CHAPTER 2
1777 Words
Cyril's POV
I woke up at dawn with a banging headache, which obviously meant I had too much to drink last night. Given the stress I had with work, I had no choice than to drown myself in the ecstasy of amorous adventures.
I made out with a sexy damsel in the club who turned out to be a stripper. A very hot one at that. I must say, I have an eye for the prettiest women on the planet. I guess you could call it my superpower.
On days like this, I would usually reminisce about all the fun I had the previous night with random women, but today was different. My mind was occupied with something else. It wasn't anything special, just the name Tatiana, popping in my head out of nowhere. I had no idea why. Of course, it's not as if I'm attracted to her or anything.
I can't deny she’s very beautiful, but I find her too innocent. She seemed more like a novice to me. If there's one thing about me, it's that I like my women on the wild side. I like them adventurous and kinky with a touch of spontaneity.
You know what I mean? She's none of that and I find that boring.
I stood up from my bed to adjust the blinds on my window behind my king-sized bed. The view wasn't anything extraordinary aside from the mini-garden which stood out, illuminating nature with its ornamental freshness and its phenomenal beauty.
Nature always had its way with me, not in a bad way though. Maybe it's because it reminded me of my late twin sister. She loved nature and had always basked herself in its refreshness. It's one thing we often did. We usually sneaked out at dawn into the woods and back home before anyone saw us. At least that's what we believed.
Perhaps my mom and dad saw us yet they ignored us. Whatever was the case, we didn't care. Now here I am without her, because she is stuck six feet below me, and she will remain there forever.
Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Horrible, agitated, angry and I miss her so badly.
Yet I have to pretend to everyone that everything is okay. Being the kind of man that I am, I can't show any sign of weakness. Emotions are only displayed by weak folks.
Who cares about my feelings anyway? Not even my parents did.
To them, I was a young lad. Of course, I had to be strong to get over it. Unfortunately, this has been a huge challenge for me, especially with me bonding with Iris. I try my best as a father, but I always feel I don't try hard enough.
Now Tatiana somehow makes me feel like a passive parent. She just shows up out of nowhere and, all of a sudden, she's sharing the bond I wish I could share with Iris. Or should I say, she used to share before her mother's passing.
How on earth did she do it?
Before Tatiana came into the picture, I was always worried about Iris. Her very first nanny, Monica, kept raining daily complaints on me each time I got back from work. She got fed just one week in and resigned. I couldn't blame her, Iris was sometimes a nuisance. Not that I'm proud to say it, but that was or is the reality.
Iris could go days and even weeks without showing a smile, but Tatiana shows up, and she's all smiles, jumping like a happy child. It did warm my heart, but I sometimes felt jealous. I felt she was choosing Tatiana over me, even though I knew it was a silly thought. But I couldn't help it.
When I accepted Tatiana's challenge two years ago, it was because I thought she was going to fail woefully. I remember that day like it was just yesterday.
I had just gotten off the phone with Natasha, a gorgeous hottie whom I had a fling with. I'm certainly not the type to keep in contact with women I have s****l encounters with, so I had no idea how she got my number. I was so furious that day that I had smashed my fist on my writing desk, when Jerry, my secretary, called to inform me of her arrival.
Apparently, she had been shortlisted among 5 others, and I was in charge of the interview since the job description (nanny) was more personal than business-related. I gave him permission to let her in, which he did.
She arrived a few minutes later. When she walked in, I was intrigued by her aura. She seemed cheerful, her bright smile hinting at her warm and bubbly energy. Let's just say, she was everything I am not. My eyes had ogled at her, scanning her from head to toe.
Her dark brown hair illuminated her, standing in contrast to her round-shaped face and there was something about her eyes. They sparkled with so much kindness and femininity. Her full lips curved upward with every smile portraying her probity.
Her pastel purple blouse highlighted her narrow shoulders, and it was matched with dark-washed, fitted jeans which accentuated her slender waist.
Interesting choice of outfit. You look cute.
I had wanted to compliment her, but I chose not to. I didn't think there was any point.
In what I believed to be micro seconds, I asked for her CV, read through it and asked a few questions. Upon my questioning, I discovered she had no work experience. I was furious. I asked her to leave.
How could she waste my time like that? Was she expecting some luck on her side or something?
It was literally stated as part of the job requirements to have at least one year of experience. I didn't find her failure to obey simple instructions encouraging.
I am a man of principles. I don't compromise on discipline. I built my company from the ground up with little support from my parents. Not that they couldn't or didn't want to. I chose to build my own businesses. I wanted to be recognised for me and not just as the son of Mr. Roland Walker. If I hadn't been disciplined, I could never have gotten this far.
After a few hours, she came back and proposed a challenge. I gladly accepted it because I knew and thought Iris was going to teach her a lesson, but I was wrong.
Sure, she did struggle with Iris initially, I almost thought I had won. I guess it's obvious I didn't from the look of things now.
What does she do differently from what I do? How did she win my daughter's heart?
I had no clue, but I wasn't desperate to find out either. When the time was right, I was going to find out.
By this time, it was half past seven. I needed to check on Iris. I went to her room, trying to open it as silently as possible. Lo and behold, she was fast asleep and her new-found bestie, Tatiana, laid beside her.
It was just like the other day. I had gotten home quite late from work. I had passed by the club to gulp a few drinks to clear my head and had managed to stay sober. Chris had driven me home as he usually did, and I had gotten to the living room, when I saw both of them fast asleep on the couch.
Unlike now where they slept sideways on Iris's bed.
It was within the third month of Tatiana's challenge and just when I thought she had lost, she had won at the very last minute. I had no choice but to accept defeat and offer her the job.
I had invited her to join me for breakfast, which left her puzzled. I hardly ate with anyone, let alone my employees. Except for my family and friends, of course. I just enjoy sitting alone to enjoy my meal. Eating with Iris was also not an option because she mostly ate later than I did, which was after I had left for work.
After offering her the job, she asked me if I was going to pay her the salary for the following months.
Was she dumb or something? Hadn't we made a deal? Wasn't that what the challenge was about? She expected me to go back on my word? One thing I hate is stupid questions, and she seemed to be a connoisseur in that department.
She had gotten on my nerve. I'm a man of my word. I said nothing, as I continued with my meal and dismissed myself to work. I'm sure she assumed I hadn't heard what she had said. I simply ignored her because I was on the verge of taking my job offer from her since she had decided to be silly.
But then what happens to Iris? What if I never found anyone like her? After all, she had made it that far with her, despite all Iris's shenanigans, which was commendable, no?
Regardless of everything, she did what other nannies failed to do. Perhaps someday I'll find out what she did differently from the others.
Or was it pure luck?
I doubt it, but it is difficult to tell now. I gently walked out of the room, keeping the door shut behind me as quietly as possible.
I took a walk around the house, as I was working from home. I always work from home on weekends. I walked to the balcony and I couldn't believe what my eyes saw. I was instantly filled with rage.
Who did this to my marble-floored balcony? Who the heck is responsible for this?
I nearly yelled. There was a palm print of a tree on the floor. It was done using different colours. I saw red, purple, yellow, blue, white and brown. Before I could walk away, Tatiana approached me.
I could see her shivering when she saw my eyes burning with anger. I could almost feel steam fuming from my ears like a cartoon character. I don't know why, but I liked how she looked. Something about her submission tickled me a lot.
“Do you have any idea who did this? You better tell me now, or you're fired," I yelled.
Stammering, she replied“ I…I...Irr... Iris did, and I was going to clean it before you...”
I shushed her immediately, bawling at her ,“ Iris??? What do you mean Iris did this? How? Answer me now you twart!”
- Writer
