careful

eight

One morning, Nina wakes up just a little earlier than normal and discovers the rain cast over the city. She takes this opportunity to run down to the kitchen and ask the cook for the kitchen for breakfast. "Take a break," she tells him, "You deserve it." Mr. and Mrs. Caswell, being out of town for the weekend, would be none the wiser to the cook not actually cooking breakfast. Nor would they care, Nina imagines. So she goes up to wake up the girls and invites them downstairs to make muffins with her.

A sleepy Ella sits atop the counter, stirring batter for the muffins and Sadie asks, "Can we stay in our pajamas today?"

"Of course!" Nina tells her with a smile. She was doing her best to humanize the girls. "If that's what you wanna do. I was thinking we could just watch movies today. How 'bout it?"

Ella squeals and says, "We can use the movie theatre!"

Nina's eyebrows furrow and she looks over to Sadie. "The movie theatre?"

Sadie nodded. "The one downstairs. You didn't know?"

"Well, no," she laughs out. "I didn't. I've only been working here for a little over a month now and this is the first I'm hearing of it."

Sadie shrugs. "We don't use it that often," she informs her.

After having a few muffins and milk, all three girls make their way downstairs and to the movie theatre. Nina looks around in awe at the room that had two rows of recliners and then two very large bean bags right in front of the seats. Towards the back of the room, she notices a small kitchenette and popcorn machine.

"I can set up a movie," Sadie offers. "What do you wanna watch?"

"I want popcorn!" Ella shouts. "Please, please, please?"

Sadie rolls her eyes and says, "Ella, we don't even know how to work that thing and we're not allowed to touch it. The only people who know how to use it are Daddy and-"

"Hello, all. Who the hell made muffins? I got an eggshell and I'm ready to fire someone!" Ricky bellows. He laughs when he spots Nina, who looks like she's just been scared to death. "Nice getup, Nina."

"Look, the girls wanted to stay in their pajamas, okay? So I decided to as well," she explains.

Ella jumps at Ricky. "Make popcorn! Make popcorn!"

He looks at Nina and she asks, "Do you know how to make popcorn?"

"I'm the popcorn master," he brags. "I'd be happy to make some and not overfill the machine, Sadie."

"Sounds like a story," Nina comments. "But yes, popcorn please."

Sadie and Ella visit the kitchenette and grab drinks for themselves and settle down in the bean bags to watch the movie they chose while Nina and Ricky poke at the popcorn machine. Ricky chooses the only seat Nina wishes he wouldn't; the one next to her. She's quite uncomfortable in her oversized t-shirt and shorts next to him.

"Popcorn?" he offers, stretching the bowl towards her.

"Thanks," she whispers back, taking a small handful. "Sorry about your eggshell. That was definitely Sadie, she cracked the eggs. You wouldn't fire your own niece, would you?"

Ricky kept his eyes on the screen and responded, "I don't believe in nepotism."

"Your family's entire business is run on nepotism," she comments.

Ricky nods. "That may explain why I'm not the next CEO, right?"

And Nina can't help but point out, "That sounded bitter."

"It's not, I actually hope EJ fires me immediately following his rise to power. Maybe I'll become a nanny, too." Nina glances over at him when he makes this joke and notices that he's turned to face her. He gives her a wink and then asks, "If I give you my number, will you call me and give me tips on how to get hired while being underqualified?"

"Oh, piss off," she says, nudging him with her elbow. "Besides, I already have your number, it's in the handbook. I would have used it by now if I wanted to give you an even easier way of annoying me."

"Wait," he whispers. "It is? So you're telling me that the last nanny could have totally called me but she chose to try and screw EJ? I'm really offended."

"Can't say I blame her for not wanting to deal with you," she jeers.

Ricky pushes her shoulder away and whines, "I'm great to be around!"

"Can you two shut up with all the whispering? We're trying to watch something over here!" Sadie snaps.