Divided loyalties

Jinny had blackmailed her boss, and it was about to backfire on her¼

Oh, Jinny, this just can' t go on!' Tim cried. With tears pricking, she grabbed her jacket and headed to the park. It was a fine Sunday evening, around 7pm.

They' d quarrelled yet again. It was a never ending dilemma for Jinny.

Should she choose her job or her boyfriend?

Meeting Tim a month ago had changed things, and the family she worked for, Adam Lambert and his wife Sarah, had sensed her loyalties were divided.

Her mind flew back to when it had all begun¼

During the week, Jinny had driven her charge, five-year-old Mason, to school in the morning, and picked him up at three.

Yet she found that even after helping the cleaner with the chores, it still left a gaping daytime gap.

So she set up a social media account and began chatting to people.

That' s where she met local guy, Tim. He worked as sales support in a call centre, and when Tim and Jinny met, they quickly fell in love.

Since the Lamberts had found out about Tim, they had asked her, as their live-in nanny, to take on extra hours at weekends, driving Mason to various daytime activities.

On Saturday night, Jinny also babysat while they went out.

Her weekend shift ended at 6pm on a Sunday, so it left little time to spend with Tim.

They' re trying to split us up,' Tim stated.

Jinny' s thoughts spun. Were they? It seemed so¼

On her way to the park, Jinny spotted Adam outside a pub. A glamour-puss type of girl was with him, and when they shared a passionate kiss, Jinny' s eyes were on stalks.

He' d told his wife Sarah he was away on a team-bonding weekend.

Hmm, Jenny thought.

He' d been doing a very different kind of bonding instead!

Should she tell Sarah that her husband was cheating?

We' ll confront Adam,' Tim decided.

Despite their earlier tiff, Jinny had turned back and gone round to Tim' s.

We can use his affair to our advantage,' he said.

We' ll threaten to tell Sarah, unless he takes over your weekend duty.'

Jinny shifted. She didn' t feel comfortable using this form of blackmail, but talking to the couple reasonably had failed.

OK,' she agreed. But to keep Sarah happy, Adam will need to carry on taking her out on Saturday night. So they won' t let me have Saturday nights off.'

We can still spend most of the weekend together,' he said. Come on, let' s talk to Adam now. With a bit of luck, we' ll be able to catch him at that pub.'

They did.

Jinny didn' t take to his brassy girlfriend, Kerry but the deal was struck.

Yet it left Jinny feeling on edge.

The situation changed when, a few weeks later, Sarah announced she was expecting a second child.

We' re going to need you more than ever, Jinny,' she said. Adam' s been very generous, letting you have weekends off when he' s ferried Mason about, but let me remind you that you signed an employee contract. So we' re asking you to work weekends again, please.'

Jinny sneaked a glance at Adam he looked very pleased with himself.

She just felt sick and cold. It seemed the Lamberts held all the strings¼

Right,' she said with a resigned sigh. Come on, Mason, it' s time for your bedtime story.'

When Jinny relayed the latest news back to Tim, he made a suggestion.

Resign and move in with me.'

Jinny was thrilled yet she hesitated. Resigning meant losing her steady income.

I haven' t got another job lined up,

Tim,' she said.

You' ll find one,' he soothed.

Will I? I don' t think the

Lamberts will

A glamour puss was with him, and when they shared a passionate kiss, Jinnys eyes were on stalks

provide me with a good reference,' she fretted.

He sighed. She knew he was fed up well, so was she!

Guess what? Kerry' s my new colleague,' Tim declared later on the phone. Meet me after work. The three of us will go for coffee.'

OK,' Jinny said, then she frowned. Why do you want us to get pally with Kerry?'

If we sweet talk

Kerry, she, in turn, could sweet talk

Adam into letting you have time off¼' he explained.

She nodded, that made sense.

5.30pm was an awkward time for

Jinny. So, citing a family emergency, she asked a trusted neighbour to look after Mason.

This was an extremely rare event, so the neighbour was

more than happy to help her out.

Jinny found Kerry and Tim tucked away on a table at the back of the café.

So, this is Mary Poppins, eh?'

Kerry sneered. I wouldn' t get snotty with Jinny if I were you,' Tim said.

She' s in a very good position to spill the beans to Adam' s wife.'

Kerry looked at him as if he was stupid. So? I want her to do that.'

Is Adam promising to leave Sarah for you?' Jinny ventured.

Kerry took a sip of coffee. Yes, but not right away. He says he' ll leave when his son' s older.'

I assume you' re not happy with waiting?' Tim asked. Of course not!' she snapped.

Jinny cut in: Do you know that Sarah' s pregnant?'

Kerry paled.

No. I didn' t,' she said. Look,' said Tim. Adam' s stringing you along, Kerry. And when he does leave his wife that' s if he ever will

how could you trust him? There will be a vacancy for a mistress he could very easily cheat on you.'

He' s right,' Jinny added gently.

Kerry didn' t say anything. The silence became heavy with tension.

Who the hell do you think you are? You' ve no right, telling me how to live my life!'

She got up, threw her cold coffee in Tim' s face and stormed off.

Later that evening, Jinny received a call from Tim.

Listen,' he said. Kerry' s texted her resignation! She left today. My manager' s just told me.'

Well, that idea hadn't exactly gone well, thought Jinny. But before she could get her head around it, she was called to a meeting with the Lamberts.

It' s very good of you to join us, Jinny,' Sarah began sarcastically. We' ve heard about how you dumped poor Mason on our neighbour. There was no family emergency, was there? I suspect you lied to them and then dashed off to see your boyfriend.'

Jinny wasn' t going to deny it. If they were sacking her, so be it.

At least it'd be a way out of this mess, she thought. I can go to Tim's .

Well, I' ve come up with a solution to all our problems,' Sarah told her. You want to move on, so we' re setting you free. You can pack your things and go tonight, because we have a new nanny. In fact, she' s our old one, but she left. Like you, she put romance above her career. She' s given this chap up now, so she can resume child-care duty again. Welcome back, Kerry!'

To Jinny' s amazement, at that exact moment, Kerry waltzed in click-clacking her high heels, cool as a cat, clutching two suitcases¼

It s good of you to join us. We ve heard about how you dumped poor Mason on our neighbour