into those sock-less moccasin things European men could get away with wearing. He was next to an even more flashy looking car. I squinted. A Maserati. Matte black if I was guessing. On the main Google page was image after image of him being spied on—candids taken of him through windshields, from between potted palms, and through restaurant windows. Poor guy. People seemed obsessed with him.
The article itself was taken from the French version of a tabloid site. He was basically a French Kardashian. There was an article that included another, older photo of him with a dark-haired and sleek gazelle of a woman. The epitome of French chic. I blew out a long slow breath and clicked away from the article, I wouldn’t understand the French text anyway, and went back to my email.
I scrolled past the logistics of my pick up to Tabitha’s message.
Hi Josie ~
Thank you sooo much for doing this. I’ve worked for this family before. Sadly though, I think I told you, it was when Monsieur Pascal’s wife Arriette was alive. Such a terrible tragedy. Their daughter, Dauphine, is scrumptious! She’ll be around ten years old now, I think. I can’t imagine how sad it’s been for her to lose her mother. Apparently, it’s still tough two years later.
Normally, I’d take you out to lunch to have a frank discussion about the family. But it was all a little crazy yesterday, I have to email it all to you.
Okay, standard rules apply for the girls I position - I’m just pasting these in. I know you and know this won’t be a problem. But I have to cover my ass.
1)Follow the family’s rules for care, don’t make up your own (mealtimes, bedtimes, routines etc).
2)No friends (romantic or otherwise) on an employer’s premises without written consent from employer. (Best idea is to email employer and cc me, and then we have it in writing. Actually, best of all idea is just to avoid visitors for the length of the contract.)
3)No smoking, drinking alcohol, or drug taking.
4)No fraternizing in any romantic capacity with any of the employer’s family, friends, or acquaintances. You should mostly be invisible.
5)No using cell phone except during personal time or expressly to be in touch with employer if out with child(ren). He’ll probably give you a local phone.
You are allowed two days off per week. Actually, a work week in France is maximum forty hours, but you can make the arrangement with your employer.
In your case, since it’s mostly going to be on a yacht (sorry! I just found out. I feel awful. You’ll be okay, right?), I imagine you’ll have to work it out with Monsieur Pascale. I’ll check in with you at the end of the first week, third week, and then your final (sixth week) to see if they want to extend to eight. If anything comes up in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call.
Best of luck for the best job in the world—being a guardian angel to a small soul!
Tabs xo
I blew out the long breath I’d been holding as I read most of the email. I loved the invisible part. Invisible was exactly what I needed. But was it possible to be invisible when you were going to be sharing a tiny space, like a boat? And what about if we all ventured off the boat? I had a horrible feeling that came with a shit ton of very close scrutiny. Remembering how traumatizing it had been when my family had been in the news, I gave a shudder.
Mer: Ok. Your lack of response tells me you are freaking out. Trust me, Josie. It’s going to be fine. Just keep your head down, and watch the kid, and six weeks will be over before you know it.
I breathed out. My best friend knew me well.
And then what? I typed.
Mer: Then we’ll figure out your next step. Together. Love you
Love you too.
I closed the apps on my phone to save battery life and gathered my things as we pulled into the train station.
What had I been thinking? There should be a rule to never make life altering decisions after a traumatic day followed by three gin cocktails.
This job had disaster written all over it.
Chapter Six
I stepped off the train and walked through one of the ornate green double doors into the Nice Ville train station. The building was old and gorgeous, the main vestibule only about the size of a basketball court, but with ornate details on the