The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella. Carol Marinelli

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СКАЧАТЬ wasn’t a part of the family, though.

      On a day such as Christmas, her role was to make it as seamless and as stress-free for the new mother as possible. And Naomi usually ate in her room alone.

      This year, though, would be different as it was her best friend whose baby she would be taking care of.

      Merida, an actress, had come to New York City with Broadway on her mind and, sure enough, had landed a part in a new production called Night Forest.

      She had never made it to opening night, though.

      Pregnant by Ethan Devereux, she had said goodbye to her acting career and entered into a marriage of convenience.

      Although, inconveniently for Merida, she was head over heels in love with her husband.

      Naomi had had reservations about accepting the job.

      Ethan and Merida had insisted that she be paid, and though they were probably just trying to be nice, it would have been easier on Naomi to have been asked to stay as a friend.

      But she was concerned for Merida and that was why she had agreed to take the post.

      As the cabin lights were dimmed for landing, Naomi looked out of the small, moisture-streaked window. There wasn’t much to see, just snow-laden clouds, but then her breath caught as jutting up in the distance she saw the iconic skyline rising out from gunmetal-grey water and it sent a frisson of excitement through Naomi. She was here—actually here. And for someone who had never been out of the United Kingdom it was an exciting moment indeed.

      The plane banked for its final approach but that first glimpse of the city left a smile on Naomi’s face.

      Naomi had freshened up as best she could after breakfast had been served but she took out her compact and checked her reflection. She was excited to see Merida but her reflection showed tiredness. Her dark chocolate curls were limp and beneath her deep blue eyes were dark smudges. Her very pale complexion had turned to pure white.

      A sleep would fix that, she told herself.

      Naomi was determined to beat jet lag at its own game and stay awake for the entire day.

      It was beyond exciting to be here and she wore her smile through baggage collection, though she felt it wane a touch at customs.

      All the paperwork had been arranged but still she felt very nervous when she told them that, yes, she was here to work.

      ‘A nanny?’ the border security official checked, and took the folder containing all of Naomi’s paperwork and had a through read through of it. ‘For the Devereuxes?’

      ‘Yes, there’s a letter from Mr Ethan Devereux and if there are any problems...’

      ‘There’s no problem.’

      Her passport was stamped and she was on her way.

      The ground staff were lively and funny, blowing into their hands and telling her it was bitterly cold as she awaited her baggage.

      ‘You’ll need a coat, Miss,’ one said as she passed.

      ‘I’m getting one!’ Naomi called back. ‘I’m headed straight to the shops.’

      She had, a few days previously, left her good coat on a train and had been about to buy one for her trip when it had dawned on her she was heading to the shopping capital of the world. Naomi had decided her first stop would be the city’s most famous department store.

      For now she had to make do with a rather flimsy jacket and a thick scarf that she would put over her long dark hair before heading outside.

      Naomi had a lot of luggage.

      Well, two cases and her hand luggage.

      It was, though, her entire world that she carried in those bags.

      She lived wherever work took her. In between jobs she aimed to take a brief holiday, but Naomi didn’t have a home as such. She had shared a flat with Merida for a couple of years, which had been brilliant, but since then she had lived with the families she’d cared for. Generally, she arrived two weeks before the baby’s due date and stayed between six and eight weeks after the baby was born.

      And she was tired of it.

      Not so much her work, as exhausting as it was.

      Naomi was just tired of living out of suitcases.

      As she stepped into the arrivals lounge Naomi scanned the crowd for a glimpse of Merida, who was generally unmissable with her shock of red hair, although, given how cold it was, she may well be wearing a hat. Or, given that the baby was due on December the fourteenth, she may well have not made it to the airport. As she wheeled her trolley Merida saw a sign with her name on it held by an older man in a black suit.

      ‘I’m Naomi Hamilton,’ she said.

      ‘Guest of?’ the gentleman asked.

      Clearly security was tight around the family, Naomi thought as her status was double checked. ‘Merida Devereux.’

      ‘Then come this way.’ He smiled. ‘Here, let me help you with that...’ He took over the trolley. ‘Where’s your coat?’

      Naomi told him her plan to get one as they walked and it really was freezing outside.

      ‘Jump in,’ he told her when they reached the car. Naomi didn’t need to be asked twice and sat in the back, watching the world go by as her cases were loaded.

      ‘Are we headed to the house?’ Naomi asked as they drove off.

      ‘No.’ He gave her a smile in the rear-view mirror. ‘I’m to take you to the hospital. More than that, I don’t know.’

      How exciting!

      Naomi was very aware, though, that the next few weeks were not going to be plain sailing. Merida was completely in love with Ethan, who had only married her to give the child his name, and the plan was they would divorce after a year. Naomi was worried for Merida. Also, the patriarch of the family, Jobe Devereux, was seriously ill.

      Even if Merida hadn’t been her friend, Naomi would have been aware of that fact. The Devereuxes were a hugely powerful family and Jobe’s health woes had reached the press in England.

      Naomi just wanted to make these precious first weeks as peaceful and as calm as she could for the new mother and baby, and would do whatever she could to ensure that.

      The car was warm and despite the stop-start traffic it was lulling, and as they drove through a long tunnel Naomi resisted the urge to rest her head on the window and close her eyes. But, given she’d had to be at Heathrow so early, she hadn’t slept last night, neither had she slept on the plane, and as the traffic backed up Naomi found that her eyelids grew heavy and finally she gave in.

      ‘Miss...’

      Naomi startled and opened her eyes, taking a second to gather where she was. In fact, the driver had to orientate her.

      ‘We’re at the hospital.’

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