AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The one thing I have learned, having lived with a controlling mother for years, is that I refuse to let anyone walk all over me or treat me with anything less than the respect I deserve. I will never be anyone’s doormat again.
Martha taps my arm, gently coaxing me back to the present after getting lost in my thoughts. “I apologize for my son’s behavior. If you’re still willing to do the job, I should tell you what it will entail.”
“Don’t worry about it, Martha. I can handle Aiden and whatever he throws at me. I’ve got pretty tough skin. As long as I don’t get fired for standing my ground and putting him in his place if it happens again, then we’re all good.”
She laughs. “Goodness, no! I don’t have any problem with that. My son could use a swift kick in the butt every once in a while. I think you’ll be very good for him.”
“Martha, I’m not here for Aiden. I’m here for Penny.”
“True, but you’ll be living here for the foreseeable future. You’re bound to influence one another, and you have my full permission to keep Aiden in check if he gets out of line. The good news is that I’m the one that takes care of the hiring and firing around here, so you don’t have anything to worry about.” She winks for good measure.
Penny goes over to the shelves and grabs a book, burying her face in the pages. I squint, trying to make out the words on the cover.
“Is Penny reading The Great Gatsby for fun?” I ask in awe.
“No. It’s part of her homework. Paul will be here in an hour for her private tutoring. It’s the only way we know how to challenge her without making her feel out of place,” Martha says sadly.
“There’s a school in New York for gifted children like Penny. Maybe there is something like that here?” I don’t remember a school like that in Savannah, but then again, I was never like Penny and hadn’t needed to go to one.
“There’s not. We’ve checked. When Aiden retires, he may decide to move up North so she can attend. It would be hard to see him go, but knowing it’s the best thing for our little angel would make it easier to accept. There’s still plenty of time to figure it all out. For now, let’s talk about your nanny duties.” The way she emphasized “nanny” means we’ll be discussing my other duties when Penny isn’t around.
I gesture for her to continue.
“We have a cleaning service that comes in twice a week to dust, vacuum, and other assorted housekeeping tasks. Penny just needs to pick up after herself, which may require a bit of prompting on your part. You’ll help her get ready for the day, cook for her, and spend quality time playing or taking her out to places where she can immerse herself. Paul takes care of her education from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon, with a half-hour break for lunch,” she explains.
“Do I need to cook for Paul as well?”
“No. He’s vegan and finds it easier to bring his own lunch. The only person you’re required to feed is Penny, although Aiden has agreed to let me offer extra pay if you’re also willing to cook for him. It’s entirely up to you.”
Shining Knight pays me handsomely, so I don’t feel there’s any need to take the extra incentive. “I don’t have any issues with cooking for everyone. It’s just as easy to prepare meals for more people as it is for Penny and me. All I need to know is how many will be joining us to make sure there is enough to go around. You don’t have to pay me extra when there isn’t any extra work involved.”
My answer seems to please Martha. “Thank you, Anna. I know Aiden will appreciate that. Neither he nor Penny have any food allergies, but Aiden likes the meals to be healthy for obvious reasons.”
“I’m not sure if you were made aware, but I have my bachelor’s degree in Health and Nutritional Science. I was pre-med with a focus in Sports Medicine. I just never had a reason to use it for anyone other than myself until now. I’m all about maintaining proper health and good fitness.”
She nods in approval. “That’s good to know. This is what I meant when I said that you would be good for my boy. He doesn’t think anyone needs to take care of him, but the little things like a proper diet and not having to cook after a long day goes a long way. They say, ‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’”
I ignore Martha’s quip and ask a question that has been plaguing me. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the previous nanny?”
The doorbell chimes, and Martha looks at her phone. “It’s Paul.” She continues speaking as she answers the door, “Let’s just say that Angela got an offer she couldn’t refuse and was given a substantial severance package. She was more interested in taking care of Aiden and Swank than she was in Penny. So, when the opportunity presented itself to let her go, I jumped on it.”
A few minutes later, I’m introduced to Paul. He is a nice, unassuming guy in his late twenties with black-framed glasses and wavy brown hair. He is polite and well-mannered, saying nothing about the state of Penny’s make-up fiasco. He has a master’s degree in education, and Penny enjoys his teaching style. While the two of them engage in their daily lesson at the kitchen table, Martha and I quietly discuss my protection duties in the living room.
“Now, let’s talk about the real reason why you’re here. I don’t have the first clue as to how I should handle Penny’s protection other than to have someone who is highly trained be close to her side. Aiden has security on the premises but only recently hired bodyguards to protect Penny while she is off the grounds and in public. Please tell me what I need to do to help you effectively do your job,” she says, truly worried about the protection and welfare of her granddaughter.
“There’s quite a lot to discuss, but I’ve noticed several things that already concern me.”
“Like what?” she asks, determined to fix whatever needs fixing.
“First, it was far too easy for me to gain access to the home. All I did was give my name to the man posted at the front gate. He didn’t bother to check my identification to ascertain if I was truly who I said I was. He just glanced at a list and waved me through. If the guard doesn’t have facial recognition, then a person’s identification should be checked and then matched to the list. Can you tell me what the protocol is for when someone shows up unannounced?”
Martha taps out a note into her phone before answering me. “They call up here and request permission before granting entry.”
At least they do that. “Are the security team or bodyguards allowed to use deadly force, if necessary?”
“Yes and no. The security team doesn’t, but the bodyguards do.”
That doesn’t surprise me. “What procedures are in place if someone who is a threat manages to gain access to the property? Even with the best security measures in place, people find a way.” She tells me that security is authorized to use taser guns and apprehend the intruder until the police arrive.
