'And how am I to know if I am successful?' I asked, perhaps not as confidently as I would have liked.
'Well, we have a fair few questions to go through first,' said Emily in a no-nonsense tone.
'And another interview,' said Penny.
'Another?' Nikki and Emily both looked at Penny, confusion creasing their foreheads. Well, creasing Nikki's anyway; something told me Botox was keeping the wrinkles at bay for Emily.
Penny gave her daughters a pointed look. 'Yes, another.'
'You don't mean-'
'Are you sure that's a good idea?' said Nikki, cutting off Emily's question.
Penny sighed, the first proof of her having any human emotion. 'We can't hold off any longer, we have to get him involved.'
The three women looked grim, like they were about to encounter the bogeyman. Their dread was palpable, and although I had just banged on about being able to handle anything, now I wasn't so sure.
'Get who involved?' I asked tentatively.
Penny's eyes cut sharply to mine, and I regretted my words immediately.
'First lesson, Miss Williams: ask no questions.'
I glanced at Nikki, hoping to find some comfort in an eye roll or a wink, but I saw nothing more than her sad, worried expression.
I swallowed, nodding my understanding even as I thought, What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Two
I knew I'd screwed up the interview. I would be hearing 'if you are successful' for the rest of my days. I went down the steps of the brownstone and made my way back to the car, feeling deflated despite the VIP experience. The driver was holding the car door open. Such a different world, I thought, as I smiled my thanks to him. Not really knowing the rules, I had tipped him on the way here, and I supposed I had to tip him again. I was seriously going to run out of money at this rate. Maybe there was something in my NYC guide about tipping etiquette for private chauffeurs. I flipped through the pocket guide, wondering how this could be my biggest drama right now.
Then the door opened. 'Slide over, sweetie.'
Juggling my book, I did as the voice said, too shocked to think. Then I recognised the body of Dominique as she got in beside me.
'Where are you staying?' she asked, holding her belly and catching her breath.
'Park Central Hotel,' I said, looking at her, slightly worried we might be taking a detour to the hospital.
'Oh, nice. Hey, Dave, drop Sarah off first then drag me home. I know how much you love going to Brooklyn.'
A smiling pair of brown eyes flicked up in the rear-view mirror. 'I would drive to the ends of the earth for you, Nikki Fitzgerald.'
'Aw,' she said, tilting her head and offering a high-wattage smile.
'You live in Brooklyn?' I asked.
'Much to my mother's disgust.' She laughed.
Silence fell as Dave indicated to pull out into the street.
'Hey, don't worry about that interview, it's just a process my mother and sister like to go through to ensure they are in control, when they're actually not. The job is yours.'
'You really think so?'
'They haven't even interviewed anyone else, and if the recommendation came from Dennis Liebenberg, you could be an axe murderer and they would be hard-pressed to go against it.'
'Well, I'm not an axe murderer, so hopefully that would go in my favour, too.'
'I should think so,' she said, examining me. 'I would pack my bags if I were you, I don't think you'll be staying at Park Central too much longer.' She turned away to look out her tinted window.
I was afraid to hope, but then I thought, if I was going to be the au pair to her baby, shouldn't she have a say?
'When are you due?'
Nikki sighed, her hand going to her belly. 'Never. I am never, ever having this baby. I feel like I've been pregnant for twelve months already.'
'Your first?'
Nikki burst out laughing. 'Oh no, but definitely my last; I have four more rugrats waiting for me back in Brooklyn. As much as my mother complains about my location, I am sure a big part of her is relieved that I don't visit with the grubby-fingered little munchkins often. I mean, you've seen how white that place is, that couch would be smashed within seconds.'
If not for the physical resemblance, I'd have sworn Nikki was adopted. She had a warm, genuine aura about her; she had alleviated the thick tension when she entered the room. I liked her, but I couldn't help but swallow at the thought of five children. Was I destined to become the au pair for them? Was this what the cryptic interview was about? Capture my interest and then hit me with the big reveal?
I cleared my throat. I knew I wasn't meant to ask questions but I wouldn't sleep tonight unless I had some more clarity. 'So have you had au pairs before or is this your first time?'
Nikki looked at me and frowned. Now she resembled her mother. Then her face lightened as she broke into laughter. 'Oh God, no, I'm not hiring an au pair. No no no, I would never subject any poor soul to my brood. Oh, you poor thing, is that what you thought? No wonder you've gone white.' She continued to laugh, which didn't make me feel any better because that left a far worse alternative: I was going to be an au pair for Emily Mayfair, ice queen. I felt sick.
'Oh, okay, so how many children does Mrs Mayfair have?' I asked gingerly.
'Emily?'
I nodded.
'Emily has a boy and a girl, precious little poppets who have been sent away to the best boarding school that money can buy. Don't stress, my sister's au pair days are well and truly over.'
Now I was confused. Why was I even here? Who could I possibly be employed by? I knew they were being cryptic but this was just getting ridiculous. The no-questions rule be damned, I had to know.
'So, why are you here?'
'Exactly.'
Nikki smiled. 'Well, you're about to find out. Dave, can we take a detour to Lafayette, please?'
'Are you sure?' Dave asked.
'Oh, it's okay, he's not there today,' Nikki said, waving dismissively as she tapped away on her phone.
'And Mrs Worthington-'
'It will be our little secret.'
Dave mumbled under his breath.
'Don't worry, Dave, she hasn't put a tracking device on your car … yet.'
As much as I was looking forward to the mystery being solved, I didn't want to get Dave fired. I leant across the leather seat. 'You know, I think I'll just wait until tomorrow's interview. I mean, what's one more day anyway?'
'Absolutely not, I don't want anyone else for the job, and I certainly don't want you having a night to think about it and change your mind.'
'Why would I change my mind?'
Dave's eyes flicked up again, meeting Nikki's briefly before she looked out to the streetscape again. 'Oh, no reason,' she said unconvincingly.
Now I was worried. From the moment Dr Liebenberg had spoken of helping with a 'situation' it was obvious that I was signing up for something strange. What was this place on Lafayette? If I woke in a bathtub of ice without my kidneys, I was going to be seriously pissed.
Chapter Three
I wish I could say the beauty of the rustic building made me feel more optimistic about things, but I was tired, hungry and over it as we rode the elevator to the ninth floor. It opened directly opposite a set of rich mahogany doors with a gold 9A in the centre. Nikki walked towards the doors while I stood in place, widened eyes taking in the luxurious space. The white and grey marble floors gleamed, reflecting my totally inappropriate outfit choice back to me. The click of Nikki's low heels bounced off the ornate high ceilings. I tried not to let my mouth gape, because, well, that would just be embarrassing.
Then I remembered, whatever the feeling churning inside me, I was in New York fucking City!
Nikki had already announced herself via the video intercom and now she confidently pushed the unlocked door and made her way through, leaving it open for me. She grinned as I followed her, sensing that I was rather taken aback by the scale of the apartment.
'Three-and-a-half-thousand square feet, Brazilian hardwood flooring, twenty-six-foot-high ceilings, roof garden.'
'Wow!' I said.
'If you think this is impressive, wait until you see the star attraction,' she said, gesturing for me to climb the sweeping stairs that wrapped around the wall. As I ascended, my attention was diverted to the massive windows with their sweeping city views. I misstepped a few times and made sure to grip the balustrade to make the climb without serious injury. With a view like that I didn't begrudge the detour anymore, I could sightsee from the apartment. The whole day had been a bit of a magical mystery tour; from Seventh Avenue Park Central Hotel, to a Turtle Bay Gardens brownstone to a Manhattan penthouse. Yeah, just another Monday.
On the landing of the second floor we were greeted by an older lady, the penthouse equivalent of the brownstone's Frieda, except this woman seemed a little more guarded as her eyes swept me over.
Nikki slid off her scarf and handed it to the woman. 'How is she?' Nikki whispered, not an easy feat when she was trying her best to recover her breath from the ascent.
'You shouldn't be climbing those stairs, Miss Nikki, I will not be mopping up if your waters break. I could have come down to you.'
'No, don't wake her.'
'She's awake.' The woman waved her words away as she went to the closest door.
Nikki's eyes were alight when she looked at me. 'Come,' she said, and stepped into a nursery bigger than my parents' lounge, dining, kitchen and bathroom combined. A light grey shaded the walls and was highlighted by white furniture and pink fabrics, and another giant window that overlooked the city. A rocking chair next to the window made for the most out-of-this-world nursing corner. I stood in the middle of the room, taking it all in, hardly believing that people could be born into such places. It was such a far cry from my world.