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This was not part of the job description. It was not in any single clause or even in the fine print; she would know, she’d gone over the whole thing with a fine-toothed comb before ever agreeing to sign anything. So how, by the whip of Indiana Jones, did she end up in this position?
Big, wide green eyes looked up at her and blinked through a fringe of light golden blond hair.
Babysitting was not part of her contract.
“It’s just for the day,” Emilie had said, clasping her hands before her chest. “He won’t be a problem for you at all, Adrien is a perfect angel!”
Oh yes. That was how.
Now Emilie’s eyes were staring up at her from the somewhat chubby face of a five-year-old boy. That, she thought, was distinctly unfair. Her dear friend might think her son was a perfectly well-behaved angel, but isn’t that what all parents thought of their children no matter how much evidence to the contrary was presented?
Nathalie had so much work to do and no time for any childish antics. She suppressed a heavy sigh and absently readjusted her glasses. There was nothing for it as she was already beyond the point of no return, the youngest member of the Agreste family would be her responsibility for the day.
It was eight o’clock in the morning. Today was going to be a long day.
She peered down at her clipboard then at the boy. “I have a very busy schedule, so you will need to keep up. Do you understand?”
Adrien gave a cheery little hum of agreement and nodded once or twice.
Well, he was quiet at least. She wasn’t sure how long any good behaviour would last, but she would take what she could get. She gave him a short, sharp nod. “Very well. Come along then and do your best to stay quiet.”
There was no hum this time, but he did give an enthusiastic nod as an answer. It was an encouraging sign, small as it was. Nathalie set off at her usual brisk pace. The sound of hurried footsteps behind her let her know he was following, just as instructed.
The pitter-patter shadowed her like a personal backing soundtrack. It was like a clock, though softer and far more irregular than the ticking of any clock. Whenever the sound stopped, it started back up again a few seconds later. The next time the footsteps stopped, Nathalie glanced back to see the boy peering at something, clearly curious for whatever reason. Adrien shook his head slightly and began following her again without looking back.
A five-year-old able to curb their natural curiosity? She couldn’t help but be impressed. Perhaps the day would go more smoothly than she had feared.
An hour passed before she knew it. Her little blond shadow had kept up and remained quiet, just as promised. It was gratifying, and very appreciated that her work was indeed not impeded, but it was also, dare she say it, rather eerie.
Children were loud, rambunctious, constantly moving and making noise, asking inane questions, and making endless observations about whatever tiny thing caught their fleeting attention.
Adrien was far too restrained, holding in all of the words and energy that Nathalie was sure were being pent up. Had Emilie and Gabriel really trained him so well? Or were they just exceedingly lucky?
Could parents train a child like they would a pet dog?
Nathalie mentally shook the thought away. Children were not pets, no matter how beastly they could behave sometimes. A tug on her pant leg made her look down. The boy was staring up at her pleadingly, bottom lip pinched lightly between teeth.
“What is it?” she asked brusquely.
Adrien looked around, saw someone walking nearby, and scooted an inch closer. “May I please have a cup of water?” he asked in a whisper.
She spotted her next target thirty feet ahead, briskly walking away on shiny high heels. Nathalie had to catch up and get an update report from the woman. “In a moment.”
“Okay…”
The tug disappeared and Nathalie surged ahead, eyes fixed on her goal.
When the world reasserted itself back into her field of focus, she found her little shadow gone. Oh no, she’d lost him. She’d lost the one and only Agreste heir. Her career, if not her life, were over.
Not one ounce of her panic showed on her face. The only indication was a slightly faster pace as she set off in search of the young boy. He couldn’t have gotten too far, she merely needed to look around and retrace her steps. She had it all under control, it would turn out fine. He likely wandered off to stare at something for too long, that was all. He was around here somewhere.
Five minutes of searching later, Nathalie was considering pulling some of her hair out in frustration. Sweet sarcophagi, finding ancient treasures was easier than this!
It was nine twenty-two in the morning.
Simply asking around would only ensure that word of her search made it back to either Agreste parent, and that was not permissible in the slightest. This had to remain a secret and solo mission. She only had to approach this situation as though someone had hired her to find an elusive treasure. Yes, that was it, that was the mindset she needed. None of this useless panic.
Nathalie mentally pulled herself together, took a deep breath, and started walking. Door, door, person, door, two more people, a little hallway with a water cooler, Adrien Agreste, door-
She stopped abruptly, nearly rolling an ankle in her heels.
“Nathalie!”
Adrien jogged over to her, carefully holding a disposable cup half full of water.
Oh no, he’d wanted a drink. She’d denied him, brushed him off until a later time, and he’d obviously spotted the water cooler and taken the matter into his own hands. She couldn’t even blame the kid for whatever heart condition and grey hairs she’d gained from the last ten minutes.
“I’m glad you stayed by the water cooler,” she settled on saying.
The boy ducked his head, scuffing a toe into the floor. “I was really thirsty, and I saw the water, and I thought I could be quick but when I got the water I couldn’t see you anymore, so I stayed here and hoped you’d find me. And you did! I’m really sorry for wandering off…”
He was the very picture of childish remorse. If he was a dog, his head, ears, and tail would be firmly dropped down and tucked. The eyes were the same when he glanced up - big, wide, and oozing guilt while pleading for forgiveness.
“It’s fine,” she said somewhat stiffly. “Just don’t do it again, and I shall try better to listen to you.”
“Okay,” he said. He sniffled, trying and failing to discreetly wipe any gathered moisture from his eyes.
A pang of guilt for causing tears struck her but she ruthlessly squashed it. Why should she feel bad when it was the boy that had disobeyed? How silly. She gestured for him to follow, and he padded along behind her quietly just as before. Now and then, Nathalie would peek to see if he was still there.
She made it to her next goal on the schedule six, almost seven, minutes late. This time Adrien stood by her side, occasionally sipping from his cup but staying close and quiet. The appointment wrapped up quickly - Nathalie liked efficient people - and then it was off to the next, all the way across the building and two floors up.
Nathalie stopped for a moment as Adrien located a recycling bin and dropped the plastic cup inside with a grin. Two appointments later, thankfully back on schedule, there was another tug on her clothes.
“What is it?” She tried to temper her tone to something more friendly than frustrated and thought she did a remarkable job.
“I need to go,” he whispered.
“Go where?” she asked.
He pulled his knees together. “I need to go!” he repeated emphatically.
What was he trying to get at- Oh. Of course. Nature was calling and he had to answer.
“Yes, of course. I’ll take you to the nearest bathroom.”
Matching words with action, she escorted the boy to the closest place and waited for him. Her eyes kept flitting between the bathroom entrance and her watch as she wrestled with the urge to tap a foot. It felt like she had just gotten back on schedule when she was forced off her nice, routine path once again.
Every second that ticked by was like throwing money down a drain, something you were never going to get back.
Adrien reappeared, his whole demeanour rather chipper, a bright smile lighting up his face.
Nathalie resumed her role of mother duck, with Adrien as her fluffy yellow duckling, faithfully following her as she went from place to place. Those seven minutes were clawed back by a brisk pace, no more interruptions, and a highly efficient manner that Nathalie prided herself on.
It was now twelve twenty-eight. She was ahead of schedule now. Excellent, even if it was only by two minutes.
“Excuse me,” said Adrien. “I’m hungry. Can we have lunch?”
Oh yes, she needed to feed the child as well. At least it was, in fact, time for lunch. “Yes, we can have some lunch,” she said, heading for the cafeteria section. “What would you like?”
“Mama likes me to eat salads and pasta.”
Nathalie nearly raised an incredulous eyebrow. What sort of five-year-old wanted salad for lunch? Maybe the Agrestes’ chef was just that good. She would have to see what the cafeteria offered and hope it was good enough for young Adrien’s refined palate. When they got there, Nathalie nearly huffed at the sight of so many people.
She was quickly spotted, and some people hastily moved aside, unwilling to block the path of Emilie and Gabriel’s personal assistant. Several more jumped out of the way when they spotted the youngest Agreste next to her. No one wanted to obstruct the young boy, though they all craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the child.
Many people seemed to like children on principle, but Adrien had a particular factor of adorability that attracted people to ogle him. Nathalie had to admit, even to herself, that Adrien was a cute child. Nice features, inherited from both of his rather attractive parents, and a pleasant, quiet demeanour made him much more appealing than the average child that squealed, cried, yelled, ran off, and threw tantrums.
The line at the cafeteria melted away before them. Impressed, respectful or scared looks were what she received, while wide-eyed stares, enamoured looks, and coos were given to Adrien. They flowed over him like water off a duck's back and he simply smiled shyly and gave a few quick waves.
Nathalie reached the counter. What was with her and duck analogies today? She didn’t even like ducks that much! She scanned the menu and found a nice salad with grilled chicken pieces. She pointed at it. “How about this?”
Adrien nodded, though his eyes darted across to a chocolate mousse dessert that was available, the longing clear in his green gaze.
His parents would not approve, especially his father, but he had been very well behaved so far. Not counting the water cooler incident. Surely the boy would keep a teeny tiny secret in return? She wouldn’t mind a treat herself.
Nathalie ordered her own meal, then Adrien’s. “And two chocolate mousse,” she added quietly.
The cafeteria worker tapped his nose twice and made no fuss about adding the desserts to the tray, complete with napkins and spoons.
She took the tray, grateful that lunches were provided for employees for free. Breakfast and dinner weren’t, but most people were not here early or late enough for that to matter. Nathalie led him to a table as far from the flow and view of foot traffic as possible.
Adrien’s gaze was glued to the mousse before he looked at her inquiringly.
“Eat your chicken and salad first,” she said.
Oh wow, that sounded just like something a parent would say. Is this how Emilie and Gabriel spoke to him? Nathalie had never considered herself the maternal type, so this was uncomfortable territory and she mentally tried to backpedal.
“Okay!” Adrien chirped.
Just like a baby bird. No, stop thinking about birds. She was such a birdbrain today. No! No more bird related analogies, metaphors or comparisons! Enough was enough.
She grabbed a mousse and a spoon, placing both in front of the widely smiling youngster when his meal was finished. The poor boy was practically vibrating in anticipation, bouncing subtly in the chair.
“Thank you!” he said, wasting no time digging in.
It wasn’t hard to see, no matter how averse to children she may be, that Adrien was enjoying every single mouthful of mousse. He was so engrossed in his treat that he seemed blissfully unaware of her observation or the looks and chatter that filled the area.
His baby fat cheeks were rosy red from the cold treat. His fluffy golden hair couldn’t quite hide the gleam in his eyes; a bright, happy shine that exuded joy with all the innocence of childhood. When the last of the treat was consumed, Adrien spent several seconds licking the remnants off the spoon.
Now that she was looking, Nathalie could easily see all of the smiles from earlier were PR smiles, meant only to appease the crowds into thinking he was happy. The grin he was sporting after eating one little dessert was genuine and she felt her own muscles force her face into smiling without any conscious input.
It felt weird. When had genuinely smiling become a foreign sensation?
Smiling was by no means unpleasant, but it also didn’t help her work get done any faster. On the contrary, a welcoming smile invited many people to try and chat, make small talk. That was the last thing Nathalie, and her strict schedule could afford. An implacable expression was efficient, not inviting, and made other people more efficient in turn.
She wiped it off her face, put the rubbish in the nearby bin, and beckoned the child to follow once more. He easily complied, his radiant smile still going full force. This one was going to be a heartthrob to the girls when he was older. There was not even a smidgeon of doubt that the girls would be falling all over themselves for his attention in a few years.
Good thing the boy was already homeschooled - he’d be eaten alive at any educational facility.
One minute past one o’clock. An acceptable deviation considering current circumstances.
The next hour passed in a monotonous fashion, though Adrien stayed calm and quiet the entire time. Perhaps Emilie hadn’t been exaggerating when she called the boy an angel. He’d certainly behaved far beyond her expectations. His presence, silent though it was, brought some small degree of comfort as the day wore on.
Far more people than usual were smiling in her direction too. She attributed that to some strange magic the boy held that drew smiles from people like moths to a flame. Did all children possess this ability or was it something only few could master? It might even be something intrinsic to Adrien himself, odd yet endearing as he was compared to others his age.
The quiet patter of his feet behind her own sharply heeled footsteps morphed from an annoyance to something reassuring. If the pitter-patter stopped, Nathalie always glanced about, fearful of losing him again. Not only because her job and friendship with his parents would be on the line, but she didn’t want to hear on the news about a kidnapping or ransom involving the child.
She liked him just the way he was, with his sunny disposition.
…it would appear that he had grown on her if she was admitting she liked him, even if it was only in the privacy of her own mind.
Well, he wasn’t terrible that was for sure.
The next time she looked at a clock it said twelve past four. There was another tug on her clothes, and she turned to Adrien expectantly. “Yes?”
“Can I have another drink? Please?”
Perfect, a chance to make up for earlier. “Of course, let’s go find a cooler. Tell me if you see one, okay?”
Adrien beamed and bounced on the balls of his feet. “Okay!”
Why she felt the need to make up for his own disobedience baffled her, but it seemed like the right thing to do. His happy expression was a reward for following that feeling. Nathalie pushed aside the need to meet her next scheduled thing on time and followed behind the boy. Now the duckling was surging ahead, safe under the older duck’s watchful eyes.
They found a water cooler within two minutes. There seemed to be quite a number tucked away in little nooks if this was any indication. Now armed with a cup filled with water, Adrien resumed his place behind her, waddling along carefully so he didn’t spill a drop.
Two more appointments down and one side trip to a rubbish bin later, Nathalie had completed everything on her schedule. It was only four forty-eight. A whole twelve minutes early. How in the name of Howard Carter had she managed that with a child in tow? It just did not make a lick of sense to her poor bamboozled mind.
Five o’clock was the end of her working day. With nothing else to do, Nathalie headed for the spot she always met with at least one of her employers - Gabriel Agreste's office. Adrien started to drag his feet a little and she slowed her pace to match. She wasn’t in any rush and the poor boy was probably tired from all of the brisk walking he'd been doing since eight o’clock this morning.
Despite the slow pace, they still arrived three minutes early and she wasn’t sure if she should knock now or wait. Being early might throw off her fashion designer boss or interrupt a last-minute idea, and that would be disastrous for all involved.
The door opened and she suddenly found the choice taken out of her hands. She blinked at Emilie.
“Nathalie! There you are! I’ve been waiting,” the blond woman said emphatically. She waved the pair inside.
Oh no, maybe she should have knocked straight away?
“Adrien, my little angel!” she exclaimed, leaning down and grabbing the boy in a hug as he walked by. “I hope you’ve been good for Nathalie.”
He didn’t say a word and Nathalie realised he was remembering the water cooler incident, fully expecting to get in trouble for it. “He was no trouble at all,” she spoke up, determined to gloss over it.
He glanced at her; shock written all over his face. Then he gave her a shy smile, gratitude in his eyes.
This boy had to have some sort of magical power; she’d swear by it.
Emilie clapped her hands, leaving them clasped before her chest. “Wonderful! I don’t suppose you would be up for looking after him again if need be?”
Nathalie straightened her posture, her eyes flicking between child and mother for the briefest moment. “I would be amenable to the idea.”
“Do you hear that, dear? Nathalie and Adrien are good friends now,” she said somewhat theatrically.
“I heard,” the man answered. “It is good news.”
Gabriel was not the most emotive or conversational of men she would admit, although not out loud. Still, the lack of reprimands and cutting comments meant that he was pleased by how things had gone and was grateful in his own way.
“Did you have fun with Nathalie, sweetie?”
“Yeah, she’s really nice! And she’s super good at talking to people. They all like to talk to her and do stuff for her, it’s amazing,” Adrien said.
From a five-year-old it was a glowing report indeed. Nathalie smiled at him, getting one in return. Today had been different, that was for sure, but not in a bad way. No, Nathalie could get used to such occurrences happening more in the future. It was nice having her own duckling for a while, and there was no better duckling than little Adrien Agreste.