For a woman who likes to talk big, she's surprisingly docile when it comes to men.
"You're not going to ask about it?" I nonchalantly say. "No words of wisdom for me today?"
Cassie stops fretting and slowly lifts her gaze toward me after hearing my question. Her dark brown eyes finally meet mine for the first time without looking away, the bold and daring spirit in her unyielding expression reminiscent of the one I witnessed that night in front of the library.
"Well, it's none of my business, right? I'm trying not to overstep my boundaries here since this is my first day on the job and all," Cassie casually retorts. There's a flicker of mischief in her gaze which she doesn't even try to hide as she gently smiles at me.
Heh.
A dry chuckle naturally sounds from my lips and breaks the cold and cynical front that I have on. I didn't think I'd be able to have the strength or emotion to laugh after dealing with that heated argument with Jenna, but Cassie somehow managed to prove me wrong with her snarky comments. All of the anger and frustration that I was harboring inside my heart from that pointless dispute is gone with just one laugh. It's strange. My chest feels a whole lot lighter and at ease after briefly talking to her.
I continue staring into the young woman's soft brown eyes while a calm silence fills the air. Her honest gaze appears to be taken in and captivated by me like a moth to a flame. I've seen that longing stare from enough women to know what it means. But I know better than to acknowledge the implication and intent behind their earnest expressions. Especially when that feeling can't be returned.
"Good night, Cassie," I utter in a low voice as I begin to make my way back up the staircase.
The young nanny quickly snaps out of her dazed stupor to respond back to me before I'm out of ear's reach: "Good night, Mr. Bishop!" Cassie's flustered voice speaks out.
I can hear the faint sound of the front door closing not long after the young woman's farewell greeting to me. Her departure leaves behind a dead silence which follows me as I climb up the spiraling steps and back up to my bedroom. But something feels off about the mood that I'm in. My heart isn't as troubled by the still noise which accompanies my thoughts as much as it should be. And there's hardly any room for concern in my busy life in regards to Jenna and her little unwarranted outburst.
It's the first time I've ever felt this way toward her.
But maybe all that means is that it's time for a change.
Cassie - 8
"Boy, your dad's really late tonight, huh?" I note with a deeply furrowed brow. My eyes turn toward the girl sitting near the table who doesn't seem at all surprised by my observation.
"He's always late," Taylor replies with a slight pout as she busies herself with her coloring book. Her cold and disappointed response sounds like what a parent would say if they were waiting for their kid to come home after breaking curfew.
I glance at the grandfather clock in the hallway which has gradually hit another hour. Taylor's father should have been back home a few hours ago according to his last text message to me which said he'd be back home by 10. However, it's only an hour to midnight now, and the storm outside is only getting worse and worse by the minute. My gaze shifts toward the closest window in hopes of seeing the headlights from his car coming through the gates.
Unfortunately, it's pitch dark outside with nothing but the moon to illuminate the shadows created by twilight. Countless trails of raindrops continue to fall and streak across the large window in the living room when my weary eyes catch sight of a white flash which cuts through the darkened sky. The bright and brief flicker of light within the skies is followed by a gentle yet ominous rumble in the distance which is barely audible above the heavy rainstorm. Seeing the dreary weather only reminds me of how much I want to be nestled under the warm comforts of my own blanket at home where the rain can't touch or find me.
Yet my mouth opens up big and wide as a tired yawn escapes me. The soothing sound of the rainfall hitting against the glass and the pavements slowly lulls me to sleep as I fight against my exhaustion to stay awake. Even though I'm well aware that the reason behind my drowsiness is not due to the relaxing ambient noises from the downpour but more because of the late hour of night that's approaching, there's not much I can do about it. The nanny contract that I signed states that I have to remain by Taylor's side until her father gets home.
Though the little girl definitely looks a lot more bummed about her father's late appearance than I do. The enthusiasm that she showed earlier when she was first starting to color in the drawings in her book is no longer there. All that's left of her keen interest is the determination to keep on coloring as a means of keeping her awake. But even her strong resolve to stay awake is starting to betray her as her eyes and head droop and bob to fight the fatigue that's gradually overwhelming her.
"You sure you don't want to go to bed first, Taylor? I can wake you up when he gets back," I suggest with a worried tone as I watch her stubbornly struggle against her drowsiness.
But the tired child wakes up from her brief dozing session and instantly shakes her head. "I don't want to sleep yet. I'm scared that daddy won't come back," she admits in a small voice.
My eyes bulge from the reasoning behind Taylor's unwillingness to go to bed. Clearly, the trauma of losing her mother has made her fearful and overly conscious of the possibility of losing her father as well.
"He's probably just with his girlfriend, sweetheart. There's nothing to worry about. Your dad will definitely come home for you," I gently reassure her with a warm smile. But the girl simply returns her response in the form of a weak nod of her head.
An aching sensation stirs in my heart after seeing the sullen expression on Taylor's face. I look toward the front door with a heavy frown. Even if Noah is spending a little extra time with his girlfriend, the least he can do is warn me so that Taylor doesn't have to look so worried the entire night. But it's probably for the best if I didn't disturb him, especially after the way I unintentionally witnessed their big argument which inadvertently made things a little awkward between us.
My cheeks flush as I relive the humiliating moment in my head again. Not only did I end up getting caught eavesdropping on their private quarrel, I also ended up catching more than a glimpse of Noah's bare body than I would have liked. The fine detail of the muscles on his chest and his stomach are all vivid images in my mind which I can't seem to erase no matter how hard I try. And what's even more mortifying is the fact that my heart actually races in pure excitement from the thought of his strong and built body.
Honestly, there's nothing more shameful for me than feeling aroused and attracted to my own boss who's much older than me and who already has someone he's currently dating. A scenario like this has 'bad' written all over it, and I'm constantly reminded of this unpleasant feeling each time I set my eyes on Taylor. She's the person that I've been entrusted with taking care of. I can't lose sight of my duties to protect her by foolishly thinking about her father -- even if he is a bit of a mystery and a heartthrob.
A loud sigh parts from Taylor's lips as she suddenly sets her crayon down on the table. She rests the palm of her hand against her cheek and mutters, "I wish he just didn't have any girlfriends. Then he would be home all the time. I wouldn't have to feel so lonely."
"Does your dad usually have a lot of girlfriends?" I hesitantly ask out of pure curiosity. Her father's definitely handsome and charming enough to attract all kinds of attention from women, so I wouldn't be surprised to find out if he was a bit of a womanizer. In fact, I'd be a little amazed if he wasn't with his huge ego.
However, the little girl promptly nods her head and confirms my suspicions. "Ever since mommy passed away, he's had a lot of girlfriends," Taylor sadly states. "This current one is the longest one that he's been with so far. I think she might become my new mommy."
I freeze up when I notice the painful and wistful expression in her tender brown eyes. My careless question has led the young girl into a deep pit
of miserable thoughts and memories surrounding her deceased mother and the woman who might become her new mom. 'Sorry' is the only word that comes to mind as I watch the small child stare off into the distance. I try to find the right opportunity and opening to apologize to her when I hear the sound of the front door swing open.
Taylor darts out of her seat and runs straight toward the door with her arms wide-opened. "Daddy!" she joyfully shouts as she jumps right up into the tall man's arms.
"Hey kiddo!" Noah chuckles. He picks the young girl up into his tight grasp and gives her a kiss on the forehead. There's a warm and gentle expression on his face as he affectionately dotes on his one and only daughter, a rare yet heartwarming expression that is reserved for her alone.
"Wait a minute, why are you still awake? It's almost midnight," the man questions with an inquisitive glance that's pointed toward me. The soft gaze in his eyes fades from his face and is immediately replaced with a seemingly cold one.
"That's entirely my fault, Mr. Bishop. I know I should have properly made her go to bed, but Taylor stubbornly insisted on waiting up for you. I couldn't say no to her," I confess with a hard swallow and a wary heart. "I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again."
But Noah shakes his head at my apology. "It's okay, Cassie. I'm sorry too for the long wait that you had to stay because of me. I know you're probably cutting it close on your bus ride back. My driver can bring you back home instead so you don't have to worry about missing your ride."
My eyes widen from the unexpected generosity, yet I move to deny his kind offer with a vigorous shake of my hands. "Oh, it's not a problem! I'm sure I can still make it if I leave right now. I don't want to trouble anyone at this late of an hour. Besides, a little rain never hurt anyone," I optimistically state with a loose shrug. However, almost as if it were right on cue, a low and deafening rumble sounds and pierces through the heavy rush of the rainfall.
"In this weather?" Noah slowly inquires with an amused smirk. He raises his brow and tilts his head at my adamant stance of refusing his proposal.
I firmly nod my head. Regardless of how unreasonable I might appear to him in maintaining my unusual decision, my mind ultimately remains unchanged on the matter. I can't find it within myself to inconvenience another person when I've gone through weather much worse than this small rainstorm to get home. So I wait for the long and noisy rumbling thunder to finally finish passing through before declining Noah's suggestion again.
But just as the noise begins to dissipate, another ominous roar rings out into the night which prevents me from speaking. Unsurprisingly, the weather seems to be getting worse and worse by the minute.
"You know, you should probably just stay the night, Cassie. We have plenty of room in the house to accommodate you, and I don't think I'd feel very comfortable letting you go home alone with this kind of storm brewing outside," Noah plainly mentions without any hesitation in his clear and commanding voice. Even the stern look in his green gaze doesn't falter as he watches me and waits for me to answer.
Hearing the natural and serious statement flow from his lips forces me to blankly stare at him with my mouth slightly open. I'm rendered completely speechless by his genuine concern for my safety which shouldn't have any of the strange underlying implications that I'm foolishly worrying about at all. Noah is my boss, and he's already made it very clear that the relationship between us is strictly business. I have no reason to be troubled by the fact that a man and a woman are staying under the same roof together. Especially when that man is already taken by another woman.
Still, I can't seem to accept the harmless offer without allowing my doubts and fears to get the best of me. It's almost impossible when the truth of the matter is that Noah is an incredibly good-looking man whom I happened to be also slightly attracted to. I'd be way too conscious of his presence to feel comfortable staying in his home which is basically an intimate space for him. A scenario like this just isn't okay for me.
"Uhh, I don't know about staying over. I'm sure that I'll be okay if I leave right now-" I start to speak with a nervous stammer, but a giddy voice loudly interjects before I can finish my complete sentence.
"Sleepover!" Taylor excitedly exclaims in the midst of my statement. The little girl jumps out of her father's arms and eagerly takes me by the hands. "We can have a sleepover, Cassie!" she announces while her large brown eyes overflow with excess joy and excitement.
The young girl animatedly jumps up and down from the prospect of me staying over for the rest of the night, the weary exhaustion that was once instilled in her small body almost an illusion. She smiles brightly at me with her enthusiastic stare gazing deep into my eyes. I bite my lip in uncertainty while my heart begins to wane from the zealous anticipation brimming from her stare. If there's one thing that I can wholeheartedly agree on, it's that Taylor really knows how to make it difficult to let her down.
And before I can even make a decision about what I want to do, the adamant little girl whisks me away by the hand and gently tugs me up the stairs. Any feeling or indication of free will that I had is gone once my legs begin to follow her up the steps and toward the guest bedroom. But I suppose a hidden part of me actually desires and welcomes this outcome considering that there isn't much resistance on my part. So I keep on climbing the staircase under Taylor's guidance until she finally brings me to the bedroom that I'll be sleeping in for the night -- a bedroom that's owned and under the rooftop of an attractive man who also happens to be my boss.
***
Ugh…where did Taylor say that the bathroom with the shower was again?
My hand pulls the knob and closes the door in defeat as the sound of the rainy thunderstorm continues to howl and rumble in the background. I've lost count of how many locked or incorrect doorways that I've opened in my desperate search to take a nice, hot shower. I can vaguely recall her mentioning that there was at least one on each floor, but she glossed over and answered the question so fast before moving on to talk about all the other rooms in the house. The only logical choice left is to directly ask Noah; however, my stubborn personality prevents me from doing so without feeling a bit embarrassed.
Though, I eventually decide to at least check and see if the lights in Noah's room happen to be on after minutes of fruitless searching. The last thing I need him or anyone else in the house to see is me suspiciously going through every single room in the Bishop household in spite of my honest intentions. I reluctantly begin my ascent up the stairs and head up to the top floor where Noah's room is located. When my footsteps finally reach the daunting destination, I immediately realize that there's no light piercing through from the doorway. There's not even a single stir within the dark room as I stick my ear up against the door to listen for any moving sounds.
I guess Noah is already asleep.
A troubled sigh breaks free from my lips as I ponder what to do about my situation. I turn my head and start to walk away from the door when a dim light glowing from down the hallway suddenly grabs my attention. My footsteps follow the unusual light which leads me toward a door with some illegible scribbles drawn in and written on it. I knock on the door and then peek my head into the room with the full expectation of finding Noah inside of it. But my mouth drops when I actually look inside.
There are pieces of artwork sitting in every corner of the room, colorful and rich paintings depicting various kinds of natural scenery. I smile and silently marvel at the painted images of the lush greenery of the vast forest and the vibrant fields of budding flowers in the wild. The vivid colors and details all come together to create a picture that is simply breathtaking and powerful. Each painting that I happen to come across and glance over at evokes the same peaceful sensation within me.
Captivated by the emotion and beauty depicted on every canvas, I continue to gape and stare at all the paintings until a cold and grim voice suddenly speaks out to me: "What are you doing in here?"
My heart instantly sinks from the sound of the man's voice before
I can even turn to look at him. There's no mistaking who it is that's posing me with the question. I can feel my heartbeat anxiously racing and pounding as I turn to face the speaker standing by the door's entrance. An aloof green glare greets me as soon as I fully turn around to meet him.
This really doesn't look good for me.
Apologetic words naturally begin to flow out of my mouth. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bishop. I honestly didn't mean to intrude on your private rooms. I thought you were inside because the lights were still on, so I came in to ask you something. But now I realize that it was a mistake because you clearly weren't inside," I ramble in a panicked voice.
Yet in spite of my tense posture and manner of speaking, Noah plainly crosses his arms in front of his chest and gives me a look which is neither angry nor sad. In fact, I can't really tell what he's thinking or feeling from behind that iron mask of his. I can't help but wonder how this awkward situation would be a lot easier to navigate if Noah actually showed me even the slightest hint of his emotions.
"So what did you need to ask me?" Noah nonchalantly says.
The unanticipated inquiry from him takes me by surprise."Oh! Uhh, I was just trying to figure out which room in the house had a shower. Taylor vaguely told me where I could find one, but I seem to have forgotten what she said," I admit with a nervous laugh.
"There's one down the hall from the guestroom you're staying in. Third door on the left."
"Okay, awesome! Thanks," I stiffly reply with an even stiffer smile.
But the man doesn't give me much of a response back as his piercing green gaze continues to watch me restlessly fidget in place. The pressure from his unnerving stare compels me to eventually take the hint which is to get out and leave the room as fast as I can. My legs couldn't have moved any quicker as I shuffle them across the floor and brush past Noah where I somehow manage to make my biggest mistake. I allow the intimidating atmosphere to get the best of me, and I end up saying something absolutely unnecessary and idiotic to him.
Daddy's Contract : A Single Dad and Nanny Romance Page 9