Page 58 of The Bargain

“That's why I had Mrs. James call the agency you'd used previously to get you help for the day.” She looked at the boat-shaped clock on the wall. “She is probably already waiting by the car.”

I was not only angry now, I was furious...and also a little impressed.

“I won’t tell you what the results say,” I spat childishly. How dare she dismissme? Avoidme?

She sighed in defeat. “I know. It’s okay because contrary to you, I trust you’ll do the best for Timothy. He is your legacy after all.”

I ground my teeth, pursing my lips with barely contained anger. She had to stop calling him Timothy. Shehadto.

“I won’t forget this,” I barked as I picked up the car seat.

She nodded. “I understand. Many things are hard to forget.” And then she gave me her back, walking into her room and closing the connecting door between us.

I took a step toward it, considering breaking it down and demanding she apologizes for her lack of respect by getting on her knees. Fuck, did I like her on her knees...

I growled before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, trying to reign in my anger and my twitching cock. This was certainly not the time to get an erection.

I walked down the hall, my hand clenched tightly around the car seat handle. When I met the middle-aged nanny by the door, I hated her on sight.

“Good morning, sir. I’m Anna. The agency s-”

“Let’s go,” I interrupted, extending the car seat to her.

“I- Ummm- Yes, of course.” She took the seat from me.

I walked out to the awaiting car. No, the anger was not fading. I could barely contain it.

Sitting in the car, I looked at my emails as the driver helped the woman fasten the car seat in place.

We’d just started to drive when Timmy started crying.

Timmy. It struck me like a bolt of lightning. For the first time, I'd thought of him as Timmy.

I tried to ignore his cries as I continued to work, but I was starting to get a migraine at the back of my skull. I turned toward the nameless nanny. “The child’s been crying for ten minutes. He never cries. Are you actually qualified?”

“I - Yes, yes, sir,” she stuttered as she tried to distract him.

“Then do something!”

She played with him, but it felt like she was only making it worse.

When we finally reached the hospital, I exited the car and rounded to the other side, extending my arms toward the nanny. “Give me the boy.”

I rested him against my chest, one arm under Timothy’s buttocks and the other holding his neck. “Listen, Timothy, this needs to stop,” I stated with a strong voice.

He leaned back a little, his cries finally stopping, and blinked at me. His eyes were the exact same green as mine.

He brought his chubby hand up to grab at my beard, but it was trimmed too short for him to catch. He gave me a little shriek.

And suddenly, looking at him as he smiled, I felt the bond, the love I didn’t want nor know I could feel. He was my blood, a little piece of Edward. He was my family.

He cooed, grabbing at my chin, and I couldn't help but chuckle. “You like the beard, don’t you, big boy?” I nodded. “Don’t worry, Beaumont men get epic beards. I’ll show you how to take care of it.” I tightened my hold on him and looked up at the nanny. “You’re not needed anymore.”

I turned around and walked into the hospital with the little boy, who was now smiling in my arms.

“Where’s Opal?” Jeremy asked, looking around just as I reached his office.

“You only have me today. Sorry to disappoint.”

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