Page 25 of The Billionaire and the Nanny: Part 2

Zayden

“I’ll be workingfrom home this week.” On the phone with my secretary, I flip a photo of Callum over and over again. I don’t usually pull it out of my drawer to look at it, but oddly, I wanted to this morning.

Thinking about my little brother the other day and seeing Olivia interact with Bailey all week has reminded me so much about him. I’d almost put him entirely out of my mind, forgotten he existed. It’s easier that way. Now, however, I see the resemblance between him and my daughter, mostly around the eyes and smile. Man, if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was reincarnated in Olivia’sbody.

Bailey said I should get to know her, that just because she was a surprise in my life doesn’t mean I should ignoreher.

I can’t help but think she might be right. Lots of guys keep in touch with their kids even if they live with their mothers. Who’s to say this can’t work? Just the thought of it, though, makes me nervous.

My secretary says he’ll inform headquarter staff and will keep me abreast of any important goings-on in the office. Hanging up, I feel strangely at a loss. I never have the whole day to myself, so I start by telling everyone to go home—Vero, Helga, Nance. That day when Bailey, Olivia, and I were the only ones here in the morning, we almost felt like a family. I want to feel that again, as much as the prospect scares the living shit out ofme.

In the kitchen, I’m making a protein shake before working out when Bailey comes downstairs toting Olivia in her arms. “Oh. I didn’t know you were here.” She backs up two steps.

“I’m going to be home for a few days,” I say. “Working from my home office.”

“Oh.”

“I hope that’s okay with you,” I say with some sarcasm.

“Of course,” she says brightly, heading to the foyer closet where she keeps the stroller. “It’s your house.”

I should ask her if she wants to do something, go somewhere. I want to get to know Olivia a little more, but I don’t want to be alone with her. I definitely don’t think I’m ready for that. Assuming she’d want to go anywhere with me, considering she hasn’t had any contact with me up untilnow.

I clear my throat. “Going somewhere?” Iask.

“Out and about. Why? Are you going to follow me, then yell atme?”

Man, this girl is cheeky as fuck. And I kind of love it. “Where you headed?”

Her head pops out of the foyer, confused look on her face. “I wanted to find a baby décor store downtown. Someone told me they have unique toys there, and since she’s starting to crawl, I wanted to get something inspiring forher.”

She’s such a good nanny, I swear. I was totally a jerk by telling her she didn’t know what she was doing those first few days. And here goes nothing…

“Do you want company?”

The shocked look on her face alone is worth the weekoff.

* * *

“And here Ithought I’d be taking the subway everywhere,” she says later on, as we’re leaving the baby store in my limo. My driver today, Frank, has been a great sport driving us around, going in circles while Bailey shops then we head to the next spot. That way, I don’t have to park anywhere.

“You could ask Frank to drive you anywhere, anytime you need,” I remindher.

“It’s more fun to stroll,” she says. I can’t argue with that. Especially on the kind of days we’ve been having.

Because we took the car, she left the stroller at home and brought the baby car seat instead, which means every time we get out to see another store, she ends up carrying Olivia around. I’m amazed by how easily she hooks the baby on her hip, like she’s been doing it her wholelife.

“You’re going to make a great mom someday,” I tell her as we enter a home store filled with colorful weird décor. If it was me, everything would be gray and black all thetime.

“Thanks, but…I don’tknow.”

I know better than to ask questions, considering I’m the last one to give any details, but what does that mean? That she doesn’t think she’ll ever have kids? Or she doesn’t think she’ll make a good mom? I let it go and try to focus on the moment.

Truth is, I’m having a great time following her around, learning about her tastes, seeing how Olivia clings to Bailey. I love watching them together. They’re like peas and carrots, like Forest Gump and Jenny, inseparable. However, at one point, Bailey wants to check out a small cabinet with drawers too small to put anything good in them. “Can you hold her a minute?” she says, handing Olivia over to me as if it’s no bigdeal.

And that’s when I freeze. My chest stops processing oxygen. My limbs go rigid, and my face feels like it’s going to fall off. Olivia and I look at each other like we both know this is not a goodidea.

She’s just a baby, Zayden. Don’t be an asshole. Just fucking holdher.

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