Page 11 of Skate the Line

I grunt. “Meaning you’ve had complaints.”

The woman on the other end of the phone pauses. There’s a sigh, and I raise an eyebrow. I click through the list of nannies for the hundredth time while I wait for her to form some misleading response to my obvious dig.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call them complaints. In order to respect the privacy of my employees, I will just say that if there were any complaints, they did not come from the clients. They came from the nannies themselves, which forced me to drop a client or place the nanny elsewhere due to their wishes.”

What the fuck does that mean?

After a few seconds of heavy silence, she clears her throat. “Are there any that you are interested in? Do you have any questions? Would you like to set up an interview with any of the women?”

Not really, no.

“I’m still looking.”

And I’m slowly running out of time.

“I have one that I think will be a good fit for you.”

I lean back in my chair and rap my knuckles on my counter. I say nothing and thankfully the woman, Jillian, means business, because she jumps right to it.

“I just sent a link to her profile to your email.”

I’ve already clicked the link by the time she starts her spiel.

“She’s one of my more private employees. She doesn't like to be in the spotlight, which should be perfect considering one of your stipulations is that your daughter stays away from the media.”

I nod to myself.

“She’s in her mid-twenties, but she’s very mature. She’s from Washington and used to work for my other nanny agency out there. There has never been a complaint from any of the clients she’s worked with.”

“Is she married?” I ask.

It’s unlikely, but a man can hope.

Jillian clears throat. “Um, no. But if you’re suggesting that she’d?—”

“I am,” I interrupt. “I want to know if she’s the type of woman who will try to climb into bed with me.”

She laughs, and it throws me off. I know I sound like a cocky asshole, but when you’ve been burned so many times, you’ve gotta ask these sorts of questions.

“Mr. Volkova, listen. I know you’ve been through the wringer with some of your past nannies. I’ve heard it from you, your manager, and the gossip. I don’t know the ins and outs of what has happened in the past, but I can assure you that Sunny Edwards isnotthat type of woman. That’s why I’m suggesting her to you.”

I click on her profile.No picture?Does that mean she’s ugly? All the other nannies have their photos posted above their bio.

“Is she a lesbian?” I ask.

There’s a loud gasp on the other end of the phone. “The sexual preferences of my employees are none of your business.”

I hum under my breath. “I disagree.”

A beep comes in through the line, and I see that Ellie’s school is calling. I mumble a curse.

“Fine,” I snap. “Set up an interview. Email me with the details. I have to go.”

After hanging up on Jillian, I answer the number that Ireallyhate to see on my screen.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Volkova, hello. This is Principal Kelley.”

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