Daddy's Contract : A Single Dad and Nanny Romance

by Melissa Chetley

  Unable to add anything useful or worthwhile to the seemingly hilarious discussion, I force a grin and a light chuckle as my eyes shift down at the text message which was sent in by Cassie. Taylor is wondering where you are. She's getting restless waiting for you. What should I tell her?

  Unease blooms from chest as I close my eyes and clench my teeth. If there's one thing that Taylor won't forgive me for, it's breaking my promise to properly celebrate her birthday together without letting work get in the way of the celebration. I've surprisingly made good on my word every year, but I somehow manage to find myself in this predicament in which I can't exactly excuse myself without ruining the joyful atmosphere. Though, it's mainly my fault for thinking that I could simply show my face without being roped into the festivities and conversation. Especially if the discussion involves any mention of business or work.

  I quietly deliberate over what I should say to Cassie when someone audibly clears their voice amidst the sudden blanket of silence: "Ahem."

  An icy chill runs down my spine as I slowly look back up and begin to realize that all of the eyes around the table are focused and fixated on me. There's an equally amused look on almost everyone's faces while they lightly chuckle and indulge in the fact that I've been seemingly caught red-handed.

  "Is there something wrong, Noah? You seem rather uninterested in our conversation today. You usually have the most to say. Are we, perhaps, boring you?" the older gentleman who cleared his throat earlier cheekily grins and then laughs. His curt yet casual remark forces everybody else who is seated around us to uncomfortably shift in place -- but that's just the way Adam Cohen is. Always blunt and straight to the point without the bullshit pleasantries.

  I quickly shove the phone back into my pocket while shaking my head with a smile. "No, Adam, that's not it. It's just that it's my kid's birthday today, and she's wondering where I am because I promised her that we would go to the zoo together."

  "That's right! You have a daughter," Adam says with a loud cough as he almost chokes in the middle of swallowing down his gulp of wine. He wipes his mouth and furrows his brow. "What was her name again? Taylor? Taylor, right? How old is she turning today? It feels like it's been ages since I last saw her."

  "Yeah, it's definitely been a while. She'll be turning 7 today."

  "Wow, 7?" His eyes widen and bulge with surprise. "I still remember the day that she was in diapers and giving Elizabeth a hell of a time. God, kids just grow up so fast these days, don't they? Before you know it, she'll be introducing you to her first boyfriend and then telling you she's getting married!" he heartily chortles.

  A terrible sinking feeling emerges from my stomach as I reluctantly smile in response to Adam's nonchalant statement. Even though his comment was clearly meant in jest, I can't quite find the same enthusiasm to laugh and joke alongside with him. Frankly, the thought of Taylor growing up and heading into adulthood scares me, especially since Chase's smug face keeps appearing in my head for some odd reason when I think about her stepping into the dating scene. I don't know what I would do if she brought home a man like that to introduce to me. I'm already getting chills from imagining it.

  Maybe I'm just going a little crazy without Elizabeth's wisdom and guidance in the frightening world of parenting, but I can't help but think that it would be better if Taylor just never grew up at all.

  I'd be okay with her staying as my innocent little girl, the same little girl who eagerly greets me at the front door every night without fail. The precious little girl who sees me as her hero.

  Adam gently slaps his hand against my thigh. "You should go, Noah. Don't keep her waiting. She's not going to be a kid forever, so you might as well cherish these days while you still have them," he smiles.

  Resounding agreement spreads across the table as everyone else nods their head in consensus. I loosely hang my head in defeat and let out a tiny laugh. Seeing and hearing their approval for my hasty departure gives me the green light to get up from my seat, but not before finishing the last red drop in my wineglass. I swiftly down the remaining liquid content in my glass and send my brief goodbyes and farewells to the company seated around the table.

  My speedy footsteps naturally guide me back to the entrance of the restaurant where I anxiously wait for my driver to pick me up. Knowing Taylor, it won't be long before she starts to give Cassie a hard time about my whereabouts. I shove my hand into my pocket to retrieve my phone which I immediately use to make a phone call.

  "Hello? Mr. Bishop?" The sound of Cassie's sweet and distinctive voice softly tickles my ear and tugs at my heart. I feel at ease when she speaks into my ear, her dulcet tones filling me up with an overwhelming sensation of joy.

  "Hey, Cassie. Tell Taylor that I'm on my way now," I respond as I take a glance at my watch for the time. "I'll probably arrive there before noon, so I hope you can keep her busy until then."

  "Okay, I can definitely do that. Easy. We'll see you soon then."

  "Yeah, I'll see you guys there. Bye."

  "Bye!"

  A low yet steady breath of delight slips out from my lips as the phone call ends. It seems that even when I'm not standing directly in front of Cassie and gazing into her dark brown eyes, my body still manages to strongly react to the mere tone of her voice. It's almost like there's a sense of warmth flowing through my chest when I hear her speak. I don't know when this feeling exactly started to happen to me, but I can tell that it's a strange phenomena -- an odd occurrence that has me questioning its origination and validity.

  Surely, this budding feeling within me is none other than the feeling of love, an emotion that continues to follow and haunt me even though I've done everything within my power to deny its existence and to prevent its growth. I've felt it before when it happened with Elizabeth -- the constant butterflies, the restless anticipation, the floating joy, everything. I know the feeling well enough to realize that I'm still attracted to Cassie in spite of the cold manner in which I've been pushing her away from me.

  The immense relief that I felt settling across my chest when I heard that Chase wasn't Cassie's boyfriend but her brother instead can't be a sensation that is faked or forced. That brief feeling of serenity and satisfaction was real, and so was the tender affection that I felt when I watched Cassie intimately braid Taylor's hair as though they were more than just two people bound by a contract. I can't ignore the unusual sight of Taylor getting along with someone who's basically an outsider. The rare incident just makes me even more intrigued and interested in the person who has managed to capture my daughter's scarce affection.

  But in truth, my curiosity and fascination in Cassie stems from way before she became Taylor's nanny. In fact, she probably caught my eye that night she stood in front of me with that narrowed look of disdain in her eyes. After that fateful night and moment of frustration, I could never completely forget about the way she held her ground against me with her small yet fiery spirit. Her tenacious will and energy clearly struck a chord with me, a lasting impression that heavily lingers within me to this day.

  And despite the devastating weight and pull of my feelings for her which continuously grow with each brand new day that we spend together, I stubbornly continue to ignore its call. I adamantly disregard the way my heart warms and tightens when I see her secretly pursing her lips into a pout because she doesn't think I notice her distaste for my comments and rules. I turn away from the fact that her lively expressions and gentle relationship with Taylor puts an earnest smile on my face. It seems like no matter how much I try to pretend like the fondness isn't there, the truth simply resurfaces with an even stronger impact than before.

  A weak and pathetic scoff leaves me as I helplessly wallow in my pitiful situation. I didn't think a grown man like myself would ever have to deal with trivial matters in regards to love again, especially at my age where I've experienced more than enough romance to know all of the ins and outs of it. But it's also because of that same experience that I know there will come a time whe
n I won't be able to hold back the crashing wave of my passion. Strong feelings like these don't just go away like that.

  This affection I hold toward Cassie is more than a simple crush.

  I loosely grit my teeth and lower my head in defeat while the car slowly pulls up to the curb. As much as I would like to keep on actively avoiding the inevitable encounters between us, there's no stopping time. Life moves on, and eventually, I'll have to face both her and my feelings whether or not I want to do it. Yet even in spite of the overwhelming resistance I hold toward the forced interactions that I have with her, I still feel a small, stirring sense of excitement when I think about meeting her face to face. That sincere eagerness and anticipation is an experience that I can't hide or lie to myself about.

  I want to see her.

  ***

  The neatly-wrapped present sits in the palm of my hand as I quickly make my way over to Taylor and Cassie's location which happens to be all the way on the other side of the zoo. I slightly loosen my tie to get more comfortable while I take a breather to look at the large map on display which is planted in the middle of the crossroad. Normally, I wouldn't be feeling the sweat dripping down my back because there would be a small designated vehicle provided by the organizers to drive me around the zoo, but Taylor specifically requested that there be no special treatment this year for her birthday. No bodyguards or crazy levels of security, and no buying out the entire park for the whole day. She wants a regular birthday so that she can feel like a regular kid for the day.

  So I oblige Taylor's request to the best of my abilities by allowing a certain amount of profiled and background-checked guests to enter into the zoo alongside with her. There's enough people in attendance to make it feel like a normal day at the zoo, but not enough of a crowd to form a huge line in front of the displays and exhibits which would make the experience unenjoyable for her. And after walking through the zoo myself, I must admit that I wholly agree with her sentiment. Even I find the light and ambient noise from everyone's casual conversations a bit soothing as I stroll through the park.

  I look over to my left and to my right where I can't help but notice the smiling families and the affectionate couples happily enjoying the sights and the sunny weather. Seeing the peaceful atmosphere and scenery spreads a warm glow of joy across my chest. The pleasant mood and vibes influences me to quicken my pace so that I can look like one of those laughing and smiling families as well. My footsteps hurry along the paved road and through the sparse crowd of people until I see a sign that tells me that the exhibit for the lions is straight to my left.

  Taylor and Cassie are waiting for me somewhere around that exhibit area, but it shouldn't be too difficult to find them. After all, I have a strange feeling that Taylor might notice me first before I even see her. She has an odd way of consistently predicting and sensing my arrivals and appearances which I assume to be due to her years of experience waiting for me. However, it seems to be a victory for me as I walk through the animal displays and catch sight of the large red bow that's tied into Taylor's hair. Any lingering doubts that I have about Taylor's identity are erased when I see the young girl playfully pulling a woman around who happens to struggle and trail behind her -- Cassie.

  A big, wide smirk forms across my lips as I watch the girl and the nanny chat and marvel over the king of beasts prowling behind the enclosure. I can see Taylor's tiny face light up in sheer awe from the magnificent creature's ferocious appearance while Cassie kneels down next to her with a gentle smile. The ordinary scene is oddly heartwarming and touching to witness and observe, especially since their interaction is filled with pure laughter and giggles. If I wasn't aware of the true nature behind their relationship, I would definitely assume that they were related somehow. There's just something natural and special about their synergy when they're together, a synergy which might even eventually surpass the one that I share with Taylor.

  But I'm not afraid of that possibility happening. I actually welcome it.

  Both Taylor and Cassie continue to remain captivated by the majestic beast while I quickly place the wrapped gift behind my back and start to close in on the distance between us. They have no idea that I'm already here, and I can't wait to see the look on the young girl's face when I show up with my birthday surprise. My legs move with an eager swiftness toward them, yet I'm suddenly forced to stop in my tracks when I see an unknown man approach the two of them.

  "Hey! Hey, miss!" the stranger speaks with a crooked grin on his face. The loud and informal greeting grabs their attention albeit with a bit of wariness. However, as soon as Taylor and Cassie turn toward him, the man points a small camera toward their faces while holding a voice recording object in his hand. "That's CEO Bishop's only daughter, Taylor, isn't it?" he asks with a smirk.

  The positive energy and spirit immediately drains from my body once I hear the stranger's question and realize his agenda. He's a reporter, a sleazy journalist looking to sully and ruin my reputation by intimidating the people who are closest to me. I can tell from one glance at his beady-eyed stare and unsettling grin that he's a stubborn leech who probably gets off on twisting the real story for a scoop that will fit his perfect narrative. Just watching the curious delight spread across his face as he sickeningly indulges in the growing fear within Taylor's gaze is enough to get my blood boiling.

  Luckily, Cassie seems to promptly recognize the situation in which she grabs Taylor by the hand and moves the girl behind her. She refuses to acknowledge and answer the reporter's intrusive inquiry, the pure disdain in her glowering expression the only reaction that is drawn out of her. Her fierce aura and will remains like a burning flame.

  "Hi there, Taylor," the reporter slyly smiles. His direct address and disturbing stare forces Taylor to hide even further behind Cassie's legs. Unable to receive any response from her, the man turns his attention toward Cassie instead. "So I'm guessing that makes you her nanny? But if you ask me, you look a little too young to be one. How old are you? 22? 24?"

  Cassie bites her lip in an effort to maintain her silence. Instead of confronting the journalist head on, she simply ignores him by talking to Taylor. "Come on, Taylor, let's go and look at the penguins. They should be on the other side," she suggests with a gentle tone.

  The nanny starts moving away with Taylor's hand in her grasp before she even hears the little girl's answer. It's clear that she's anxious to get away from him, but the persistent reporter follows them without hesitation. My legs automatically chase after them as if it were natural instinct.

  "I heard Noah Bishop tends to have relationships with a bunch of different women like it's a sport to him. There are stories that he has a lot of mistresses and illegitimate children whom he refuses to acknowledge as his own," the reporter states in a pushy yet confident tone of voice. His unpleasant gaze shifts and drops down to Taylor who stiffens up at the sight of his vulture-like eyes.

  "How does that make you feel knowing you might have a little brother or a sister out there, kid?" he snidely asks.

  Something instantly snaps within me as soon as I see the devastated expression on Taylor's face. She looks like she doesn't know what to believe, the fear in her eyes a heartbreaking scene to idly stand by and witness. I almost charge straight up to the pompous bastard out of pure rage to give him a piece of my mind when Cassie abruptly stops walking. The young woman turns around to look at him with straight daggers in her dark brown eyes.

  "Stop it. I know you're just doing this to try and get a comment out of us, so I will say this much. Mr. Bishop is a good man who loves his daughter and who treats the people who work under him with utmost concern and respect. If all you're trying to do is slander him, then please, leave us be," Cassie asserts with a heavy scowl.

  But the reporter just scoffs out loud as if she had said something funny and humorous. "Good man? Is that what you're calling him? He-"

  "Yes, a good man," Cassie interrupts in a stern voice as she shakes her head at him. "I might not know anythin
g about the nature of Noah Bishop's work or the people he chooses to romantically involve himself with, but I do know that he is a good person. Nothing you say can change my mind on that."

  My feet come to a sudden halt when I hear what Cassie has to say in my defense. The assurance and poise in her vocal declaration leaves both me and the journalist with the same exact stunned and speechless expression. Even when she's in the middle of being intimidated, she still manages to fight back without losing sight of her values. It's that precise stubborn and defiant look on her face which tends to make my heart beat a little faster. I find that rebellious attitude of hers unusually charming and attractive.

  Cassie keeps her grimace on the silent reporter while she intently stares him down. "I'm sure that you realize that this zoo is supposed to be closed for a private event, so if you don't want to get arrested for trespassing, I would suggest leaving right now. I don't want to call security on you. Don't make this a scene when it doesn't have to be one," she stresses with a grim tone.

  "Hah!" the reporter ominously laughs. Even though there's an obvious smirk on his lips, the expression displayed across his face is more annoyed than it is amused. "I have to say, Miss, you have a lot of nerve to go around threatening me when I'm just trying to have a friendly conversation with you. Besides, who is to say that I'm not one of these guests on the list?" he innocently smiles. "You sure you want to make a big scene on young Taylor's birthday?"

  A flash of hesitation and uncertainty appears in Cassie's eyes upon the calculated mention of Taylor's name. She quickly glances down at the frightened young girl who still has her small face hidden behind the back of her leg. I can see the confidence and strength gradually fading from the young woman's face, a look of defeat replacing the ferocity in her stare. But my feet naturally begin moving toward her, my gaze fixated on the shady and underhanded individual who has no remorse for his low course of actions.