Amelia's POV"We did," I said, unable to help the smile tugging at my lips. "We were quite the terrors.""The best kind of terror," Blaire added, bumping my shoulder playfully.A comfortable silence settled between us, each lost in their own thoughts."Mom," I said gently, "how about we play a little game?"My mother's brow furrowed in curiosity. "What kind of game?""Let's pretend we're children again," I explained. "Just for a little while. Let's chase butterflies and make up stories about the clouds."A hesitant smile spread across my mother's face. "Alright," she agreed, her voice tinged with a hint of childlike wonder. "But you have to promise to go easy on me. My old bones might not be able to keep up with you."***"This is perfect," she said, leaning on Blaire's arm as we walked. "Thank you both for doing this for me.""It was our pleasure, Mom," I replied, squeezing her hand. "We just wanted to give you a break, a chance to feel normal again.""You know," she said thoughtfull
Amelia’s POV As we entered, a woman with a perfectly sculpted pixie cut and a warm smile approached us. This must be the owner, I thought to myself. "Welcome!" she greeted, her voice as charming as her smile. "Are you all booked in?""We're not exactly booked," Blaire admitted sheepishly. "We were hoping you might be able to accommodate a walk-in? My mother, here, would love a haircut and maybe a manicure."The woman's smile faltered slightly. "A walk-in, you say? We are quite busy today…" she trailed off, her gaze flitting between us. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she assessed the situation.Just as my heart threatened to plummet, Blaire stepped in again, her voice turning persuasive. "We understand if it's not possible," she said, "but my mother is recovering from an illness, and a bit of pampering would mean the world to her. We're flexible on timing, truly."The woman pursed her lips, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against her chin. "Hmm," she p
Amelia's POVOkay," my mom replied, her voice stronger than it had been in weeks. "But first, tell me, doctor, what do you think of this manicure? Do you think it clashes with my new hair style?"Dr. Williams chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "No, Mrs. Thompson," he said, "I think it ties the whole look together beautifully. It's a perfect reminder of the sunshine you carry within yourself."She smiled beautifully. Back in her room, as the nurse helped her get settled, Mom's gaze lingered on the picture in his hand. "You know, Dr. Williams," she said, a playful glint in her eyes, "I think I might need to go back there for one of those manicures. It seems to have magical mood-boosting properties."Dr. Williams chuckled, a genuine laugh that resonated through the sterile room. "I think you can schedule that anytime, Mrs. Thompson," he replied. "Perhaps we can even add it to your treatment plan – weekly sunshine therapy with a side of nails."Mom's laugh filled the room, a sound so beautifu
Amelia's POVI hesitated for a moment. "I don't know, I don't want to. He might be my ex-boyfriend but he is now also my boss. I mean I'm the nanny of his daughter. Getting involved with him at this moment will just make a mess of everything. I just want to focus on my job," I eventually saidMom hummed thoughtfully. "Is that why you pushed him away so harshly?"I nodded my head, feeling so ashamed. Everything I had said to him that night replayed over and over again in my mind. "It's fine, Eddie. You do not have to explain yourself to me. It is not entirely because of your ex-wife that I say that this is a mistake. There are several… no, hundreds of reasons why this was a mistake. I'm sorry if I led you on, but this should have never happened. So please, Eddie, let me go and let's forget that this ever happened." "You are my employer, Eddie. I work for you as a cook and also take care of your daughter. You are paying me a substantial amount to do so. Do you think it is right for us
Amelia's POV"You'll be fine, Amelia," she said, her voice firm yet gentle. "Just be honest, be sincere, and everything will work out.""Thanks, Mom," I replied, a wave of gratitude washing over me. "I really appreciate your support."Blaire leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And remember, Amelia," she said in a conspiratorial whisper, "if things don't go as planned with the apology, always resort to Plan B.""Plan B?" I repeated, an eyebrow raised."Distraction, my dear," she declared with a dramatic flourish. "Charm him with your wit, mesmerize him with your cooking skills, and before he knows it, he'll be completely smitten and all thoughts of the apology will vanish."I couldn't help but laugh at her audacity. Blaire always had a way of lightening the mood, no matter how tense the situation.Just then, my phone buzzed. Eddie's POVMy gaze drifted to the holographic display hovering in the center of the table, a complex financial breakdown of the Crawford acquisiti
Eddie's POVMy cheeks flushed slightly. "Alright, alright," I conceded, throwing my hands up in mock surrender. "Maybe I was thinking of getting Amelia something nice. It's been a tough week for her, and…""And you want to show her you care," James finished my sentence with a knowing nod."Something like that," I mumbled, feeling strangely self-conscious about my sudden urge for chivalry. I briefly wondered if it would be too much. Showing up with flowers especially after the tense atmosphere that would undoubtedly be between us. After that night, I had avoided Amelia the following morning, only corresponding through notes in the house and through John, the driver. He must have thought the two of us were loony for passing messages to each other through him rather than just talking to each other, especially since we lived in the same house. James clapped me on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Go for it, Eddie," he said, his voice filled with encouragement. "A little gesture like that
Eddie's POVMy heart pounded against my ribs as I waited for Amelia's response. Did she think it was strange, me wanting to meet her mom? Maybe it was too forward, especially considering our current situation.Finally, her voice came back over the phone, a hint of surprise laced with hesitation. "Are you sure, Eddie? You don't have to do that.""Absolutely sure," I affirmed, my voice more confident than I felt. "I'd like to see how Mrs. Johnson is doing myself. Besides, wouldn't it be easier for everyone if we just met upstairs?"There was another small pause, then a sigh. "Alright, fine," she conceded. "We're in room 312."Relief washed over me. "Great! I'll be up there in a sec."Hanging up, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Meeting Amelia's mom felt like a big step, a step towards something more than just employer and employee. But it also felt like the right thing to do.I parked the car, grabbed the flowers, chocolates, and gif
Amelia's POVMy mom, propped up in bed and sporting a mischievous glint in her eyes, piped up, "Amelia, is this the Eddie you were telling us about? The one with the…interesting…cooking skills?"A groan escaped my lips. Of course, Mom would latch onto that particular detail. I shot her a playful glare, which she only met with a wider grin. Eddie, however, looked mortified."Oh, no," he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. "That was…that was a one-time thing. I promise I'm a much better businessman than a chef."Blair, ever the instigator, chimed in with a mischievous giggle. "Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Eddie. A little kitchen mishap adds to the charm, wouldn't you say, Amelia?"I swatted playfully at her arm, mortified by her teasing. "Shut up, Blair," I muttered.Eddie, however, seemed to relax a little at Blair's comment. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He cleared his throat and offered the flowers to me. "These are for you," he said, his voice regaining a
Amelia’s POVIt's been a few weeks since Eddie and I had gotten back together. It had taken him only a couple of weeks to convince me to move in with him again, but this time around, it was not as his nanny or his chef, it was as his girlfriend. According to him, he wanted to spend as much time as possible before I had to go back to Florida to resume duty with my agency. Jenna had been slammed with a restraining order along with the promise of a lawsuit if she did not leave us alone. For good measure, Eddie had made sure to properly adopt Chloe as his legal daughter. That way Jenna would not be able to cause us any more trouble.“Babe! Hurry up, we're gonna be late!” That was Edie yelling from downstairs, while I was in the closet in his… in our room, getting ready. Together with my parents, Blair, James, and Chloe, we were all going to a restaurant to celebrate my mom finally beating cancer.I looked down at Chloe who had gotten her hand on my lipgloss and was now putting it on and
Eddie’s POVAmelia's gaze flickered between me and the bustling crowd before she sighed and gestured toward a doorway at the back."Let's talk somewhere else, shall we?"I did not want to have to talk to her. I wanted to be with her at my home, where I could talk to her and have all to myself."Forget the break room," I said, a newfound determination coursing through me. "Let's go somewhere we can actually talk."Amelia hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright," she conceded. "But I do have to finish my shift first."Frustration bubbled up within me, but I knew pushing her wouldn't help. "Fine," I muttered, trying to tamp down on my impatience. "How long?""Just another hour," she replied, checking her watch. "How about we meet somewhere? My place isn't really ideal.""My place is close by," I offered, surprising myself with the boldness. "It's quiet, we can talk there."Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Your place? That wasn't exactly part of the plan, Eddie.""Well, plans change," I said, a play
Eddie’s POV"It was a mistake, Eddie," she choked out, her voice barely audible. "A one-time thing… a long time ago.""A one-time thing?" I repeated, my voice cracking. The image of a younger, naive Jenna flashed before my eyes, a girl I thought I knew everything about. Now, she seemed like a stranger."Who was he?" I demanded with the need to know gnawing at me.Jenna hesitated, then whispered a name I vaguely recognized. It was someone from the film industry, a rising star she'd met during her brief stint in Los Angeles. They had a short fling, a whirlwind romance that ended as quickly as it began.The revelation hit me like a sucker punch. All the doubts I'd ignored, the whispers in the back of my mind, the nagging feeling that things weren't quite right – it all came flooding back with a terrifying clarity. Years of my life were built on a lie. Chloe, my sweet, innocent daughter, was caught in the crossfire of my naivety and Jenna's betrayal.Fury boiled within me, a churning infe
Eddie’s POVThe doctor gave a small smile. "Of course. Let her rest for a few minutes, and then you can go in."As we waited, James explained what little he knew. He'd been picking up Chloe from school when a call came through from the hospital. Apparently, another kid had swerved into Chloe's path while riding his scooter.A surge of anger flared up within me. How could someone be so careless? But the anger quickly dissipated, replaced by a fierce protectiveness over my little girl.Minutes later, we were ushered into the room. Chloe lay propped up in bed, her face pale and drawn, a white cast encasing her arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw me."Daddy!" she cried out, her voice small and wobbly.My heart ached at the sight of her distress. "Hey, champ," I said, rushing to her side and pulling her into a gentle hug, careful not to jostle her injured arm. "It's okay, I'm here now."She buried her face in my chest, her small body trembling slightly. I showered her with comforti
Amelia’s POVThe question hung heavy in the air. Friends? Could we really go back to that after everything that had happened? A part of me longed for the simplicity of our old friendship, the easy camaraderie we'd shared. But another part of me worried that friendship wouldn't be enough. The feelings I had for Eddie, the unspoken desires that had simmered beneath the surface of our relationship, wouldn't just disappear. They would linger, a constant reminder of what could have been.Taking a deep breath, I typed out a reply. "I… I don't know, Eddie. Honestly, I need some time to think. This whole situation has been a lot to process.""I understand," he replied almost instantly. "Take all the time you need. Just know that… I care about you, Amelia. More than you probably realize."His words sent a blush creeping up my neck. Did he really feel the same way? Or was this just a desperate attempt to hold onto me in any way he could? I didn't have the answers, and the uncertainty gnawed at
Amelia’s POVI stared at the message for what felt like an eternity, my mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Finally, with a shaky breath, I typed out a reply."Eddie," I began, my fingers hovering over the screen, "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you for the money. It means the world to me and my mom. But ...is everything alright? James said you collapsed. Are you in the hospital?" I hit send, the weight of the question hanging heavy in the air. The money, the cryptic message – it all pointed to something more serious than he was letting on.The wait for a response stretched into an agonizing eternity. Just as I started to pace the room, my phone buzzed. It was Eddie."Amelia," his voice rasped through the phone, weaker than I'd ever heard it. "Yes, I'm in the hospital. They're still trying to figure things out, but the doctor says I have Angiina due to stress."My chest tightened. Stress. The word echoed in my head, a stark reminder of the turmoil I'd left him in. "Eddie,"
Amelia’s POVI knew that there was no way that he and Jenna had actually been together in the way that she had been insinuating.Jenna had probably been playing another of her manipulative tricks. Regardless, I was exhausted and had had to tell myself that it would be better to end it with Eddie than to be dealing with hurt and frustration every day. James had been giving me updates on both Chloe and Eddie and although I knew I should tell him to stoop so that I could have a clean break, I did not think I had the heart to do so.The rhythmic rumble of the bus engine vibrated through the worn leather seat I occupied. Outside the window, the cityscape blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, each passing image signifying my new reality. A reality where I, Amelia Brooks, was no longer Eddie Turner's nanny. Today's successful interview meant I could finally stand on my own two feet, financially independent. A bittersweet victory, considering the reason behind this newfound freedom.A soft c
Eddie’s POVHis words held a truth that stung. Jenna's behavior had become increasingly erratic, her possessiveness suffocating. But the thought of facing Amelia, of dredging up the hurt and confusion of that day, filled me with dread.I could not say anything, I could only nod my head in response. Just then, my head began to pound again, this time around in sync with my heart.My vision swam, the pounding in my head morphing into a relentless drum solo. The room seemed to tilt on its axis, James' concerned face warping into a blurry mess. A guttural cough ripped through me, sending another jolt of pain lancing through my chest."James…" I croaked, the word a raspy whisper. My hand reached out, blindly grasping for something solid. My fingers brushed against the armrest of the chair, anchoring me momentarily."Eddie, mate! What's wrong?" James' voice was laced with alarm, his concern cutting through the fog clouding my mind."Head…" I managed, the word slurred. My grip on the armrest
Eddie’s POVAmelia had left a gaping hole in my heart."But will she ever come back?" Chloe persisted, her lower lip trembling slightly."I… I don't know, sweetheart," I admitted, the truth a bitter pill to swallow. A heavy sigh escaped Chloe's tiny lips. "Okay," she mumbled, staring out the window with a wistful expression. The silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken emotions.Reaching over, I squeezed her hand gently. "Look," I began, my voice softened with love. "No matter what happens with Amelia, you'll always be my little girl. And no matter what, I'll always be here for you. Always."Chloe looked at me, a flicker of reassurance sparking in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, her voice a hesitant whisper."Really," I confirmed, my voice firm with conviction. "You're the most important thing in the world to me, you know that?"She nodded slowly, a small smile gracing her lips. For a moment, the tension seemed to ease, a fragile connection established between us.Reaching t