one week later

claudia came to help billie get ready for the monets' country club garden party.

"anastasia said her parents want to meet me. can you believe it? i'm just the fucking nanny." billie said freaking out.

"there's nothing 'just' about you, billie. besides wouldn't you want to get to know the woman who's taking care of your grandchildren?" claudia said.

"i guess so.. i need to make sure i make a good impression."

"that's what i'm here for. show me whatcha got.."

claudia and billie dug through the closet.

after a few minutes, claudia pulls out a pretty wool top and a cream tennis skirt. "ooo, all this speaks to me! her parents will love you in it. not to mention, you'll totally fit in at a country club." claudia says happily.

"let me try it on...close your eyes or something." billie said laughing at the end.

billie quickly changes and turns slowly so claudia can get a full view.

"well?" billie asked.

"even I want you to be my daughter in law in that outfit. you'll have them asking 'victoria who?' by the end of the night."

"claudia, stop." billie said as they both laughed...just then there's a knock at the door.

"come in." billie said.

anastasia peaked her head in.

"are you ready to go?" ana asked, her eyes widened slightly as she took billie in, head to toe.

"wow, you look.."

"hot? gorgeous? radiant? stunning?" claudia said excitedly.

anastasia was so caught up staring at billie that she didn't notice someone else was in the room.

"oh, hello. I didn't realize you had company."

"i'm claudia, billies best friend."

"she was just helping me get ready. thanks again."

"of course. i'll get out of yalls hair. good luck."

claudia waits until anastasias back is turned, then gives billie a look and fans herself and mouths a ' she's hot' before leaving.

soon they're all headed upstate to the monets' country club. billies in the backseat with the kids, trying not to notice how distracted ana is in the front seat with victoria..

"billie, do you think they'll have fish eggs at the club again?" jacob asked.

"yeah, last time we did this experiment-" jason said getting caught off by billie.

"uh, lets not do any experiments, okay? its an important day for your mom."

"but its just grandma and grandpa."

billie tries to focus on jason and jacob, but anastasias whispered conversation with victoria drifts back to her.

"you know how my parents feel about tabloids. they're not going to be happy that our engagement leaked like that."

"I dont get what the big deal is. its not like they didn't want us to get married." victoria whispered.

billie glances at the boys, who are busy pointing out the window.

"just because they're being polite doesn't mean they aren't pissed too." ana said.

with the twins distracted billie eavesdropped into their conversation.

"you dont know my parents like I do. image is all that matters to them."

"I cant imagine a more perfect image than two people from impeccable families coming together, can you?" victoria said.

"victoria, our engagement was announced via tabloid, a fucking tabloid I cant say it enough."

"but jades ex-girlfriend can crash new year's, grab the mic, and tell him off in front of the entire club?"

"you know they've always held me to a different standard than jade, so I don't know why you're  mentioning that."

"because youre fucking overreacting." victoria said angrily.

the conversation comes to a stop as ana pulls the car into the country club. the boys immediately jump from the car.

billie chuckles as jason sprinted for the front door. she started to follow...but pauses when she notices ana lingering by the car.

"are you coming ana?" billie asks.

"you can go ahead. I need some fresh air."

ana waved and starts walking, disappearing as she turns the corner.

billie glances at the front of the country club, where victoria herded the boys inside.

billie finally tracks ana down in the country club's private garden...but shes so lost in thought that she doesn't hear billie walk up.

"ana is everything alright?"

"billie? yeah, everything's fine."

"ohh yeah, that was really convincing."

"that obvious huh?"

"to me, yeah, i mean, your parents have been gone for months, and a lot has changed. it can't be easy to have to face them after...everything."

ana shakes her head almost in disbelief, before turning to look out over the water. "i'll never understand how you can know me so well after such a short time."

"well, you're a hard person to ignore."

"oh? what makes you say that?"

"..i mean look at you." billie gestures her hands to ana, taking in her lips, eyes, letting her gaze wander lower and lower... "it's hard not to stare."

ana chuckles, looking more relaxed than she has all day.

"so..are you going to tell me more? or do i have to keep guessing?"

"as amusing as that would be.." ana says before trailing off, sighing softly. "honestly, i want to talk to you, but i probably shouldn't.."

"says who?"

"polite society?"

billie looks around, waving her hands exaggerating. "i don't see any 'polite society' here, do you?"

"billie.."

'she's close to opening up..i can sense it.. she just needs a little nudge.' billie thought to herself.

"here..let me help you relax." billie said as she moved behind ana and started to rub against her shoulders.

"that feels amazing.." ana mumbled.

"you can tell me anything. i'm not going to judge nor tell anyone. i'll just listen."

"victoria has been fucking bothering me about my mood all morning, but she just seems annoyed i'm not acting right."

"her style of 'comforting' doesn't exactly make her easy to open up to huh?"

"nope."

"from what i heard in the car, it sounds like you think your parents are going to be mad about the engagement?"

"among other things."

"don't tell me they don't approve of victoria, i thought they basically handpicked her for you?"

"they did..when we were much younger. i think they figured the time for us to be together was long gone when i married the boys' mom...even after she passed, i never really saw victoria that way, i don't think she saw me that way either."

"then why-"

"it's not really about victoria and i anyway. i mean, i definitely hoped that my parents would be in a good mood because of the news..." ana swings her eyes back to billie as she moves to sit besides her again. "..i think i'm more nervous about them meeting you than anything else."

"me?"

"i can't explain why it means so much to me that they like you..but it does."

"are you that certain that they won't like me?" billie said as she chuckled nervously.

"i honestly don't know. they could go either way, and that's what worries me..i hope they see what i see."

ana leads billie through the country club and up to the exclusive rooftop garden.

"there's billie!" jacob said.

"she's the best, grandpa. you'll see."

billie crosses the rooftop to join the boys. they're standing with a man and woman as victoria hovers close behind.

"mom, dad, this is billie o'connell. billie, these are my parents, jason and katherine."

"it's nice to officially meet you." katherine says with a serious face.

"hmm. hello." older jason said.

"i'm named after grandpa!" jason says.

"billie knows that dummy." jacob said rolling his eyes.

"you're just mad cause you're not."

"boys, what did we talk about earlier?" billie asked.

the twins clam up, as if embarrassed to be caught by billie. she's just relieved that they listened so quickly in front of ana's parents.

"billie is such a blessing to have around the house. really alleviates the pressure to have built-in child care." victoria says smiling.

"she has a lot more than that. we've come to think of her as family." ana says.

"such high praise from our eldest daughter." katherine says.

"sounds like you can finally focus on what really matters..like the nightingale update. just because the lithiya project is going well doesn't mean we can rest on our laurels."

ana turned to billie to explain.

"nightingale is the in-home nursing robotic device that monet enterprises just released."

"oh, we don't need to bore them with details. i'm sure billie in particular doesn't care about this stuff."

"actually, i just got my masters in chemistry, so i find all of this "stuff" interesting." billie said as she smiled sarcastically. "nightingale has caused your stock to go up. right?"

"that's right, it's been a huge success. i'm impressed you know our product line and where we stand in the market." older jason says.

"well, monet enterprise is signing my paycheck, albeit in a roundabout way."

"touché."

"enough shop talk. billie i love your outfit." katherine said.

"thank you so much."

"anyways, today's a special occasion, since katherine and i weren't able to attend anastasia's and victoria's engagement party in person." older jason says.

"dear, i thought we agreed not to mention that.."

"as i said before, we thought it was best to move the date up after the tabloids leaked. and you could've been there if you hadn't extended your business trip a third time." ana says pissed off.

"oh look, victoria! your father and brother just arrived." katherine says.

"everyone, please remember not to mention my mother. i can't handle another outburst like last time." victoria says sadly.

"what happened last time?"

"jacob! you can't just ask that.."

"don't worry everyone. the party can start now." victoria's brother said.

billie stands back as the others greet the new arrivals, but after a few moments, anastasia motions her forward.

"this is billie, the boys' nanny. billie, this is victoria's younger brother anthony and her father paolo." anastasia said.

"what a beautiful human. call me tony. i demand it." anthony said smiling.

"tony, i'm at your service." billie says smirking.

"are you? this little get-together just got very interesting." tony says.

out of the corner of billies eye, she notices anastasia's fists clench, but she doesn't say anything.

"victoria, why the hell did you bring a nanny to the country club. she doesn't belong here." paolo said angrily.

"she's taking care of the children, papa."

"she doesn't seem to be doing a very good job. women have the easiest job in the world, yet they still can't do it right."

"mr.rousseau, i can assure you, jason and jacob are on their best behavior." billie says defending herself.

"yeah! we haven't even tried any experiments." jason says smiling.

billie forces herself to smile at mr.rousseau since she was still trying to make a good impression on ana's parents.

"see? everything's under control."

"i'll say. the way the boys listen to her? nothing short of a miracle." older jason says.

"as i recall, paolo, you never quiet managed to wrangle tony, and you just had one boy." katherine says.

"maybe he just needed a woman's touch" victoria mumbles.

"me or papa?" tony says laughing.

"maybe we should all take a beat and-" anastasia started talking but got caught off by another voice.

"don't worry, everyone, the party can start now!" jade says.

"yo! that was my line!" tony says.

everyone turns as jade joins the group. she greets the others, then slings an arm around billie.

"so...what does everyone think of billie so far?" she asks.

"oh y'all really don't have to answer that." billie says.

"love her. ten out of ten would recommend." tony says.

"i think she has a certain...elegance about her." katherine says.

"indeed, not everyone can keep up with the monets." older jason says.

"oh, that sounds like more adopting talk from these two! look out billie. i've heard they're in the market for a new daughter." jade says.

"do you have to make everything awkward jade?" ana says.

"it's part of my brand." jade says smiling.

later, the sun starts to set, and the waiter comes around with a fresh tray of champagne glasses. paolo takes a glass and calls for a toast.

"ahem. thank you all for coming to congratulate my beautiful daughter and her future wife on their upcoming marriage. victoria has been run ragged at rousseau industries for far too long. now she can finally fulfill her purpose to become a wife and mother." he took a deep breath. "after all, a woman in position of power in the business world is like an unstable explosive, especially around that time of the month. right anastasia?"

"did he really just say that?" billie asks angry and shocked.

"yep." ana says pissed off.

"jason, honey, i thought you talked to him about this." katherine says to her husband.

"i tried but you know how it goes with paolo."

"...giving victoria a family disarms the bomb! that's why it's called a biological clock, after all" paolo says.

"finally we're getting to the good stuff." tony says.

"i predict a victoria meltdown in three..two..-" jade says.

victoria sets her glass down on a nearby table with a loud clunk.

"i've heard this speech before. i don't need to here it again." she says pissed off.

as victoria turns to leave, billie finds herself unable to bite her tongue any longer.

"paolo, men and women have the same brains. neurologist have been hunting for differences for years, but they turn up with nothing every time."

"then why are y'all women so bad at math?"

"first, all women aren't bad at math. second young girls are often conditioned to believe they can't be good at subjects like math and science unlike boys."

"what does that have to do with victoria's role at rousseau industries?"

"even i can tell she would make a great CEO. in fact, i bet youve already seen gains under her management."

"billies right about that." older jason says.

"my daughter's abilities aren't the question. it's a matter of right and wrong. women belong at home."

"paolo, seriously?" katherine says pissed.

"you're right about women though..cause i'm going home." billie says standing up.

billie starts walking away. not daring to look back, although she feels everyone staring at her.

billie has already called a taxi when she hears someone exit the clubhouse behind her.

"billie, wait!" anastasia says hurrying after billie.

"anastasia i'm sorry but i stand by what i said and i'm not going back there. i know he's your future father in law but fuck, he's a a lot to handle."

"believe me, i stand by what you said too. i only wish i'd been the one to say that. although i do love the poetic irony of him being publicly humiliated by a woman."

billie nods but can't push herself to smile.

"the rousseaus have been family friends for so long, we've gotten used to dealing with paolo's world views. you're a good reminder that we've gotten complacent."

"glad i could help i guess."

a taxi pulls up. billie starts making her way, but anastasia reaches out to touch her arm causing billie to pause.

"let me take you home. it's the least i can do."

"what about everyone else?"

"jason and jacob are with my parents, and victoria is gonna head back to the city with her brother. please? i think we could both use a break from all this, and there's something i want to show you."

the taxi driver honks. billie looks between them both.

"fine."

"great. i'll let my parents know, be right back."

anastasia pays the taxi driver for their trouble and when she returns they both stroll together to her car.

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

anastasia leads billie to the edge of a vista, billie looks down over the cityscape.

"you can see the entire city from here! how do you know about this place?" billie asks.

"i had to make an emergency landing nearby back in my piloting days."

"i thought you just jumped out of planes. i didn't know you could fly them too."

"i used to. i don't anymore, not with the boys depending on me..but yeah, there was a time when i didn't give a fuck in the world."

they spend a few minutes talking about anastasia's near death experience, and how she comes to this exact place when she wants to calm down.

"do you want to talk about something else?" billie asks.

anastasia nods and puts an arm around billies shoulders.

"what do you have in mind?" ana asks.

billie gazes out at the city view, she can't help but fantasize about a simpler life with ana and the kids.

"can you imagine if we had met first..you know like if you placed that ad a couple years ago, and i'd graduated early."

"there still would've been complications. i wouldn't have known what to do with you, just like i don't know what to do with you now."

"i think you know exactly what you want to do with me..."

"you're right. and i can't stop thinking about every detail."

billie moves closer to anastasia, tangling her fingers in her hair pulling her in for a kiss.
the kiss ignites instantly and anastasia pulls billie against her body, their tongues tangling together.

for several minutes they stay locked in the passionate position, losing track of time.

billie pulls away first. panting.

"we should get going." billie says mumbling.

"yeah..of course." ana says clearing her throat. "ready to go back to the real world?"

"not at all." billie says chuckling nervously."

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙 : 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

{ billie's pov }

a commotion in the kitchen jolts me awake. i sneak out of bed to check on the noise hiding just around the corner.

"come on victoria you're being fucking ridiculous." ana says.

"she completely humiliated my father in front of everyone! some of the club staff heard her!" victoria says angrily.

"she was fucking defending you!"

"i don't care! i want her fired immediately!" victoria yelled.