Chapter 5

Melissa’s POV

 

He asked me to be his daughter’s nanny. Hours later, I still can’t believe what he truly offered. Double the salary as an assistant is a lot. He sure knows how to drive a hard bargain. 

I should make a decision matrix. I get up from the couch to grab a pen and notebook.

 

Pros

 

1) Doubled salary and girl, that is rich

 

2) You get to pay off all your debts and get rid of Ben

 

3) You get to spend time with that adorable baby

 

Cons

 

text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">1)    You could get attached to her, Melissa, and that is not meant to happen.

 

Worse, I can get attached to her father, too.

Would you look at that? I have just one con and three pros. 

I don’t know anymore. What the hell am I supposed to do? There’s a high probability I won’t get that personal assistant position because I’m surely not the only one who applied. Secondly, I’m not beautiful or blonde. The man seems to have a thing for blonde employees.

I’m basing my assumption that I only saw blonde women in his office. Obviously, being a natural blonde would go a long way securing a position with Edwards’ Enterprises.

“What am I going to do now, Molly?” 

Molly is chewing on one of my favorite flats. She lifts her head up at the sound of my voice and barks once, before returning her attention to my shoe. That damn dog.

I can’t afford to be his baby’s caretaker. I mean, what if I get attached? After I lost my…

Don’t go there, Melissa. Don’t.

I make my way to the kitchen and prepare noodles for dinner. 

I would love to eat something other than noodles, but I cannot cook any other food without burning the kitchen down. My mum used to chase me out of the kitchen anytime I asked to help her out. I still can’t make noodles well. No matter how hard I try, they always come out soggy and look like mutated earthworms.

Don’t you dare laugh!

When the noodles are done, I don’t bother with a plate. Instead, I eat it directly from the pot. Nasty habit, I know. 

But hey, who cares?

I decide to watch a movie.

“Which one should we watch, Molly?” I ask, flipping through the movies in the cozy living room. I choose Annabelle. 

“Let us watch this, shall we, Molly?” The darn dog doesn’t even bark in response. I guess eating my shoe is more important than listening to me.

Halfway through the movie, my mobile phone rings, but I ignore it. It’s probably a telemarketer. It’s a number I don’t recognize. Besides, I don’t know anyone who would call me at this hour. Yeah, I know, I am such a social butterfly. I attempt to continue my movie and ignore the ringing, but the caller is persistent. 

Annoyed, I pause my film and take the call. 

“What is the point of having a phone if you don’t answer it, Miss Brooks?” 

Even if I were half asleep, I would recognize that voice. Yeah, you guessed it. Mr. Hot Stuff.

“I’m busy,” I grumble. I can’t exactly tell him I’m choosing to ignore the calls, can I?

After a moment’s pause, he says, “I just wanted to inform you that if you decide to be my baby’s nanny, you will have to stay in my home. In other words, you will be a live-in nanny.”

Nice of him to clarify that last part.  “Okay, Mr. Edwards.”

“And one more thing, Miss Brooks, you have twenty-four hours to think about this. Pick up your bloody phone next time.”

“Okay, sir,” I answer, but he’d already hung up.

He frigging hung up onme.No good night. Nothing. Nada.

A live-in nanny, not bad. I get to sleep with that cutie every night. 

Get your mind out of the gutter. I mean the baby, not the father.

You still haven’t decided to take his offer, Melissa.

 

“Melissa,” Ben hoots outside my door.

I swear that man should be arrested for disturbing the peace of this neighborhood. 

I grumble a little and hit the pause button on the remote before standing up to answer the door. I open the door, exit, and closeitbehind me. “What is it this time, Ben?”

He laughs. Even his laughter is creepy… It makesmy skin crawl.

“Just a reminder, Melissa. You know, about your rent and… my offer,” he leers, giving me that stupid look again.

“I will never accept your offer, Ben.” 

He snickers and checks me out. “You do look good tonight, Melissa,” he slurs, and I realize I’m standing in front of him in extremely short shorts and a sports bra. 

I absolutely lose it.

 “You know what? You’re a disgusting pig. I will pay you your money before Saturday and move out of your damn building. Disgusting old fool,” I screech at him before dashing into my flat and slamming the door behind me. I lock it immediately.

Molly is waiting for me inside with a worried look on her doggie face. 

“Please tell me I didn’t say that to him, Molly.” 

Molly barks in response and I sink against the door, defeated. That’s about the answer I expected.

What have you done, Melissa? Now Ben won’t spare you at all.

I guess you have to take that job now.