Page 15 of The Billionaire and the Nanny: Part 2

Buzzed Boy approaches Bailey, but it’s clear that she’s not interested. Good. Buzzed Boy ends up talking with another one of her friends. A woman starts talking to me. I use her as a shield but keep my eye on Bailey. Yes, I know I’m stalking her, but I have to know what she’s like. Does she flirt, play hard to get, what? Two more guys come up, and one tries to hit her up, but she’s not having it. I like this trend I’m seeing. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep tonight afterall.

But then, some dark-haired douchebag comes out of the shadows, his hair all slick like he’s trying out for a boy band in the 90s. I say douchebag, but of all the men here, he looks the most put-together. Clearly an executive with cash to spend and a charming smile to match, though misguided on hairstyles he may be, he closes in on Bailey as she’s coming back from the restroom, but I’m not worried. She’s been batting them off left and right.

Except she’s not. This guy she actually talks to. Bailey laughs with douchebag, as her other friends move to other spots in the bar, so she’s alone with him. He says a bunch of shit that makes her smile, throw her head back laughing, and something happens inside of me. My blood begins to boil. I don’t know why—she’s not my girlfriend. Why should I even care? Get the fuck out of here, Zayden, I tell myself. First of all, I followed her out on her only night out and now I’m watching her like I’m her father.

I can’t help it, though.

I want to rip Douchebag’s heart out through his throat.

Why?

That woman he’s talking to was just mine last week. She let me into her room, she let me into her bed, she deemed me worthy of taking her virginity, which still blows my mind out of the water. And then I told her we couldn’t do it anymore, so really, it’s not her fault if she’s talking to another guy. But I can’t let her. The more he guffaws with that dorky smile of his, the more I want to make a hole in his face, the more I risk losing her to a loser.

Before I can think about what I’m doing, I’m making a beeline in her direction. She spots me before I even reach her, and her eyes widen gradually with an “oh, shit” expression. “Hey, sweetheart, guess what? It’s time togo.”

“Zayden, what are you doinghere?”

Douchebag turns and gives me that look guys give each other when they’re warning you to get the fuck away. He says nothing, though, and I wedge myself between her and him. “You can’t be drunk then coming home to take care of a baby who needsyou.”

“Drunk? I haven’t even finished one drink.”

“Baby?” the guys says. “Excuse me, buddy, but who are you? Herdad?”

“Her boss, fuckface. What’s it toyou?”

Bailey’s hands push against my arm. I’m riveted on Douchebag’s pastyface.

“Seriously?” Bailey says. “You give me time to go out and now you’re telling me I have to get back? What kind of time off is that? Bradley, let me talk to my boss alone, please,” she says to theguy.

“Yeah, Bradley,” I say as he retreats.

Once he steps back to the bar, respecting her request, she closes in on me, her light brown eyes chastising me. “What is this about, Zayden? Mr. Hawthorn, whatever it is I’m supposed to call you rightnow.”

“Bradley?” I snort. “You were talking to a guy named Bradley?”

“You have no right to be here. I’ve done nothing to make you think you can’t trust me, and I barely ever drink alcohol.” She scoffs and surfs through her contacts. “I can’t take this. I have to call the agency and let them know I’m not the right one for thejob.”

“No.” I push down her phone with my hand. “It’s all good, Bailey. I just had to make sure you weren’t bringing home some random guy tonight. Not to my home, Olivia’s home. Can’t happen.”

“Are you kidding me ?” Her eyes blast open with an incredulous gaze. “I can’t…I just can’t…” She scans around, and one of her friends catches on to her distress, giving her a silent questioning look. Bailey waves her off as okay then leans into me again. “Please go. It’s been a confusing enough week staying away from you, and now you follow me here, and…and I don’t know what it is you want from me, Zayden. Are you my boss or are youmore?”

“I’m your boss and nothing else,” Isay.

I register the look of hurt in her eyes, as colorful lights swirl over her face. If that were true, then why would I be here, following her, acting jealous the moment she talks to some other guy? Douchebags named Bradley, specifically? All I can think of is that she’s the closest I’ve ever come to wanting a woman for myself.

Bailey Rainville makes me feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“I see.” She grabs her clutch, plucks a twenty from her wallet, but I grab her money and throw it back in her purse, tossing a fifty on the table instead. “The beer wasn’t worth fifty bucks,” she snarls.

“No, but seeing you in that fucking amazing dress is. Let’s go.” I pull her by the arm, but she rips herself out of my grasp, charging out of thebar.

“I don’t understand you,” she says when we’re standing on the sidewalk in the cold nightair.

“Like I said, I wanted to make sure you weren’t up to illicit behavior. My child’s nanny has to be pure, maternal—”

“Stop with the pure and innocent bullshit. Look, I don’t care if you fire me, but I have to say, this is getting ridiculous.”

“I agree. It’s ridiculous that the first thing you do on your time off is go pick upmen.”

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