She stood up ” I’m heading in, there are some things I need to put in place ”
With that, she turned on her heel and he didn’t stop her. She heaved a sigh of relief when he made no move until she was safely inside.
” Hey, where have you been? ” Margaret asked the moment she saw Ava.
” I was with Alex, is something wrong? ” She asked, frowning.
Margaret shook her head ” Not really, Mr King wants to see you ”
By Mr King, she knew Maggie was referring to Jack.
She smiled ” Okay, where is he? ”
” He’s waiting in the main living room ” Maggie replied.
” Why didn’t you come tell me he was waiting for me? ” Ava asked, starting to get worried.
Margaret gave her a smile of reassurance ” I did but he said I shouldn’t bother, that you were just doing your job of babysitting his brother ” she explained calmly.
Ava visibly relaxed and exhaled a deep breath ” Okay thanks, I’ll go now ”
Margaret nodded and Ava left for the living room. Was Jack no supposed to be at work? She thought, frowning. Well, he was the CEO of his company so he could do as he pleased. How he lived his life was none of her business, she shrugged. Liam was sitting, holding up a toy while Jack was looking out the window, his hands shoved in his pockets. From the back view, he could be passed for Alex, they were built almost the same way, except Alex was more large than Jack. And taller too, she thought, smiling.
” Hey sweetie ” She said in greeting, referring to Liam.
He looked up and his face beamed with a huge smile, showing his milky teeth. He had cute bunny teeth, Ava noticed as she walked over to him.
” Hi Ava! ” He exclaimed in glee. Ava reached him and scooped him up in her arms. He went to her eagerly and buried his face in the crook of her neck. The boy was in real need of a mother’s love, she thought.
” How are you, baby? ” She asked softly.
” I’m cool! ” He exclaimed but his voice came out muffled from under her shirt.
She smiled, such a young thing without a mother figure in his life. Jack turned and a warming smile was evident in his eyes. A pained expression flashed in his eyes and she knew he was thinking the same thing. He quickly covered it up with a smile and beckoned Ava to come closer.
” Hi Jack, good morning ” She spoke first, her hand patting Liam on the back. He was humming to a song only God knew.
” Morning Ava, hope you’re good? ” He asked warmly.
The guy was nice and good-looking, so why had Mabel neglected him? She wondered. She knew her type, the young married women who found joy in outings than their homes.
She nodded, smiling ” Yeah, I’m cool. How about you? ” She asked pleasantly.
He nodded too ” I’m great ”
” I was outside with Alex, I didn’t know you came already ” She said quietly.
He waved his hand dismissively ” Come on, you were doing your job, I couldn’t stop you, could I ? ”
Ava smiled sheepishly, thinking Jack would have her neck if he knew she wasn’t babysitting Alex but ogling him.
” So, how do you like your work so far? Anything I should know about? ” He asked earnestly.
Ava nodded slowly, remembering the things she wanted to discuss with him.
” This morning, ” She started ” I was quite astonished when I saw Alex’s breakfast… ” She didn’t get to finish her sentence as Jack cut her off.
He nodded ” Yeah, Alex doesn’t eat much. Did Margaret tell you what happened the last time I tried to make him eat more? Things got pretty bad, if you must know ” He explained and he had a faraway look in his eyes, he was probably remembering the incident, she thought. He shook his head, to clear it of his thoughts like she did too, she thought.
She nodded ” Yeah , she did. I just felt the food is just too small for a grown up ”
Jack shrugged and said nothing.
Ava took a deep breath, she had no idea how Jack would take the news she was about to tell him ” So… I… Asked Margaret for more food ” she clenched her fists anxiously as she waited for Jack’s reply.
He looked shocked ” You did what?! You fed him more than he actually eats?! So what happened after that? ”
She shook her head ” Nothing at all, he ate everything ”
Jack looked astonished ” He ate all the food? And he didn’t throw a tantrum or ask you to leave him alone?! ”
Ava smiled ” Nah, he was pretty calm ”
Jack clapped his hands in awe ” Wow girl! You’ve done a good job! You just proved to be the right babysitter for Alex! ”
Ava tucked the tendrils of her hair behind her ears , feeling a boost of confidence course through her.
Jack looked at her in admiration ” I’m proud of you ”
Ava blushed and said nothing. Jack extended his arms for Liam to be brought to him. Ava reluctantly gave in, it felt good to carry a kid in her arms, she thought wistfully. She wished she had a child of her own but on the other hand, she was not ready because she still had lots of things to do before finally settling down. She had to make sure she was absolutely free from her so called family. Soon, she thought. The pay at the King’s mansion was good so she would be able to save enough money and quit this job. She would start a new life somewhere else, in a nice place, rent an apartment and live a quiet, peaceful life.