Chapter 4

Paisley laid on her bed, staring at her ceiling while her thoughts played with themselves. She thought back to Carter's smile and how different he was off and during work.

However, Carter's double personality wasn't the only thing on her mind.

**Mama**

She recalled the child's voice and turned on her side, now staring at an invitation card on her lantern desk.

*Flashback*

*(Earlier that day)*

*"What's this?", She asked when she took the small envelope from Carter.*

*"It's an invitation to a dinner party this weekend. Just as a congratulations from me. There'll be food and the sweets that you like so much"*

*She rolled her eyes in amusement and smiled.*

*" Thanks, but I'm not into dinner parties"*

*" Neither am I" Carter shrugged.

" But,It'll  be nice to see you there. I won't be too lonely", he winked.*

*End of flashback*

She unconsciously smiled and shook her head. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up  without looking at the caller ID. She knew all too well that there was only one person with her personal number.

"Hey", She greeted and laid on her back, still staring at the card.

"How was the final meeting?", Kori asked on the other end of the line.

" It went okay". She dropped the card.

" Just okay?"

" What, do you want me to say 'it was balls down awesome' to prove it actually went okay?"

" Not exactly in those terms, but at least show some enthusiasm"

Paisley sighed. " I'm all out of enthusiasm. Right now I can only give out apathy, laziness and pessimism"

" What's wrong?"

" Nothing, I'm just... I've been thinking for over an hour now and I think my brain's about to burst"

" It wouldn't be the first time", Kori chuckled. " All you do is think. What is it about this time?"

Paisley stayed quiet. She had no idea how she'd bring up the topic without mentioning the word she so disliked.

"Hello? Earth to Paisley?"

Paisley sighed and ran her hand down her face. " I don't know how to bring this up", she groaned.

"Speak your mind", Kori ordered.

Paisley sat up and crossed her legs; meditative style.

"Don't say anything, okay? It's just out of curiosity"

"I won't", Kori promised with her fingers crossed.

" Do...", She trailed off and exhaled. "Do toddlers usually mistake strangers for their mom?"

Kori paused with raised brows. " No, not usually. Although some people claim that children get emotionally attached to people who give them a lot of affection"

*Could that be it?*

" Why?", Kori added.

" No reason", Paisley shrugged. " Is it fun?"

" Is what fun?"

"Having a f-", she paused. "Having the F word"

"You make it sound like a video game", Kori chuckled.

" I don't know what word to use", Paisley defended.

This earned her another chuckle from Kori.

" Well, I don't know about fun, but, it seems fulfilling"

" I don't get it"

" Of course you don't", Kori rolled her eyes. " Okay", she sighed. " Do you enjoy writing?"

"Yes, I do"

"Is it easy?"

" Not at all"

" Exactly. It's challenging, but it's an amazing experience."

Paisley paused and her face lit up. " Yes! Experience!", She exclaimed.

"Huh?"

"I never thought of it that way. It's just experience!"

" Um, I feel like you took my advice the wrong way"

" Thanks, Kori! I'm feeling a lot better now", She smiled.

"Are you planning something?"

Paisley chuckled. "What could I possibly be planning?"

"You're acting weird"

" Kori", Paisley called and grabbed the Invitation. She stared at it and a smile spread across her lips. "I'm gonna be a nanny"

"You're what?!"

"Gonna be a Nanny, Kori. You know, the job that requires living in and taking care of a child"

" Have you finally lost your mind?! You have a job!"

" I have a *contract*", Paisley corrected. " A contract on a book I've already completed. There's nothing else for me to do but wait. Until I start going for book signings and my book *hopefully* becomes a beat seller, I have so much free time!"

" Paisley-"

" I can avoid stuffing my self with sweets and watching Netflix for days!"

" This is a job. As a *nanny*", Kori pronounced.

" I'm well aware of that"

" No you're not! You're going to be living in a strangers house, taking care of a strangers baby!"

" I know"

" What the-!", Kori paused and exhaled. " Why on earth would you make a decision like that?"

Paisley stilled and looked at the invitation in her hand. "I don't know. But that's what I want to find out"

The line went silent.

" Fine", Kori sighed. " Fine. But I need to know who this person is, cause I'll definitely visit from time to time"

Paisley smiled. " It's Carter Reid. My boss"

Kori paused on the other end and her eyes widened.

" WHAT?!!!"

***

Paisley walked into a large hall filled with round round tables covered in expensive linen and chairs that might as well been built from gold.

Her eyes roamed the hall and admired the crystal like Chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, the statues placed in order and the the paintings hung on the wall.

"And I thought places like this only existed in movies", she breathed. The room glowed, literally. She breathed out a shaky breath when she had a good look at the people in the room and internally thanked Kori for borrowing her the midnight black mermaid gown she had on.

The hall was rowdy and she could understand why. Wherever she looked, there was always a small group of beautifully and handsomely dressed men and women chatting.

Most of them held wine, smiling and laughing at jokes said by the other person. There were waiters and waitresses walking around with trays holding wine and appetizers.

On the other side of the room, Paisley could see a buffet with several delicacies, some of which she'd never seen before.

"Wow", she breathed. "Bad idea coming here. Bad idea" she muttered and started to panic. She looked around the room, searching for the one person she knew would stand out.

"Mr. Reid. Where's Mr. Reid. Please magically show up like the guy does in movies", she pleaded and balled her hands into fists.

" Ms. Brooke"

She turned around to see Eli in a black tux and white tie. He looked good. She breathed out in relief.

*Not who I was hoping for, but thank heavens*

"Thank you so much for noticing me", she rushed out. " I felt like I'd suffocate to death here"

Eli smiled. "You're welcome, I think. Mr. Reid asked me to keep an eye out for you"

"He did?"

Eli nodded. " This way please. I'll lead you to your table"

Paisley gladly followed closely behind him. They walked almost to the end of the room where a table and four chairs sat, one of them occupied by a booster seat and a baby Karter.

*This kid deserves his own fucking movie* she snickered as she took in how cute he looked. *Literally our very own Boss baby* she smiled.

He was dressed in a tux and a little red bow tie.

"You guys really take him everywhere, huh?"

"He's a quiet kid", shrugged Eli, "so it's quite easy to bring him along to places like this. He doesn't cause trouble"

Paisley sat beside Karter and was greeted with his usual two-teeth smile and an outstretched hand. She leaned in and hugged the cutie, patting his head gently and planting a kiss on his cheek.

She noticed his stuffed bunny on the table and a small plate and spoon holding leftover oatmeal and sliced bananas.

She smiled knowing he had eaten and looked around the room.

*Why is it so hard to find him in this crowd?*

Eli noticed this and tapped her, pointing towards Carter's location.

He stood with several other expensively dressed gentleman and ladies. Her eyes remained locked on him and his annoyingly handsome face.

He rocked a tux better than most men in the room did. She expected that though. Still, it took her by surprise.  It was the first time she had seen him without bags under his eyes and messy hair.

She noticed she'd been staring and immediately averted her eyes. Eli smiled amusingly at this and excused himself.

He headed toward a small group beckoning to him. On his way, he tapped Carter and gestured towards Paisley who looked like she was ready to break through the walls to escape.

She *was* feeling extremely uncomfortable and out of place.

*Even a baby fits in more than I do*, she thought and looked at Karter who's eyes followed the people walking by, his pouty lips slightly open.

Some of the men and women who passed by would shake his tiny hand, some would wave at him and most just shot him bright smiles, admiring the adorable boy.

*He's well known huh? Yup. Boss Baby*

Carter walked up to her with his usual charming smile and sat down. Paisley was shocked by how happy and relieved she was to see him up close.

"You came", Carter pointed out and she smiled.

"I wanted to see what dinner parties for rich people looked like" she shrugged.

" You can't fool me", he chuckled.

" What? "

" I don't see you as someone who'd risk their comfortablity just to see what a dinner party looks like"

Paisley smiled. " Looks like a few encounters is enough to understand me a little"

" No", he said, " not nearly enough". She didn't quite understand what he meant by that, but his eyes stayed locked on her. She squirmed under his gaze, suddenly feeling nervous.

She averted her eyes and settled them on Karter who's attention was now on his dad and her.

"Isn't he too young to be here? There's music and a lot of people. Isn't it a disturbance to him?"

" He's my son, he can handle it"

" I forgot how irresponsible you are"

" Well, I try. Besides, *someone* refused to be his nanny"

" Oh, about that-"

"Mr. Reid", a man wearing a navy blue tux, looking to be in his early 40's called, interrupting Paisley.

"Mr. Valero", Carter grinned. "Nice to see you again"

"It is indeed. It's been over a year now hasn't it?"

Carter smiled. " A year and three months"

" Still the same, I see" Mr. Valero chuckled.

" I'll be right back", Carter said to Paisley with an apologetic smile and walked into the crowd with Mr. Valero.

She waited over twenty minutes, looking around for a glimpse of Carter. She hated staying alone. Although she had cute company, she still wanted to see Carter.

She let out a breath when she spotted him walking towards her and when he reached the table, he held his out to her.

"What?"

"Dance with me. We have no more than ten minutes"

*Just ten minutes?*

She shot him a smile and took his hand. He led her to the dance floor where a few couples stood hand in hand, moving to the music.

Carter made sure they didn't stay too far from where Karter sat. He held Paisley's waist and she placed her hand on his shoulders as they swayed to the song.

"You look beautiful. Wish I could've said that sooner"

Her heart skipped a beat and she screamed internally.

*Thank you, Kori!!*

"Thanks", she smiled. "You look great in a tux. Almost didn't recognize you without the long coat covering it" she teased and earned a chuckle from him.

"I'm sorry for leaving you alone like that", he apologized.

" No, it's okay. You're a busy and irresponsible man, I know that"

He laughed.

" I'm really happy you came"

She rose a brow. " Why? "

" Why? I don't know", he shrugged. "I guess, 'cause it's the first time I've given an invitation to someone that's not business related"

" Well, I'm honored. But that's not the reason I came"

" Oh?"

" Yeah. I want to tell you something"

He rose a brow. " Okay. I'm all ears"

" I'm going to do it"

" Do what?"

" I'm going to be Karter's Nanny"

Carter, taken aback, stared at her with confusion at first, then smiled.

"You are full of surprises, Ms. Brooke"

He leaned closer to her ears and whispered." Finally. A reason to see you every single day"

Paisley felt her stomach knot and her body grow hot as she stared at him. He had a smile on his face and his eyes peered into hers.

*Yeah. I'm really glad I made this decision*

She smiled back at him.