the rent already, and my credit cards are maxed out.
    ‘Yes, Maggie,’ I say dully.
    ‘I’ll make it up to you,’ Maggie promises, now she knows she’s won.
    Sometimes I really hate her. How many times have I heard that line before? ‘Sorry I was three hours late and you missed your mother’s birthday dinner, but I’ll make it up to
you.’ ‘I know I said you could have Christmas off this year, but this trip is really important, I’ll make it up to you.’ ‘We can’t afford to give you a pay rise
this summer, but don’t worry, we’ll make it up to you.’
    I’ve no idea how I’ll break it to Jamie. He’s been pinning everything on this break.
    I’m exhausted by the time Maggie gets home – late, as usual. The children have been absolute fuckers; dragged from pillar to post on Maggie’s errands, they’re fractious
and overtired. As soon as she walks in the door, they fling themselves dramatically at her, clinging on to her legs like tree-frogs, and she glares at me