“This is my one and only nanny, the one who raised me while mama was chasing dollar bills, the one and only woman I would gladly give my life for. The….”
“Miss please, I’m not all those things.”
Karen rolled her eyes. Typical Beulah. “Please stop, you’re making her uncomfortable.” Karen said.
The nanny was a woman in her mid fifties. She was tall and had entirely gray hair and kind blue eyes. She had a gentle smile on her face. Karen could feel her aura, and she felt relieved. This woman was one of the best left.
“Uncomfortable?” Beulah scoffed. “Please. She changed my diapers. How much more uncomfortable can that be?”
Karen laughed. “You’re gross.”
Beulah rolled her eyes. “Whatever. This is Amanda. Amanda, this is Karen my sister from another mother I don’t know about.”
Amanda extended her hand to Karen. Karen shook her hand noting to herself how firm her handshake was. She also didn’t miss how the woman looked at her with squinted eyes.
“You have such a lovely home.” Amanda said looking around.
“Thank you.” Karen replied. “So let’s talk business.”
It was Saturday afternoon. Karen had prepared an afternoon tea party in her garden as she interviewed Amanda. Although there wasn’t really much to interview, she already knew she would hire her.
“You’ll be working on weekdays and sometimes weekends too with prior notice of course.” Karen said and sipped some jasmine tea. “I’ll need you to pick David from school and mostly see to him. And of course, you’ll be paid weekly.”
“Pardon me for asking, but is your husband home?” Amanda asked.
Karen stiffened.
“I’m sorry if it’s a touchy subject…”
“I don’t have a husband.” Karen said with a tight smile. “It’s just me and David.”
Amanda’s eyes lit up. “Ah, I apologize.”
“It’s nothing. ” Karen replied. “Do I have a nanny now?”
Amanda nodded her head, her gray curls bouncing. “Yes, you do.”
***
The weekend went by too fast for Karen’s liking. And soon it was Monday again.
After dropping David off to school she drove herself to work, her stomach doing flips in dread of what evil Kai had in store for her. Even the tea party she had yesterday with her friends did nothing to relax her and prepare her for the week ahead.
Karen parked her car and got out, the morning sun warm on her face. She stood in front of the office building for a few seconds, just watching the huge building.
“I should get it done with.” She said to herself with a Soft sigh.
She took a step forward and another till she was inside the lobby. The receptionist saw her and smiled, but her smile died when she saw her fully.
“Miss Osborne?”
Karen sighed. “I know, Hello Kelly.”
Kelly nodded, her lips pursed. Karen felt her eyes on her till she got to the elevator. That was enough indicator to her that this week was already weighing heavily on her.
She took the elevator, squeezing her way through it. She was already dreading the work day ahead.
The elevator arrived with a ding. Karen followed the crowd and got out. She walked to her office, her heart getting louder with each step. She walked inside and was greeted by silence. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
“Well good morning too!” She exclaimed. “How was your weekend?! Did you manage to have fun?”
She heard muffled laugher. “Gosh I sound crazy.” She grumbled and went to her desk.
“Is everything okay?” She heard Jasper whisper beside her. She turned to him and smiled.
“Yes, yes everything is fine.” She said through her smile. “Just leave me alone okay, before I….”
“Ah, there you are.” She heard a cheerful voice say. The last voice she wanted to hear.
She turned and glared hotly at Nicolas. But he only smiled. “Good morning Karen.” He said. “You look well rested.”
Karen rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”
“Your new ideas,” He said. “Given your new position right now.”
Karen sighed heavily. “I just got here. At least give me a minute or two?”
“You have ten.” He said and tilted his head. “And I do hope you remembered not to keep him waiting?”
Karen was so tempted to flash him the finger. But inside she flashed him a condescending smile and mouthed ‘fuck off.’
He narrowed his eyes. “Now you have nine minutes left. I wish you the best of luck.” He waved and walked out of the office, eyes following him as he did.
“Why was he talking to you like that?” Jasper asked.
Karen sighed and started her computer. “It’s a long story I don’t want to tell.”
Kai wanted her ideas now? Thankfully she had a lot for him. She dragged her drawer oen with such force it was disconnected form the desk. Karen groaned and angrily slammed it back. She pulled it out again and took out the proposal she had just finished working on.
She got up and made her way to Kai’s office. It dawned on her that he was doing this to punish her.
She got to his office, his secretary looking at her weird.
“Are you okay Miss.?” She asked.
Karen turned to her and smiled. “Do I look okay.” She asked. “Don’t bother you answer. I wasn’t angry at you.”
The girl nodded. “Mr Sylvester is waiting for you.”
“Thank you.” Karen replied. She walked inside his office without bothering to knock.
Her heart skipped as she saw Kai, looking like a majestic god. The large office and the stunning view suited him perfectly. His hair was flowing down his body this time, and he looked so damn handsome she could hardly believe he was her mate.
Or rather, he used to be her mate.
Kai looked at her, annoyance flashing in his eyes. “What do you want?”
Karen nearly rolled her eyes. “I have the proposal as you asked for.”
His eyes scanned her from head to toe. Karen wished he wouldn’t do that. “Bring it here.”
She walked over to him and handed it over. He took it from her and flipped through it, his eyes scanning the paper.
“What is this?” He asked, staring at her like she had grown an extra head.
“It’s ..”
“This is absolute trash.” He tossed the paper aside. “Is this the kind of substandard ideas you’ve been presenting?”
Karen sighed. “What exactly is wrong with it?”
“Everything.”He spat. “If you don’t have anything to offer, get out of my sight.”
Karen would be lying if she said his words didn’t hurt her. Her proposals never had this kind of violent rejection before. She picked up the proposal and held it close to her.
“Is that all?” She asked tightly.
“Is that all?!” He echoed, disbelief all over his face.
“Do you exactly have problem with my proposal or just with me in general?!” Karen asked in anger. “I get it. You hate me. You hate me so damn much. Then just fire me and I’ll be out of you hat for good!”
“For good?” He laughed. “There is no good for you. Not by a long shot. Have you forgotten? I will make you pay.”
Karen scoffed. “You can go fuck yourself” she hissed and turned to leave.
She hadn’t taken two steps when she was roughly dragged back. She gasped softly, her back pressing up against Kai’s front. The feeling of his body heat through her clothes was doing things to her.
He pulled her head back, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “You are really really ..” His hand went across her stomach and pulled her hips to him “…. getting on my nerves.”
Karen gasped and her eyes fluttered shut. She didn’t want o feel the way she was feeling, the fire lighting under her skin as his hand moved up slowly to her ribcage. Karen bit her lip hard to prevent a moan from slipping free.
Damn she had missed him. She had missed him so much. Her body craved his touch, burned for him.
“You want this?” He asked, his teeth gently biting her earlobe. He grabbed her breast through her blouse, kneading the flesh in his hand.
Karen didn’t reply, her knees going weak. She felt her body heat up, her lips part. “I…” She grabbed his hand and tried to pry him off her.
“What?” He mused, his hot breath fanning her skin. “Too much already?”
Karen nodded.
“You should have thought about that before you had a child for someone else.” His voice turned cold and deadly in her ear.
She gasped, and it was like the spell was broken. She pushed herself away from him, turning to face him.
“Get out.” He said, his eyes burning with anger.
Karen had forgotten that lie. That was too close.
She cleared her throat. “Fine ” She spat back. She turned on her heel and left the office. She could still feel his hand on her breast, squeezing softly.
She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She rushed through the hall and ran into the elevator, ignoring Nicolas when she bumped into him.
She wanted to throw herself off a cliff and be forgotten. But she remembered she had a beautiful child that she had to take care of. And she sighed heavily.
The child Kai thought belonged to another when in fact belonged to him.