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“Oh, right…” I didn’t remember because it had been one of those Fridays I’d snuck out early to work at home instead. My head had spun, I’d panicked with the workload, and I’d misplaced so many files that HR had called me in to help them sort it out personally that morning.
Damn it, Hannah was right. I’d been screwing up so much the last couple of months I didn’t even know how bad it had been.
I cleared my throat. “The new girls can make it work, though,” I said confidently. “We just have to make sure they’re ready to start right away.”
Marlene shook her head. “They’re not going to be ready for a while. You know how Hannah’s process works. She will want to send them on the first aid and baby courses to make sure they know what they’re doing and run them through the weekend workshop at the end of the month. It’s the process. Don’t you know how things work by now?”
“Yeah, I do,” I said. Of course, I knew. I just…I’d forgotten what Hannah did. There were so many au pairs and workshops, and not everyone had to do them all. I’d sent files of people who matched other files, ticked the boxes, and tried not to focus on more things that would break my concentration if I didn’t absolutely need to know what it was.
Apparently, I’d needed to know what it was more than I’d realized.
My stomach dropped, and my cheeks burned. How could I have made mistakes I didn’t even know about? My heart fluttered in my chest, and my stomach twisted with panic. What if more things popped up that I didn’t know about––enough to get me fired––and I didn’t have a chance to try another time?
Just breathe, I told myself.You’re going to be okay. This is okay. You’ll just take it one step at a time.
“Anyway,” Marlene said. “I have to get on the road.”
“Again?” I asked in a small voice. “I thought you’d be in the office today.” I’d hoped I could get her to help me find someone for Aaron since I’d told him I’d found someone, and it turned out not to be true.
“Yeah, Hannah’s sending me to one of the workshops so I can lay down some groundwork on the interviewing process.”
“Okay,” I said. “That sounds…fun.”
“I’d much rather be here, but I like that Hannah lets us better ourselves all the time. It’s why I love this job so much.”
“It’s a great job,” I said with a smile.
Marlene smiled at me before she stood and left the office. I kept a smile on my face until she was gone before I let it slip away.
I opened my laptop, and frantically started searching through the files for an available au pair. I’d wanted someone who knew what they were doing and would be a perfect fit for Aaron.
But right now, I wanted someone available, no matter who it was.
No such luck.
The only au pairs available were the ones who only did a couple of hours a week because they studied full-time and needed pocket money. Aaron needed more than that.
No one else was available, and the meeting I’d set up for Aaron was just after lunch.
My stomach twisted and turned. He needed someone urgently. He was a good client to have, pumping good money into Hannah’s business.
If I lost him, she would have my neck for sure. I was already on my last warning, and this was one mistake I just couldn’t afford to make.
The hours rushed by as I called every au pair on the file. I wanted to double-check with each of them to make sure they really couldn’t help out.
The more no’s I got, the sicker I felt. I even asked the students if they could study at Aaron’s place when the kid was napping or something, just so that I didn’t screw up the placement.
By the time lunch rolled around, I felt sick to my stomach with worry and panic. I was failing. No one was available. I’d done everything I possibly could. Aside from sending Aaron to a new agency, which would lose Hannah a big contract, there was nothing I could do.
I had no one to send to the meeting with Aaron Steele.
I glanced at the time. In half an hour, someone had to be at Aaron’s apartment. What would happen if no one arrived? I couldn’t let that happen. If Hannah found out…
On a whim, I grabbed my handbag and headed out the door. I got in my car and navigated my way toward the outskirts of the city.
The apartment building was beautiful. It looked more like houses stacked on top of each other, with large balconies and plants hanging over the edges.
I walked into the lobby and announced myself to the doorman.
