Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Oh, no, Hugh. We’re not ...”
“Move, Maggie.”
Shit.
He walks into the house, his presence so strong it makes me terrified for what’s about to happen.
He walks right up to Delilah and her friends, causing them to pause mid conversation. Delilah flushes as she stands, and the confusion in her face is real. “Ah, Hugh, what are you doing here?”
“I fuckin’ live here, Delilah.”
Her cheeks grow red. She looks to me. “Maggie, why aren’t you in the room with the other nannies?”
“Because she’s a fuckin’ human being who doesn’t deserve to be tossed into a fuckin’ room, and because those bitches in there made her cry.”
Oh, dear.
Delilah acts like she’s confused. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Hugh.”
“You dress her in this hideous fuckin’ dress?”
He jabs a finger toward me.
Delilah’s face reddens. “It’s an expensive dress, Hugh. It was a gift. She looks lovely.”
One of her friends snickers, leaning her perfect hip against the lamp table as she watches the drama unfold.
Hugh turns on her like a god damned hurricane. If you could see fire, it would be roaring out of his ears. “You better sit the fuck down and shut your god damned mouth because you’re not too rich for me to put you out on your ass.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth snaps closed. She sits down.
Delilah gasps. “How dare you speak to Sammi that way. Can we take this outside?”
“No, we’re goin’ to leave it right here. Tell me where you got the dress.”
Delilah shrugs. “From an expensive store in town.”
“Liar,” he growls. “Tell me where you got the dress.”
Her cheeks go red. “I swear, Hugh, I bought it for her. I don’t know what you heard, but I did. I have the receipt. I promise you. I wasn’t trying to be horrible.”
She’s lying.
But she’s good at it.
“You picked the ugliest damned dress you could to make her feel stupid.”
“I didn’t, I swear,” Delilah says, turning to me. “Maggie, I’m so sorry. If you hated it, you should have told me.”
“The other nannies told me you got it from a bin outside the store,” I say, my voice shaky.
“They what?” she gasps, hand to her chest. “Get them out here, now.”
Sammi stands and rushes in to get the nannies. Within minutes, they’re out here.
“Did you tell Maggie that dress was from a bin?” Delilah demands, her act really strong, I’ll give her that. “Remember, if you lie to us, you’ll be without a job.”
They all squirm. “We did, but ... we were just joking.”
God.
The power these women have over everyone they come in contact with.
It’s terrifying.
“How dare you say something like that,” Delilah says, her voice firm. “Maggie is my nanny, and I thought you’d give her a little respect. You can leave my house, right now.”
Sammi looks to Delilah. “We’re so sorry, D. We’ll resolve this issue.”
They all gather their stuff and leave.
Well, if that wasn’t the best show I’ve ever seen in my life.
Hugh turns to Delilah the second the door closes, and in a voice so low and so terrifying, he says, “You owe her an apology, and if you ever treat someone like that again in my home, you’ll be out on your ass. We’re strugglin’, you just made shit a whole lot fuckin’ harder.”
He reaches down, picks up Star, and then he walks out, leaving Delilah and me alone.
I stare at her, not really sure what to say.
She glares at me.
“This is all your fault. I hope you’re happy.”
She storms off, slamming the front door as she exits.
Well great.
That went super.
7
I grab at the zip of the dress, but I can’t get the stupid thing undone. I can’t lift it over my head, I can’t get it off. This hideous thing is tormenting me, and now I can’t even remove it from my body to get a little dignity back.
I don’t know why I took this stupid job; I should have known better.
I know what girls like Delilah are like. Foolish of me for believing she was actually being nice. Of course she wasn’t being nice, she’s a god damned monster. The sooner Hugh sees that the better, because I’m done with this place.
“Hey, what’re you doin’?”
I turn to see Hugh at the door, Star in his arms. She’s asleep, tucked into his chest.
“I can’t get this stupid damned dress off. I can’t get it off, which makes me feel as pathetic as she tells all her friends I am.”
Tears burst forth and roll down my cheeks as I let out a frustrated growl. Hugh walks in, carefully placing Star on the bed and placing a pillow beside her. Then he steps up toward me, placing his big hands on my shoulders to stop me from squirming. “Hush, Maggie. Stand still.”
I pause, hands dropping to my sides as his rough fingers slowly graze over my skin as he reaches for the zip. I hold my breath, the tears still rolling, but slowing as he begins unzipping me. Little by little. His body way too close to mine. His breath warm on the back of my neck. I close my eyes, not wanting to feel anything for this man, but knowing those feelings are creeping in even if I don’t want them to.