THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET NANNY

Chapter 9: The Fever Night

The news article went live at 6am.

By 7am my phone had 43 missed calls. By 8am there were photographers at the gate.

Billionaire's Secret. Nanny Lied for 5 Years.

The headline was everywhere.

I sat in the kitchen with Lily eating cereal like nothing was wrong. But my hands were shaking so bad the milk spilled.

Mama why are there men outside with cameras Lily asked. She was swinging her legs under the chair.

I forced a smile. They just want to take pictures of the pretty house baby.

Lily frowned. They do not look nice.

No they do not I said.

Damian came downstairs at 8:15. He looked like he had slept even less than me. Same white shirt from yesterday. Hair a mess. Jaw tight. But his eyes were clear. Angry. Determined.

He kissed Lily's forehead. Morning princess.

Morning Daddy Lily said. Can we go to the park today

Not today Damian said. Today we have a very important meeting.

With who Lily asked.

With people who tell the truth Damian said and looked at me.

At 9am the lawyers arrived. Three of them. All in black suits with briefcases. They spread papers across the dining table.

Joint custody agreement Damian said. Full parental rights for Elena Carter. NDA for all staff. And a statement for the press at 12.

I signed everything. My hand was shaking but I signed.

When it was done one of the lawyers leaned forward. Mr Sterling. Are you sure about this. Going public will make things messy. The board will have questions.

Damian looked at me. Then at Lily drawing at the counter with crayons.

I am sure he said.

The lawyer nodded and packed up.

At 11:30 Lily started feeling warm.

I noticed it when I was brushing her hair for the press conference. Her cheeks were red.

Baby are you okay I asked.

Lily nodded but she was clingy. She kept holding my leg.

Damian touched her forehead. She is warm.

It is probably just tiredness I said. From the party.

By 11:45 she was shivering.

Her temperature was 101.

The lawyers were still there. The press conference was in 15 minutes.

Damian looked at me. We have to go downstairs.

I cannot leave her I said. She is sick.

Then I stay Damian said immediately.

The head lawyer cleared his throat. Mr Sterling. If you do not show up the press will assume you are hiding. Vanessa wins. The story will be out of control by tonight.

Damian's jaw ticked.

I will go I said. You stay with her.

No Damian said. She needs both of us.

He picked up his phone and called Mrs Hale. Can you come sit with Lily. She has a fever.

Mrs Hale was there in two minutes.

I do not like leaving her I whispered.

I do not either Damian said. But 20 minutes. That is all. Then we come right back.

We walked into the press room together.

50 cameras. 100 microphones. Vanessa sitting in the front row with a smile on her face like she already won.

Damian stepped up to the podium. I stood beside him. My legs were shaking.

Thank you for coming Damian said. His voice was steady. I am here today to address the rumors about my daughter Lily.

Camera flashes hurt my eyes.

Five years ago I met a woman. We spent one night together. I did not know she was pregnant. She did not tell me because she was scared. That woman is Elena Carter. She is Lily's mother. And she has been taking care of our daughter for the last six months as her nanny.

More flashes.

We found out the truth two nights ago. And as of this morning Elena and I have filed for joint custody. Because Lily deserves both of her parents.

Someone shouted Is this true

Yes Damian said.

And what about Miss Whitmore another reporter asked.

Damian's eyes cut to Vanessa.

Miss Whitmore and I ended our engagement three years ago. Any suggestion that she is involved in my family is false.

Vanessa stood up. That is a lie Damian. You are just covering for her. She trapped you.

Security escorted her out. She was still yelling.

Damian finished the statement. Lily is healthy. She is loved. And anyone who tries to use her for headlines will deal with me. Thank you.

We walked out.

The second we were in the hall my phone buzzed.

Mrs Hale.

Mr Sterling. Miss Carter. Lily's fever is 103. She is asking for you.

I was running before Damian could say anything.

We made it to her room in under a minute.

Lily was in bed. Sweating. Crying. Her face was red.

Mama she whimpered.

I was at her side instantly. I am here baby. I am here.

Daddy too Damian said and sat on the other side.

The doctor arrived 10 minutes later. Dr Miller. Family doctor for 20 years. He looked tired.

He checked her. It is a virus he said. She needs fluids and rest. And she needs to be kept cool.

Will she be okay I asked. My voice broke.

She will Dr Miller said. But she needs 24 hour care for the next two days. Watch the fever. If it goes above 104 you call me immediately.

We can do that I said.

We will Damian said at the same time.

The night was long.

We took turns. Cold compress on her forehead. Water with a spoon. Medicine every 4 hours. Stories. Songs.

At 1am Lily woke up crying.

My head hurts she said.

I held her. I know baby. I know.

She looked at me with glassy eyes. Mama do not leave me.

Never I whispered. I am right here.

She fell asleep in my arms.

At 3am her fever spiked again. 103.8

Damian was already awake. He had not slept.

We need to go to the hospital he said.

I nodded.

We wrapped her in blankets and drove. Damian drove like hell.

The ER was empty except for one nurse.

She has a high fever I said.

The nurse took her immediately.

For two hours we sat in the waiting room.

Damian held my hand. He did not let go.

What if something happens he said quietly.

Do not say that I whispered.

I am scared Damian said. I have never been scared before. Not of business. Not of enemies. But this. This is different.

I squeezed his hand. She is strong. Like you.

At 5am the doctor came out.

She is stable he said. The fever is coming down. You can take her home in the morning. But keep monitoring her.

I cried in relief.

Damian pulled me into his arms.

It is okay he said. She is okay.

We took her home at 7am.

Mrs Hale had the guest room ready with extra blankets and juice and cartoons on TV.

For the next two days we did not leave her side.

Damian called off all his meetings. I called in sick.

We took shifts. When one of us slept the other watched her.

On the second night at 3am Lily woke up and asked for pancakes.

Pancakes Damian said and laughed. At 3am

Yes Lily said. Mama's pancakes.

I made them.

The three of us sat in the kitchen at 3am eating pancakes while Lily told us a story about her doll.

This is nice Lily said.

Yes Damian said. It is.

After she was asleep again Damian and I sat on the balcony.

Thank you he said.

For what

For staying. For not running when it got hard. For being here at 3am.

I almost did I admitted. When Vanessa offered me the money.

I know Damian said. I am glad you did not.

He took my hand.

Elena. I need to ask you something.

What

Move in. Not as the nanny. As Lily's mom. As my partner.

My heart stopped.

What

I am not good at this Damian said. The words. But I know what I want. I want you here. Every night. I want to do breakfast and fevers and birthday parties together. I want us.

Tears filled my eyes.

Are you sure I asked. After everything. After the lies.

I am sure Damian said. The only thing I am not sure about is why it took me so long to say it.

I nodded. Yes.

Damian pulled me into his arms.

Two days later Lily was completely better. Running around. Asking for the dog.

We told her that night.

We are going to live together all the time Damian said.

Like a real family Lily asked.

Like a real family I said.

Lily screamed and jumped on both of us. Best day ever.

That weekend we had another small party.

Just us. No press. No Vanessa.

Balloons. Cake. And Lily in the middle wearing a crown.

At the end of the night Lily fell asleep between us on the couch watching a movie.

Damian looked at me.

You okay he asked.

I nodded. I am home.

Damian smiled. The first real relaxed smile I had seen from him.

Yeah. Me too.

Outside the gates the cameras were gone.

Inside, we were finally a family.

The next morning I woke up in the master bedroom.

Not the nanny room. The master bedroom.

Damian was already up making coffee.

Morning he said.

Morning I said.

Lily ran in and jumped on the bed. Family breakfast

Family breakfast Damian said and kissed her head.

And that was how it started.

End of Chapter 9