Marked by her Billionaire

CHAPTER SIX

UNWELCOME GROUND

LEXI’S POV

My first full day at the Noah estate started quietly.

I woke up before my alarm, my nerves were all over the place, and I just lay in bed in a room that was twice the size of the house I grew up in. As I stared at the ceiling, I heard little footsteps coming down the hall. It stopped and a soft knock followed.

I sat up immediately expecting to see Mrs Jessica. “Yes.. come in.”

A little girl peeked through the door. She had long, dark, curly hair that was slightly tangled. She was holding a stuffed rabbit that had clearly seen better days. The girl couldn't be more than eight. She had beautiful big eyes and was way too observant for a child her age.

Was this Sophia? But Jessica had told me she was a shy girl who didn't warm up to people easily. But the moment our eyes met, it was like something clicked.

“So…you are really here.” She said she had not been expecting me.

“I am,” I replied gently. “And I am not going anywhere.”

That did the trick.

She crossed the room in three quick steps and wrapped her arms around my waist like she had been waiting for permission. I froze for a second, then melted. Her grip was tight and looked desperate and it made me wonder why.

From that moment on, she barely left my side.

We went down for breakfast, after she had shown me her room, introduced me to Mr Cuddles–her stuffed rabbit, I only cleaned her up and detangled her hair.

During breakfast, she talked to me but in bits and pieces. She told me what she liked, what she didn't like, how she hates oatmeal but loves strawberries, how her father works a lot, and didn't like loud noises before his big brown tea which was bitter.

In all her chatter, she had a huge smile. She was such a pretty girl.

Just as breakfast was about halfway done, Jake came down. His expression was unreadable. I treated him, and he gave a slight nod before he continued to stare into his phone. He didn't say a word, except when his daughter talked to him, and his responses were always short.

When his eyes flickered to me, they immediately passed over me like I wasn't important. It was a relief, but somehow, it hurt.

Sophia noticed and tried to lighten the mood. “He doesn’t talk much.” She whispered while I helped her with her shoes. “But he listens. You just have to be very quiet when he is thinking.”

I didn't even bother to ask how she knew that. The girl was smart.

The day passed easily after that. We drew, read books, took a walk through the gardens where Sophia showed me her ‘secret spots’ and told me with a stern face that I wasn't allowed to show anyone. She only brought me there because she trusted me.

Her words hit me harder than I expected.

By the end of the week, we had a routine that we settled into. It felt like we were in sync and peace was not out of reach. Sophia woke up and waited for me, we prayed, cleaned her up, and ate. She would reach out for my hands without thinking, cry into my shoulders when she had bad dreams, and smile brighter than the sun when I praised her crooked handwriting.

But with Jake, it was the same. He was distant and cold. I had gotten used to it and learnt to ignore him.

Sometimes I would catch him watching us from across the room, his expression as cold as ice and his jaw tight, like they would break any moment.

It was on the seventh day of my stay that Sophia mentioned her mother.

We were lying on the rug in her room, colouring in silence, when she casually blurted it out. “Mommy comes around sometimes.”

I was stunned because I thought that she was dead. I tried to keep my voice light. “Does she?”

Sophia nodded without looking up from her colouring book. “Daddy changes when she visits.”

My hand paused. “How so?” I asked carefully.

She shrugged. “He gets quieter than usual, and angrier.” She frowns, then adds. “Jessica says to stay out of the way when mommy is here.”

I didn't like the sound of that.

But nothing prepared me for what happened that weekend.

I heard the sound of tires on the front porch. I was helping Sophia with a puzzle when the whole atmosphere changed.

Jessica rushed out, checked the blinds and she went stiff. “She is early.”

Before I could ask who. The front door flew open and in walked the woman I had heard so much about from Sophia and Jessica.

Victoria Damson.

She was a tall, black light-skinned woman with long straight hair. Her makeup was flawless, her body was dripping with designer clothes that cost more than anything she owned. Her hair was perfect and her perfume covered the entire mansion.

She took one look at Sophia and smiled brightly. “There’s my angel.”

Sophia hesitated, then she walked forward like she had been practicing. She hugged her mother but was quick to disentangle from her grip before she came back to my side.

Victoria’s eyes slid to me. She was assessing me with cold eyes. “And you….must be the new nanny for my daughter?”

I nodded with a little smile. “Good day, ma’am. I'm Lexi.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m Miss Victoria” she replied, even though she did not need any introduction. Her eyes went down to my clothes and posture. She was about to say something but we heard Jake walk in and we all turned our attention towards him.

“Jake…” she smiled widely. “You didn't tell me you redecorated.”

His jaw tightened. “This isn't the time, Victoria.”

“It never is,” she said as she stepped closer to him, “but you never did like surprises.”

Their history was blaring at me. They still had something with each other, even if it was once in a while. Jake and Lexi were still f*****g.

Victoria turned back to me. “So, Lexi….where are you from”

I knew it was a trap but I had to answer. “I'm from Atlanta," I answered.

“And before that?” she asked again.

“Nowhere ma’am. I was born and brought up in Atlanta.”

Her smile sharpened. “Intriguing background for a live-in nanny.”

Jake’s voice cut in. “That's enough, Victoria.”

Victoria’s eyes flickered towards him, she looked amused, like she was enjoying this. “Relax. I'm just curious.”

She wasn't. She was being territorial.

The rest of the visit was tense, with Victoria commenting on all the changes she observed. Throughout Sophia stayed glued to my side.

When it was time for her to leave, she paused and turned to me with her devilish smile. “So.” She said softly, her eyes locked onto mine. “How long are you planning to stay?”

The message was clear……Victoria was the queen of this house, and that queen was not comfortable with my presence.