Chapter 8: Uncomfortable Situations

Sarah thought she could be sick at that moment. Firstly, she was still getting used to Mr. Reed calling her Sarah instead of Miss Johnson. She didn't feel like they were intimate enough for that when he asked if he could call her like that, but since he also called the other staff by their first name, she didn't want to overthink it.

Secondly, it was rare for Mr. Reed to be at home so early. And thirdly, she wasn't expecting to be introduced directly to the woman. After everything she had heard about Alana, it took her a great effort to be polite and courteous with Mr. Reed's girlfriend or whatever.

"Hello, Miss Campbell," she said with the kindest voice she could. "It's very nice to meet you."

Alana was behind Mr. Reed and looked at her from head to toe before saying anything.

"Oh, hello, dear. The pleasure is all mine."

Sarah hoped her face didn't show any trace of her disgust for the woman's greeting. It didn't take an expert to notice that Alana was being the fakest and most cunning person on Earth. Was Mr. Reed that unaware about how she was?

Sarah returned her attention to the puzzle and Benjamin, who was now slightly getting closer to his nanny and further away from the newcomers. This was something that didn't go unnoticed by her.

Sarah made a mental note to remember to ask Benjamin about his uncle's friend later. Why did he look so afraid of her? He was a very likable and talkative guy, and with time, Sarah also noticed how Benjamin got along with everyone, even strangers that came to the house every once in a while to fix or deliver something. So why would he be afraid of someone like Alana?

If Mr. Reed was that observant, he would've noticed that the atmosphere wasn't bright at the moment. In fact, it had become tense as soon as they entered the room.

Alana walked forward and sat on the couch near Sarah, while Victor sat on the table and started to roll up his sleeves. He looked very unbothered, observing Benjamin playing with the puzzle.

"What did you do today, Ben?" he asked, leaning against the chair and spinning it from one side to the other like he was an anxious teenage boy.

Sarah couldn't pretend that Alana wasn't there, because she could feel her back burning with the woman's stare, but continued to play with Benjamin like there wasn't anyone there.

The little boy looked up and away when his eyes met Alana's. He stared at his uncle and opened a smile.

"I learned how to count from one to ten in Spanish," he said excitedly, waiting for his uncle to give him a big compliment.

"Really?" Victor widened his eyes in surprise. He glanced at Sarah for a brief second before looking back at his nephew. "That's incredible, Ben. Well done!"

That was enough for Benjamin's eyes to shine and Sarah felt her heart warming up. But the happy moment didn't last long. Mr. Reed received a call and had to get out of the room for a few minutes to answer it.

Sarah cursed inside her mind. Alana didn't seem to be willing to move and go after him. In fact, as soon as he left, she got up and started to walk around the room like she owned the place.

"So, you're the new nanny. Victor talks a lot about you. I couldn't understand why, but now I kind of do." She concluded the sentence with a very accusatory tone in her voice.

Sarah dropped one of the pieces from the puzzle and looked up, telling herself to stay calm and not reply. For some reason, it pissed her off to hear Alana call Mr. Reed by his name. It only confirmed that they were intimate enough for that. But it was also very clear that the woman wanted to provoke her and Sarah wouldn't let her.

"What do you mean… Miss Campbell?" she added, feeling the bitter taste of saying her name with such formality. If she could, she wouldn't even answer her.

"Well, you are quite something, I have to confess. Pretty, kind, polite. But that doesn't mean anything, right? I thought I had to be worried about you, but that makes me want to laugh at myself right now. How could I even think that? You're a nanny." Alana spat the last word like it was some kind of plague.

"Worried about me?" Sarah asked, curiously, ignoring the last part. "Why would you be worried about me?"

Alana bit her tongue and clenched her teeth, which made Sarah feel very good about herself. She got on her nerves. Of course she wouldn't confess being afraid of losing Victor to someone like Sarah, but she probably wasn't expecting Sarah to be so daring.

Whatever she was about to answer, she didn't have the chance to, because Victor came back at that exact moment.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, looking from Alana to Sarah and noticing that the mood was different from when he left.

"Nothing, Victor." She took a few steps forward and passed one of her hands around his arm, leaning her head against his shoulder and staring deadly at Sarah. "We were just getting to know each other a bit."

Victor looked at Sarah, but she diverted her attention back to the puzzle. Benjamin was still by her side and was looking at the scene with very attentive eyes.

Sarah wasn't enjoying the atmosphere and was dying to get out of there with the little kid. Didn't the couple have anything better to do than watch a nanny and a five-year-old boy playing with a stupid puzzle?

But Victor didn't seem to be willing to leave any time soon. And an idea occurred to Sarah, on how to leave the room without being too obvious that she was just trying to escape from them.

"Er… Benjamin and I decided to do a picnic today so… If you excuse us, we must be going before it gets dark. Right, Ben?" She looked at the kid, praying that he played along with her story.

He got up instantly, bouncing like a basketball.

"Yes! Let's go!"

Sarah got up and grabbed his hand, excusing herself and leaving the room before Mr. Reed could say anything to prevent them from going.

She let out a sigh as soon as she got downstairs, giving Benjamin a high-five. They both laughed and she asked for his help to prepare a few things for the picnic, since she hadn't prepared anything.

They opened a big towel in the garden and when she was convinced that she wouldn't have to deal with Mr. Reed or Alana again, the man showed up coming towards them. Alone.