Chapter 1

As my boring literature professor continues his lecture on the Bronte sisters with no real facts about their writing styles, or even examples of the use of language, I find myself thinking about my essay. I think he is just jealous about how she captured her character well enough even in death. Once I had my ideas down I decided to go over the material I needed to know for my job interview. I was hoping to get a job to help pay my tuition, and to keep up with my studies, but everything I looked into wasn't something I enjoyed. I was already in the whole due to not really finding the right place for me. I was lucky that this was my last semester, and I would hopefully find decent employment somewhere in the Manhattan area. Ah! I can leave this class. As I was exiting the door I bump into Sam.

"Ah, I bet it was another boring lecture on life and death," she says as she fiddles with her hair. Oh how I enjoyed her little comments. I was lucky not to be swimming in debt. Sam had become a close friend and even my roommate. We shared an apartment that her parents bought for her while she was in college. She had an empty room and I needed a place to stay so that was the end of that.

"Yes, I don't think he really understands that Emily Bronte was ahead of her period," I say laughing. She nudges me into our friend Alejandro. Alejandro was studying to be a photographer. He was actually really good behind the lens of a camera.

"Hey what are my two favorite ladies doing," he asks as he pulls out his camera and starts taking photos of us and the other students. He can just go into a frenzy with that stupid thing.

"Blake's English teacher," Sam says as she walks toward the driver side of her car.

"Oh, he is a dull teacher. I mean no offense Blake," Alejandro says as he gets into his car. I smile knowing full well he’s being serious.

"I know. I just wish he'd spend more time thinking about his lessons, and the impact that he is making with people who enjoy reading," I say lightly smacking Alejandro as I get into Sam's car.

"So are you prepared for your interview," she asks as she pulls into her parking spot at our apartment complex.

"I was studying the questions and my answers during Lit." I say with a smile.

"You are a force in need of a life," she says as she playfully nudges me as we are walking into our apartment to only be greeted by her brother CJ.

"CJ," Sam says as she gives him a hug and a small kiss on the cheek.

"Blake," he says as he pulls me into a hug. I quickly thanked him, and went to my room to shower and change before my interview. I was just getting out of the shower when my phone rang.

"Hello," I say answering it on the fourth ring.     

"Miss. Harper," comes a man's voice.

"Yes," I reply.

"My name’s Alfred Stone. I am calling in regards to Mr. Brandford. You have an appointment with him later, and I am to pick you up so I was trying to get a hold of you top get your address," he says quickly like he seemed nervous about it. I gave him the address, and he told me he'd be by in half an hour. I was just finishing up with my hair as I heard the doorbell ring.

"Blake," Sam says as she closes the door.

"Coming," I say as I walk out of my room with my purse. Alfred Stone was dressed in a full piece black suit, and seemed very uneasy.

"Mr. Stone," I say as I put my hand out. He gently shakes it and then goes back to the door.

"Please call me Alfred," he says, opening it.

"Thank you," I say walking out in front of him. He then half follows half leads me to where a black SUV was waiting. He walks ahead now and opens the door for me. "Thank you," I say as I get in. He then walks around the front of the vehicle, and gets into the driver's side. I want to ask him questions about his employer, but decide against it. The drive is so quiet, in a way it makes me nervous.

I notice we must be at our destination when he pulls into an underground garage, and enters a key in the key pad. He pulls into a spot near the elevator, and proceeds to cut off the engine.

"Miss. Harper," he says extending his arm toward the elevator. I again follow him and get in after he does.

"Thank you for driving me here," I say trying to cut the tension. He gives me a small smile.

"You will be meeting with Mrs. Gering. She is Mr. Brandford's housekeeper. She will be doing the interview," he says as the elevator lurches to an abrupt stop. I almost jump at the sudden loss of movement. "Just a moment," he says pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Okay," I whisper and he dials a number.

"Javier, this is Alfred. I thought you got the elevator fixed. Yes I know that, but it's still lurching. I don't care fix it, thank you," he says ending the call and again beckoning me to follow him. I look around as I see only one door in the small hallway. He punches in a code and opens the door for me. I am amazed at the sheer size of the apartment I am standing in. I mean the living room area is bigger than Sam's apartment.

"Alfred," greets an older woman sitting on one of the plush couches.

"Sal, this is Blake. Blake, this is Mrs. Gering," he says as he moves toward another door.

"Alfred, Mr. Brandford would like you in his study," she says and I watch him go in another direction leaving me alone with Mrs. Gering.

"Hello," I say as I reach my hand out to her. She gently takes it, and then pours me a cup of water.

"So, Miss Harper what do you do," she asks.

"I am currently a college student majoring in English. I would like to go into publishing," I say softly embarrassed.

"Well there's nothing to be ashamed of in that. You are very educated then," she replies.

"I currently have a minor in English, but at the end of this term I will have majored in both English and publishing," I elucidate taking a sip from the water.

"That is good. The job you have applied for is as Mr. Brandford's daughter's nanny. You will have to tend to her fully, and only have your scheduled classes off. While Miss Brandford is in school you will be allowed to do what you need to. This position requires you to live here," she was talking when I cut her off.

"Live here, there was no mention of this in the ad," I say hoping not to have sounded crude.

"Yes, well it seems that her other nanny was dismissed for being here late and leaving at odd times. You living here will help you to be here when needed. It is a very relaxed job, but requires a lot until you get it down," she says as the front door opens and footsteps approach. Mrs. Gering stands up.

"Sydney, please come here," she says as a young girl about seven walks into the room. She is very cute with curly brownish red hair, and the most piercing blue eyes I have ever seen. She walks over to Mrs. Gering.

"Ma'am," she says as she reaches out her hand to me. I shake it, and notice that a man had followed her in. I see that again this man is dressed in a full suit as well. I wonder why they have to be dressed like that.

"Weston, Mr. Brandford is waiting for you with Alfred in his study," she says as Sydney sits down beside her. She begins to take out some books, and begins looking over a calendar with writing over it. I can see her turning pages and notice that she has begun her homework. I thought it was a good sign of how her schedule probably was. Mrs. Gering moves a plate of fruit, crackers and cheese in front of her.

"Thank you," she says and turns back to what she was doing.

"As I was saying, the hours will be mainly sevenish till eightish, Weston will take her to school, and then you will be here or with him when she gets out at three. Then watch her till her bedtime at eight," Mrs. Gering says as she moves to stand up.

"Where are you going?" I question in a panicked tone that causes Sydney to look up at me.

"I need to start dinner, and I thought you might want to get to know her if you decide to be her nanny," she says as she walks off. I turn my attention back to the little girl seated across from me.

"Are you doing homework?" I question already knowing the answer. She looks up at me, and nods. I stand up walking around the table to sit on the floor beside her. She seems to be working on spelling. I use to love spelling when I was in school, though not so much now.

"Are you going to stay?" Sydney asks without looking up from her homework. Her question takes me by surprise.

"I don't know, I have never worked with children before."

"You seem to be doing alright," she says with a small smile. I look at her puzzled.

"What do you mean?" I ask really unsure of the meaning behind her words.

"I’ve met several nannies now, and you're the first one who’s asked me about my schoolwork," she replies with a smirk. I laugh at that. I guess I never thought about how things would look from a child's perspective. She sure was smart for her age.

I don't know how long we sat there, and as I helped her with her homework I became aware of how much she wanted someone to be with her. Our attention was called for by Alfred as he walked back into the room followed by a man with even more intense blue eyes than the girl who was seated next to me.

"Daddy," she says and makes her way to him. He picks her up, and sits her on his lap. Shit! It was in the small moment of recognizing just who her father was, Eric Brandford, CEO of Brandford Inc. Damn it, what have I gotten myself into. I am startled though by the fact that he seems to be staring at me in awe or something else.