by Linda Verji
"Aren't you?"
"What would I feel guilty about?"
Josiah was silent for a moment, then he said softly, "Jeanine."
The irritation circling inside Damián turned to anger at the mention of that woman. Feeling suddenly hot around the collar, he snapped, "Don't."
"You're feeling guilty because of your history with Jeanine and Zoe," Josiah persisted on, unfazed by the sharp glare Damián shot at him. "And trying to make it up to your daughter by letting her get away with stuff."
"Just shut it." Damián scowled. "If I need an analysis of my past I'll go to a therapist."
"Maybe you should go to a therapist. But since we both know that your stubborn ass won't do it, I guess I'm stuck with the thankless job of trying to drum some sense into your hard head." Josiah leaned forward to set his arm on the desk between them. "The way I see it, you feel like Zoe went through a lot of shit when she was younger. She got hurt, and you don't want her hurt anymore. Any good father would feel the same way. The problem is that you equate disciplining her with hurting her. And they're not the same thing."
"Jesus." Damián closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Was there a way to shut Josiah up?
Apparently not. Josiah continued, "By not disciplining her, all you're doing is setting her up for future hurt and failure. When Zoe ends up stealing because she can't get what she wants by throwing a tantrum, do you think the judge will reduce her sentence because of her boohoo story? News flash: he won't give a fuck. Do you think companies will care about her past when she's applying for jobs but failed so many classes her papers have more holes than a sieve? No, they won't. Or maybe you're planning to hire her-"
Damián tried to imagine a scenario where Zoe was his employee and shuddered. She'd probably never turn up at the office - and still expect to be paid; failure to which she'd cause a scene. Hell. No.
"That's what I thought." Josiah leaned back in his seat. "Best case scenario you're grooming your daughter to be a trust fund baby who'll run through all her money by the time she's thirty. She'll then end up the harpy, lazy wife of millionaire who'll leave her broke and destitute the moment he finds a younger model. Worst case scenario? Big Tanisha's bitch at Julia Tutwiler for shoplifting or something worse. Or maybe she could make it as an escort - I hear that's where all the pretty girls with Daddy issues and no job-skills go for therapy. Zoe's pretty, right?"
"Don't talk about my daughter like that," Damián growled. However, Josiah's words were beginning to sink in.
"Look, I know it's hard to discipline these kids and set them on the right path. Especially when they're experts in using the puppy-dog, teary eyes on you…" Josiah's eyes glazed over as if he was recalling his own daughter's manipulation tactics.
Despite himself, Damián chuckled. "Don't I know it."
Josiah shook his head. "… but you've got to do it or others will. And they won't be half as kind."
Long after his friend left, Damián ruminated over his words. He'd never really thought of the future consequences of his daughter's behavior. Or perhaps he just didn't want to because it was too depressing. As hard as it was to admit it, Josiah was right. He was shortchanging Zoe by not giving her the life skills she needed get along with other people as well as earn the things she wanted instead of demand them. It was time to change his game plan.
He needed to, as Josiah had eloquently put it, 'man the fuck up'.
DAMIÁN WAS ON Aiko's mind.
She was seriously considering voiding their contract. When her primary task was to be the mother of his child, having sex with him hadn't seemed as big a deal; it was just the icing on the cake. Though that part of their contract had pricked her conscience at least she could still lie to herself that it wasn't the real reason he'd hired her. But now, given that she'd made zero progress with Zoe, it was painfully clear that she was just taking a salary for sleeping with Damián. The sex was now the cake.
In essence, she was just a well paid, stay-in escort.
And it wasn't what she'd signed up for.
Furthermore, she wasn't a fan of her boss. Yes, she was sexually attracted to him, but apparently sexual attraction and liking someone weren't synonymous. It was possible to dislike someone yet still have your breath hitch whenever you so much as thought of them. She knew because it was exactly how she felt about Damián.
Why didn't she like him? Where to start. He expected her to do her job yet refused to provide the necessary support? He listened and agreed to her ideas then threw them out when she wasn't looking. When he wasn't treating Aiko like his whore, he was letting his daughter treat her like dirt. Damián Colter was the very definition of hostile work environment and she wanted to quit him.
She'd spent last night running through her options. What else could she do that could earn her as much money as he was paying her? This morning she'd already come up with a written plan to start dating classes under the Heart Connections brand. In fact, she'd even found a location for the classes. But it would take some time for the classes to pick up and earn enough to pay the mortgage - time she didn't have.
Before she'd accepted Damián's offers, she'd sent feelers out to see what part-time, immediate-income jobs she could get. The best offer had come from one of her army buddies. He owned a security firm that catered to the rich and famous, and was looking for employees with military or law-enforcement backgrounds. It was an interesting offer but accepting it would mean working nights thus having no time with Seraphina. The pay was also not that great; actually it wasn't enough to even cater for their monthly mortgage payment let alone their dad's medical needs.
Her choices looked limited for now. But surely there was something she could do to escape Damián and his daughter yet still keeping her parents' home.
"Aiko," Femi broke into her thoughts. "Do you have anything to ask Howard?"
"What?" Aiko sat up with a start, only now noticing that Femi and the nurse they were interviewing were staring at her expectantly. "No. No. Not really. I think I like everything he's said."
Femi turned to the man. "Thank you for your interest in the position, Howard. We’ll get back to you soon."
"Thank you for the opportunity," the young man said before he stood and left.
"What's up with you?" Femi asked as soon as they were alone in Aiko's office.
"Nothing."Aiko shuffled the papers on her desk and rearranged them. "Why do you ask?"
"You've been distracted through all the interviews we've done." Femi stared at her. "Spill it."
"Seriously, it's nothing," Aiko hedged.
Femi set her notepad on Aiko's desk, sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest. "Spill it."
Aiko knew that pose and the look in her sister's eye. It meant Femi wasn't letting this go until she got some answers. Aiko weighed her response then carefully said, "To be honest, I'm thinking of quitting my position as Zoe's nanny."
Femi blinked. Then blinked again. Her tone deadly calm - like a dark cloud threatening a thunderstorm, she asked, "You mean you're thinking of quitting the position that is paying you ten thousand dollars? The job that is paying our mortgage? The job that will allow us to pay one of these nurses we're interviewing?"
That tone made Aiko's hackles rise, and she said defensively, "I'll make sure I have something else before I quit."
Femi stared at her for so long she started to squirm. Surprisingly Femi's next words weren't a scathing attack. Instead, she asked, "Why do you want to quit?"
Aiko shrugged. "I'm supposed to be taking care of Zoe, but she and I are constantly knocking heads."
"Why?" Femi's brow wrinkled. "You're easy to get along with, and kids like you."
"It's complicated - Zoe's complicated." Careful not to mention the real nature of her relationship with Damián, Aiko explained the discipline problems Zoe had, her attempts to discipline the child and how Damián had been sabotaging her efforts.
"Your problem isn't Zoe," Femi said. "Frankly, the question is
n't why is she behaving as she is. It's why should she? She's a twelve year-old with no mother an absentee father who refuses to discipline her and access to too much money."
"Don't forget that she's also got a whole team of people waiting on her hand and foot," Aiko added.
"Exactly." Femi pointed out, "Why shouldn't she be a pain in the neck? There is literally no upside to her changing her behavior. If she's nicer, Damián will likely be able to say no to her. But when she throws her tantrums, he's hopping up and down racing to get her whatever she's screaming for. Naughty pays off. Nice? Not so much."
Having never thought of the situation in that way, Aiko nodded slowly. "That's true."
"She's got a sweet scam running, then you walk into their house, an interloper, trying to change the status quo? Thinking you can discipline her?" Femi snorted. "Girl, sit down. Take several seats. Heck, take the whole pew. Ain't nobody got time for that."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Aiko's voice rose with her frustration. "Just let her run wild?"
"Yup! Let her do her thing until her father figures out that he's the problem." Femi slapped her palm on the desk. "He's the one who broke her and he should be the one to fix her. How can he expect you to be the disciplinarian in his house? Nonsense. Is he missing some screws?"
Aiko felt like pumping her fist in victory. Finally, someone who understood her pain.
"In fact I don't even know why you made those rules," her sister ranted on. "That should be his and Zoe's job. He should be the one to lay down the law, and the one to discipline her if she doesn't obey them. Your job is to be the monitor, counselor and listening ear. You're the one Zoe should come to when she wants to whine about her father or boys. The one who helps her with her homework and reminds her of what he'll do if she doesn't follow the rules. Definitely not the whip-wielder."
Aiko smiled. "Can I just carry you in my purse so you can repeat those exact words to Damián?"
Femi whipped her phone from her pocket. "Give me his number."
"I was just kidding. Put away that thing." Aiko laughed. "You'll make him fire me, and you know we can't afford that, at least not yet."
"You're right." Femi kissed her teeth. "But that man gets on my nerves."
"You and me both."Aiko heaved a sigh. "I wish there was some way to get him to understand all of this."
"Well…" Femi inclined her head and stared downwards. "… despite everything, Damián sounds like a smart guy."
"He doesn't act like it," Aiko snorted.
"The guy is an aerospace engineer. He can't be all that dumb." Femi chuckled. "I'm guessing that deep inside he already knows all this; he just needs someone to prod him so he can stop being such a wuss. And that someone could be you. Are you willing to go another round with him?"
Aiko didn't really feel like having another blow up with Damián. But there was Zoe to think about. So she nodded. "If I have to."
"Okay. First thing you need to do is stop the silent treatment."
"Wha- What?" Aiko stumbled over her words. She hadn't told her sister that part.
"Girl, I know you." Femi laughed. "I bet you have been treating that man like he has an infectious disease that can be transmitted through talking."
"No, I haven't," Aiko protested, her voice high-pitched.
"Mm. Lies," Femi dismissed the protest. "Talk to the man. I'd say wait until you're both calm then approach him. He'll probably be defensive at first, even say some hurtful things. But don't go attacking him about how bad a father he is or how spoilt his daughter is. I know how lethal you can be when someone comes at you."
Aiko chuckled. "Look who's talking."
"It's the Vaughn curse." Femi returned with a smile. "But for this to work you need to put away your guns. Try to keep calm and keep the conversation focused on how you can both make Zoe better not on the mistakes of the past. If you're non-combative and sincere in your desire to help, and allow him to come up with a solution to the situation instead of forcing your ideas down his throat, he might listen."
"Listening isn't so much the problem," Aiko said. "It's that he'll listen and agree, but not follow through."
"Then that's on him." Femi suggested, "Do your part, be friendly with Zoe, ask her if she needs help. If there are rules and she breaks them, report it to Damián. What he does with your report is his business."
It sounded like a good plan. Aiko nodded. "I hope that works."
"I hope so too." Femi added, "Just try not to get fired."
CHAPTER 16
The talk with Femi was just the encouragement Aiko needed to give Damián and Zoe a second chance. However, this time she was going in with a major change in attitude and behavior.
She would encourage change, not force it.
If Damián was interested in becoming Zoe's father and not her sponsor, then Aiko would do everything to support him. But if he was unwilling to change, she wouldn't try to usurp his place. Like any other member of his staff, she'd stand back and watch Zoe burn down the house down until he took control. Damián and Zoe were the players in this game, and Aiko was just a cheerleader. This time she planned to stay in her lane.
With this in mind, Aiko arrived home later that afternoon intending to end the cold war between her and Damián, and have a serious talk with him. She was in Seraphina's room picking out her daughter's outfit for the next day when she heard the whirr of the gates opening and a car whizzing into the property.
Aiko pushed back the drapes to peek outside and saw Damián stepping out of his car. He was home? This early on a weekday? Maybe he was here to get something then leave. Hoping to catch him before he left, she quickly set the pants she was holding on the bed and made for the door. She'd just crossed the hallway when she heard him coming up the stairs. She stopped at the landing waiting for him.
As soon as Damián saw her, his steps slowed. They stared at each other for a long moment. Facing him, she suddenly felt anxious. What if he reacted to the talk as hostilely as he usually did? What if he said something hurtful? Would she be able to handle it without taking it personally? Would she be able to hold her temper? So far, neither of them had the best track record in conflict resolution.
"Hi." He broke the pregnant silence.
"Hi," she returned. Even to her own ears, her voice sounded weak as she started, "I wanted to-"
"I was just-" he started at the same time. They both stopped speaking, then he said, "You first."
"I wanted to talk to you," she said. Then added on a rush, "If it’s not a bother."
"No, it's not. I actually need to talk to you too." His dark eyes watched her. "Do you want to do it in your room, or do you prefer my study?" As if realizing the double entendre in his words, he smiled bashfully and ran his fingers through his hair, tousling the thick waves, as he quickly corrected, "Talk. I meant do you want to talk in your room or my study."
He was being surprisingly agreeable. Usually, whenever they needed to talk, she was the one pushing it and he was the reluctant one. Now, he was the one coming in search of her? Was she witnessing a miracle or was this the precursor to her getting fired? Although she'd toyed with quitting this morning, her stomach lurched nervously at the thought of being fired.
Somehow she managed to keep her voice steady as she said, "My room is fine."
She led the way, supremely aware of his footsteps behind her and the heat of his gaze on her back. The moment they got to her room, she paced to settee and sat down. Damián lowered himself to her bed. He glanced at her, and for a fleeting instant she thought he looked… lost.
His voice was low as he started, "First I'd like to apologize." When she gave him a questioning look, he clarified, "For what happened the other night."
Instantly understanding what he meant by 'the other night', her stomach muscles clenched.
Looking at his hands, he said, "I shouldn't have forced you to have sex with me."
Her voice was so taut, she was afraid it would break, she said mechanically, "You didn't forc
e me. Sex is part of our contract, and you don't have to ask my permission when you want it."
"I know it’s in the contract but I don't-" His brow furrowed as if he was searching for the right words to express himself. "It shouldn't be like that between us."
Then what should it be like? she wanted to ask. But she didn't because she was too afraid of the answer. If he said that sex between them should be about mutual desire rather than duty, then that would give their relationship a different meaning - a meaning she wasn't sure she wanted to explore.
There was genuine remorse in his eyes when his gaze met hers. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
What was she to say but, "Okay."
"I also thought about what you said," he continued, "about my sabotaging you. You were right. I should've been supporting you, not undermining you."
Woah there! Her eyes widened with shock. What in the world had happened to create such a drastic change in his attitude?
"I know." Damián gave her a rueful smile. "I haven't made your job any easier."
"No, you haven't," she said slowly.
"I want to change that." His expression somber, he added, "I want us to discuss those rules again. This time I'll support you when you enforce them."
She stared at him, still trying to wrap her head around the unexpected direction the conversation had taken. She'd thought that she'd have to fight tooth and nail, maybe even plead with him to get him to this point. Instead he was coming to her. He was suggesting that they discuss the rules. Unbelievable. Yet, Damián looked as serious as a judge on the bench and he seemed genuinely contrite.
Aiko took a deep breath then said, "Actually, it would be better if you and Zoe made the rules this time." When he opened his mouth as if to protest, she rushed in quickly, "You're her dad - not me; the one who's been with her most of her life and provides for her. I'm just the nanny and I have no hold over her whatsoever. She's more likely to listen to you than to me. And this won't work unless you make rules and enforce them."
His keen eyes watched her for a long moment before he nodded. "That makes sense. But you don't mind if I cheat off your playbook, do you?"
