by Linda Verji
His dark eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Men in your position aren't exactly known for their self-control when it comes to women."
"Men in my position? Wealthy men?" he questioned. When she nodded, he chuckled, "I assure you, Aiko, I'm perfectly controlled. Perfectly."
The way he smiled as he drawled out the words had her insides tightening as if he'd just offered to show her just how controlled he was, right here, right now, on his desk. She swallowed then cleared her throat. "Good for you. But I'd like it spelled out in the contract that in case of such an eventuality I can walk out - with a full year's pay. The same terms apply if you end our arrangement prematurely."
"What if you're the one who walks out?" he asked.
"I won't," she returned confidently. She had too much to lose. But she offered, "But if I do, I'll be on the hook for a year's pay. Fair's fair."
Damián studied her but he didn't say anything.
"What?"
He shrugged. "Now I get why you managed to get Heart Connections in the black so fast."
On the inside Aiko preened, flattered by the compliment. On the outside, she was a rock. "Does that work for you?" When he inclined his head in a curt nod, she said, "Good. Then I'll get my blood tests done this afternoon and send them to you. When do I start?"
"Tonight."
She shook her head. "Too early. I still have to sort out a few things."
"Saturday?"
"Saturday." She nodded in approval. "How will we introduce me to Zoe?"
He opened his mouth but no words came. It was obvious he hadn't thought that part of his plan through.
"I suggest we just tell her that I'm her new nanny," Aiko proposed. "Once we're sure that we're really doing this, we can tell her that we've fallen in love. I'm sure you want to maintain the illusion of a real marriage to her."
At least that's what she intended to do for Seraphina. Despite the intentions behind her actions, Aiko didn't want her daughter ever learning that she'd practically sold herself. If she was getting into this marriage she was going to put all her effort into faking real love.
"I do." Damián nodded.
"How long do you see this arrangement lasting?"
"A minimum of six years, until Zoe turns eighteen. After that…" He shrugged. "For as long as we can stand each other."
Six years wasn't that long, she consoled herself. She had t-shirts older than that. She could survive that, couldn't she? She offered Damián a sidelong glance. Was he always going to be so arrogant, so methodical… so Damián? Or were there other secrets of his personality she hadn't yet discovered? Her mama had always told her that men were like shoes; the prettier they were, the more pain they were likely to cause. Without a doubt, Damián was the personification of pretty.
But no, theirs was a business agreement. There was no room for pain.
Six years only.
Aiko's lips widened in a smile. "We have a deal."
"We have a deal." He met her outstretched hand across the desk. "I'll have my lawyer to draw up the contract and send it to you by tomorrow."
The handshake should've been impersonal instead a jolt of electric awareness passed between them
It's nothing, Aiko mentally berated her senses. This was a business arrangement.
SHE BROKE THE news to her daughter later that night.
"Are we going with Mookie?" Seraphina stared up at her mother from the bathtub, her expression hopeful.
"No."Aiko shook her head as she cupped some water in her palms and then poured it over Seraphina's soapy shoulder.
"And Jayceon?"
"No."
"And Will?"
"No."
"And Cara?"
"No."
"And Auntie Femi and Uncle Lewis?"
"No."
"And Papi?"
"It's just going to be us, baby." Seraphina's face fell in disappointment at the answer. In a bid to hide her own melancholy, Aiko smiled. "But you're going to make a new friend. Her name is Zoe."
The four year-old shook her head. "I don't want a new friend. I want to stay with Mookie."
"But don't you want to go on an adventure with Mommy?" Aiko asked as she rinsed off the rest soapy water from Seraphina's body. Standing her up in the tub and grabbing a colorful Little Mermaid towel from the rail, she wrapped it around the little girl's shoulders. "And you're going to like Zoe very much."
"Are you sure?" Seraphina asked doubtfully.
It was the same questions Femi had asked when Aiko had told her that she'd taken on an extra job as a nanny. In truth Aiko wasn't sure about that. Damián hadn't told her much about Zoe beyond the fact that she was twelve. But going by her own nephews and niece, she wasn't expecting anything she couldn't handle.
Aiko was both relieved and disappointed that Femi hadn't questioned her more about her new job. She was relieved because she didn't want anyone to know the true details of her and Damián's arrangement. Her family was a big believer in true love. Were they not, their parent wouldn't have named all their daughters after some version of love. They would never approve of this business transaction.
Her disappointment was due to the fact that neither of her sisters had tried to find out more about her new 'job'. Beyond asking what she was being paid, how far her new employers' house was and whether she'd interviewed any potential nurses, Femi had just nodded.
Kalila had shown more concern over Aiko's ability to juggle the business and nannying Zoe. But she, like Femi, was just relieved to have a solution to their money problems and hadn't asked too many questions. Neither of them had even asked about who she was working for. Aiko supposed it was to be expected considering they were all the ' you do what you've got to do' type, but she couldn't help feeling unappreciated.
"Will I still see Mookie at school?" Seraphina asked as Aiko tucked her into bed.
"Of course." Aiko was keen on making their transition as easy as possible for Seraphina. "We'll still go to church with everyone and every Sunday we'll come back for dinner."
"Really?" The hopeful note back in little girl's voice as her face peeked over the covers.
"Mm hmm." Aiko reassured as she bent to press a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Really."
Seraphina's expression was pensive for a moment before she nodded. "Okay."
Smiling slightly, Aiko bent to kiss her again. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too, Mommy."
"You ready to pray now?"
Seraphina nodded and Aiko guided, "I close my eyes, I put my hands together…"
Once they were done with the night prayers, Aiko lowered the strength of the lamp's light, plunging the room into a soft orange glow. After making sure the door to their studio apartment was locked, she went to take her own shower. By the time she came back, Seraphina was deep asleep. She couldn't help sitting beside the little girl and just staring at her.
Watching her daughter was like tasting the bitter-sweet past. Though Aiko still kept in touch with Lincoln’s mother, Brenda, Seraphina was her last real connection with Lincoln. Seraphina looked so much like her father that it hurt to look at her sometimes. She had Lincoln's lips and Aiko's nose; his slightly darker complexion and Aiko's eyes. Together they'd made a beautiful baby, a fitting cap to the beautiful love they'd shared. Tears gathered at the back of Aiko's throat as she stroked her daughter's face.
Lincoln would've hated what she was doing now. He'd always said that if he died he wanted her to find someone better than him. She'd returned with the idea there was no one better than him. But he would also have understood. After all honor, sacrifice and repaying debts had been as much a part of his DNA as he'd said she was. If it wasn't for her parents she never would've lived through his loss or to raise their daughter. This was her way of paying them back. Resolute in her path, Aiko changed into a night-slip and got into her own bed.
Saturday morning she woke up to the sound of the boys oohs and aahs coming from outside.
"Ooh,"
"Look at those rims," Will called out.
"Forget the rims," Jayceon returned. "Check out the inside."
Aiko padded over to the window, her eyes automatically lowering to see what was going on down there. Her gaze fell on the black Cadillac parked in front of the house, a heavy-set, caramel-skinned, smartly dressed man standing by it.
She didn't even need to ask whose it was.
CHAPTER 5
What was she supposed to do with a luxury sedan? Aiko mused as she weaved her way through the winding roads that led to Damián's house. Her Taurus may be fifteen years-old and not so pretty, but it could haul luggage with the best of them. She'd sent the chauffeur and the Cadillac on their way with the assurance that she was quite capable of getting herself safely to her new home. Instinct told her that the Cadillac was more a show of Damián's desperation that it was of his etiquette. He wanted to make sure she wasn't going to back out.
If only he knew how desperate she was.
"Mommy, are we there yet?" Seraphina called out from the back.
"Just a few more minutes, baby," Aiko said, pulling up in front of the large gates marking the start of the gated community.
A guard made his way towards her car. "Ma'am, who are you here to see?"
"Damián Colter," she answered. "I'm Aiko Vaughn."
After making a call to ensure that she was expected, he let her through. The community was everything she expected it to be.
Money. Money. Money.
Well-tended roads bordered white concrete walkways and perfectly manicured lawns. Mansions of varying designs but equal lavishness peeked from behind high gates. Her beat-up Taurus was a stark contrast to the glossy, centerfold worthy vehicles that cruised past them. The few residents she saw strolling along the walkways were dressed casually but even they bore a distinctly affluent air.
Aiko glanced at her phone to check the directions Damián had sent her. Second house on the third turn to the left. She took the left turn and a few minutes later she came to a stop in front of a mesh metal gate with chimney towers. Even before she could hoot, a uniformed guard emerged from the guard-house beside the gate. He exited through the pedestrian gate and came to a stop by her car.
He peered into the car. "Yes?"
"I'm expected," she said. "Aiko Vaughn."
"Oh, yes." The guard nodded before dashing back into the property. Soon enough, the double gates slid back smoothly to reveal the house behind it. House was an understatement. Her parents place was a house. This… this structure was beyond puny words like house.
The majestic mansion stood tall in the distance flanked by impeccably landscaped gardens, white concrete pathways and an open garage with three cars. The middle section of the mansion was a long window broken by double doors and two-story wings sprawled out several feet on either side of it. Gray roof-tiles glinted above the mansion and light bounced off the bay windows lining its wings. Each window was framed in white and set into the thick, beige, brick-stone walls.
"Wow. It's huge." Seraphina's shocked response mimicked her mother's shock.
"It is," Aiko agreed, slowing down as they neared the forecourt and drinking in the fountain right at its center. She circled the fountain to park in front of the open garage.
"We're going to live here?" Seraphina asked as she stared goggle-eyed at their new residence.
"Yup." Aiko unbuckled her daughter from the car seat.
"Really?" Seraphina clambered out of the car to follow her mother to the back of the car. "Can I invite Mookie to see it?"
"We'll see," Aiko said distractedly, her attention drawn to the short, slender, man in dungarees and gardening boots who was hurrying towards them.
His sun-tanned, age-lined face creased in a smile as he drew closer. "Hello."
"Hello." Aiko greeted back with a smile.
"You must be Aiko." The gentleman held out his hand. "We were told to expect you. I'm William."
"It's nice to meet you, William." Aiko accepted his callused and very, vigorous handshake. Just then the mansion's white double doors opened and a short, chubby woman uniformed in a black dress with white trims emerged.
"And that is my wife, Gertie," William introduced as the woman hurried toward them. "She's the housekeeper here while I manage the property's upkeep."
"Aiko."Gertie's chubby cheeks dimpled in a smile as she neared them. "I'm so happy you're finally here. We were afraid you'd gotten lost when Virgil didn't come back with you."
"No. We didn't get lost." Aiko stuck out her hand. "It was surprisingly easy to find- oh." She uttered the startled cry when instead of taking her hand, Gertie pulled her into a quick but quite tight hug.
"Wonderful. Wonderful." Gertie stepped back from the impromptu hug to turn her beaming smile towards Seraphina. "And who is this pretty little one? Hello?"
Seraphina who was often reticent in the presence of strangers huddled against Aiko, clinging onto her dress and staring at Gertie with wide-eyed anxiety.
"Say hello to Mrs. Gertie," Aiko urged.
"Aw, you can call me Aunt Gertie, sweetie," Gertie cooed.
"Hello, Aunt Gertie." Seraphina mumbled in a low voice before tucking her face into her mother's thigh.
With a chuckle, Aiko lifted the little girl and set her on one hip. She introduced, "This is my daughter, Seraphina. She's a little shy."
"What a beautiful name. I'm sure once she gets to know me-" Gertie stopped talking to turn toward her husband. "William, why are you just standing there? Their bags."
"Their bags?" William scratched his salt and pepper hair in obvious confusion.
"Their bags."Gertie motioned with her mouth towards the popped trunk.
"Oh. Oh. Right." William hurriedly opened the trunk to follow his wife's instructions. Unfortunately, the bags were too heavy for one person. Aiko tried to help but before she could William had already mobilized assistance from his under-gardener, Joe.
"Mr. Damián told me that you're Zoe's new nanny," Gertie said as they followed William and Joe to the front door. "Have you had any experience dealing with teenagers?"
Aiko started in surprise. "I thought she was twelve."
"She is." Gertie added, "A very mature twelve. But you'll see."
Gertie probably didn't intend it but her words seemed to have an ominous ring to them. Or maybe Aiko was just imagining it. Maybe she meant that Zoe was wiser than her age. Aiko certainly hoped so. It would make her work a whole lot easier.
"I have nephews who are around the same age so I'm sure I'll be able to handle Zoe," Aiko said, more for herself than for the housekeeper.
"I'm sure you will." Gertie nodded, even as her gaze skittered nervously away from Aiko's.
Aiko's stomach knotted in anxiety as suspicion crowded into her thoughts. What exactly was she up for? Maybe she should've asked for more information about Zoe before committing to this deal.
Her nervousness fused with hunger and wonder the moment they stepped into the house. Hunger because of the delicious scent of cooking food that immediately hit her senses. Wonder because, like its exterior, the house's interior was magnificent.
The grand foyer was a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship. Aiko took a half-turn as she absorbed the voluminous space; its wall-papered walls, landscape paintings hardwood floors, sweeping staircase and skylight ceiling. Beautiful!
"Rawr. Rawr. Rawr." The sound of barking broke into Aiko's impressed observance of the house and a pint-sized, white Maltese raced into the foyer.
" Queenie, sit," Gertie ordered just as a group of people walked into the foyer through a door to the right; two white women and a black woman, all under thirty and in black uniforms like Gertie. The three women were closely followed by a tall, wiry, dreadlocked man in a chef's coat.
"These are our members of staff. Emily, Nana and Lizzie help me in the house." Gertie introduced the three women then turned to the man. "And this is our chef, Major."
Even as she greeted them, Aiko internally shook
her head. Damián lived here with only his daughter, right? And they had how many people taking care of them? So far she'd met eight people, and who knew how many more were tucked in the luxurious house. But still; Eight? Too much. She hoped that all this wealth hadn't gotten to Zoe's head. Speaking of…
"Is Zoe around?" Aiko asked as Gertie led the way up the stairs and Queenie trotted beside them, tail wagging excitedly.
"Yes. She's still sleeping though," Gertie said. "You'll get to meet her later."
Still sleeping? Aiko glanced at her watch to confirm that it was indeed past midday. Was Zoe sick? Probably not, judging by Gertie's unconcerned and boisterous chatter as she waved for Aiko to follow her past the small living room that made up the landing.
"Mr. Damián's room is on that wing." Gertie pointed to the right side of the landing where a hallway with several doors stretched. She turned to the left where another hallway awaited along with a fresh set of rooms. "You, Seraphina and Zoe are on this wing." The housekeeper motioned to a firmly closed door. "That's Zoe's room."
Aiko noted how far it was from Damián's room but didn't ask why.
The older woman opened a door directly opposite Zoe's and walked in. "And this is your room."
Of course it was divine! What else could one expect after seeing the rest of the house? Large, airy and decorated in a mix of white and green; the room was a vision. Aiko and Seraphina's bags were standing beside the wrought iron bed waiting to be unpacked.
Aiko peered out the sliding doors to realize that her terrace overlooked a gunite swimming pool and even more manicured gardens. "This is beautiful."
"It is, isn't it?" Gertie glanced appreciatively around the room. "Used to be the Master Suite but Mr. Damián - well, you know about that." Her gaze shifted to the two doors to the left of the room. "That's the en-suite and the other door's the walk-in closet."
"Very nice," Aiko acknowledged.
The housekeeper turned her attention to Seraphina. "Do you want me to show you your room?"
A shy nod from the little girl later and they were exiting Aiko's room and crossing the hallway into the room next to Zoe's. Though half the size of Aiko's, Seraphina's room was just as beautiful. They'd gone all out, decorating the room in shades of pink and white, and filling it with fairy-tale inspired furniture and toys.
