Confessions of a Teen Nanny 01 - Confessions of a Teen Nanny (13 page)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"you're fired!"

B ack to the Present

How on earth did I get into this mess? Adrienne asked herself again as she sat on the floor of Mrs.Warner's closet. The diamonds were gone. Stolen!

Adrienne heard the elevator open in the entry hall.

"The building's private security force is here," Emma said, still standing in the closet doorway. "I think you bet- ter get up off the floor."

Adrienne stood and took a deep breath.Then she and Emma hurried from the bedroom into the front hall. Four security men, dressed all in black, and Reilly, the doorman, stood by Liz in the entryway.

"Anything wrong, Miss Lewis?" Reilly asked.

In a shaking voice, Adrienne told her story, and the security men began to search the apartment for clues.

"Don't worry, Miss Lewis," Reilly said kindly. "We'll have it all sorted out."

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"Will you tell Mr. and Mrs.Warner?" she asked.

"Let's see what happens first," he said.

An angry buzz came from the elevator.

"Residents downstairs," Reilly said. He got back into the elevator and disappeared downstairs.

"I'm going to take Emma into the kitchen," Liz whis- pered to her. "Give her some milk or something."

"Thanks," Adrienne said, so incredibly glad that her best friend was there.

Once Liz and Emma left, Adrienne went into the liv- ing room. The lights were blazing as the security detail pored over the apartment.They opened all the curtains she had closed, to see if the windows had been tampered with. They were moving furniture and looking behind paint- ings, leaving them askew. Adrienne prayed she could put it all back in order.

She returned to the hall, pulled out her phone, and began to dial her home number to ask her mother for advice. As the phone rang, she stared ahead into space toward the elevator.

Adrienne watched the numbers: 9 . . . 10 . . . 11 . . .

There is no way it can be the Warners, she thought. It's way too early.

12 . . . 14 . . . 15 . . .

Oh, no. It is. I'm dead, she thought. She closed her phone.

190 " Y O U ' R E F I R E D !"

PH . . . DING!

The doors of the elevator opened, and Cameron Warner stepped into the front hall.

She was drunk--no doubt about that--but still gor- geous. Her pink organza Chanel minidress was ragged and looked like it had been splashed with something. Her Jimmy Choo shoes were ruined, but her makeup, hair, and posture were, as always, perfect.

"Oh! Adrienne, darling!" she said, her eyes focusing. "How divine that you're home! Run and get some pink champagne from the wine cellar--it matches my outfit, right?" Cameron reached out for support, grabbing Adrienne's bare shoulder with an icy hand."I am so wasted," she said.

She stepped out of her dress and left it on the floor, standing in the hall in her bra, stockings, and high heels.

"Oh," she said, smiling sweetly. "You can have that Chanel dress. Bandar threw up on it, but if you dry-clean it, it'll probably be fine. I can't wear it again, that's for sure--Page Six got a picture of me in it." She tottered down the hall toward her bedroom.

DING!

The elevator door suddenly opened again. Adrienne turned around. Standing there, framed in the light, were Mr. and Mrs.Warner, back early from their benefit.

Mrs.Warner slipped her mink coat from her shoulders

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and silently handed the coat to her husband, who grinned stupidly. She walked across the marble floor slowly, her Manolo Blahnik heels clicking deliberately as she drew closer to where Adrienne stood. She took in the fact that the lights in the apartment were all blazing, the curtains open, and the furniture in disarray.

"Adrienne," Mrs.Warner said quietly, suddenly able to remember her name. Her eyes glittered as brightly as her emeralds. "I've had a little conversation with our security force, and it appears we have a problem. I'm not quite sure how to handle it, but I can start by saying, you're fired."

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CHAPTER NINETEEN

going back . . .

and getting him back

"H oney, you've been on the sofa all day. It's almost four o'clock." Mrs. Lewis handed Adrienne a glass of Diet Coke and sat next to her.

Adrienne groaned. "Mom, leave me alone." Adrienne had spent most of Sunday curled up in bed. She had refused to answer even Liz's phone calls. She had convinced her mother to let her skip school today. She couldn't bear seeing Brian--not yet. He hadn't even called her, that pig!

I can't believe that Cam invited Brian. I can't believe they were making out! I can't believe he went with her and left me behind.

She was having a hard time making sense out of this nightmare. She pulled a sofa pillow over her head.

She heard the phone ring, and felt her mother stand to answer it.

"Oh, hello.Yes. She is."

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Adrienne pulled her head out from under the pillow. Her mother held the phone out to her.

Who is it? Adrienne mouthed.

"It sounds like a little girl."

Adrienne took the phone cautiously. "Hello?"

"Where are you? You're late. My mother will kill you, and I'm very annoyed."

Adrienne smiled despite herself. It was Emma.

"Emma, I'm sorry, but I'm not coming in.Your mom fired me because of the missing diamonds."

"Not coming in?" Emma sounded confused. "But I want you back." Emma paused. "I'm really tired of this endless procession of nannies. I mean, you weren't the greatest, but you didn't stink."

"I miss you, too, Emma," Adrienne said."But you can call me whenever you like. E-mail me your French. I'll help you anyway."

"I don't like this at all," Emma said grimly. "I'll figure this out. I'll fix it."

I really wish you could, Adrienne thought sadly, and pulled the pillow back over her head.

Two hours later,Adrienne was still on the sofa, staring at the wall, wondering how Brian had managed to fall for Cameron.

The phone rang. It rang several times. Adrienne

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listened to it ring. She wasn't going to answer it. She heard her mother snatch up the receiver in the kitchen.

Suddenly her mother hurried over, her hand over the portable receiver. "It's Mrs.Warner!" she whispered.

Adrienne shook her head. "No."

Her mother thrust the phone in her hand. "Yes," her mother said.

Adrienne glared at her mother. "Hello?" Adrienne said hesitantly.

"Hello, Adrienne," Mrs. Warner chirped. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," Adrienne said, wondering why Mrs. Warner was calling.

"Well, Adrienne, I have your check for last week, and some extra money for watching Emma the other night."

"Uh, thanks," Adrienne said. She took a deep breath. "Mrs.Warner, what about the diamonds?"

"It all seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding, Adrienne. Please come by in an hour to get your money. We'll talk then. Ciao!" She hung up.

Adrienne quickly calculated how much money must be in that envelope. It was a lot, and she had earned it. She should get it, even if it meant seeing Cameron again. Adrienne got up from the sofa and headed for the shower.

She was going back to 841 Fifth--for the last time.

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Adrienne arrived to find Christine Warner, elegant as always in a white Givenchy suit, standing in the middle of her living room. Her perfume filled the room, and Bisquit pranced about her feet, barking at Adrienne cheerfully, happy to see her.

"Well, hello," Mrs. Warner said, carefully crossing to where Adrienne stood in the doorway and taking her hand."Adrienne," she said emphatically,"I believe I owe you an apology."

Adrienne blinked. Mrs. Warner continued. "Emma really misses you, and we'd love to have you back. And we found the diamonds."

"Where were they?" Adrienne asked.

Embarrassed, Mrs. Warner reached over to the small table nearby. On it was a folded copy of the New York Post.

"Emma brought this to me this afternoon, right before I called you," she said. "Read Page Six."

Adrienne opened the paper.

Flashing Heiress Feels Fine! said the caption, and above it was a picture of Cameron standing on a tabletop, flash- ing her underpants to the photographer.Around her neck, wrists, and on her ears Mrs.Warner's diamonds glittered.

"I guess I'll need to put a lock on my jewel cases," Mrs. Warner said. She looked at Adrienne."Will you come back?" Mrs.Warner handed her an envelope heavy with cash.

These people are a nightmare. This job is hell, Adrienne

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thought. But the money is great, Emma's not too bad, and if I stay, I have a chance of getting Brian back. Her mood lifted slightly. I can keep a close watch on Cameron and figure out what she's up to.

"Sure,"Adrienne said, shaking Mrs.Warner's hand, and then petting Bisquit on the head. "Can I go and tell Emma?"

"Certainly. Oh, and Adrienne, would you be a complete dear and stay just until nine? That's when Tania comes back."

It never changes, Adrienne thought."Sure, Mrs.Warner. No problem,"Adrienne said, and turned to walk down the hall to Emma's room.

"Hey," Adrienne said cheerfully, sticking her head in the doorway. "Your plan worked. I'm back!"

Emma smiled sweetly. "Don't think it's because you are much of a nanny. I'm just tired of Mother's whims. Now, remember--it is your job to take care of me, not my job to take care of you."

Adrienne swallowed."Well, I can always quit, if you're so unhappy. . . ."

A look of panic passed across Emma's face. "No!" she said. "I mean, I have my French homework for you to check.You might as well stay."

Adrienne smiled. "Okay. I'll stay. I'll go get you a snack. Be back in ten minutes." Adrienne left. Everything was back to normal with Emma.

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As she passed Cameron's room, she took a deep breath and tried to walk by quickly.

"Hey!" Cam said. She was sitting on her suede sofa, painting her toenails with topcoat.

Adrienne gave Cam what she hoped was a look of supreme disdain and said nothing.

Cameron smiled. "So, you have your little job back, I see."

"I do," Adrienne said, "and if you don't mind . . ."

"I don't mind at all," Cameron said, "because even though you have your job back, you don't have Brian. I do."

Adrienne leaned against the doorway and gave Cameron a slow smile. "Do you really think so, Cameron? I wouldn't be so sure."

Adrienne turned to leave, noticing, for the first time, a flicker of doubt in Cameron's ice-gray eyes.

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About the Author VICTORIA ASHTON was born in New York and attended an elite private school. She has worked and played with the rich and famous and has seen it all--the good, the bad, and the completely outrageous. Victoria divides her time among New York City, the Hamptons, and London.

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BOOKS BY VICTORIA ASHTON

Confessions of a Teen Nanny Confessions of a Teen Nanny 2: Rich Girls

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