Chapter 3 – Can You Be My Girlfriend

(Red’s POV)

“She’s trouble, Liam,” I sighed.

I didn’t know if I would be relieved that her choice was a woman, not my kind or me. I was tired of women chasing me after my wife died in a plane crash.

“How can you say she’s trouble? You haven’t seen her with your kids yet,” he chuckled, narrowing his eyes at me. “Don’t tell me you’re attracted to her.”

I opened my mouth to lie, but he raised his index finger, stopping me from talking.

“I’m a man too, Red, and I saw how you looked at her,” he clucked his tongue. “She’s one lad with perfect orbs inside her blouse and the legs, man! Don’t tell me you didn’t feel anything?”

“I don’t know what you’re saying,” I denied.

“Aya’s beautiful. She should be joining the pageants, not applying for a nanny.” He continued to pile the papers on the table. “Oh, by the way, your mother-in-law called, asking about the kids again.”

He stopped what he was doing, crossing his arms to his chest as he looked at me.

“Why don’t you allow them to have a vacation with Sherrilyn? A month would give you time to breathe, Red. You don’t have time for yourself.”

My eyebrows knitted as I sighed. “You don’t know what’s going on with Sherrilyn’s mind, Liam. She might not return my kids to me,” I pursed my lips as I thought of Scarlett’s mother. I knew she had been talking to her lawyer to get custody of my kids, saying I could not take care of my children.

“We know she’s crazy, Red, but you can’t deny she’s their grandmother,” he smirked.

“If you and Ariana are coming with us, I’ll say yes to that vacation,” I told him and walked toward the door to check how she dealt with my kids.

When I reached the playroom, Ariana had just opened the door.

“Duck!” I heard Violet shouting.

I squeezed my eyes tight, seeing the toy flying across the room, and my sister, who knew my kids very well, lowered her head to avoid it. Aya, who was unfamiliar with the everyday scenario with my children, did not drop down, and as expected, it hit her bullseye on her forehead. She fell over, but I caught her just in time before she fell on the floor.

“Uh-oh!” Onyx, my four-year-old son, muttered as his eyes widened when he saw me.

His siblings chuckled but ran behind my eldest child, Violet, who was now looking at me anxiously. I sighed and turned my attention to the woman in my arms.

“Aya, are you okay?” I raised my other hand to touch her forehead.

If we weren’t in front of Ariana and my kids, I would love to touch her somewhere else to make sure she was okay.

“Yeah,” She chuckled as she stood up straight. “I didn’t know ducks could fly.”

“Ducks can fly,” I assured her, knitting my eyebrows as I stared at my children and glanced at Ariana, who walked toward my children.

“Now I know,” she chuckled, but her cheeks blushed.

I hid my hands inside my pants pockets to stop myself from touching her cheeks. They were adorably red as she gazed at the children.

“They each have a nanny, and Aunt Conchita, the one who looked after their needs, is having an operation next month, needs a year rest, and must avoid stress. That’s why I’m looking for someone to replace her. Preferably male because you see how naughty my kids are.”

Aya leaned to my side and whispered, “They’re kids, Mr. Carlington. Naturally, they’re playful. Is this why you need someone who knows martial arts?”

I ignored her and gestured my hand to walk toward my children. When we got closer to them, one by one, they began to peek at her.

“Violet’s my eldest. She’s ten. Green’s eight. Blue’s six, and my youngest, Onyx and Sapphire, they're four,” I said, pointing at them as I introduced each of my kids to her.

“You’re beautiiiiful,” Blue whispered as he walked toward us. He looked at her like her beauty had enchanted him. “Can you be my girlfriend?”

“You can’t be her boyfriend. You’re only six,” Green cut in. “I can be her boyfriend!” he said proudly.

“Wow!” Ariana chuckled, tousling his hair. “Is that because you’re two years older than Blue?”

“Uhuh,” he answered, nodding at her aunt, and then looked at me as if asking for permission. “Daddy?”

“She’s not going to be anyone’s girlfriend,” I uttered, not telling them she didn’t prefer little boys, not even a man like me.

“Is she the new Aunt Conchita?” Violet asked as she caught Onyx’s hand as he attempted to pick another toy.

“She’s not the new Aunt Conchita. No one can replace her, but if you like her, she’ll be with you until Aunt Conchita’s ready to look after you,” I explained to her, surprised at myself for saying it.

Ariana glanced at me, amazed that I was leaving the decision to my children, but how could I not change my mind about her when I saw how my children reacted around her?

“Does she know how to make pancakes?” Sapphire asked.

“We have cooks to make pancakes, Sapphire,” Violet answered, rolling her eyes at her.

“But I want to make pancakes,” Sapphire pouted and fidgeted with her hands as she walked behind her sister again.

“So, let’s vote who likes her,” Ariana chimed in excitedly, clasping her palms together.

I glowered at Ariana because she knew it wasn’t how I decided on things, but my kids had already raised their hands as if this was some kind of a game for them. Only Violet did not raise her hand as she looked at Aya from head to toe. When Sapphire was about to raise her hand, I caught Violet glaring at her sister. She pursed her lips as she slowly put her hand down.

“Boys!” She muttered annoyingly, sneered at her siblings, and sat on the chair, crossing her arms on her chest. She pursed her lips and looked at me disappointingly.

“When can you start?” Ariana turned to Aya, her eyes sparkling with joy.

“Huh?” Aya turned to me, her face asking me. “Did I get the job?” She mouthed.

Instead of answering her, I turned to Ariana. “I’ll wait for her in the study room, but first, find her a comfortable pair of shoes before she faints on her way home,” I said.

“Daddy!” Shouted Violet again.

I raised my hand and caught another squeaky toy before it hit anyone again.

“Wooooow!” Onyx muttered in surprise, his mouth still in an O shape as he looked at me.

Heaving a deep sigh, I turned around, reminding myself to talk to my kids before bedtime. I went back to the study room to finish this whole selection process to concentrate on my work. Not only Sherrilyn encouraged me, but even Aunt Conchita and my parents told me to marry again for the sake of my children, but who would like to be an instant mother of five?

My girlfriend Deirdre had already told me her dislike of children, and though she promised to try to like them, that one date with my kids was a disaster. After that, all our dates were exclusive for the two of us.

Sitting on the couch, I picked up Aya’s application form from the center table. Liam must have guessed Aya would get the job because only Aya’s paper was there. This time, I took the time to read her file.

Aya is twenty-five years old with lots of part-time jobs. She was a well-rounded person with gorgeous beauty and had the most amazing amber eyes. There was something charismatic in how her full lips curved into a smile. With her fascinating curve, I wondered why she didn’t bother joining beauty contests or aiming to be a model when she was five feet and six inches tall.

The door creaked open.

When I turned my head, Aya entered the study room and smiled sheepishly. I gestured my hand, telling her to sit on the couch across from me. As soon as she settled in her seat, I began my queries. I intended to do my final interview with her before drafting the contract.

“How’re your legs?” I asked. When she blushed, I realized I had begun my interview wrong.

“I’m… I’m okay now. Thank you for what you did a while ago,” she smiled sheepishly, her cheeks blushing.

“Aya, you know we’re looking for a nanny, not a private tutor. I’m not sure if I asked you if you’d like to take that job,” I said, looking at her and studying her heavenly physique.

“Mr. Carlington -”

“Red,” I cut in.

She nodded. “Red, I really do need this job. Badly. I took my chance to apply as a private tutor even though I wasn’t a college graduate. I wondered about the compensation because I’m in dire need of money.”

“It’s the same compensation as mentioned in the letter, plus the benefits… and insurance,” I clarified to her.

“Wow!” She murmured. “I’d love to take the job, but if I have to stay at night, I can’t take the job,” she puckered her lips up, not wanting to give up the job.

“And why?” My eyebrows knitted, wondering why it had become a problem when she had just said she needed a job badly.

“Because I’m a single mom and had to attend to the needs of my sick father,” she answered honestly.

“You’re a…” I scanned her application form again, but it didn’t say anything about her being a single mother. “How? I mean, you just said you’re a lesbian and -”

“Oh, yeah! She’s not exactly mine. I mean, Katie’s my sister’s daughter, but she…” she breathed out. “She left Katie at the hospital and left a note she didn’t want her, so… I took her in. She’s the same age as Onyx and Scarlett.”

“And your father?” I did not want to ask, but I got more curious about her.

“My father could not work on the farm anymore, so I took him with me after he got a stroke, but he’s okay now. He could walk slowly and do little stuff at home. His little garden on my balcony makes him busy when Katie’s in school.” Her eyes sparkled as she talked about her father. She must love her father very much.

“I told you they each have a nanny, and you don’t have to stay at night,” I pointed out. “You’ll mostly be checking on my kids’ schedule at school, their homework, and needs, and you’ll work like their nannies’ supervisor. I’m a busy person, Aya, and I can’t entrust this job to anyone else.”

It was Scarlett’s task before she passed away, and the responsibility was passed on to me, but managing businesses and being a responsible father did not go well for me. Aunt Conchita and Ariana decided to help, but they could not devote their whole time to them.

“My kids had decided, not me. Aya, would you accept the job?”