THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET NANNY

Chapter 2 The Deal

I did not sleep.

Not really. I lay in bed with my eyes open and listened to the city. Every time a car honked I thought it was him coming to my door. Every time the floor creaked I thought Lily was having another nightmare.

At 6am my phone buzzed.

Kitchen. 7am. Breakfast meeting. Do not be late.

It was him.

I got up and showered fast. I put on the same black dress from yesterday because it was the only decent one I had. I tied my hair back. I looked in the mirror and told myself I could do this. Six months. That was all.

Lily was already awake when I got to the nursery. She was sitting on the bed hugging her stuffed bear.

Morning princess I said and forced a smile.

She smiled back but it was small. Are you mad at me

No baby. Why would I be mad

Because Daddy looked mad last night.

My stomach dropped. He is not mad at you. He is just busy. Come let us get ready.

I braided her hair. I helped her into a yellow dress. She looked like sunshine. She looked like him.

At 6 55 we walked to the kitchen.

It was huge. Marble counters. Steel appliances. Floor to ceiling windows looking over the city. The chef was already there but he left as soon as he saw us.

Mr Sterling was sitting at the long table. Laptop open. Coffee in his hand. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants. No tie. Sleeves rolled up. He looked like he had not slept either.

Sit he said without looking up.

Lily ran to him and climbed into the chair next to him. Morning Daddy

Morning princess. Eat.

I sat across from them. The table was so big it felt like an ocean between us.

The chef had made pancakes. Fruit. Juice. Everything looked expensive. Lily ate happily. Mr Sterling drank coffee and typed on his laptop.

For ten minutes no one spoke.

Then he closed the laptop.

We need to talk.

Lily looked between us. About what

About the rules he said. Adult talk. Go watch cartoons in the living room for 20 minutes.

Lily made a face but she slid out of the chair. Okay. But no fighting.

No fighting he said.

She kissed his cheek and ran out.

The door closed. Silence.

He leaned back in the chair and looked at me. Really looked at me. Like he was trying to see through me.

You lied on your application.

I did not lie.

You have a child.

My mouth went dry. I don’t

Do not lie to me Adele. Not again.

I stared at my hands.

How long have you known

Since the first photo the agency sent. She has my eyes. She has my mother’s birthmark on her wrist. I had a DNA test done the day before you arrived.

The room started spinning.

You tested her

I needed to be sure.

And

And she is mine.

The words hung in the air. Heavy. Final.

I nodded. One small nod. Tears were burning my eyes but I refused to let them fall.

Why did you come back he asked quietly.

Because I was broke. Because Lily needed a doctor. Because the agency said this job paid well and it was discreet. I did not know it was you. I swear I did not know.

He ran a hand through his hair.

I believe you.

I looked up. What

I said I believe you. If you knew it was me you would not have taken the job. You hate me.

I do not hate you.

You should. I was an i***t. I let you go.

We sat there. The city was loud outside but in the kitchen it was silent.

Finally he spoke again.

Here is what is going to happen. You are not leaving. Lily likes you. She trusts you. And frankly I do not trust anyone else with her.

So what do you want me to do

I want you to stay. As the nanny. But also as something else.

My heart started pounding. What else

His face was serious. No emotion. Like he was talking about a business deal.

I want you to be my wife.

I laughed. It came out wrong. Bitter.

Excuse me

Fake wife. For six months.

I shook my head. No. Absolutely not.

Hear me out.

I do not want to hear anything.

The board is pressuring me to settle down. They think a CEO with a family looks more stable. My ex fiancee has been telling people I am cold and I cannot commit. And Lily is starting to ask why she does not have a mommy like the other kids at her school.

He paused.

If we announce that I met someone. That we are getting married quietly. That you are Lily’s nanny and also my partner. The board gets off my back. The press stops asking questions. And Lily gets to have both of us without knowing the full truth yet.

I stood up. The chair scraped loud.

This is crazy. I am not marrying you. Fake or not.

Sit down.

No.

Sit. Down. Adele.

Something in his voice made me sit.

You do not have to love me. You do not have to sleep in my room. You do not have to kiss me. All you have to do is show up to three dinners a month. Two company events. And live here. As my wife. On paper.

And what do I get out of this

Twenty thousand dollars a month. A new apartment for when this is over. Full custody papers drawn up so no one can ever take her from you. And my protection.

My breath caught.

You would do that

For her yes.

For six months we pretend. We smile for photos. We hold hands at events. We tell people we met six months ago and fell in love. And when the six months are up we get a quiet divorce and you walk away with everything you need to start over.

I stared at him.

Why me. You could hire an actress.

Because Lily already loves you. Because I trust you not to sell this story to the press. And because.

He stopped.

Because what

Because I owe you.

The word hit me hard.

You do not owe me anything.

I owe you three years. I owe you an apology. I owe you the chance to be in her life without hiding.

Tears finally fell. I wiped them fast.

This is insane.

Maybe. But it is also the best option we have.

Lily ran back in then. She climbed into my lap before I could stop her.

Are you guys done talking

Yes baby I said. My voice was shaky.

Daddy says we are having a family meeting tonight. With pizza.

Mr Sterling looked at me over her head.

What do you say Adele

Lily was looking at me with big hopeful eyes.

I thought about the rent. I thought about the hospital bills. I thought about giving Lily a stable home.

I thought about him saying I owe you.

Okay I whispered.

Okay what

Okay I will do it.

His shoulders dropped like he had been holding his breath.

Good. The lawyers will send the contract today. Read it carefully.

When

Tonight. After dinner.

Lily clapped. Yes pizza night

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I took care of Lily. We went to the park. We came back. I tried not to think about the word wife.

At 7pm the pizza arrived. We ate in the living room on the floor. Like a real family.

After Lily went to bed he called me to the office again.

The contract was on the desk. Thick. Legal words.

Read it he said.

I sat down and read.

It said everything he told me. Money. Apartment. Custody. No intimacy required. No sharing a bedroom. Termination after six months with divorce papers ready.

There was one line at the bottom that made me pause.

Clause 9. Both parties agree to act as a loving married couple in public to maintain the illusion.

What does that mean exactly I asked.

It means hold my hand at events. It means sit next to me at dinner. It means if someone takes a photo we look like we like each other.

And if we don’t

Then we are both bad actors and this falls apart.

I signed. My hand was shaking.

He signed too.

Welcome to the marriage Mrs Sterling he said.

Do not call me that.

What should I call you then. Wife

I glared at him. Adele.

Adele he said my name slowly. Like he was testing it.

We stood there awkward.

The first event is in three days. Charity gala. Black tie. My assistant will send you a dress.

I do not need

You do. The press will be there.

I nodded.

You can go.

I was at the door when he said Wait.

Yes

Thank you.

For what

For not running again.

I did not answer. I just left.

In my room I sat on the floor and cried. Not because I was sad. But because I was scared.

Scared that six months would not be enough.

Scared that I would start to believe this was real.

Scared that he would break my heart again.

The next two days were strange. The dress arrived. Red. Silk. Expensive. It cost more than my old rent.

Lily helped me pick shoes.

Mr Sterling barely spoke to me except to go over the story. We met at a coffee shop. We dated for six months. It was fast but we knew.

On the night of the gala I stood in front of the mirror and did not recognize myself.

Hair up. Makeup done. Red dress that hugged me in all the right places.

There was a knock.

Come in.

He walked in and stopped.

For the first time since I came back he looked surprised.

You look.

What

Different.

I looked down. Is it too much

No. It is perfect.

We rode to the gala in silence. His hand was on the seat between us. Close but not touching.

The building was full of lights and cameras.

Ready he asked.

No.

He took my hand anyway. His fingers were warm.

Then let us fake it.

We walked in together.

The flashes were blinding.

Mr Sterling who is this

Is this the new girlfriend

Congratulations

He smiled. A real smile. Small but real.

This is Adele. My fiancee.

Fiancee. The word hit me like ice water.

Fiancee he repeated for the cameras.

People came up to us. Important people. He introduced me as his partner. His future wife. The woman who made him happy.

I smiled. I laughed at the right times. I held his arm.

It was easy. Too easy.

At one point a reporter asked How did you meet

Mr Sterling answered before I could.

She applied to be my daughter’s nanny. I was not supposed to fall in love with her. But I did.

The room went quiet. Then people clapped.

I looked at him. He was not looking at me. He was looking at the cameras. Acting.

Right.

After an hour my feet hurt and my face hurt from smiling.

We stepped outside for air.

You did good he said.

So did you.

We stood on the balcony. The city was below us.

Adele.

Yes

Can I ask you something

What

Do you regret it. Coming back

I thought about it.

No. Not because of this. But because of her.

He nodded.

I do not regret it either.

For a second I thought he was going to take my hand.

Instead he stepped back.

We should go in.

Back inside the party was still going. That is when I saw her.

A tall woman in a white dress. Perfect hair. Perfect smile. Walking straight toward us.

Mr Sterling’s jaw tightened.

Who is that I asked.

His ex fiancee he said quietly. Vanessa.

Vanessa stopped in front of us. Her eyes went up and down me.

Well well. The nanny.

Mr Sterling stepped in front of me.

Do not.

Do not what Richard. I am just saying hello to your new toy.

My blood went cold.

I am not a toy I said.

Vanessa laughed. Sure you are not. Tell me how long did it take you to get him into bed. A week

That is enough Mr Sterling said. His voice was low and dangerous.

Is it. Because I have pictures. From three years ago. You and her in the office. Late night.

The world stopped.

What did you say I whispered.

She pulled out her phone.

Want to see

Mr Sterling grabbed her wrist.

Give me the phone.

Or what. You will hit me. In public

Let go of me.

You are making a scene.

I am telling the truth.

I felt sick.

People were watching. Cameras were turning toward us.

Mr Sterling looked at me. His eyes were sorry. Angry. Trapped.

Adele go to the car he said.

No.

Go. Now.

I turned and ran.

My heels clicked on the marble. I pushed through people. I got to the car and slammed the door.

Two minutes later he got in.

Drive the driver said.

We drove in silence.

Outside my window the city lights blurred.

Finally I spoke.

Is it true. The pictures

Yes he said quietly.

From three years ago

Yes.

Why did you not tell me

Because it does not matter now.

It matters to me.

He turned to me.

Vanessa is lying about the rest. We never. Nothing happened at work. It was one night. At my apartment. After a company party.

I nodded.

She is going to use this. To hurt us.

I know.

What are we going to do

We are going to go home. We are going to tell Lily a story. And tomorrow we are going to fight back.

I looked at him.

You are not scared

I am terrified. But not of her. Of losing you again.

The car stopped.

We got out. The penthouse was quiet.

Lily was asleep.

We stood in the hallway.

I am sorry he said.

For what

For all of it.

Before I could answer my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

Picture message.

It was me. Three years ago. Leaving his apartment building at 3am. Hair messy. Dress wrinkled.

Under it text.

Everyone will know who you really are by morning.

I dropped the phone.

Mr Sterling picked it up. His face went hard.

Get inside he said.

Why

Because this is war now. And I do not lose.

End of Chapter 2