THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET NANNY

The elevator made a soft ding and the doors opened. Cold air hit me first. Then his eyes. Mr Sterling was standing in the middle of the penthouse. Black suit. No tie. Hair a little messy like he had been running his hands through it all night. He looked tired. He looked dangerous. He looked like the man who changed my life three years ago and did not even remember. My heart started beating so hard I thought he could hear it. Good morning sir I said. My voice came out quiet. He did not say good morning back. He looked at my shoes. My cheap black dress. The pink backpack I was holding tight against my chest. You are late. The bus broke down sir. I ran. I am sorry. He stepped aside. Come in. The door closed behind me with a soft click. It sounded final. Welcome to Sterling Tower Miss Adele. That was not my real name. But it was the name on the paper. It was the name I had to use if I wanted this job. If I wanted to pay rent. If I wanted to keep my daughter safe. Thank you sir. The agency told me three rules. Do not talk unless he talks to you first. Do not go into any room that is not the nursery. And do not get attached to the child. I could follow two of those rules. The third one was already impossible. Nursery is down the hall. Third door on the right. Yes sir. He walked away. No sound. Just his presence filling the whole place. I let out a breath and hurried down the hall. The nursery was bright. Too bright. White walls. White shelves. White toys that probably cost more than my monthly rent. And on the floor in the middle of it all was her. Lily. My Lily. She had two braids and a pink dress with little flowers. She was coloring with red crayon. When she saw me her face lit up like I was the sun. Aunty Dele I dropped to my knees and hugged her. She smelled like baby shampoo and crayons and home. Hey princess I whispered. Did you miss me She nodded into my shoulder. Daddy said you would be late. I pulled back and looked at her. Those eyes. Dark. Sharp. Just like his. Did you eat breakfast baby She shook her head. The chef said wait for Aunty Dele. Of course he did. I opened her backpack and pulled out the sandwich I made at five in the morning. Peanut butter. Her favorite. She took it with both hands and started eating. While she ate I cleaned up. I folded the blanket. I put the crayons back in the box. The agency said be invisible. Be perfect. Do not give them a reason to fire you. Ten thousand dollars a month. That was what they were paying me. More money than I had ever seen in my life. Enough to move us out of that one room with water dripping from the ceiling. Enough to put Lily in a good school. All I had to do was pretend I did not know the man who owned this building. Pretend I did not know that Lily had his chin and his temper and his eyes. Pretend I was just the nanny. Can we draw today Aunty Dele Lily asked with her mouth full. Yes baby. What do you want to draw You and me and Daddy. My hand stopped on a blue crayon. How about we draw the park instead She pouted but nodded. Okay. The morning passed fast. We read stories. We built towers with blocks. She told me about her class and how the teacher said she was the smartest. My chest hurt with pride. At twelve the door opened. Lunch. Mr Sterling stood there. Two men in black suits stood behind him. Security. Lily jumped up. Daddy He crouched down to her level. Did you behave for Miss Adele Yes. We read and we drew. Good girl. Come. He held out his hand. She took it and walked out with him without looking back at me. I stayed in the nursery and listened to the silence. Three years ago I was 21. I worked as a cleaner in his father’s company. He was the boss’s son. He came to the office late one night. He said he was stressed. He said I had pretty eyes. One night turned into two. Then he said it meant nothing and he was going to London. Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I tried to call. His assistant said he was in meetings. By the time he came back I was already gone. I took the last of my money and ran to another city. I told myself it was better. He did not want a baby. He did not want me. Now I was back. In his house. Raising his daughter and pretending she was not his. The irony was not funny. Lily napped in the afternoon. I sat in the small chair next to her bed and watched her sleep. She frowned in her sleep just like him. She had his eyebrows. At six he came back. Bedtime routine. I followed him to her room. He stood in the corner while I helped her brush her teeth and change into moon pajamas. Story time Daddy Lily said climbing into bed. He looked at me. You may go. Yes sir. I was at the door when Lily said Wait. We both stopped. Can Aunty Dele read too No he said. But Daddy please I will read. His voice left no room to argue. Lily looked sad but she nodded. Okay. I closed the door softly. In my small room I sat on the bed and counted the days. Six months. That was the contract. Six months and I would have enough money to disappear again. Somewhere he would never find us. At ten there was a knock. Miss Adele. Yes sir My office. Now. I followed him. His office was huge. Windows from floor to ceiling. The city lights looked like stars. His desk was clean. One laptop. One pen. One photo turned face down. He did not sit. He stood by the window. The agency sent your file. Yes sir. It says no family. No children. No record. Yes sir. He turned to face me. You look tired. I am fine sir. You flinched today when Lily called me Daddy. I did not. Do not lie to me Miss Adele. The room got colder. I am just nervous. New job. He walked to his desk and opened a folder. My fake resume. My fake ID. Do you know why I picked this agency No sir. Because they are expensive. And quiet. And their nannies never stay more than six months. I did not know what to say. You will work six months. You will do your job. You will not get close to my daughter. You will not speak to anyone about this family. You will not ask for more money. Yes sir. And you will not call her princess. I blinked. Sir My sister used to call her that. Before she died. Lily told me you called her that this morning. Oh. I am sorry. I did not know. I will not do it again. He closed the folder. See that you do not. Dismissed. I walked out fast. My legs felt weak. Back in my room I locked the door. My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I know who you are. My blood went cold. Another message. We will talk. Not tonight. Sleep. It was him. He knew. All day he knew and he said nothing. At 3am I woke up to crying. Not mine. Lily’s. I ran to the door and she was there. In her moon pajamas. Eyes full of tears. Bad dream I whispered and pulled her to me. She climbed into my bed and curled up. I stroked her hair. It is okay princess. I am here. She went still. You called me princess. I froze. Baby I Daddy calls me that too. When it is just us. He said not to tell. My heart stopped. Are you my real aunty Lily asked quietly. I opened my mouth but no words came out. The door opened. Mr Sterling stood there. Sweatpants. Black t shirt. Hair messy. Eyes awake and sharp. What is happening Nothing Daddy Lily said quickly. Bad dream. Go to your room. She slid out of bed and walked past him. When the door closed he came inside and shut it. You were supposed to stay in your room. She was scared. You were supposed to follow the rules. I know. I am sorry. Do not be sorry. Be smart. He stepped closer. I could smell his cologne. She asked if you were her real aunty. I nodded. I could not speak. What did you say Nothing. You came in. Good. He reached out and tucked hair behind my ear. His fingers barely touched me but I shivered. You have her nose. Mr Sterling please He cut me off. Six months Adele. That is all. You be the nanny. I be the father. We do not talk about before. We do not tell her the truth until she is older. Adele. He said my real name. Tears filled my eyes. I blinked hard. Why are you doing this Because she loves you. And because I messed up three years ago. And because I do not know how to fix it. He stepped back. Sleep. Tomorrow we start again. Same rules. He left and closed the door. I sat on the bed holding Lily’s pillow. Rule one. Do not talk to Mr Sterling. Rule two. Do not look him in the eyes. Rule three. Do not let him know the little girl calling him Daddy is mine. I had broken all three tonight. And the worst part was I did not regret it. Not when Lily called me princess. Not when he said my name. Not when for one second it felt like we were a family. Tomorrow would be harder. But tonight I had this. Outside the window the city glowed. And inside Sterling Tower my biggest secret was sleeping one room away. End of Chapter 1