Page 215 of Billion-Dollar Attitudes

"Perhaps, she's beginning to teethe," Ariel answered, feeling Ava's forehead. "Doesn't seem like she has a fever."

"I've got some Tylenol in my bag," Sicily chimed in.

Just as Sicily offered assistance, the staff emerged from the meeting room. Their expressions were drawn and grave. The ambiance plummeted further, but Chase, ever the optimist, endeavored to brighten the mood. He proclaimed with a teasing smirk, "Well, folks, the good news is Rosedale isn't bankrupt... yet!" The tense atmosphere softened as a smattering of nervous laughter broke free.

Mitch spotted Ava's restlessness and hurried over. "Hey, maybe we should head home," he proposed, concern evident in his voice.

With a nod of agreement, we bid farewell to everyone and made our way out. Strolling along, Mitch exhaled, "So much for our night together, just the two of us. Should I call Ella and ask for her advice?"

I shook my head, resolute. "No, we need to work this out ourselves. Ariel might be right; it could just be teething. She's at the right age, after all."

But as we continued toward the bungalow, Ava's wails grew louder and more urgent, casting a shadow of worry and uncertainty over us both. Mitch tried different types of music to calm her, alternating between classical compositions and gentle lullabies, but her cries only escalated. I could see the concern etched on Mitch's face as his gaze darted toward Ava in the rearview mirror. Together, we searched our minds for any potential source of her anguish, but we were too inexperienced to come up with a conclusion.

Arriving at the house, it felt like an eternity before the recently installed security gate finally creaked open. Mitch hurried inside as I lifted Ava from her car seat. He promptly found the list of emergency contacts on the fridge, including Ava's pediatrician. Just as he was about to dial, I spotted something odd on the countertop.

"Mitch, hold on!" I cried, pointing at the canister of infant formula. "This isn't Nutramigen. It's another brand called 'GentleCare.' Could that be what's bothering her?"

Mitch's brow furrowed as he scrutinized the container. "You may be onto something. I didn't even notice. Maybe Ella grabbed it by mistake, or the store was out of Nutramigen."

Setting his phone aside, he approached Ava and tenderly stroked her back. "Let's whip up a fresh bottle using the Nutramigen we have left and see if that does the trick."

While I prepared the bottle, Mitch cradled Ava, murmuring soothing words to her. She continued to cry, but her sobs seemed to abate somewhat as if picking up on her father's unease and wanting to make him happy.

Mitch fed Ava the freshly made bottle, and we observed her carefully for any changes. As she finished the formula, her sobbing gradually ceased, and she appeared more comfortable. We were grateful to have potentially discovered the root of her fussiness.

"Maybe we should call Ella and fill her in on the mix-up," I suggested while Mitch held a now tranquil Ava.

"Yeah," he concurred, his voice laced with relief. "I'll give her a ring, and we'll be sure to stick with Nutramigen from here on out. The poor little one just needed her regular formula."

Cradling a now-drowsy Ava, I gently rocked her as Mitch retreated to the next room to phone Ella. Although I couldn't hear her side of the conversation, I managed to glean enough from Mitch's replies to piece it all together.

"Hey, Ella," he started, his tone amiable yet inquisitive. "I just wanted to ask you about the formula you bought for Ava. I noticed it wasn't Nutramigen, but rather GentleCare. Was there a reason for the change?"

The silence hung heavy as Mitch strained to catch Ella's reply, his entire demeanor morphing with the progression of their conversation. It was clear that frustration was building inside him.

"Ella, I've told you a thousand times Ava's pediatrician specifically prescribed Nutramigen for her. You had no right to switch the formula without running it by me first," he declared, the strain in his voice evident.

As he paused, I could almost hear Ella attempting to justify her decision by mentioning her nanny experience and how GentleCare was supposedly the best formula available.

Mitch's tone intensified, seething with anger, "That's not the point, Ella! You blatantly disregarded the doctor's instructions and didn't even have the courtesy to discuss it with me. Ava's been crying non-stop, and it's all because of the formula switch. I trusted you to follow the doctor's advice and keep me in the loop about any changes."

I found myself holding my breath, waiting for his next words. My heart soared when I finally heard him say, "I'm sorry, Ella, but this is where it ends. You're fired."

As Mitch hung up and reentered the room, a smile tugged at my lips, knowing that Ella's meddling would no longer come between us. We could now concentrate on nurturing our bond and taking care of Ava without interference.

Mitch's gaze flickered toward me, a storm of emotions brewing in his eyes. I reached out to gently touch his arm. "We'll get through this, Mitch. Together, we can look after Ava and find a new nanny who'll respect your wishes and keep you informed."

He nodded, taking a deep breath as he glanced at Ava, peacefully asleep in my arms. "You're right, Amy. We'll work through this together—for Ava and for us."

Mitch ended the call and drew a chair closer to the rocker, my smile widening with the knowledge that Ella's influence was finally gone. A sudden thought occurred to me, and I seized the moment.

"You know, Mitch, ever since my parents moved back to Vail, I've been struggling to make ends meet. What if I became Ava's nanny? It would benefit both of us. Besides, Rosedale only created my position because of the kidnapping, and other staff members can handle my responsibilities."

A mixture of surprise and relief morphed over Mitch's face, his smile growing. "Amy, I've wanted to suggest that for some time, but I wasn't sure if it was the right moment or if you'd even be open to it. It seems fate has finally given us the perfect opportunity."

Settling back onto the couch, Ava snuggled contentedly in my arms, the ordeal with Ella behind us. The tension of the day dissipated, leaving a sense of tranquility in its wake. Mitch looked at me tenderly, a blush creeping across my cheeks.

"We make a good team, don't we?" he murmured.

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