I trusted Miriam, and look what happened. Perhaps it wasn’t love at first sight, but I believed we made a good team. Thought she fell for me, thought she could be a good mother and wife. Gave her everything. But my friends and even Aunt Vivian all had that nagging feeling that Miriam was only out for my bank account, and stupidly, I brushed aside their concerns .

Joke was on me when I realized the truth six months ago—she got pregnant soon after we married, because they were right. She was never in it for love. The plan was always to entrap me for eighteen years. And now she wants alimony, full custody of my children , and full child support. I don’t mind paying support, but I’ll die before I let her take full custody. She can tell the press whatever lies she wants. But I’m not asking for shared custody to avoid paying support, which is her allegation. I’m asking for shared custody because I love my kids .

After showing Miss Carrington around the penthouse, I bring her back to the living room where we began. “Anyway, that’s the tour. As you can see, I’ve done everything I can to provide a wonderful, nurturing environment for my twins. Do you have any questions or concerns ?”

Miss Carrington—Paisley, an interesting name, to be sure—looks like she wants to say something. She chews on her inner lip and makes a grimace while tugging nervously on the strap of her purse .

“Miss Carrington ?”

“I do have one question, Mr. Raider. I’ve listened to everything you’ve said, and I hope you won’t find this out of line, but your divorce …”

“What about it ?”

“You say you’re worried the court will find that you’re not an invested, capable father. Your house is certainly beautiful, super modern, and everything. But don’t you think the best way to provide a nurturing environment for the children is to just…I don’t know…” She shrugs and looks anywhere but at me .

“Spit it out, Miss Carrington .”

She looks back at me. “Spend time with your kids?” Her grimace twists into a smirk. Between that and my seething frown, she realizes maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say .

When I get upset, I don’t yell or scream. It doesn’t accomplish anything when I know that silence is far, far worse. My silence now makes Miss Carrington sink into her shoes. I know if she could blend into the walls right now, she would .

“Maybe you didn’t hear me earlier,” I say finally, sliding my phone into my pants pocket and sitting on the edge of the sofa’s backrest. I cross my ankles. “I’m working on the most important project of my life. Hence my need for a nanny .”

Where does this girl get off thinking she can stand here and accuse me of not spending enough time with my kids when she doesn’t understand anything about my life? She only knows what I’ve chosen to discuss. Besides, you’d think a nanny wouldn’t argue in favor of the parents spending more time with their kids .

“I didn’t mean that in a bad way,” she says .

“Oh? What other way could you mean it when you say I should just spend more time with my kids and that will solve everything?” I glare at her. There’s no reason to keep her if I feel she’s impertinent. I could call the agency right now and have them send over someone else. But the truth is, she’ll do just fine. She’s already here, she’s used to handling twins because of her brothers, and besides, she didn’t say it as cheekily as it sounded to my ego. I know I could spend more time with the kids, but I just can’t. I have a job to do .

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It was just a question, since you’re worried about the divorce case .”

I sigh. It really irks me when some wet behind the ears millennial talks as if life is so simple, merely because they are fresh out of college and full of themselves. They have yet to prove themselves, but their ignorance gives them the courage to utter the most ridiculous nonsense to those of us who actually have contended with the real world and know it’s complications and compromises .

“Miss Carrington, I run a multi-billion-dollar company. This means that hundreds of people’s salaries depend on me. This means that high profile clients get what they want, what they’ve always dreamed of in architectural design because of me. This means that I have to balance my life, and sometimes that means sacrificing family time in order to get the job done .”

“I understand.” She nods .

“So, perhaps you should allow me to conduct my life and business as I see fit, keep the uninformed judgments to yourself, and let me do the hard stuff while you care for my toddlers, making a lovely wage and luxuriating in the best amenities life has to offer at the same time. Clear ?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” she squeaks. “Thank you so much for hiring me.” She even tries to save herself with a smile. Pretty, that upturn of her lips. I wonder where those lips have been, what they’ve done in her short life. She can’t be more than twenty-one, twenty-two if she’s just graduated from college ?

“You’re free to go home now. Be here tomorrow morning at 7 AM to prepare for the twins’ arrival at eight. Their mother will be dropping them off, and you will meet her then .”

“Yes, sir. Have a great rest of the day. Thank you for the opportunity .”

As she walks away, I can’t help but stare at her voluptuous, heart-shaped ass .

Fuck but what I would do to her under different circumstances. And then I think about the nerve she had, to tell me how to raise my kids …

Millennials and their entitlement, I swear. At her age, I never would’ve dreamed of challenging my boss during the interview stage. Maybe later, but not during the interview. But perhaps there’s hope for Paisley Carrington yet. After all, she’s got me for a boss, so she’s bound to learn a thing or two .

Once I settle into my office with afternoon coffee, Vivian comes in and hugs the door frame. “Well? How did it go ?”

“She’ll do .”

“I’m surprised you went with someone so average in the beauty department, Logan. Dare I say you’ve lost your playboy edge ?”

I almost correct her, suddenly feeling defensive on Paisley Carrington’s behalf. But then I realize there’s no good that can come from admitting my strong attraction to the new nanny .