Page 38 of The Billionaire and the Nanny: Part 2

Silence, as she processes my words. Slowly, she churns out, “Your boss…the billionaire daddy?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“The one who was rude and mean toyou?”

“It’s not like that anymore. He’s changed. We’ve all changed. I’ve been here almost four months. A lot can happen.”

“Bailey,” my mom sighs. I know I’m about to get an earful. “I know you’re feeling lured by the money, but this may not be a goodidea.”

“Lured by the money? The money is actually the last thing I ever think about. Yeah, it’s nice to go places, buy things, and not have to worry about it, but he’s the reason I’m withhim.”

“Honey, his baby mama’s injail.”

“So?”

“So I’m just scared of what’s going to happen to you when this fairy tale is over soon, and your heart is broken into a million pieces when it’s time for the baby to leave.”

Inwardly, I chastise myself for ever having told my mother so much about the gig back when I started working for Zayden. “Mom, it’s fine. Everything’s going great. Zayden is a changed man. He’s turned a hundred and eighty degrees.”

“But you made him out to be a monster when you started.”

“I know I did, but things have changed between us. We’re…we’re falling in love,” I say. Wow, it sounds so naïve even to my ears now when I say it out loud, but we are, and I wish my mom would celebrate that fact with me instead of making this out to be a tragedy.

Mom grunts and I can see her shaking her head. What will she tell Grandma when we hang up? I can hear the complaints now. “Bailey, this is all I’m going to say… People don’t change overnight, so be careful. Things might seem hunky-dorynow—”

“Please don’t say hunky-dory. It’s so ancient.”

“I may be ancient, the way I talk might be ancient, but listen to your mother—permanent change takes longer. It takes years. And from what you told me, that man doesn’t know what he wants from one day to the next. What if he decides tomorrow that he’s done with you? Done-yun rings.”

“Don’t say done-yun rings either.”

“You haven’t been there long enough to witness real change. Honey, the game is starting. Call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure thing.” I hang up, because I can’t take another minute of my mother’s disapproval. And here I was thinking it’d be nice to call her, share some happy news, get unconditional love and approval once she learned that I was finally—for the first time ever—seeing someone.

So much forthat.

I head into the kitchen for a glass of water, and soon, a pair of arms are crushing me to death. “You okay? Someone looks like they could use a hug.” Then I feel a tiny pair of arms being forced around my neck. “Help me hug her, Olivia. Hug Miss Bailey. Comeon…”

As cute as this kitchen attack is, I want to cry. My mom’s validation was important to me and she made me feel like a fool. Is it true what she said? That people don’t change that quickly? That this whole relationship is just a recipe for disaster? Or is that her old mom mind going into warning mode? I know lots of people who fall in love with single moms and dads. Why would this be any different?

Zayden and Olivia put on a funny show of picking up kitchen utensils and rocking out like they’re heavy metal instruments. Of course, Zayden does all the theatrics for Olivia, while Olivia just laughs her baby butt off at everything Zayden does. And then I see it—the glint of pure happiness in Zayden’s eyes. Those thirty minutes alone with Olivia while I isolated myself to talk to my mom on the phone have opened up a portal of total cuteness in Zayden. He’s in full dad mode, a happy little kid making the most of his time with his daughter. I’ve never seen anyone so content as I’m seeing right at this moment.

And I know my mom is wrong.

Because my mom isn’there.

She’s not seeing what I’m seeing. She’s thinking about the horror stories she’s heard in her lifetime, not this amazing little family blossoming before my very eyes. She can’t know. She’s in Ohio living her life of Monday Night Football while I’m in New York City falling in love with my billionaire boss and his baby. Our lives could not be more polar opposite.

Zayden gets a call and hands me the baby so he can answer it. I put her on the floor, because she’s antsy and dying to walk though all she can do is hold onto cabinets for support. I sit on the floor and take photos of her. I plan on putting them all on social media tonight.

Then, as I’m taking a bunch of action shots, an amazing thing happens—Olivia, giving me a look of pure determination—lets go of the cabinet and trickles her little feet my way. She gets about four steps in before she tumbles into my arms with a joyous smile.

“Zayden!” I cry out. “Come see this! Your little girl has just taken her first steps!”

I’m so happy, I cover her with kisses from her head to her chubby toes. I pretend to munch on her toes and she laughs, wriggles her way out of my grasp, and crawls to the cabinet so she can try walking again.

“Zayden!” I call. I’d hate to interrupt him when he’s on a business call, but this is an important moment. I’d even be willing to pretend like I never saw it happen so he can witness it. “Zayden!”

“I’m here, Bailey.” His voice is somber. I look up. The look on his face isn’t any better.

Right away, I know something’s happened. “What’s wrong? What is it?” And it has nothing to do with work—I know it in the pit of my stomach. It has to do with us, with Olivia.

“It’s Noelia. She’s getting released early for good behavior and will be coming for Olivia.”

The blood drains from my face. All my mother’s words coming rushing back to me. “What? When?” No. This can’t be happening. Not so soon. It was supposed to take ayear!

“Nextweek.”

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