Page 51 of The Nanny

I make a choked sound that I think is supposed to be a laugh, covering my face with my hands. “It’s Aiden.”

“Pardon?”

I pull my hands away. “It’sAiden.”

“Your boss?” It might be the first time I’ve ever seen Wanda look speechless, and it only lasts a good ten seconds before it turns to anger. “Did he hire you because of that?” Wanda pushes out of her chair, pointing a finger at me. “I swear on all that’s holy, I will put this hip implant to good use and put my foot right up his—”

“Shh.He didn’t know,” I tell her, looking back at the hallway to make sure Sophie is still back in the bedroom. “He still doesn’t know.”

“Then how the hell did you figure it out?”

“He has a scar,” I answer quietly. I point to my belly. “Right here. He told me about it once. It’s not... It’s too big of a coincidence not to be him.”

“Does he know about yours?”

I reach unconsciously to rub my shoulder. “He’s seen it.”

“Recently?”

“No, of course not. There’s no way he wouldn’t put two and two together if he saw it again. It was back when I still had my channel. He was...” My eyes turn toward the floor, and I feel a squeezing sensation in my chest. “He was the only one I ever let see it.”

“So he definitely doesn’t know who you are.”

I shake my head. “He can’t know.”

“But aren’t you curious why he—?”

“Of course I am, but... he disappeared for a reason. He obviously wasn’t as invested as I was, and don’t you think it would make him feel awkward to know who I was? Awkward enough to fire me, I’d wager.”

“Shit.” Wanda crosses her arms, frowning at the carpet. “You think so?”

“I mean, wouldyouwant some woman you saw naked and then cyber-dumped living in your house? I can’t exactly think of a more awkward situation than that one.”

Wanda taps her foot aimlessly, thinking. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Right. Like I said, awkward.”

“So what are you going to do?”

I throw up my hands. “What can I do? I just have to make sure he doesn’t find out. If he hasn’t put it together by now, I think it’s safe to say he won’t. As long as he doesn’t see”—I frown as the marred skin on my back prickles in reminder—“I think it will be okay.”

“But willyoube okay?”

“I...” I press my lips together, a tightness in my chest that hasn’t gone away in the last week. “I’ll be fine. It’s old news. I mean... I’m over it, and I need this job.”

Wanda looks unconvinced. “Mm-hmm.”

“I’mfine,” I stress. “Seriously.”

“Cassie, only liars say they’re fine. You know that right?”

“I don’t think that’s right.”

“Sure it is. I know more than you.”

“You can’talwaysplay the old card whenever it suits you.”

“It’s worked okay so far,” she says with a shrug. She looks at me with concern then, peering over her glasses. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, girl. Just... be careful.”

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