Billionaire Daddy and Nanny 1(148)

I made myself look like a safe haven, a confidant and someone that would listen without judgment or condemnation. I did not have a vested interest and I made it perfectly clear that this was only a stopover before I moved on to greener pastures. I needed her to believe that her job was safe and that I had no designs on taking what was hers.

“I don’t want you to do it because I convinced you. I want you to do it because it’s the right thing to do. If you really want to play this political game, then you need to be upfront and personal. I don’t think that she believes that anybody will ever stand up to her. She has purposely encouraged an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Miss Niles is that first and last line of defense. She shows no emotion. It’s almost like she’s this all-knowing entity that keeps everybody from doing something that they are going to regret.” We were sitting in a coffee café across the street a couple of doors down from the small and intimate bar that we congregated to at the end of the day.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. I need to make her see me as an equal and not some underling that she can pawn off the work that she doesn’t want to do. I’ve been bending over backward to please her ever since that I got here five years ago. I admire her and I want to be exactly like her. That might not seem like a lofty goal, but the power that she exudes comes off of her in waves.” This was a mid-afternoon break and the best way to get anybody talking was to remain silent.

It was hard for me to do that, especially when my alter ego Gillian was screaming at me to stop playing it fast and loose. I could easily ingratiate myself into all of their lives, but that would only raise red flags in the eyes of Susan. There was no way that I wanted to give her any incentive to look into me any deeper than a casual look at my file.

“It sounds to me like you have made up your mind. The one thing that is missing is the follow through. You can procrastinate, wait for the right time, but you’ll never know when that right time is going to be.” I was making it seem like it was her idea to approach her. I was subtle, not the same in your face salesperson that had guys eating out of the palm of her hand.

Shelly was a woman that didn’t stand too close to anyone. It was almost like she was afraid to live. I wanted to project a sense of defeatism. I could make people believe that this was only a stopover, but my attitude would confirm to Lillian and Susan that I was never going to give up something that was keeping food in my stomach and a roof over my head.

This was my classroom. This was a place where I was learning the ropes and finding how everything worked around here. It was easy to see that nobody wanted to shake the tree. I had to get somebody else to do my dirty work. I needed to get her out of the office, crack her computer and see if there was any incriminating evidence that we could use against her. It wasn’t necessarily for bringing her to justice. It was more of a way to exact her cooperation in leaving us alone.

I followed Tina back to the office and with each step, there was more conviction. I helped that along by whispering words of encouragement. I told her that she was strong enough to do this on her own. I told her that she had been here long enough. That they had worked closely together so that she was deserving of respect.

With a sense of purpose, she walked into her office after waiting for her to get off of a conference call with Japan. I could see on one of the monitors that her husband felt that he had been castrated. He had the look of somebody that was under the gun and being made to play a certain role in her empire. I could tell that he didn’t want to face the truth of his demotion to the other side of the world. I was positive that she did not reveal to him the dalliance with Marshall underneath his nose. This was her way to avoid the ugliness of divorce.

I was basically a temp, assigned whatever duties that were left over at the end of the day and expected to have it done before the deadline. I walked very slowly by Lillian’s office door. I was lingering with a cup of coffee up against my mouth. I didn’t have to worry about Susan because she was in the office standing in the corner with her arms crossed defiantly like she was judge, jury, and executioner.

“I’m surprised by this invitation. You’ve never shown any interest in having me join your little group before. I have to wonder what has changed to make you want to proffer this olive branch. Tell me, Tina, do you have any ulterior motives for bringing the wolf into the henhouse. You do know that your friends are going to feel awkward. Is that really the impression that you want to give them about yourself? Sucking up to me is one thing, but kissing my ass is something different. I like you and I think that you have a real future here underneath me.” I was sure that Lillian was using this as a way to bring Tina into the stable of lovers that she already had on the side.