“Not really but I know you’re good with kids. Especially teenagers and preteens since you’re basically one yourself.”
“Ouch. Fuck you.”
“It can’t hurt to come down here and interview. He hasn’t found anyone yet and he’s getting frustrated.”
“Wait, your boss is the senator guy, right? The fine one with a stick up his ass?”
“He doesn’t have a stick up his ass. He’s nice.”
“You like him because he’s boring like you.”
“Why the hell do I try to help you? Why? You don’t do anything but stress me out. I’m so tired of this shit.” Her voice was steeped in exasperation. “Everything in life isn’t going to always come easy to you. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to just to survive.
I know everything was always handed to you because you’re a prodigy but this is the real world. Nobody cares that you can play six instruments and speak three languages. Nobody cares about Julliard or the fact that you graduated at twenty. None of that is going to pay your bills if you don’t go out there and work your ass off for it.”
Her frustration bled through the phone and slicked my ear with heat. I hated when Navy got frustrated with me that she was ready to throw up her hands and be done.
I dropped my fingers and let my arms hang at my side while I pinned the phone to my ear with my shoulder.
“I know I need to do better.”
“Then fucking do better, Xari.”
“Okay, give me the address to your office. I’ll do the interview if you’re sure you can get me in.”
“I’m going to do my best. I’ll call you back in ten minutes. In the meantime, get dressed. Wear something business casual.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod.
As much as I hated it, Navy was right. I couldn’t live off her, Mom, and Dad forever. I had no idea when or if I’d hear back from the philharmonic, so I needed to get my shit together.
The movers only left me with a handful of clothing and shoe choices so I picked the best business casual dress I could, given the circumstances. I brushed my fluffy natural curls into a sleek bun and put on a pair of small diamond stud earrings.
I looked like the sexiest Mary Poppins in history. All I needed were glasses perched at the end of my nose to finish the look.
I smiled when I saw Navy’s number flash across my screen. I answered it in a rush. “Hey, am I in?” I quizzed. Something jittery bounced around in my stomach with hopes that she would say yes. I’d never actually wanted a job before. I was always been content being a student and soaking up all there was to learn. Both academically and in the world. Now, I was anxious to go to an interview for a job that I didn’t even want. What was wrong with me?
“Yeah. You’re going to be the last one though. There’s one lady before you so you have to get down here as fast as humanly possible, Xari. I’m not telling you to speed but…speed.” She ended the conversation then my phone buzzed with the address to her office.
I was so going to speed.
…
FOUR
“Are you doing this on purpose, Frankie?” I scowled at my daughter over the folder that contained the resume of the last nanny applicant. She’d turned away every nanny that came through the door. Some of them had shining recommendations from past politicians, celebrities, and even a few teachers and ex-professors. Frankie hated them all.
“They’re super old and they’re all drooling over you which is pretty cringeworthy. Like…the cringiest.” She brought her shoulders around her ears and shuddered.
“Well, am I that bad?” I asked, straightening the Windsor knot in my tie. When I smiled, Frankie rolled her eyes.
“You’re the worst. Anyway, are we done? I want to see if I can bug Apollo to go on a snack run with me.”
“No,” Apollo’s voice sounded from outside the door.
“Please,” Frankie begged. Apollo met her whining with silence. I couldn’t blame him one bit.
“Senator Freeman, you have one last applicant.” Navy Lucas poked her head in the door. Apollo’s gaze flicked to her quickly before he focused on the blank point in front of him. She was the only thing that made him turn his head when he was on duty. I understood why. Navy was a pretty girl. I was sure she turned heads wherever she went.
“Hey, Frankie!” A bright-eyed, young woman with a wide smile and a perfectly tailored dress, smiled at Frankie and wiggled her fingers in a wave. I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. She was the last applicant? She looked like a baby herself.
Well…not exactly a baby. Not the way her tight slender curves filled out that dress.
I was a sucker for a well-dressed woman who knew how to pull herself together down to the shoes. My eyes dropped to the absolutely-not-a-baby applicant’s shoes and I lifted an appreciative brow. I wasn’t deep into women’s fashion but I knew luxury and she was dripping with it.
“I’m Xari Lucas, nice to meet you.” Xari extended her manicured left hand to Frankie. My eyes involuntarily went to her fourth finger before meeting her espresso brown pools.
Neither Xari nor Frankie were looking at me though. Frankie was enamored. She gifted Xari a smile from ear to ear.
“Oh my god. You are so bomb.”
“Thank you. You’re adorable,” she laughed rubbing Frankie’s back. Shit. Frankie wasn’t lying though. Xari Lucas was bomb as fuck.
“Is your dress Carolina Herrera?” Frankie asked. She had a burst of energy I hadn’t seen during the entire interviewing process.
“It is. Look at the eye on this one. Now I actually like you and I won’t have to pretend. We’re going to be friends.” She bumped Frankie with her slender but still full hips. I tried to stop noticing her body because it wasn’t professional but goddamn. She had that dress re-stitched just to fit her lines and dips. I wouldn’t have been shocked to find out the seamstress sewed the dress while Xari was wearing it.
“Are your shoes Jimmy Choo?” Frankie peeped excitedly.
“They’re Celine but I like your knowledge of fashion, Frank.”
“I hate people calling me that, but I’ll let you slide.”
“Well thank you, queen.”
I almost let them talk amongst themselves because I’d never seen Frankie so engaged with another human being. She had friends but none that she ever invited to her mom’s house or whose house she spent the night over. Watching her talk to Xari was like watching what it would have been like if Frankie had a best friend. The click between them was instant.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lucas,” I finally said extending my hand. Light glinted off the crystal face of my Longines watch and drew her eyes down to my wrist.
“Nice to meet you, Senator Freeman.”
Her impeccable style appreciated meeting its equal.
“Please, have a seat. Let’s get this started.” I smiled at her and we all sat down. Frankie’s eyes never left Xari. It was like she’d already hung the moon. That was going to be hard to compete with. I wasn’t going into the interview with the intent to veto the girl, but I had to make sure she was the right fit. I had to check her resume and references. With her being so young I doubted she had the experience I was looking for.