One Night With My Daughter's Human Babysitter

Chapter 8

Joana stood frozen in the middle of the living room, her back turned to the approaching footsteps. How had this situation unfolded? How did she end up securing employment, only for it to be revealed that her new employer was the same person with whom she had shared an intimate encounter just two nights ago?

The footsteps grew closer, causing Joana's heart to race. "Good evening, Miss Joana," that all-too-familiar voice resonated from behind her. "Can we speak privately for a minute?"

Slowly, Joana turned around to face Elijah Wyatt , the handsome and wealthy CEO of WR Corp, a figure widely recognized in the public eye, and the man with whom she had shared that passionate night just two evenings before... The man who had arrogantly attempted to throw money at her as if she were a p********e.

Wyatt stood before her, holding Michaela in his arms, presenting the image of a loving father.

"Y-Yes," Joana stammered, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. She watched as Wyatt gently set Michaela down, then gestured for her to follow him. Each step felt heavy, as if Joana were trudging through thick mud with unyielding limbs.

Was this some kind of surreal dream?

They walked through the living room and into Wyatt's study, a room Joana had previously toured with Michaela. The towering bookshelves lining the walls, reaching up to the ceiling, along with the grand carved stone fireplace and tall arched windows, gave it an air of exquisite beauty.

A mahogany desk took center stage, while a small seating area by the fireplace exuded an aura of refined elegance. During her previous visit, Joana had been captivated by its charm. Now, however, it felt stifling.

"I'm so sorry," Joana blurted out as soon as the door clicked shut behind them. She stayed near the door, her eyes fixed on Elijah as he casually made his way to one of the plush chairs by the fireplace and took a seat. "I had no idea you would be my employer. If I had known, I wouldn't have applied. Please believe me, this isn't an attempt to extract money from you-"

"It's alright, Joana," Elijah interjected, his voice carrying a weary tone as he rubbed his tired eyes. "I knew it was you when I hired you. I did it intentionally."

Furrowing her brow in confusion, Joana sought clarification. "What do you mean?"

"Michaela can be stubborn, but I am not entirely detached from the hiring process," Elijah replied, his tone softening. "I wanted to give you a chance."

"But... you treated me like a beggar. Like... like a..." Joana lowered her voice, ensuring Michaela couldn't overhear. "...like a p********e. And now, you're offering me a job? What's the motive behind all of this?"

Elijah stood with a cold demeanor, his gaze fixed on Joana. "You rejected the money I offered you on the street," he stated firmly, his voice devoid of warmth. "And after our one-night stand, you refused the money I attempted to give you. It seems that your pride outweighs the importance of paying your rent. Despite appearing arrogant, I don't owe anyone, and I can identify desperation when I see it. That's why I offered you a job since it seems you prefer that over accepting handouts."

Joana took a step closer, her fists clenched. "I passed the interview fairly," she stated with conviction. "So why do you insist on treating me as if I'm dependent on charity?"

Elijah scoffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Your application was initially discarded, but I decided to give you a second chance despite the presence of other candidates with better experience and education."

As the words left Elijah's mouth, a lump formed in Joana's throat. Was she truly nothing more than a charity case? Was she expected to be grateful that the influential and self-assured Elijah Wyatt had offered her the opportunity to work for him after their intimate night together?

"You know," Joana growled, closing the gap between them, "for someone who complained about being sought after for money after a one-night stand, it's awfully convenient that you suddenly want me to live with you."

Elijah's gaze remained steady, his tone unyielding. "You signed the contract," he affirmed. "You are fully aware of the conditions and clauses, and I highly doubt you possess the courage to break them."

The door creaked open abruptly, drawing their attention. Michaela stood in the doorway, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You promised you wouldn't try to take my daddy away," she snarled, her small fangs visible and claws extended. "You're a liar!"

"Michaela—" Joana began, but before she could say anything further, Michaela turned and dashed away, sobbing. Joana turned back to Elijah, the concern now etched in his face where coldness once resided.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," Joana asserted, striding towards the door. "You knew exactly what you were doing when you hired me."

With a sense of determination, Joana stormed out of Elijah's office. Arriving at Michaela's room, she attempted to open the door, only to find it locked.

"Michaela, please, talk to me," Joana pleaded through the door.

There was a brief silence, before an angry voice responded from inside. "Go away!"

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Joana turned around to find Lina standing at the end of the hallway, her arms folded in disappointment. It was clear that Lina had overheard the entire interaction, and now she looked down on Joana too. The weight of suspicion from everyone became unbearable.

Joana couldn't bear staying in a place where everyone thought she was some kind of scammer, trying to extract money from a wealthy CEO. The idea of being homeless even seemed more appealing.

Storming past Lina, Joana made her way to her room, where her purse with her few belongings sat on the dresser. Hoping that her landlord hadn't already locked her out of the apartment, Joana stormed out of the apartment building and back onto the dimly lit street, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before locating the nearest subway and making her way back home.

As Joana had feared, her apartment was tightly locked when she returned, with an eviction notice glaring at her from the door. She hit the door with her fist in frustration and uttered a curse before stepping back onto the street. It looked like she would have to charge another expense on her credit card, this time for a motel. And she would need to find dinner as well, as hunger gnawed at her.

Walking down the street and rummaging through her purse, Joana hoped to find enough cash to grab a couple of slices of pizza. However, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, a sense of being watched washing over her. Slowly turning her head, she caught sight of two imposing figures walking towards her on the dimly lit sidewalk.

"Evening, miss," one of them spoke, his voice rough and gravelly, as if he were a heavy smoker. His eyes emitted an eerie orange glow, causing a chill to run down Joana's spine. As they approached, Joana noticed a long scar running diagonally across his face. The other man, with a predatory look on his face, wore a long leather jacket.

"Um, I don't have any money," Joana said, picking up her pace as she tried to create distance between them. Fear gripped her as they continued to follow. She desperately scanned her surroundings, hoping to spot someone who could help.

"We're not interested in your money," the man in the leather jacket said. "We're here for you."

Every instinct told Joana to run. Her heart pounded in her chest as she swiveled her head, searching for anyone who could offer assistance. The men persisted, their presence growing increasingly menacing with each step they took.