Page 3 of Undeniable

I am pouring a glass of wine in the kitchen as Becca hurries in through the door, arms filled with grocery bags. Setting the bottle down, I rush over to help her. She shoots me a grateful smile as she blows a piece of her mousy brown hair out of her face.

“Thanks, love. How was your day?” She asks as she sets the bags down onto the granite island in the kitchen.

“Eh, not the greatest. How about you? What is all of this?”

“I just got a call from Ellie Grayson, one of the most elite wedding planners in the city. One of her weddings had a complication with the caterer and she called me! If I can impress her, it will open so many doors for me! I may even be able to quit a job or two.”

“Oh wow, congratulations Beck!”

“Thanks,” she smiles as she starts unpacking her bags. “So, no luck finding a job?”

“No,” I sigh. “I will keep looking. I just don’t like being so out in the open while doing it. But no one is going to call me from online applications with a resume like mine.”

She gives me a sad smile and nods. Becca is my closest friend in the whole world, and even she doesn’t know the horrors that occurred behind closed doors. She knows that it was bad and that I now have to stay hidden, but that is the extent of her knowledge. Anymore and I worry about putting her in jeopardy. Hell, I already have with me just being here.

I start helping her unpack the groceries when her phone rings. She answers it and puts it to her ear while continuing to flit through the kitchen.

“Hello? Oh hey, what’s up?” She listens to the person on the other line and her brows dip as she lets out a long sigh. “I am really sorry. I just took a job for tomorrow. I won’t be available.”

A long pause extends before her eyebrows raise. “Wow, that is really generous. Unfortunately, I can’t cancel. I am really sorry. I-” Her eyes lock on me and a conspirative smile curves her lips. “You know what, I actually have a friend who would be excellent. I have known her my whole life and don’t trust anyone more.”

Another long pause settles as she nods wordlessly to the person on the other side of the phone. I mouth to her ‘what is going on’ but she ignores me as she continues to listen to the other person.

“Perfect! You will love her, promise. I will give her your address and she will be there at 7AM sharp.” She hangs up and looks at me with an eager smile.

“What did you do?” I ask cautiously.

“Just got you a job for the day,” she beams proudly.

“Doing what, exactly?”

“Babysitting.”

“Babysitting! Why would you ever think that I would be good at that? I haven’t been around children since I was a child!”

She shrugs. “It isn’t hard. Make sure he doesn’t eat anything he shouldn’t or run into traffic. Alessandro is the easiest kid I have ever watched. He usually just does his own thing and the rate just doubled for the day. $800 for 10 hours.”

“Holy shit!”

“So, are you in?”

“Well, damn how could I not be? Why do you charge so much though?”

Becca smirks as she folds up her bags and puts them in a drawer. “Because he is stupid rich, so I can.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “You are vicious. I love it!”

We spend the rest of the night catching up and prepping for the wedding tomorrow. It feels like forever since I have had a casual conversation with someone. I didn’t realize how much I gave up when I left New York, I missed my best friend like crazy.

-

The next morning, my alarm goes off at an obnoxious hour, but just thinking about how much money I am going to make at watching a kid for one day has me rolling off the couch and heading for the shower with an extra spring in my step.

Becca told me that the kid I am watching is a 6-year-old little boy. Not going to lie, I am more than a little nervous. I have literally never baby sat a day in my life. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I haven’t been around young kids since I was one.

I slip on a pair of blue jeans and a fitted grey t-shirt with my white tennis shoes. I don’t really know what we will be doing for the day, so I figure it is a safe bet to dress comfortably. The ride I ordered shows up right on time and I hop in as we take off to the address that Becca gave me.

After a quick 15-minute drive, I am being dropped off in front of a huge house inside a swanky gated community. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a mansion, but it is definitely larger than your average single-family sized home.