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“I’ll make sure he does,” Jessica promised.
“Ah, these young interns – so eager to prove themselves. Right, Garrett?” Allen looked behind Jessica, and she turned her head.
There Garrett was, in the doorway.
“Like yappy little puppies.” Garrett handed Jessica a list. “Could you pick up lunch on your way back? I already called in the order to the deli across the street. They should have everything ready by the time you get there. Just check the order to make sure it’s right and haul it over here.”
Jessica bounced on her heels and gave them a salute. “Can do!”
Allen laughed softly and looked at Garrett with fond pride. Jessica hoped she could make him proud with more than a good attitude in the near future, but it was what she had to work with.
***
“The proper word is ‘nanny’,” Brent said. “What do you think, Jessica?”
Cara glanced up at her with uncertain, but hopeful green eyes. She looked so vulnerable, with her slouched shoulders and shorn hair. And she’d already had such a terrible day. It sucked to be bullied like that, and nothing you could do about it, really. You were so powerless at that age.
“Well, I guess… Double the money, just to hang out with you?” Jessica leaned over and bumped Cara’s shoulder. “How can I say no?”
Cara clapped her hands together over her mouth in excitement. Though Jessica wondered how she was going to explain to her father that she was quitting on her first day, she couldn’t help but be happy to spend her time helping this girl, rather than just running errands.
“I have to get everyone lunch first though. They’re waiting for it right now,” Jessica explained.
“Can I go?”
Brent Sanderson towered over the two of them. “I don’t see why not. After that errand, would you take her out to get her hair fixed?”
“That I can definitely do. I know just the place.” Jessica rose to take the envelope full of papers from him. “I promise I’ll be careful with her, too.”
“I trust you, Jessica. It took me a moment to recognize you, but you’re Allen’s daughter.” Brent crossed his arms. “He’ll have to forgive me for stealing you after he sees Cara with you.”
“You’re Uncle Allen’s daughter?” Cara hopped up and came to stand by Jessica.
“Um, yeah, that’s me.” Jessica held out her arm for Cara to take. “We’re practically family already, huh? Well, let’s go feed those cranky accountants, and we can have a little makeover.”
Cara wrinkled her nose, but after they’d left the office, Jessica tilted her head toward Cara. “We’ll get you something cool, I promise. And it’ll be easier when you go out on the field to just have it short.”
“Oh, good point.” Cara huffed a sigh. “I liked my pigtails though.”
“I know.”
***
Jessica and Cara appeared in the office laden with sandwiches, soups, and little bags of chips. Garrett gave Jessica’s little helper an odd glance as they set everything out in the breakroom.
“Did you kidnap a child?”
Jessica separated out her father’s lunch and gave the sandwich and small fruit container to Cara to carry. “Yes. She was just sitting there on the street, and I thought to myself: Orphan Servant. Come, servant. To the master!”
Cara giggled.
When they reached the office, Allen was embroiled in a phone call and typing away on his computer. Jessica set the envelope on his desk and then began setting out his lunch. It took him several minutes before he noticed that Cara was beside her, and his brows shot up in recognition and surprise.
Jessica sat with Cara in the chairs by Allen’s desk and opened an extra bag of chips, which Jessica had swiped. The two of them passed the bag back and forth between them while Allen finished his call.
“Well, this is a surprise! I didn’t know you’d be at Brent’s office,” Allen said to Cara the moment he hung up.
“I got sent home. Jessica is gonna take me to a haircutter.”
“Is she?” Allen shook his head. “Jessie, don’t let Brent order you around. You do work for us, not the studio.”
“Well, about that…” Jessica shot Cara a conspiratorial look.
“Not anymore. She works for me now!” Cara said.
Allen looked between them in confusion.
***
Jessica ended her day by dropping Cara off at home. It was somewhat foolish. Even though her father was a successful accountant and financier of various projects around L.A. and she’d rarely wanted for anything, she wasn’t mega-millions wealthy. That shouldn’t matter, but the Sanderson family had been telecom moguls long before Mr. Sanderson had set up his indie movie studio. Driving up to a house with its own huge iron gate and a drive longer than a city block was a sight to behold.
