Chapter 17
Bryan’s POV
I hear a faint knock on the door, making me lift my head from the laptop and grant permission to the intruder.
I have been working on my laptop for almost an hour, trying to meet up with a deadline. I intend to finish up before going home so I can prepare for tomorrow’s business meeting with the businessman my father sent to me.
Fixing my gaze back on the laptop, I continue with my review, scrolling the mouse to minimize as the person enters. I am thinking it is Stella.
The voice that greets me makes me raise my head sharply and my gaze meets with Emily.
“Long time no see, Brandon”, she flashes me a sexy smile, making me remember how she almost made me fall for that smile years ago.
She is dressed in a straight black skirt and a long turtle neck white top. Her hair is packed in a big, high bun as usual and she looks elegant.
“How are you, Emily?” I ask her as she walks briskly towards the chair in front of me and sits in without waiting for permission. I stare at her blankly, remembering how we met and what happened between us.
Emily was the lady my parents wanted me to marry but I told them I was not interested because Helena was in the picture.NôvelDrama.Org is the owner.
My parents insisted that we get married so it can strengthen the bond between her family and mine. Her father used to be my dad’s business partner and friend for more than a decade.
When we met, she was pretty but I was faithful to Helena. I had not introduce Helena to my parents.
But when the pressure became too much, I introduced her to them and my father kicked against the union. It was when it got to his knowledge that Helena was pregnant that he gave up.
Emily and I have met casually even after Helena’s death on two occasions at a dinner party and the meeting was always brief.
I like the fact that she doesn’t mix business with pleasure and knows when to bring up personal issues.
Seeing her here and now, I wonder what she is here for. Her stunning brown eyes scan my office with a smile on her face. I sit still, waiting for her to answer me and her eyes narrow down to me with a satisfied countenance.
I pin her with an unwavering gaze.
“You look good, Bryan. How have you been too?”
She is avoiding my question and I decide to do the same too. “I am great. What brings you to my office?” I lean backward in my chair.
“I was just passing by so I decided to check up on you”, she smirks. I arch a brow at her. It is unlike Emily to do a thing like this and I wonder what she is up to.
“Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate your time…”
“I see you are busy”, she interrupts me and I nod intermittently.
“As always”, she mutters softly. “I will get going, then.”
“Thank you”, I appreciate as she rises from the chair.
“Will you mind if I come to visit you in the house?”
I know this sudden visit is connected to something and I am not surprised she is asking this. She has never done this but I guess no woman can shock me with her words or actions.
Celine has taught me a great lesson on how women behave just so people can view them as unpredictable.
I don’t want to deny her the right to come to visit me in the house but I have no idea why I just nod to her, in a positive reply for her to come whenever she can.
She gives me a befitting smile, throws me an invincible kiss, and winks at me before sauntering to the exit.
****
Paxton’s POV
“What the hell, Celine?” I shout at her and stand up abruptly from the sofa. “How can you be so dumb?”
She shut her eyes tightly and avoid looking at me. How can she be so dumb to accept this silly offer of becoming her son’s nanny?
“Paxton”, she finally looks up. I stand with arms akimbo, waiting for her to explain the meaning of all this rubbish.
I haven’t come to terms with the fact that Bryan is an enemy and now she is talking about moving into his home? What the hell is wrong with Celine?
I turn around and begin to pace round my living room. She isn’t saying anything and it is annoying me. Celine is an innocent lady but Bryan wants to take advantage of her. He is too cruel to be pitied.
“I went back there to talk to him again…” She trails off. I stalk towards her in anger.
“Do you have any idea what you are doing? Why are you so stubborn?” I glare at her with cold, stormy eyes.
“I know, Paxton. It’s just that I feel it is better this way. Besides, I don’t even have a job and this is an opportunity. I am going to make money and at the same time, I will be taking care of my son. I see nothing wrong in it.”
“Really? You don’t see anything wrong? Everything about this is wrong, you shouldn’t have gotten me involved in all of this”, I explode and crash to the sofa in anger.
“Paxton, I know you are worried about me but I will be fine. I am going to survive it. I stayed with him for a year and I will be careful not to cross his path and have him do something bad to me”, she replied, her tone dripping with fear.
She is scared but she wants to give it a try for her son. She is selfless but I still feel she needs to be more strategic in her dealings with him.
He is a dangerous man like she said he is and I wonder why she wants to go and live in his den.
As much as I try to control my anger towards her, I am still pissed. I wish I can command her not to go but she can be so stubborn and she won’t listen to me. She has made up her mind already and nothing will change it.
She believes going there to work as her son’s nanny is better than going to get him out, thereby risking our lives but she has no idea the sort of plans I have put in place to make it easy and possible. I have been in this business since I was born and I know what or what not to do. I wish I can tell her all these.
“Paxton, won’t you say something”, she demands, peering at me with probing eyes.
“No!” I say sharply.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No”, I lie.
“You are”, she utters with pleading eyes.
She is begging me with her cute eyes and I can’t look past it. I sigh angrily, exhale deeply and sit upright.
“I am angry, Celine”, I admit. “But my anger will dissolve if only you can do something for me.”
“What is it?” She questions with all seriousness as if she is going to listen to whatever I demand of her like an obedient wife.
“Don’t go there, Celine”, I drop the bombshell and search her face for a hint of anger but it is devoid of emotions. “We can go ahead with the initial plan…”, she stops me with a wave of her hand.
“I’m sorry but my mind is made up”, she finalizes and I lean backward in resignation and defeat.