Exposed Obsession

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be with a touch of budding friendships! So far, it's only been exciting, and not

n made it to her f

I can hear the sound of the plastic clicking into place when she finally settles down. I sigh heavily, feeling car

icism and recent scolding still makes me shudder. "You can quit, just not today. Have to giv

asleep in her car seat. "She doesn't

hat," he snickers. "So, ho

ing a waitress," I explain. "I turned the corner coming up the stai

that's odd. Was the se

f my chest. "There's

That way waitresses don't drop expensive things

vice elevator and even told me to use the stairs to take that expensive bottle up! I don't

tage me on my first day, right

ng my palms up and down my weary eyes. "If I knew there was

tell hi

e didn't question her at all. Lucian just pulled me into the

, small talk with the guard in the guardhouse outside the gated fence. It's a little odd to see, knowing that my fa

an I anticipated-doesn't mak

t exactly what I anticipated either. He has a white, ornate hotel but lives in a home with rock accents and overgrown shrubs. The backyard

e spots her little pink bicycle with training wheels. She hops right on it, doin

Paolo comes beside me, lighting a cigar that looks far too similar to one of my father's. He exhales

you survive this job and your new boss. Or I could send you up t

this rate, I am sure I'll mess up at this job, too. It's good I'm already accustomed to bei

r and nods me into the house. "Com

around the driveway. "What about her

. She will do a few more laps, get tired, and then come inside asking

cents and shiny silver surfaces. He takes out a juice box and a small orange, pull

now I'm in

hen growing up. She even has the same pink bedroom I had as a little girl, stocked full of toys and

Lucian's bedroom. He keeps it locked. He's a very private person, and I know he was

he hates me already. "C

nge already and drinking her juice just like Paolo said. He nods, leaning on the bottom railin

mother,

Lucian and Mia in the middle of the night. Packed all h

more than it shoul

ong, smokey inhale. "I don

around b

hing going on right now that I feel more like a lost doe than a nanny-or a waitress

he says, his voice growing a little more serious than I antic

range. "I'm glad I have your help, otherwise

ght-thirty. She won't settle down until nine, though. There's no inhouse chef,

eyes widening. "I

y keep her alive, clean and happy," he adds, nodding on his way out.

getting on my knees to beg him not to lea

ing as he shuts the front door on his way out. "Good luck! Don'

snack, and she's running circles around the living room. I try to settle her down for now, thinking about

of frustration. Mia comes to a screeching halt, her wid

d and kind. I can't understand how something so precious

admit. "I'm ti

need

to make dinner and get you to take a

the tips of her toes. "

rk still," I sigh, wondering if t

loor. "Can we have chic

hot still, and I need to relax, knowing this is something women my age do all the time. Some of my classmates

e what w

the frozen bags of food but finding only raw ingredients. I spy a package of chi

other was allowed to play with her generational wealth, she was a school cafeteria worker. She taught me re

em. She gets to eating her dinner, and I try to do the dishes, my own stomach growling. Finally, when everything is cleaned up and put

y head smacking in

ding his suit jacket. "Alway

first, my vision spin

. "Keep up the attitude a

n't get far. I need to prove to myself, and eventually to my fathe