Nanny and the Beast Page 3

  Charlotte bit her lip. “I still don’t know how I feel about the lecherous uncle, but I think the child made a brilliant decision picking you. You will be good for her.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Absolutely. They don’t call you the child whisperer at the agency for nothing. You’ll help her. I’m sure of it.”

  We were silent for a few seconds.

  “What does he look like in real life… the uncle?” she asked softly.

  My breath came out in a rush. “Sexy. Dark hair. Blue eyes, cold and piercing. Full lips, chiseled jawline, clean shaven, straight nose, and his eyes are so blue, cold and piercing...”

  “You mentioned that.” Charlotte giggled.

  “Really tall too... six feet three or maybe even more. I only came up to his chest.”

  “Dangerous looking?”

  “Extremely. I was quaking when he came close to me.” I shifted uncomfortably. Even since that kiss, my clit felt strangely swollen. Now even the mere thought of him was making it throb.

  “So you really wanted him, huh?” Charlotte deduced, her eyes astonished and baffled. As if she was finding out, I wasn’t the person she’d spent her whole life believing I was.

  I gazed into her dear and familiar eyes. Those kind eyes I always knew I could trust with my life, and suddenly I was ashamed for entertaining the thought of not being honest with her. It was Yuri Volkov’s fault. Never before had a man come between us. No, I didn’t want to hide how I really felt about him from her. Charlotte wasn’t just my best friend and roommate; she was the sister I never had.

  “I wasn’t very honest just now when I said I felt nothing when he kissed me. The truth is I don’t think I’ve ever felt that much attraction to someone in my entire life,” I confessed.

  “Wow, I’ve never seen you like this,” she said thoughtfully.

  “I’ve never felt like this before. Oh Charlotte, I wanted to fuck him right there.”

  Charlotte’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God!”

  “There were goosebumps down my neck and arms,” I continued. “I didn't think he would notice, but his eyes traced them... He knew. It was so crazy. I could smell his need—”

  Charlotte’s giggle brought me back to the room. “You could smell his need? What are you? A she-wolf?”

  I smiled weakly. “I swear I could...it’s hard to explain.”

  “I know. You had to be there.”

  “Yes, I felt like I was on fire. I don’t know how it happened, but when his lips met mine, I felt as if I was melting. I couldn’t even feel my legs. There was literally fire in the pit of my stomach... I really thought I was going to pass out. All I wanted to do was have him inside me. Just once... not more. He’ll ruin me, otherwise."

  "And I want to watch,” the words slipped out before she realized it. Our eyes clashed before she could regain her senses.

  I shot out my feet and kicked her off the couch. “Get out, you creep. Your ten minutes are over.”

  Laughing, she pulled the mask off her face and hurried away from my attack. “I’m not even going to take that back. From all you’ve said, assuming you weren't exaggerating, I’d pay money to watch him pounding into you... you grabbing those thick muscles for dear life...”

  “Get out!” I yelled, throwing a cushion at her.

  She dodged it and went on teasing me. “The tight walls of your pussy milking his hard, thick cock.”

  “You’re sick.”

  “Oh, wait—” She stopped suddenly and looked very worried. “What if he has a small cock?”

  “Get lost,” I added, throwing another cushion at her.

  She laughingly evaded it. “Now that would make an excellent end to this story.”

  “It’s already ended. We agreed that he would not pursue me. He gave me his word. And I believed him.”

  “No, no, no,” she cried dramatically. “We need an ending to this story. Is his cock big or not?”

  “I’m going there to be the nanny of a seriously unhappy little girl, not report to you on the size of his cock.”

  Her smile was demonic. “You’ve obviously never heard of multi-tasking.”

  “Never heard the word,” I denied, amused in spite of myself.

  She sobered up. “On a serious note, you do realize I was only fooling around. I don’t expect you to sleep with your boss. In fact, while you were at your interview I did a little research and—”

  “In the tabloids? Are you kidding me?”

  “They’re not entirely wrong about everything,” she defended. “And the word is Yuri Volkov is somehow connected to the Russian Mafia.”

  “I did my research too and I never found any mention of that. Are these the same tabloids that claim the Queen is a reptilian?”

  “First of all, you were probably distracted by his looks and stopped your investigation there. Secondly, I got the reptilian stuff from the History channel, actually if you look closely at the Queen—”

  I laughed and started walking out of the room. “Enough, enough! I have to pack.”

  Charlotte followed me. “You know the Mafia don’t take prisoners. They kill their victims!”

  For a second, I thought about the dark amusement on Yuri Volkov’s face as I stood in front of him shaking with horror at my own violence. Then I put it away and turned around. “You really have to stop reading the tabloids.”

  “I told you I didn’t get that from the tabloids. I watched all The Godfather movies.”

  I sighed heavily.

  “I’m serious, April. I know I was clowning around just now about his cock, but I didn’t mean any of it. Sleeping with your boss is a very, very bad idea. You will keep your wits about you, won’t you?”

  I smiled gently. “I will and thank you for caring about me.”

  She didn’t smile back. “You’re sure you trust this man’s word?”

  “Have you ever met a man that made you feel safe? As if no one would dare lay a finger on you because you were with him.”

  She shook her head silently.

  “Want to know something weird?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “While I was with Yuri, he made me feel safe, absolutely, and completely safe. For that moment, I was his woman and every other man knew not to even come near his possession.”

  “I wasn’t worrying about other people laying a finger on you. I was worrying about him and what he could do to you,” she stated solemnly.

  Chapter 6

  April

  The sun was bright and the sky clear blue, dotted with fluffy clouds when I arrived at the tall black gates of Yuri’s mansion. I stood and stared at the steel spikes topping the high brick wall. I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if there was electricity racing atop the wall. Certainly, they looked sharp enough to skewer any thief stupid enough to try climbing it.

  Without me walking over to the intercom and identifying myself, the big gates swung open to admit me. Pulling my suitcase along, I strolled past the cultured garden towards the huge double doors.

  There seemed to be no one around, or any visible surveillance cameras and it gave the impression the compound was without security, but I believed my every step was watched. A quick dart of my head in certain directions twice revealed the tail end of a dark suit, and a glistening pair of black shoes. There was intense security. Everywhere. They’d just been trained to ensure visitors didn't notice them.

  It made me grow strangely wary of the man who’d made me catch fire yesterday. Yesterday seemed a lifetime ago. I had viewed the job like a ripe plum. It intrigued me. Would I be able to make the little girl talk again? I came here full of confidence and professionalism.

  And I’d lost it all in his study.

  Charlotte’s warning rang in my ear. Somehow, the danger seemed even more real today. Before it’d been dimmed by my sole focus on the interview and its outcome. I took a deep breath and tightened my hold on the handle of my suitcase.

  This would just be my residence
for a bit and for a bit, its owner would be my master, perhaps even in more ways than I currently wanted to consider. I didn’t allow myself to think further about it, but it was always there at the back of my mind. Subtle, but growing.

  If things got complicated, I could always leave. I was free to walk away any time I wanted, but a voice in my head taunted. Are you really? It’s true. I already felt more like a prisoner to Yuri’s lust than his employee.

  Brain came from the side of the house and walked up to me. There was no smile on his face. His thick muscles bulged against his badly cut suit. He looked more thug like than ever. He limited his greeting to a simple phrase, “Got any more bags?”

  “No.”

  He reached for my bag and I let him have it.

  He didn’t wheel it, but carried it as if it weighed nothing. It looked very small compared to his great bulk. He unlocked the front door using a keypad.

  “Can I get the code?” I asked.

  “I have no instructions about that,” he answered blandly.

  “Don’t you think it would be a good idea for me to have it if I’m going to care for Yulia?”

  “I have no instructions about that.”

  I knew at that point I wasn’t going to get anything out of him that wasn’t part of his “instructions” and I had no intention of doing battle with him. Yuri would have to talk to him about giving me some leeway. How could I be spontaneous with Yulia, if I had to clear every outing with Brain? Obviously, I needed some limits, but I also needed Yuri to trust me. If I couldn’t get that, well, I wouldn’t last as a nanny no matter how much Yulia wanted me to stay.

  Brain turned me over to the housekeeper, Mrs. Margot Henderson. She was the female counterpart to Brain in the facial expression department. Margot’s face looked as if a smile might break it. She nodded stiffly and immediately took me on a tour of the house. There appeared to be no one around and our footsteps were loud on the polished floors.

  It was the second time I was seeing it, but one did not simply get used to the grandiosity of such a house. Unlike the previous day though, I could now soak it all in. At the pillars soaring up to the innately carved ceiling, the red runner carpet on the marble staircase, the elegant chandeliers that flowed down like waterfalls of shining light. Every crystal confirming in my mind, if there had been any shred of doubt, the incredible wealth of the owner.

  If Yuri wanted people to think he had money, he had definitely succeeded. Everywhere I looked, I found nothing but grandeur and beauty. Unique works of art and massive paintings filled the walls. From the grand piano to a massive library filled with books from floor to ceiling, the house was magnificent. Margot kept up a running commentary. After the orangery, which was breathtakingly beautiful, I was shown to a heated swimming pool. I gasped at the walls which were floor to ceiling aquariums filled with colorful fish. I wondered what they would be like at night when the lights were on.

  I noticed I wasn’t taken to Yuri’s office and I wondered if he was even home. I didn’t really care. I was here to take care of Yulia and if I could find out why she had stopped speaking.

  I met the butler, Mr. Boris Orlov and some of the staff. There were at least fifteen, and there was no way I could remember all their foreign names or faces.

  The kitchen was modern and spacious, and I was introduced to the Chef. I could only hope his cooking was considerably better than his almost hostile demeanor. Did Yuri take tea? None of your business, April.

  As we passed a set of double doors, Mrs. Henderson nodded toward them and informed me that they led to Mr. Volkov’s suite a floor above.

  I showed no expression, but my mind started imagining all kinds of things. What was behind those doors? A ten-foot bed, five feet off the floor? A gold tub? More silk shirts than a Savile Row tailor? The latest music system?

  In a way, I wished I could see, but then again I really didn’t want to know if there were mirrors in the ceiling, or cameras in the corners. The thought made me shudder. Yuri wasn’t above forcing a kiss on a woman. No, better I didn’t know about his lair.

  I had a horrible thought then.

  What if he brought his women back here and I was forced to meet them or converse politely with them. I shuddered at the thought. I didn’t feel like admitting it even to myself, but the disturbing truth was I was wildly jealous of any woman who might touch Yuri.

  Chapter 7

  April

  Eventually, I was shown to Yulia’s room. The young girl lived in a suite of rooms. Her bedroom was designed for a princess, and somehow that felt totally appropriate. She also had a closet; hers was filled with many formal designer clothes. There was an activities room filled with toys and books. In the room was everything I would need to teach Yulia. Desk, whiteboard, books, a laptop. In one corner, I noticed a keyboard and I wondered if Yulia played. Music might provide a way to break through the girl’s silence.

  “Where is Yulia?” I asked.

  “She is attending classes downstairs. You will meet her later.”

  The tour ended in my bedroom.

  “Mr. Volkov wanted you to lodge just down the hallway from Yulia,” Mrs. Henderson informed me.

  The room was everything I could have ever hoped for. Tall windows invited in the blue skies of the elite neighborhood and the charm of London. A huge bed with lots of pillows, a heavenly Jacuzzi bath almost as big as the bed. A cream and gold walk-in closet that I could have happily moved into. My few possessions were going to look very sparse in there. There was a desk by the window that provided a lovely view of the garden behind the house.

  I could see that Brain had already deposited my bag next to the door.

  “I will leave you to unpack. Zelda, Mr. Volkov’s Head Personal Assistant will be along shortly with your schedule.”

  I thanked her and she slipped away quietly. For a while, I did no more than sit on the luxurious bed and breathe in the sheer elegance of the space and the dreams that it promised.

  It didn’t take me long to unpack. I reasoned it would make my getaway easy if necessary and if I needed more, I could always return to my apartment and get more. As I hung my clothes up, I sort of regretted that I didn’t bring at least one elegant dress. Just in case, I had to take Yulia somewhere formal. Everything I had packed was work clothes. No seduction wear since I was pretty sure I would never be able to seduce him, anyway. He seemed like the kind who took what he wanted.

  I would have to keep in mind always that I was hired help, nothing more. I hoped Margot was on my side, and if I were lucky maybe in time, I would get the nod from Brain too. He seemed like a tough nut though.

  The knock on the door was brisk.

  “Come in,” I called, running my hands down my skirt.

  A woman of indeterminate age, she might have been sixty or forty, stepped into the room. Her ramrod-straight, thin body was clothed in a beautiful olive-green suit and a baby-pink blouse. While the clothes were expensive and fashionable, they didn’t soften her appearance in the least. The severe spectacles only reinforced the image. She reminded me of a fairy tale character. Like a wicked witch in disguise.

  “Good afternoon, April,” she began in a heavy Russian accent. “My name is Zelda Popov. I wasn’t here to meet you on the day of your interview and that is regrettable, since I am in charge of this house, everything, and everyone in it. As it pertains to you, my job is to make yours easier. I do not live here, and I am not always on site, but I will give you my mobile number, so you can reach me at any time. When you have requests, and you will, you must contact me.”

  “I’m very pleased to meet you to, Ms. Popov.”

  “You may call me Zelda,” she said with a wave of her bony arm.

  “Thank you,” I murmured.

  She took a few steps towards me and held out a folder. “Here is your copy of your contract, NDA, and your schedule. It is a simple one. Yulia has tutors, so your responsibility is only to take care of her. Make a list of whatever supplies you require, and I’ll se
e that it’s filled.”

  “I will.”

  “You can have Monday or Tuesday off. You are free on Sundays too. If you wish, you may join Yulia at church, it’s Russian orthodox, but you are not required to do so.”

  “I’ll have Monday off and I’ll decide on Church later.”

  She nodded. “I will let the other staff know. Now meals. Breakfast is served at eight, lunch at noon, tea at four, and dinner at seven. You will eat with the rest of the staff after Yulia has eaten, or you may decide to eat with her. This week’s menu is attached to the file so you can peruse through and if there’s anything of concern, or something you desire then just let me know so I can make the adjustments.”

  I glanced down at the plan of scones, chicken, and pudding, and felt my heart warm considerably. “Everything looks great as is, and I’m allergic to nothing.”

  “Good. Yulia is currently not attending school, but her afternoons are packed with tutors to ensure that she doesn't fall behind with her school work. Her uncle prefers that she arises early to begin her day. He is a morning person, so he prides himself in instilling that habit into everyone else around him. Please ensure that she is up and dressed and has had her breakfast by seven-thirty in the morning.”

  “Sure.”

  “Yulia loves to read,” she continued, “So after breakfast she will dally in a book or two until her tutor arrives. After that, piano lessons followed by martial arts lessons.”

  I did a double take on that, wondering if I had misheard correctly, but no, it was clearly stated in the schedule. My eyes were filled with questions for Margot.

  “Self-defense takes precedence over most things in this household,” she explained. “Her uncle insists on it, even for you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I think you will find the lesson quite easy. As they will be basic maneuvers to ensure you can protect Yulia in the event of a mishap.”

  Why were mishaps expected, I wondered. Apart from their incredible wealth, and security, the household appeared quite normal and thus far, all I knew of the source of their good fortune was a family business.