Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“What you are is a liar! Old habits die hard, huh?”
“If you have to tell yourself that in order to continue this pretense that I don’t mean anything to you, then I’ll make myself crystal fucking clear. If I don’t have a new nanny knocking on my door tomorrow morning”—he stood and took one last look in my direction as he walked backward toward the door—“then you’re in for a reminder of what I’m capable of.”
“Oh, trust me, Mr. Hawkins. For what feels like the hundredth time in my life, you’re just trying to fuck me over. Again! When I’ve done nothing to deserve it. I’ll find you a nanny, okay? But I’m going to need more time.”
“You have twenty-four hours. I need someone at my house tomorrow morning. I want to introduce my kids to their new nanny and see how she fits in with us before we leave for Spain the following day. I’m opening an international agency, and for the next three months I have to be there to get it off the ground.”
“What about Tessa?”
“What about her?”
“She’s letting you take the kids for the next three months?”
“She has no say.”
“What does that mean?”
“I told you there’s a lot you don’t know.”
“I’m listening.”
“Great. Then I expect to have a new nanny at my door tomorrow morning, fully packed.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Time and place, darlin’.”
I rolled my eyes. “You always were a control freak.”
“And you were always a pain in my ass.” He smiled, speaking with conviction…
“Good to know my girl’s still the same.”
Chapter 11
Caleb
“Daddy,” Ariel announced, sitting in the seat in front of my desk. “I don’t want another nanny. Why can’t we just have you?”
“Baby, I already told you. I’m going to need help while we’re away.”
She folded her arms over her chest, frowning.
“Ariel, don’t look at me like that.”
“But, Daddy, we don’t want anyone but you. Right, Ethan?”
He was sitting in the seat beside her, playing on his iPad. Not listening as usual.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, my patience with him was wearing thin.
“Ethan, how many times have I told you that you can’t be on your iPad all morning?”
“But Mom lets me.”
“If I hear that one more time, I’m taking it away.”
“But, Dad, it’s true!”
“Give me your iPad, Ethan.”
“Fine.” He set it on my desk, bowing his head.
I sighed, inhaling a deep breath.
This wasn’t the relationship I ever wanted to have with my kids. However, Tessa never gave me a choice in the matter. I was always the primary parent, setting rules, discipline, making sure they stayed on schedule, they ate, they went to their activities, and so forth.
The list was endless.
The only thing Tessa was good at was spending my money. She gave the kids everything they wanted, often making us argue about her lack of parenting skills. She didn’t give a fuck. Tessa only cared about one person, and that was her. Mother wasn’t the word I’d use to describe her role in our kids’ life. We had been in a nasty custody battle since we got a divorce over a year ago.
Currently, I had full custody of our kids with her having visitation rights. I didn’t trust her to be alone with them, and she proved me right time after time. The kids were a weapon she used on me every chance she could get. They were just a pawn in her web of manipulation.
How she got two children out of me to begin with was as mind-blowing to me as it was to anyone who was around us. I didn’t pretend to be anything other than our kids’ father. Still, after over a decade, she meant nothing to me.
However, I wouldn’t give my kids up for anything.
I loved them in ways I didn’t think was possible. Everything I did was for them. Especially when it came to their mother. Which was why I needed a qualified nanny who could handle my rigorous demands when it came to my children. I wouldn’t settle for anything but the best.
I struggled with trying to find time for Ethan and Ariel. It was the only aspect of my life I was failing at. I spent a lot of time working. Now, with starting a new agency abroad, it was going to be more difficult to find the right balance between working and being present in their lives.
Up until three months ago, my mom was helping me with the kids. She had since Ethan was born. They bought property near my home to be in our lives after Tessa and I got married, realizing very fucking quickly Tessa was unstable and couldn’t be trusted.
Now they were dealing with my brother’s never ending bullshit. They couldn’t help me like they were before. Hence, why I needed a nanny.
It was almost 9 A.M., and I was beginning to worry no one would show up. I was royally fucked if I didn’t have a nanny to travel with us. My assistants could only watch the kids for so long. They needed stability and a routine. Someone they could count on other than me.