Babysitting

ChapterEleven

I had come to realize that the Johnson parents loved to travel, despite there being a reason. And they didn't care if they left their kids behind.
I had found out that they would stay at one of Nathaniel's hotels in whichever country they went to, leaving us for another two months.
Two months of peaceful bliss with Nathaniel being his utmost polite when he saw me, no Kerrie around ever and the kids not being a handful.
I sighed, sitting up. The peaceful bliss would come crashing down any minute now, I could feel it.
I got off the couch, checking the time then braided my hair. It was another three hours until Bennie would fetch the kids and according the Nathaniel, he was working a full day. I was bored out of my skull when no one was around.
I hated being alone these past two months. My thoughts would creep up on me and I'd be a sobbing mess in a matter of seconds. I knew everyone could tell that and that was definitely the reason I was given no hassles.
I tied the end of my dutch braid and walked out of the TV room. My eyes strayed to the entrance table and my stomach immediately flipped when I saw Nathaniel's car keys there.
He had told me he was working full day today though.
I speed walked to the kitchen but froze when I heard voices.
Nathaniel and...
I put my forehead against the wall.
So much for bliss.
"And daddy said that we could take the private jet if we wanted to," Kerrie said. "Or you know, we could just go on it."
I faked a gag and straightened up, padding into the kitchen.
"Hi guys," I chirped.
Nathaniel's eyes flashed to mine, confusion etched in his features.
"I didn't know we would have company," I smiled. "I would've gotten dressed up."
Kerrie frowned while anger slowly crossed Nathaniel's features.
"We're having a private conversation," he hissed.
"Oh please, don't let me stop you guys," I put my arms up. "I'm hungry and there's only one kitchen."
"You're not allowed to eat with us," Kerrie snapped.
"I don't think we've actually met," I stepped up to her, holding my hand out. "I'm Luciana. Everyone calls me Ciana but Nathaniel calls me Lucy. Please call me Ciana."
She was almost a foot taller than me as she glared down at me before her eyes snapped to Nathaniel.
"You've never given me a nickname," she accused.
I dropped my hand.
"It's not really a nickname seeing as only he is allowed to call me that," she glanced at me in confusion before landing her scowling gaze back on a shocked and angry Nathaniel. "More like one of those couple things where he gives me a name only he's allowed to call me and I continue using his full name because it entices him."
By now, I was struggling to hold in my laughter as I continued to stir mayhem between the two.
"Nathaniel!" She cried, a hand flying to her chest in shock. "You said I was the only one!"
"You are the only one, Kerrie," he seethed. "She's talking shit. Everyone calls her Lucy."
My eyes widened at his lie and I stepped back.
"Wow," I folded my arms. "Lying is a sin. Prepare to party with Satan."
"I'm not lying!" He looked at me, pleading with his eyes.
"You're the only one who calls me Lucy. Oh! And my voice gives you shivers, Nathaniel," I mused.
"It's true, isn't it?" Kerrie frowned. "I'm not the only one."
"She's lying, babe," he grabbed her waist and I gagged. "Don't listen to her. She's only the help and she hates me. She lies all the time and even harasses the kids sometimes. She's even tried to come onto me a few times but the message I gave came across."
My jaw fell slack at his words and my eyes widened at his next sentence.
"She's a poor girl with no parents, she's only here for the money."
My chest constricted and I swallowed, stumbling a few steps back.
Nathaniel's eyes had sympathy in them as he continued telling Kerrie something that I couldn't hear. There was a loud ringing in my ears and I managed to get away from the kitchen, trying to breathe but failing.
"The poor orphan," was the last thing I heard before I fell into the elevator, sliding onto my bum as I pressed the button for the third floor.
One I reached the top floor, I had only managed to get a few mouthfuls of air in. I stumbled my way into my room.
I recognized these signs. A panic attack.
I racked my brain for the ways to help it, the ways I had studied in the past five years but everything in my head was jumbled together and pounding against my skull.
My chest was on fire and I clawed my throat, choking on the air I was trying to breathe in. I curled myself up next to my bed, pressing my face into my knees.
I was starting to hyperventilate, shivers running up and down my spine as I tried to remember the words in the textbook.
The ringing in my ears and the pounding in my head made me want to throw up but I couldn't feel my legs to get up and walk to the bathroom.
I lifted my arms away from me, my fingers shaking as I buried them into my hair, gripping the roots and tugging. My vision blurred and I closed my eyes, my chest feeling as if it was ripping open.
I felt everything going numb after a few minutes and I let the numbness overtake me, wanting to get away from the choking.
I laid there for what felt like hours, my breathing finally getting under control.