"This is Harry."

Theodore's voice held such contempt that I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't the kind of man who would murder me in my sleep.

The air in my lungs had been stolen by some unseen force. "Excuse me?" I answered feebly. "There must be some mistake. I...I answered an ad for a seven-year-old boy."

Theodore looked straight at me and deadpanned. "I'm sorry if you misunderstood the situation. Harry has the intelligence of a seven-year-old. He's Intellectually Disabled. Was that not clear?"

No, you sick mofo, that wasn't clear! My brain screamed but this was not a friendly person and I didn't dare anger him further. Instead, I steadied my voice, saying, "I apologize, sir, but no that wasn't clear. Somehow I must have been confused about the exact circumstances. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but this isn't really what I was looking for. I don't think I can take this job after all. Can I get a ride back to the airport in the morning?"

I felt a little guilty for discussing this in front of Harry but he didn't appear to have any awareness of our exchange.

"I'm afraid you've already signed the contract, Ms. McGill."

Shit, I did sign a contract for one year, didn't I?

Summoning a bit more courage, I said, "His actual age was not clear in the contract. I was looking for a special needs child, under the age of ten, to work with. Not an adult."

"Harry is only seventeen," Theodore stated as if that made anything better.

"Still, he's much older than ten," I argued.

"Ms. McGill, I've gone to considerable trouble to get you here so please, I'd like to discuss this in the morning. Does that sound all right?" He attempted a smile, probably to placate me, but it looked more like he had gas.

"Fine," I nodded. "If you will please show me to my room."

He led the way to a plush suite. "I hope you'll be comfortable here," he stated without a hint of emotion.

"And my luggage?" I questioned.

"It will be brought to you, shortly. Is there anything else?"

"No, Mr. Styles. Thank you," I answered.

"Very well. And I insist you call me Theodore." He left without another word. For a man of such formality, I was surprised that he wanted us to be on a first-name basis.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pondered this strange and unfortunate mix-up. Why wouldn't he just specify clearly in the ad that Harry was a teen with an intellectual disability? Or in the interview? I was determined to check my own contract to see what I had missed and I would do so as soon as my bags arrived. I was certain that the right person would come along for just such an assignment, but it wasn't me.

I wandered back to the TV room where Harry still sat motionless, fixated on the show. "Hi," I said again, sitting down next to him. "Harry?" He didn't respond. I leaned into his field of vision.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I'm Juliette, remember? I came in with your father a little while ago."

"No," he mumbled. His eyes were bloodshot and droopy. Maybe he really didn't remember seeing me a few minutes ago.

"Well, what time do you normally go to bed, Harry? You look very tired."

"Whenever Nanny Kim tells me to." His previous nanny, no doubt. Although he'd definitely been alone when I arrived.

"She's not here anymore, Harry. I'm here. You can call me Jules."

"Jewels? Like necklaces and...earrings?" He asked, his eyes opening a little wider.

"Yes, just like that," I said, smiling graciously. "My full name is Juliette. You can call me either one."

"That's a pretty name," he said and if I wasn't mistaken, there was a hint of a smile on his face.

"Thank you. I think it's time for you to go to bed, Harry. You look very tired," I repeated.

"Okay," he said simply. He stood up and turned off the TV and then turned to me expectantly.

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked. "Do you need help getting ready for bed?"

"Pills," he stated flatly.

"What pills?" I asked.

"Pills!" He repeated, getting a little agitated, shifting from one foot to another.

"Okay, Harry, calm down. Where are your pills? I'll get them for you."

He started walking back and forth, wringing his hands and muttering, "I need pills. Can't go to bed without pills."

I stopped him by putting my hands on his shoulders and stooping just enough to look up into his face since his head was hung low. "Harry, I will get your pills," I said confidently. "Can you tell me where they are?"

"Nanny Kim's room. I can't go in there."

"Okay, let me just go get them." I silently prayed that they were somewhere in my bedroom which I assumed had belonged to Nanny Kim previously. Harry seemed awfully concerned about not getting his bedtime medications. It might have been just a little helpful if his dad would have told me the kid needed medication before bed. I looked everywhere in the suite, every dresser drawer, under the bed, inside the closet, everywhere. I sat on the bed again, feeling somewhat panicked. I could always call Theodore and ask about the meds but the guy terrified me, to be perfectly honest. Then I happened to look towards the en suite bathroom. "Of course," I muttered, racing for the cabinets inside. On the very top shelf, I finally found a huge tray full of pills with the label HARRY scrawled on it in permanent marker. "Couldn't be more clear than that, I guess," I muttered.

I brought the pills out to the kitchen, emptied the evening dose onto the table and poured Harry a glass of water. He was sitting at there, patiently waiting for his medication. He diligently took them, handed me the empty glass and said, "If I don't take my pills, I'll die."

I gasped in surprise but I didn't say anything. Why wouldn't Theodore tell me if Harry had some kind of life-threatening condition? I'd make a point to bring that up in the morning even if I was planning to leave. Such a serious piece of information shouldn't be neglected.

I looked around and my suitcase was still nowhere to be seen. I went out the first set of double doors and through the breezeway, but the second set of doors was firmly locked from the other side. "What the hell?" I grumbled. I knocked a few times, trying to get someone's attention but it didn't work.

At that point, I was so exhausted I didn't care. I just wanted to sleep. I only had my purse with me, so I had no way to remove my make up or brush my teeth. I went into the en suite and used the soap there to at least wash my face. Going back into the bedroom, I heard Harry calling, "Nanny Jules!"

I chuckled a little bit to myself. Harry didn't look one bit like an intellectually disabled person, but I knew that not everyone did. It was obvious by the way he acted that he was disabled but he was an undeniably cute and innocent kid.

"Yes, Harry," I said when I reached the door to his room.

"Can you read to me?"

"Sure," I smiled. Might as well earn my keep for one night. I didn't even care if I got paid at this point, I just hoped that Theodore would pay for me to get home since this didn't work out.

I sat on the edge of Harry's bed. He was dressed in a Power Rangers t-shirt and there was a stuffed Power Ranger figure on the pillow next to him. "Would you like me to read a Power Rangers book?" I guessed.

"Yes, please," he said sleepily. It made me chuckle again since his voice was deep and smooth like a man's voice, only trapped inside a child's mind. I grabbed a book from the basket next to his night stand. By the time I finished reading, he was fast asleep. I turned out the lamp in his room but left a small lamp on in the hallway for a night light, just in case.

I took off my shoes and curled up under the covers of the luxurious bed in my suite, wondering how the hell I could have fallen for such a ruse.

* * * * *

I'd love to hear your thoughts! <3