His Nanny, His Unplanned Love

Chapter 8

POV: Naomi

The sound of the zipper echoed softly in the quiet room as I pulled it shut.

That was it.

Everything I owned… packed into one suitcase.

I stood there for a moment, just staring at it. It wasn’t much. Just clothes, a few personal things, and some items I couldn’t bring myself to leave behind.

But strangely enough… I felt grateful.

Grateful that I didn’t have much.

Because it made leaving easier.

I let out a slow breath, my shoulders rising and falling as I tried to calm the uneasy feeling in my chest. The doubt that had been stuck in my chest since I agreed to take this job.

“Please let this be the right decision…” I whispered under my breath.

Working for a man like Tristan Cole…

I didn’t know him.

Not really.

All I knew was that he had looked desperate that day. Desperate enough to ask a complete stranger to take care of his daughter.

And maybe… just maybe…

I was selfish too.

Because I wanted to be close to Sophie.

That little girl…

Something about her pulled me in in a way I didn’t understand.

I shook my head slightly and reached for my suitcase, lifting it into a standing position.

My eyes slowly moved around the room.

The small bed.

The worn out table.

The faded curtains by the window.

This place had never really felt like home… but it had been mine.

And now I was leaving it behind.

I still had about five months left on the rent. Thankfully, my landlord had agreed to leave the place untouched until then.

“If you come back, good,” he had said.

“If not… then I’ll rent it out.”

I hadn’t told him the truth.

I had simply told him I was going out of town to visit my sick mother. And that I might not come back.

I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and began rolling it toward the door.

Once outside, I locked the door carefully.

Once.

Twice.

Then I paused… checking it again.

Only when I was sure did I turn away and head toward the staircase.

My apartment was just on the second floor.

There was no point using the elevator.

The building was quiet as I made my way down, the sound of my suitcase wheels echoing faintly with each step.

When I finally stepped outside—

HOOONK!

I jumped slightly and turned toward the sound.

A black SUV was parked right in front of the building.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

“What is it with expensive cars finding their way here?” I muttered under my breath.

First Tristan’s car.

Now this one.

Before I could look away, the driver’s door opened.

A tall man stepped out.

He had blonde hair and he was putting on a grey suit.

He looked clean. Calm. Sharp.

He walked toward me like he already knew who I was.

“Naomi Moore.”

I raised a brow, looking him up and down.

Who the hell was this now?

“Yes,” I said slowly. “Do I know you?”

He shook his head.

“No. You don’t.”

Then he added calmly,

“Tristan asked me to come pick you up and take you to the mansion.”

I looked at him again.

Carefully this time.

“How am I sure you’re not a kidnapper?” I asked flatly.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

“Please,” he said casually. “If I wanted to kidnap someone… it definitely wouldn’t be you.”

I blinked.

Then narrowed my eyes.

The audacity of this dude.

“I’m Conner,” he continued. “Tristan’s right hand man… and his cousin.”

I nodded slowly.

“Right…”

“Well,” he said, turning slightly, “if you’re ready, get in the car. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

He didn’t even wait for my reply.

He just turned and walked back to the car.

Yeah, he was really related to Tristan.

When he reached the driver’s door, he paused and looked back at me.

“Come on,” he said. “I don’t have much time.”

I rolled my eyes slightly but pulled my suitcase along and walked toward the car.

I placed it in the back seat, then got in after it.

Conner glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“That’s all your luggage?”

I nodded.

“That’s all.”

He hummed slightly, then started the car.

As we drove off, I leaned back into the seat, watching him quietly.

He looked nothing like Tristan.

Yes, they were cousins… but still.

They were complete opposites.

Conner had a calm, approachable face.

Someone you could talk to.

Tristan, on the other hand…

He always looked like he could destroy your entire life without blinking.

Unreadable.

Dangerous.

I looked away.

Not my business.

I wasn’t here to make friends.

I was here to work.

“So…” I said after a moment, breaking the silence. “You’re Tristan’s cousin?”

He nodded but didn’t say anything.

I waited.

Nothing.

Okay then.

“So your surname is Cole too?” I asked.

“Davis,” he replied shortly.

Then silence again.

I nodded slowly.

“Conner Davis,” I murmured. “Cool name.”

I was just about to say something else when his voice cut through the air.

“I don’t know who you are, Naomi.”

I stilled.

His eyes met mine through the rearview mirror.

“But if you hurt either of them… Tristan or Sophie…”

His voice dropped slightly.

“I’ll make sure the remains of your body are never found.”

Did he just dish out a threat?

Seriously? A threat.

A very serious one.

I stared at him for a second.

Then—

I burst out laughing.

A full blown laugh.

Loud. Unrefined,

I saw his eyes narrow slightly in the mirror.

“That’s cute,” I said, still laughing. “Make sure the remains of my body are never found?”

I shook my head.

“Isn’t that threat like… outdated.”

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes locking with his in the rearview mirror once again.

“If you’re going to threaten someone, at least be creative.”

Then my expression turned serious.

Cold.

“I’d rather die than let anything happen to Sophie,” I said quietly. “And Tristan knows that.”

A pause.

“So I’d appreciate it if you stop threatening me.”

For a moment, he just stared at me.

Then slowly… A smirk spread across his lips.

“Then I guess Sophie is in good hands,” he said.

I leaned back again and nodded my head once.

And the rest of the ride continued in silence.

Not long after, the car passed through the large gates of the mansion.

Massive.

Imposing.

Security was everywhere.

I didn't remember seeing them the last time I was here.

We drove in, and the mansion came into view.

Big.

Elegant.

Untouchable.

Conner parked smoothly in front of the house.

“Well,” he said, turning off the engine. “We’re here.”

I nodded.

“Thanks for the ride.”

I stepped out of the car, grabbed my suitcase, and followed him toward the front door.

He pushed it open and walked in like he owned the place.

I followed behind.

Then he turned.

“Wait here,” he said. “I’ll get Tristan.”

I nodded and stayed where I was.

My eyes moved around the house.

It still looked just like I remembered.

Clean.

Expensive.

But still…

There were small signs of a child.

A toy in the corner.

A drawing on a table.

That was the only thing that made this place feel… alive.

Finally, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing behind me.

I turned.

Tristan and Conner walked in—

But before I could even say anything—

“Naomi!”

A small figure rushed past them.

Sophie.

She ran straight to me and wrapped her arms tightly around my legs.

“You came!” she said happily. “You really came!”

A smile spread across my face instantly.

I bent down to her level.

“Hey, Ginger,” I said softly. “How are you?”

“I’m fine!” she said brightly, bouncing on her feet.

“Why didn’t you go to school today?” I asked.

“Daddy said I could stay home.”

I nodded.

Then my eyes dropped to her feet.

And I blinked.

She had worn the left shoe on her right foot and the right shoe on the left foot.

“Sophie…” I said slowly. “That’s not how you wear your shoes.”

She frowned and looked down.

“What?”

Then she turned.

“Daddy! Uncle Conner! Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shook my head slightly.

“Come here,” I said gently. “Let me help you.”

Still crouched down and I helped her fix her shoes, switching them to the right feet.

I could feel the eyes of both men on me like they were trying to figure me out.

“There,” I said.

She smiled.

“Thank you, Naomi.”

I stood up.

“Why don’t you go to your room for a bit?” I said. “I need to talk to your dad.”

She hesitated.

Then looked at me.

“Will you come to my room when you're done?”

I smiled softly.

“Of course I will.”

That was all she needed to hear.

She turned and ran upstairs with a big smile plastered on her face.

I watched her go.

When I turned back— I froze slightly.

Conner was staring at me like he had just seen something impossible.

“I’ve never seen her like that with anyone,” he said.

Tristan smirked slightly.

“I told you,” he said calmly. “She likes her.”

Conner shook his head.

“Did you do some kind of voodoo on that child?” he asked. “I’m her uncle. She doesn’t even run to me like that.”

I smiled faintly.

“Like he said… she just likes me.”

Tristan didn’t say anything else.

“Follow me,” he said instead, turning away.

I picked up my suitcase and followed him, with Conner behind me.

We entered the kitchen.

A young woman stood there.

“Lucy,” Tristan called.

“Yes, sir?” She turned immediately.

“This is Naomi,” Tristan said. “Sophie’s nanny.”

Then he looked at me.

“This is Lucy. She’s been filling in as a nanny, but she’s the cook.”

I smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Lucy.”

She smiled back at me.

“Nice to meet you too.”

Tristan continued walking.

And I followed.

Soon, we entered his office.

“Have a seat,” he said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.

I sat.

Conner dropped onto the couch.

Tristan leaned against his desk slightly.

“Sophie may have asked me to employ you,” he said, “but we’ll do things my way.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

“I’ll be staying home for a few days,” he added. “To observe how you handle her.”

“No problem,” I said calmly. “Anything else?”

He looked at Conner.

Then back at me.

“Nothing… for now.”

I nodded and stood up.

“Well then,” I said, “I’ll go and begin my job.”

I turned and walked toward the door.

My hand reached for the knob—

But I paused, then I turned back slightly.

“Where exactly is my room?”

“Upstairs,” he said. “Second room on your right.”

I nodded.

“Thanks.”

Then I walked out.

As I made my way upstairs, my grip tightened slightly on the handle of my suitcase.

The hallway was quiet.

Too quiet.

This place…

It didn’t feel like a home.

Not yet.

But Sophie was here.

And that was enough for now.

I stopped in front of the door.

Second room on the right.

Just like he said.

I pushed it open slowly and stepped inside.

The room was bigger than my entire apartment.

Clean.

Organized.

Cold.

I walked in slowly and set my suitcase down.

And just stood there taking it all in.

“This is your life now,” I whispered softly.

But deep down…

A small voice in my head spoke.

Quiet.

Uneasy.

Be careful, Naomi.

I didn’t know why.

But something about this place…

Something about this job…

Didn’t feel as simple as it looked.

And for the first time since I agreed to this—

I felt it clearly.

This wasn’t just a new job.

It was the beginning of something I might not be able to walk away from.