My Nanny My Mate

3.

A few moments later, the bartender returned with my drink. I murmured my thanks and swirled the liquid in my glass, attempting to ease into the unfamiliar surroundings without drawing too much attention.

Just as I began to settle, a male voice startled me from the side. I jumped slightly and turned to find a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, casually leaning on the bar with a drink in hand. He had salt-and-pepper hair, a robust build, and the distinct aroma of whiskey.

"What's a stunning young lady like yourself doing perched here all alone?" he inquired with a warm smile, his voice tinged with the trace of a friendly drawl.

I stayed in the restroom for a few minutes, splashing some cold water on my face and checking my phone. When I was certain that Mark had grown impatient waiting for me at the bar, I headed back out.

Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight when I returned to my seat. I let out a small sigh of relief. However, that relief turned to annoyance when the bartender approached me and handed me a red drink in a cocktail glass, informing me that Mark had paid for it.

Sighing, I picked up the glass and glanced over my shoulder. Mark was sitting at a corner table, watching me intently. Not wanting to cause a scene, I raised my glass and mouthed the words "Thank you" before turning back and taking a cautious sip.

As my head started to feel light and the room began to blur around me a few minutes later, I realized that accepting a drink from a stranger was a terrible idea. But it was too late, and as I tried to get up from the bar, I stumbled into a man's body.

"Whoa there," Mark's voice said as his arms wrapped around me. "Looks like I need to get you home."

My heart raced as Mark guided me away. I was too weak and disoriented to protest. Just then, as my vision started to fade completely, I felt another hand on my shoulder; cool and not sweaty like Mark's.

"Where are you taking her?" Henry's stern voice said, so low it was almost a growl.

"Oh, I'm just taking her home," Mark stuttered. "She had too much to drink. We're old friends."

"Is this true?" Henry said, leaning down and coming into view. As his gray eyes locked on mine, all I could do was shake my head.

I wasn't sure what happened after that, but the next thing I knew, I was in Henry Luca's warm embrace in the back of a car.

"Where do you live?" he asked.

I tried to answer, but he stopped me after I mumbled a few unclear words. "I'm taking you to a hotel then."

In my semi-conscious state, the feeling of Henry's warm arms around me made my body tingle.

"Stay..." I slurred, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. Henry jolted away, muttering something about my state of mind. But something about the smell of his cologne made me persist...

Soon, I felt Henry Luca, the wealthy and handsome CEO of WereCorp, relax into my touch. I woke up to sunlight and a fresh, warm summer breeze streaming in through a large set of open French doors. As I cracked my eyes open, the sound of the city street below filled my ears, and the feeling of my throbbing head on a plush pillow alerted me to the fact that I was not in my own bed.

Groaning, I slowly pushed myself up onto my elbows and scanned the room as flashes of what happened the night before began to flood my mind. I remembered being at the bar, in the silky black dress that I had picked out... I remembered drinking a gin and tonic, and being accosted by a middle-aged man with sinister intentions...

I awoke with a rush of memories flooding back.

There was the memory of being in the back of a car with a striking man. His neck was warm and inviting as I pressed my lips to it. At first, he tried to conceal his desire, but eventually, he yielded to the passion that simmered between us. We made our way to an elevator, leading up to the opulent hotel room he had reserved. Along the way, we stole moments to share fervent kisses and explore each other's bodies in the hallway. I recalled the electric sensation of his hands on my body, gripping my waist through the silky black dress. Once inside the hotel room, the dress was discarded with haste, revealing the intimacy of our connection. He carried me to the bed while our lips continued their dance, my fingers finding their way to the buttons of his shirt. Impatient, he took over, unveiling the sculpted muscles underneath.

In the moonlit hotel room, we moved together in a passionate dance, lost in ecstasy.

As the realization of last night's events settled in, I turned my head slowly to gaze at the man who slumbered beside me. Even in repose, he was a vision of allure and magnetism. The sheets lay low on his hips, exposing his chiseled torso and hinting at the contours below, sending a flush of heat to my cheeks.

But... He was Henry Luca. My ex-boyfriend's unfaithful new boss.

Quietly, I slipped out of bed, on a quest for my undergarments.

"Ahem."

I whirled around, clutching my panties in hand, only to find Henry sitting up, his cool gray eyes fixed on me. Without a word, he rose, baring his nude form, and retrieved his pants from the floor. Swiftly, I donned my panties and bra as he slipped on his boxer briefs. I watched as he retrieved his pants and reached for his wallet.

"Here," he said with a dark intensity, extracting a thick wad of cash. He approached me and extended it toward me. "Take it, but remember, this was a one-time arrangement."

Stepping back, my sheepish demeanor transformed into one of indignation and resentment.

"You... think I'm a prostitute?" I snapped.

Henry nonchalantly tossed the cash at my feet. "It makes no difference whether you are or not," he stated icily, pulling on his pants with his back to me. "No one shares my bed without expecting something extra in return. Your initial aloofness disappeared as soon as I dressed you up and paid for your drinks, so let's not pretend otherwise. Take the money and go."

I frowned, my eyes narrowing. "I never asked for your money," I retorted, my voice tinged with anger as I picked up the dress from the floor and put it on. At this point, I had no idea what had become of my stained outfit.

"By the way," Henry muttered, still not facing me and buttoning his shirt, "you should learn not to accept drinks from strangers. You're fortunate I intervened with that guy. Use some basic common sense next time."

I paused, clenching my jaw, and finished putting on the dress before responding.

"You're every bit as cold and heartless as they say, aren't you?"

Henry remained silent, and I had no interest in waiting around for a response. With a huff, I grabbed the strappy heels from the night before and marched barefoot to the door. My hand rested on the doorknob as I seethed, and when I swung the door open, I called over my shoulder one last time.

"You can't absolve yourself by throwing money at everyone," I growled, before striding out and slamming the door behind me.

Once I got home, I ripped off the dress and heels and tossed them in a corner. Anger simmered inside me, both at John and Henry. Frowning and muttering to myself, I stomped to the fridge in my underwear and pulled out the milk to pour myself a bowl of cereal. It was just about all I had to eat, but the thought of accepting money from Henry Luca after a one-night stand left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Just as I was about to take my first bite, my phone began to ring. I rolled my eyes, expecting it to be John, pleading for me to return. But as I squinted at the screen, I noticed that it...