CHAPTER |5
1043 Words
Aiden's POV
"What did you just say?" I asked, my voice lower than before.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the tray she was holding. "I said... I think maybe I should give you and your wife some space."
For a second, I simply stared at my wife.
The word landed badly inside me because there was no wife in this house.
Not anymore.
Before I could answer, Ava spoke from the sofa with the blunt honesty only an eight-year-old could manage.
"That is not his wife."
Her voice was calm, almost bored, like she was correcting homework. Amarahh looked confused and quickly turned to Ava.
Ava added. "Our mother is dead." The room became silent.
Even Marcus lowered his eyes and Amarahh's face changed immediately. The color drained from it.
"I... I am sorry." She said quickly.
"I did not know."
Ava crossed one leg over the other and continued, "The woman you saw is Vanessa. She is our mother's sister and she comes here sometimes."
Amarahh looked embarrassed now, clearly wishing she could take back everything she had said.
I looked at her carefully and her eyes were already wet. She looked shaken, and for some reason that did not soften the irritation inside me.
This house had rules people who worked here were expected to observe and not assume.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Marcus."
"Yes, sir."
"Fire her."
The tray nearly slipped from Amarahh's hands. Her mouth opened, but no words came out at first.
Marcus looked up, surprised, though his face stayed controlled.
"Sir?" He asked carefully, perhaps hoping he heard wrongly.
Amarahh finally found her voice. "Please..." she whispered.
Her eyes filled immediately. "I did not mean any disrespect. I was only trying to-"
"You were trying to speak about things that do not concern you." I cut in.
Her tears gathered faster now. "I am sorry, sir. I truly am sorry."
Marcus shifted, waiting for my final instruction. Then Liam moved and my ten-year-old son stepped directly in front of me before Marcus could respond.
"Dad, no."
I frowned. "Move."
"No."
His small shoulders were stiff, but he did not step away. "I like her."
That caught me off guard. Liam rarely defended anyone. He tolerated staff, answered politely when necessary, and kept his distance.
But now he was standing in front of me like he had made a decision.
I looked down at him. "This is not your concern."
"Yes, it is," he said quietly. "You always change the nannies."
Ava joined in immediately, lifting her head from the sofa. "He's right."
I turned to her.
She shrugged. "The others were annoying."
Marcus looked like he wanted to disappear.
Amarahh remained standing, frozen, tears on her face, clearly unsure whether to speak again.
I looked back at Liam. "You are blocking me because of a nanny?"
"Because she is nice," he said.
Ava added, "And she doesn't pretend too much."
That made me narrow my eyes. "What does that mean?"
Ava leaned back. "The others always acted fake when you were around."
Marcus gave a slight cough, probably to hide a reaction.
Liam continued, "She helps with homework properly and she listens."
I studied both of them carefully. This was unusual, very unusual. They had rejected every nanny that came into this house over the last two years.
One lasted four days.
Another lasted one week before Ava refused to speak to her completely. One resigned because Liam ignored every instruction she gave. And now both of them were speaking for the same person.
I looked at Amarahh again.
She quickly wiped her tears.
"I understand if you still want me gone,” she said softly. "But I promise it was an honest mistake."
Her voice shook badly at the end. For some reason, the room felt heavier than before. I noticed how tightly she held herself, like she expected humiliation at any second.
Liam turned halfway toward her. "See? She's even apologizing."
Ava nodded. "Exactly."
I exhaled slowly. Marcus waited, the children waited even though Amarahh barely breathed.
Finally I spoke. "Fine."
Nobody moved for a second, then I added, "She stays."
Amarahh blinked as she was unsure if she had heard correctly. Liam stepped aside slowly, Ava sat up straight.
Marcus gave a respectful nod. "Understood, sir."
Amarahh looked at me carefully, still emotional. "Thank you," She said quietly.
"This is not forgiveness," I said. "This is because my children unexpectedly decided to speak today."
That almost made Ava smile. Liam looked relieved.
"I won't make that mistake again." Amarahh said.
"You should not."
She nodded immediately and her eyes were still wet, but she seemed to breathe again.
Marcus stepped forward and gently collected the tray from her hand, perhaps noticing how much her fingers trembled.
"I will take this." He said quietly.
She gave him a grateful look.
I turned toward the children. "Homework finished?"
Ava answered first. "Almost."
"Liam?"
He gave a short nod.
"Finish it before dinner."
They both obeyed, though Ava dragged her book closer with obvious lack of excitement.
I should have left then.
Instead, I remained standing there longer than necessary, watching Amarahh gather herself.
She kept avoiding my eyes. Part of me wondered why the children trusted her so quickly. Another part of me did not want to ask.
Then my phone rang. The sharp sound broke the quiet in the room.
I looked at the screen.
Luke
My assistant never called without reason.
I answered immediately. "What is it?"
His voice came fast and tense. "Sir, there is a serious issue."
I walked a little farther from the children. "What happened?"
"One of the rival companies filed a lawsuit this afternoon."
My expression hardened. "Which one?"
"Hayden Group."
That made my jaw tighten. Of course it was them. "What are they claiming?"
"Contract interference and financial damage."
I closed my eyes briefly. "How bad?"
There was a pause before he answered.
"If this goes badly, it could cost thousands of dollars immediately, and more if they push further."
The room behind me suddenly felt far away. The children were quiet now, probably sensing my tone had changed.
I looked ahead without seeing the room anymore. "Get everyone in the conference room. I am coming."
- Writer
