Free The Prince's Nanny by Carol Grace Page B

mused as the woman applied a light foundation to Sabrina’s face.
    The secretary smiled.  “It was my pleasure.  Mr. Monteverde is a demanding boss, but very fair and very generous.  But you already know that.”
    No, Sabrina didn’t know that.  Not at all.  She said nothing.
    Even at the nanny agency in San Francisco, every day was casual clothes day, which she wore over and over since no one saw her except her step-mother who would think it was extravagant for Sabrina to dress up.  She dealt with clients and nannies all over the world, but hardly any ever came into the office.
     Here in Italy, she was in another world.  First the villa and now this historic bank building in the heart of Italy’s fashion center.  From a nanny in rain-soaked sandals and all-cotton sports clothes arriving at a lake-side villa, she was suddenly in one of the most sophisticated cities in the world and expected to perform and moreover to look the part.  With this wardrobe she had a chance to do it.
    Right now she was tired, tired of playing a role she wasn’t prepared for and didn’t want.  All she wanted was to get back into her own clothes, go home and deal with children.  Not home in California.  Just to the villa.  The story-book villa with her gorgeous suite and the piles of lessons waiting to be taught.  Was that too much to ask?

Chapter Five
     
    Some minutes later Vittorio looked up from his chair at the head of the conference table to see Sabrina enter the room.  All heads turned in her direction and he very nearly dropped the remote control he was holding.  That was how different she looked.  It wasn’t only the form-fitting suit, nipped in at the waist and snug around the hips.  It wasn’t just her long legs on view and her high-heels.  It was her hair and face too.  What had happened?
    The way she looked, she could go anywhere in this sophisticated, fashion-conscious city and be admired.  In fact he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  He wasn’t the only one.  How did it happen?  He reminded himself to give his secretary a bonus for what she’d accomplished, turning an modestly attractive nanny into a show-stopping business woman. Especially if the merger went through.  There would be celebrations all around.
    “I would like to introduce my assistant from America, Signorina West,” he said.
    Everyone stood to shake her hand.  She smiled briefly, then took the control while he talked and explained the graphs, charts and bullet points projected on the big screen at the end of the table.  She had perfect timing that meshed with his.  Almost as if she’d been doing it all her life, that’s how poised she was.  She was definitely a different nanny than all the others.  Snakes notwithstanding.
    There were questions afterward and the discussion was in Italian which she obviously didn’t understand.  The comments were all positive which he hoped she was aware of.  He saw her look at the door.  He nodded.  But he didn’t want her to leave.  Not yet.
    “Ms West, I’ll be with you shortly,” he said as she opened the door and walked out.
    Finally the meeting was over and he found his nanny in his office chatting with his secretary.  When he opened the door they stopped abruptly.  He looked at Sabrina then at his secretary who excused herself.
    “Mirella, I’m leaving now.  Don’t forward my calls unless it’s an emergency.  I will check in with you later.  I’ll drive Ms West back to the Lago and I’ll be working at home this evening.”
    Mirella looked startled.  He knew it was unusual.  He never left early.  Why bother?  No one was waiting for him at home.  His children didn’t miss him.  His secretary glanced at Sabrina.  He hoped she didn’t have the wrong idea.  After all, everyone knew about his engagement to Aurora.  And they knew she was away on a business trip.  He didn’t blame Mirella for being surprised at his early departure.  His usual work day