Confessions of a Teen Nanny 02 - Rich Girls (9 page)

will the real Parker

please stand up?

L iz rested her elbows on the table in the back of the Warners' kitchen. She had come upstairs to give Adrienne a hand with Emma, who sat across from Liz, her nose buried in a thick book. David giggled with Grumpus as they created a huge traffic jam on the table using several metal race cars. Heather had crawled under the table to avoid the antics of David and Grumpus and Emma's obvious disdain.

"How's it going in here?" Adrienne asked, coming back into the kitchen.

"Shockingly smoothly," Liz said. "So, how's the war going out there?"

Adrienne sighed. "My dress was a hit. I mean, Brian looked at me like I was his favorite dessert. But then . . . " Her voice trailed off.

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"But then Cameron snapped her fingers and dessert time was over?"

"Exactly," Adrienne said.

"That sucks," Liz said. She really hoped Adrienne would be able to win back Brian, but she had a feeling the longer Cameron had her claws into him, the harder it would be to pry him away.

"Can you go out and peek and see what they're doing?"Adrienne asked."Maybe Brian is trying to find me."

"Well . . . I'll take a look, but don't get your hopes up."

Liz peeked out the door. Darn. She couldn't see any- one. She slipped out and hoped if anyone spotted her she could just claim she was part of the catering crew.

She stepped into the hallway and ran into Isabelle.

"Oh, hi, Liz," Isabelle said morosely.

"Hi, Isabelle," Liz said. "Something wrong?"

"This party is a disaster," Isabelle moaned. "I got a stain on my dress, and they took the worst picture of me."

"I'm sure your dry cleaner can fix it," Liz said.

"I guess . . . but Parker suggested seltzer."

"What?" Did she just say Parker?

"Oh, yeah. He said it's some age-old stain-removal trick." She twisted one of her golden curls around her finger. "Who knew that a guy who looks like that could add housekeeping to his many charms."

"Parker is here?" Liz tried to figure out what that

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meant.The only explanation she could come up with was that Parker was taking Isabelle to the cotillion, too. Didn't Adrienne say the girls were bringing their cotillion escorts to this tea?

"Sure!" Isabelle smiled."He's over at the buffet getting seltzer. Isn't he the best?"

"Um, I gotta go, Isabelle," Liz said, suddenly having trouble breathing properly.

"See you in Aspen," Isabelle said.

Liz dodged her way through the crowd--she had to get back to the kitchen before Parker spotted her. She just didn't know how she'd behave if she saw him right now.

"Hey," Adrienne said, grabbing her friend's hand. "What's wrong?"

Liz fought back tears."Parker is out there with Isabelle."

Adrienne's face flooded with sympathy. "I was so focused on Brian that I never even noticed Parker was here," she said. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," Liz said. "Listen, can you watch Emma now? I really want to get out of here."

Adrienne nodded. "No prob."

Liz got Heather out from under the table, put David in charge of Grumpus, and left through the service entrance.

What is the deal? she wondered. Who is the real Parker? The sweet guy who treats me like a princess? Or the bad boy dat- ing the rich--and slumming with the help?

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On Sunday, Liz dragged her suitcase to 841 Fifth Avenue. She, the kids, and Dr. M-C were flying first class on an afternoon flight from LaGuardia. Liz was exhausted. She had barely slept, having spent the whole night after the tea worrying about Parker.

At least I'll be able to get some decent sleep in first class, she thought, stepping into the apartment.

"Liz, make Heather quit hitting Grumpus!" David shrieked, racing through the hall after Heather, who ran screaming from him.

"I didn't touch ANYONE!" she yelled."Because there is NOBODY THERE!"

"Hey!" Liz snapped. "Hey, hey, HEY!" She grabbed both kids and yanked them to a stop.

"What about--" David began.

"Grumpus, you too!" Liz ordered. "PLEASE stop!"

David and Heather pouted and glared at each other, but at least they were quiet.

Liz looked around."Where are your bags?" she asked.

"Mommy said you would pack them," Heather offered.

"We started," David said.

Liz sighed. At least they had started.

They walked into Heather's room."See?" the little girl said proudly, gesturing to the bed. A huge suitcase sat open on Heather's bed, completely stuffed with toys.

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"Uh, I don't think that's exactly what you'll need in Aspen," Liz said. If this is what Heather packed, what does David have stashed in his suitcase?

She dashed into David's room, suddenly aware of the time. David scurried around in front of her and stood in front of his bed. "Please don't tell?" he begged.

"Let me see what you packed," Liz said.

"Okay," he said in a small voice.

He stepped aside. On his bed were two suitcases-- both empty except for large plastic bags of candy corn he must have been hoarding since Halloween.

"Okay," Liz said, mustering all of the calm force that she could. "We have one hour. Only one hour to pack everything you need."

Soon, Liz had the kids gathering clothes, toys, and equipment for skating. Thank God I don't have to deal with skis, she thought.

"Now pack Grumpus!" David ordered. He handed her an empty suitcase.

"David, I really don't think--"

David plopped onto the floor, his face twisted with a barely contained sob.

"Okay, okay, okay," Liz said. "I'll pack for Grumpus as long as you finish your own packing.And," she added, see- ing him reach for the bags of candy, "only the things we have already agreed on."

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As they were finishing up, Dr. M-C walked in. "Everything ready?" she asked, shuffling through papers in her purse. "The car is downstairs."

"All set. Even Grumpus," Liz said.

Dr. M-C beamed. "Excellent!"

"Do we have a ticket for Grumpus?" David asked. "Do we, Mommy? Do we?"

For a moment, Dr. M-C looked startled, but then she quickly recovered."Ah, David," she said,"of course we do! One first class ticket for you, one for me, one for Heather"--she reached into her purse and pulled out an invisible ticket--"and one for Grumpus."

David frowned. "That's not a ticket," he said. "That's not really there."

"Well, then, David," Liz said,"if we can't see the ticket, that means it's not there. And if we can't see Grumpus, what does that mean?"

"It means Mommy has to look harder!" Dr. M-C said forcefully, shooting Liz a warning look. She reached back into her purse and pulled out a real ticket this time. She handed it to David. "For Grumpus."

"Thanks, Mommy!" David cheered.

Liz gulped. That was obviously her ticket. Am I not going now?

"Kids, go get the elevator!" Dr. M-C said."Liz will get your bags."

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As the children shuffled off, Liz turned to Dr. M-C, her mouth open.

Dr. M-C looked extremely miffed. "Don't worry, Elizabeth. I'll call my travel agent.We'll get you something else. But I don't know why you did that. I'm very disap- pointed."

"Did what?" Liz asked.

"Try to get David to admit that Grumpus is imagi- nary. And just when we're about to get started. If he gives up Grumpus now, I'll have no book."

"Sorry, Dr. Markham-Collins," Liz said.

"Now go help the children while I get your ticket arranged."

"Right," Liz said.

She bustled the kids and their luggage downstairs and helped the doormen load the car. Dr. M-C came down, and she and the kids climbed into the town car.

"Well, we're all set!" Dr. M-C said, slipping an e-ticket printed from the computer into Liz's hand.

Liz glanced at the ticket. Oh joy, she thought. I've been bumped down to coach by an invisible kid. And smack into a middle seat.

"This is going to be a loooooooong flight," she mut- tered.

118

putting the plan

in motion

"A driana," Mrs. Warner called from her bedroom. "Can you get my jewelry case?"

Adrienne sighed and looked around the large entrance hall of the Warner apartment. Piles of suitcases and boxes lined the walls, containing the things that the Warner family regarded as essential on a trip to Saint Moritz, the exclusive Swiss ski resort.

She picked up the heavy case and moved slowly, try- ing to support the case's awkward shape against her body. She placed it on the dressing table with a thud.

It startled Mrs. Warner, who frowned at her. "Really, Adriana," she muttered. Then she swiveled in her chair to face Adrienne squarely. "I didn't actually need that case," she confided. "I wanted to talk to you alone."

"Oh?" Adrienne said.

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"I have to say I was rather disappointed to see that boy Byron at the tea," Mrs. Warner said. "I had hoped you would have accomplished our little goal before then."

"I know, Mrs.Warner," Adrienne replied, "but the tea took up so much time. . . ."Though she was pretty pleased by the impact her dress had made on Brian at the tea party.

"Darling, I know!" said Mrs. Warner, turning to her reflection in the mirror and patting the skin under her eyes gently. "I'm exhausted just thinking of all the work I did."

"Uh, right," Adrienne continued. "It's just that I haven't had a chance to spend any time with Brian."

"Well, this vacation should change that," Mrs.Warner said decisively."While we are away, you have nothing to do but make certain that you get him out of the picture. I managed the Byron problem very deftly at the tea, but as long as he is skulking around Cameron, Mrs. Bleecker and Mrs.Van Tassel will make certain that she is passed over for Deb of the Year."

"I see," Adrienne said.

"Luckily the tea had the desired effect of keeping myself in their good graces," Mrs.Warner added."But with Cameron . . ."

"Don't worry," Adrienne said. "Now that we're on break I'm sure I'll be able to bring us back together."

"So, we're all set, then." Mrs. Warner stood up and glanced at her pink gold and diamond watch."Would you

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be a dear and make certain that everyone is ready?"

Adrienne nodded and left the dressing room. As she entered the hall, she saw Tania giving instructions to the porters who were gathering up the bags.

"For Miss Cameron, this is to be on the boards!" she said, racing up to one of the young men and handing him a pink leather Prada bag.

"What?" he asked.

"On board the jet," Adrienne explained.

"Is what I say. On the boards." Tania shoved the man toward the door. "Go, go, go!"

Emma wandered out of her room, reading an over- sized book.

"Light reading for the plane?" Adrienne asked.

"It's a book, a work, a tome, a volume . . . ," Emma began.

"Thesaurus, right?"

"Correct, right, accurate, exact, truthful . . . ," Emma said, leafing through the huge book. "Bye, Adrienne. See you in a week." Emma left, dragging a Prada backpack stuffed full of huge dictionaries and thesauruses.

I wish the au pair at the resort good luck taking care of Emma, Adrienne thought.

Cameron strutted out of her room, wearing a skintight Gucci apr�s-ski outfit. "Oh, hi, Adrienne," she said. She smiled and cocked her head. "Be a dear and take care of

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Brian for me while I'm away? He'll be so lonely." Her smile turned into a sneer. "And I know I can trust him with someone like you."

She scooped up her dog, Bisquit, who whimpered and shook by the door, terrified by all the commotion."Ciao," she chirped, and headed for the elevator.

Oh, I'll take care of Brian, all right, Adrienne thought, watching the elevator doors close on the sickening sight of Cameron's smug face. Don't you worry.

"What in the devil do you mean that Debi is coming with us?" Mr. Warner bellowed behind Adrienne. She turned and saw Mrs. Warner wringing her hands as Mr. Warner blustered down the hall. Debi LaDeux stood beside Mrs.Warner, imperious as ever.

"But Cameron has to keep practicing," Mrs. Warner insisted. "Without Debi, she'll fall behind. She made it through the debutante tea, but she'll never survive the ball without constant supervision."

"Well, as long as Cameron's complaining doesn't ruin this vacation, I suppose it's all right," Mr.Warner said.

"You won't regret it, suh," Debi drawled.

"With what you're charging, I already do," Mr.Warner grumbled.

"Darling!" Mrs.Warner exclaimed.

Debi behaved as if she didn't hear him. "Ah'll just head on downstairs." She left the apartment.

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"Where is everybody?" Mr.Warner demanded.

"Why, I think . . . well . . ." Mrs.Warner glanced around and spotted Adrienne. "Yes, Adriana, where IS every- body?"

"Emma and Cameron are already downstairs," Adrienne said.

"And I'm right here," Graydon said, wandering into the hallway. "What's up?"

"We're trying to leave," Mr.Warner said."Now can we please get out of here!"

"Sure, Dad," Graydon said. "Don't have a stroke."

Mr. Warner strode out of the apartment, Graydon trailing behind him. As Graydon passed Adrienne he moved closer and whispered,"I'll keep myself warm think- ing about you. . . ." He tried to brush her ear with his lips, but Adrienne backed away quickly.

And I'll try to keep from throwing up, Adrienne thought.

Graydon winked and followed his dad into the elevator.

"So, we're off," Mrs.Warner said to Adrienne."I left a Christmas gift for you in the kitchen. Thank you for tak- ing care of the plants while we're gone," she added."As you know, no one will be here. Bye, Adriana. Happy Christmas--and remember our plans!"

I wonder what my present is, Adrienne thought after Mrs. Warner left. She walked into the kitchen, where a pretty phalenopsis orchid sat with a large card tied to its

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velvet bow. Pretty, but useless. An envelope sat propped up against the terra-cotta planter.

She slipped open the envelope. It was full of cash! There was also a note from Mrs.Warner on her thick gray stationery: You and Byron make such a cute couple! COW

Adrienne stretched out on the sofa. A Fifth Avenue apartment all to myself, a Warner-free break, an envelope full of hundreds, and Cameron's permission to keep Brian from feeling lonely while she's away. It finally feels like Christmas!

Adrienne grinned. Cameron meant her comment as a put-down.Well, she was going to live to regret tossing out those words at Adrienne so carelessly.

Before she lost her nerve,Adrienne pulled out her cell and hit Brian's speed-dial number.As soon as she heard the phone ring on the other end, her stomach clenched. How was Brian going to respond if she asked him out? He'd turned her down twice already. Am I crazy?

She was about to click her phone shut when a woman's voice answered. Brian's mom.

"Hello?" Mrs. Grady said.

Adrienne bit her lip. Will Mrs. Grady think I'm a total loser for calling Brian after he dumped me? She cleared her throat and put on a cheery voice."Hi there, Mrs. Grady, it's Adrienne Lewis."

"Adrienne!" Mrs. Grady said warmly.Adrienne let out the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. "We

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haven't seen you for a while. How have you been?"

"Okay," Adrienne said. "Well, I guess you know that Brian and I aren't really seeing each other these days."

"I'm sorry, honey," Mrs. Grady replied."I had guessed something like that had happened when he began talking about this Cameron person, and you stopped coming over for dinner. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine,"Adrienne assured her, not wanting to come across as pathetic. "Is Brian around?"

"No," Mrs. Grady said. "Cameron got him an intern- ship at Wrecker Records over the holidays.That's where he is now."

"Thanks, Mrs. Grady," Adrienne said. "I'll give him a call over there."

"All right, Adrienne," she said. She paused, and then added, "You know, Adrienne, I probably shouldn't say this, because you kids have to make your own decisions, but I hope you can patch things up."

"Me too, Mrs. Grady," said Adrienne. "Me too."

"Wrecker," an operator answered. "How may I help you?"

"I'm looking for an intern named Brian Grady?" Adrienne said.

"One moment please." Hip-hop music blared as the operator put Adrienne on hold.

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"Devlin Media Corp Human Resources," a busy female voice said.

"I'm trying to reach Brian Grady," Adrienne said. "He's an intern at Wrecker?"

"It is not company policy to connect people with interns.They aren't supposed to take personal calls."

"Well, it's really important that I speak with him," Adrienne said.

"As I said, it's not our policy. I can't help you."

Adrienne started to panic. I only have limited time to win Brian back from Cameron--I have to get started NOW!

She caught a glimpse of herself surrounded by the Warners' opulent furniture. "Listen," she said, in her most adult voice, "I suggest that you connect me with Brian immediately."

"And why, may I ask?" the woman asked, obviously irritated.

"Because my name is Adrienne Lewis, I am calling from Christine Warner's office, and I am a personal friend of Mr. Parker Devlin," Adrienne said.

Silence.

"Uh, I'll put you right through, Ms. Lewis," said the voice, now terrified.

"Thank you," Adrienne said with satisfaction.

A moment later, Brian got on the line.

"Hey, Bri," said Adrienne. "It's me. I didn't get to talk

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to you much at the tea. How are you?"

"Uh, I'm cool, Adrienne. What's up? How'd you find me here?"

"Your mom."

"Oh," Brian said.

Well, this is awkward,Adrienne thought. How do I make this more normal?

"Listen, do you want to go grab a coffee?" she blurted. "The Warners are off to Aspen, Liz is on her way to Aspen, Tamara and Lily are both busy, even Tania and Kane are gone, and I'm bored out of my mind."

Brian laughed."Actually, you sound pretty caffeinated already."

Adrienne laughed too. "Okay, maybe I should have some nice green tea."

"Nah, you never were one for the organic stuff."

"You either," Adrienne pointed out, encouraged that he hadn't found an excuse to get off the phone. "At least I'm not afraid of tofu."

"Hey! Food shouldn't jiggle," Brian protested."It's just wrong."

"So what do you say?" she pressed. "We'll go to a tofu-free zone."

Brian paused, and Adrienne crossed her fingers.

"Sure, why not," he said. "How about Starbucks at Fifty-Seventh and Lex, around six?"

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"Perfect. See you then." Adrienne clicked off. "Yes!" she shrieked, jumping into the air.Then she glanced at the clock. She had forty minutes to change into something of Cameron's and meet Brian.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Adrienne giggled. "The lead singer of Stud can only work if he brings his teddy bear?"

Brian nodded."Someone put it in the lost-and-found and he totally freaked."

"I don't know, Bri, you are seriously messing with my worldview," Adrienne said, grinning over her second mocha eggnog latte.

"You always said Stud was a bunch of posers anyway," Brian reminded her. "You could say I'm strengthening your argument."

"Hmm. Good point,"Adrienne said. She took a sip of her coffee drink.The peaks of foam tickled her nose.

Brian grinned at her.

"What?" she asked.

He reached forward. "The foam. You look like you have snow on your nose." He dabbed her nose with a napkin.

Adrienne shut her eyes, barely able to contain her glee. This is such a boyfriend thing for him to do.

Her eyes flicked open again. "Thanks," she said.

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"Yeah . . . ," he said. His voice trailed off as he studied her face.

She suddenly grew self-conscious. Is he comparing me with Cameron? I hope he doesn't recognize this outfit.

After a brief awkward moment, Brian and Adrienne quickly found themselves chatting away as if there was no tension between them at all. Brian even ignored the beeps of his cell phone. Adrienne carefully avoided any mention of Cameron, and Brian did the same.

"It seems like you really love being at Wrecker," she said.

"It's awesome," Brian said. "And it's not just meeting all these rockers. It's cool watching how a song comes together.The way things get manipulated in the studio."

"Do you want to learn to engineer?" Adrienne asked.

Brian shrugged. "Maybe," he said. He wrapped his hands around his mug and glanced at his watch. "Wow, is that the time?" he said. "We've been talking for two hours!"

"No wonder I'm hungry," Adrienne said, hoping he'd get the hint.

He gazed into her eyes again. "I forgot how easy it is to talk to you," he said."Cam just isn't all that interested in stuff like--" He cut himself off and stared down at his coffee mug.

I'm not going to let Cam screw this up for me. Especially

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since she isn't even here, Adrienne thought. "It's okay," she said. "You can say her name."

Brian nodded and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Right," he said, a slight flush rising in his cheeks. "But I don't want to talk about her right now."

"Fine by me," Adrienne said.

"So, you want to grab some dinner?" he asked.

It's working! "Sure," she said. "I'll call my parents." She reached into her bag and felt around."Oh, no! I left my cell on the kitchen table at the Warners'. I need to go back and get it."

"Okay," Brian said. "I'll call my mom and let her know. Then we can stop by the Warners', grab your phone, and figure out where to eat."