Hailey's expression held her shock, just as Chase stared at her in surprise. She didn't mean it. It was just a reflex action. An automatic response to a kiss she wasn't expecting, wasn't even prepared for, and worst of all, from her boss who believed all the women he'd hired, had come to have sex with him.
She was different. Heck, she didn't even know him until today. He was attractive, no doubt. But he was rude, and quite off. Her shock expression had turned to fear, and then remorse when she met Chase's blazing gaze."I...I didn't mean it," she squeaked, stepping back in shock.Gosh Hailey, what have you done?!Why did she slap him? There were many ways to react to an unwanted kiss aside from slapping.Maybe she could have kicked him where the sun never shines.Worst, Hailey.Oh God! She was doomed.Fired Hailey, you're fired! She thought dejectedly."How dare you?" His voice was low, but the anger amplified it. His eyes shot hate lasers, and Hailey was beginning to melt."I'm sorry, I didn't know-- I didn't mean-- I'm sorry." she stuttered with visible fear.Chase couldn't believe the woman before him. No one had dared to lift a finger against him, not even his father, not even the women he'd fucked and dumped in the most humiliating ways, not even Natalie whom he'd been pressing all her buttons lately.No one!And yet this ordinary little nanny had the guts to not just raise her hands at him, but actually commenced to slap himThe impunity!He saw red, he felt like shaking her till she dangled like a ragdoll. She was lucky he didn't do a stupid thing as hitting a woman, or she'd be in coma by now. His cheeks stung at the remembrance of her slap. For a woman this size, she possessed quite a powerful energy.It still hurts."You're sorry? Woman, what the fuck is wrong with you?!” He spat in anger. Hailey flinched at the force he used in enunciating each word.Then she remembered if he hadn't kissed her in the first place, she wouldn't have slapped him. It was his action that prompted her reaction."You kissed me!" She accused"And, I regret it!" He retorted. "And what sane woman reacts to a kiss that way?""A sane woman who doesn't want to be kissed by a pompous asshole, just because he thinks he's so hot everyone wants him!" She retorted with same energyDid she just call her boss an asshole? At the realization, Hailey's eyes bulged. She quickly covered her mouth in shock.Chase was taken aback by her outburst. Not only did she slap him, but she proceeded to call him an asshole, a pompous one at that.What kind of woman was this?Was this a breath of fresh air?Naah, definitely not. It was in fact a nightmare in disguise."Asshole? Pompous?" He spelt the words as though they were the first time he'd heard them. He might be an asshole, heaven knows alot of women had called him that, amidst their misty eyes, or puffing eyes and running nose. But, he wasn't going to be labelled pompous. Not by anyone, talk less of someone who didn't know him."I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. But, that slap was some sort of defense. I mean, you just grabbed me, and kissed me. What did you expect me to do? Kiss you back?" Hailey seemed out of breath.Maybe, Chase thought. He expected her to respond to his kiss with fervour, then run against him invitingly, then make for his robe, and then beg him to take her to bed. That was what they all did. All of them.Only that, they wouldn't whack him with a frying pan first, deny their intentions, slap him after a kiss, and then call him a pompous asshole. What game was this woman playing?"Don't pretend you didn't want to." Chase stood his ground. She was like the others. He wouldn't think differently. She was like all the nannies he’d hired for Dawn, only that she came with an advanced technique. And he was going to find out."Never! I'm here for your daughter, and nothing else" Hailey asserted with a serious expression."Are you?" Chase drawled in a low tone. Hailey's brows arched at his question and tone."I am not like the others. I don't plan on sleeping with you," she said."Don't you?" Chase drawled again, this time he had taken purposeful steps towards her, and his breath was on her face, heavy and disturbing.Hailey met his gaze challengingly, she wasn't promiscuous and she intended to prove that. "I don't,” she said, and as though to make it more convincing she added, "you're not even my type."Something flashed in Chase's eyes. Something She couldn't fathom. Then she saw anger, then amusement, and then a smirk graced his features.What the hell was wrong with this man, she wondered."I could fire you this instant" He drawled again, still within that proximity. She was beginning to feel uncomfortably aware of him, and that wouldn't help her case.If Chase wanted any sign that she wanted to stay as badly as her words hit him, then he got it. Her brave front was beginning to falter, and dread flashed in her eyes, moistening their colour."I..." She began to say."You deserve to be fired," he interrupted her, the dread heightened "and I'm not one to deny people what they truly deserve," he added for effect.Hailey swallowed convulsively. She was doomed! Why didn't she control her wide mouth? She berated herself. Could things get any worse? She lost her job on the day of promotion because she dated a thieving, lying, asshole, and now she got another only to lose it because she couldn't keep shut."You shouldn't have kissed me," she heard herself say, fighting to maintain her pride and bravery. She wasn't the one who started it."Was that why you hit me with a pan?" His blue eyes held the question."I thought you were a burglar! I was only protecting your property, your child! I was doing my job!" And there was no wrong in that.She was just protecting his property. His child, Dawn."So you're here for Dawn?" He asked out of the blue."Yes." Hailey affirmed."What makes you think you'd last?" He asked again.Confused but happy for the change of topic, yet uncomfortable with the fact that he hadn't moved, she answered."Because I'm good with children.""Such confidence," Chase scoffed "I'd like to see how good you are with Dawn.""She's a nice kid," Hailey said for lack of what to say.Chase just smirked, and somehow, it reminded her of his daughter. Obviously, she inherited a lot from her father."Nice. But, I would like to know her opinion of you," he said, and then stepped away from her.Relief! Hailey almost sighed in relief, but checked herself immediately."You've got two weeks to make Hailey like you. Two weeks to prove you're actually here for my daughter, and that you're good with kids as you claim." He said."And if at the end of these two weeks, and my daughter thinks not, then I wouldn't hesitate to fire you. Is that understood?""Yes," was all Hailey could muster."Good. Now, get out!"By the time Hailey left the manor, it was quite late. She got home tired, and drained by the day's events, and not once did she not repeat the happenings in her head. She could not stop thinking about what Chase said and did.She boarded a taxi down to her apartment, and was still in thoughts till the car had come to a halt before her little apartment. Once she was inside the safety of her house, she undressed, took a quick shower and then microwaved some macaroni and cheese. She ate with a glass of milk, while she tried to catch up with the news.That was the only little distraction she had before her mind returned to thinking of Chase, his sassy daughter, Dawn and then the nice butler, Leo. Given, that house was a little drama of three different personalities in a blend. She had created quite the impression.Speaking of impressions, she had created a really bad impression on her first day. Considering Dawn was being a bit difficult, and her father, Chase had to be an asshole. And, sh
"Dawn!" Hailey called out, placing the ice cream plates on the bench, she went in search of Dawn. At first, she believed the girl was probably playing hide and seek somewhere. Maybe she was beginning to warm up to me, she thought.So she began combing through the park, searching for a certain dark haired six year old with emerald coloured eyes, dressed in a blue floral dress.For thirty good minutes, Hailey combed the entire park, alternating the sides and positions searching for Dawn. She bent, scrunched, and even crawled, moving amongst the playing kids hoping to see Dawn somewhere amongst the crowd of kids, yet the little girl was nowhere to be found.Alarmed by the turn of events, she began to ask the other kids, and adults who sat around if they'd seen a certain dark haired, Emerald green eyed six year old, dressed in a blue floral dress.Firstly, she walked towards a blonde lady who was struggling with fixing the shoelaces of her giggling son, who seemed happy with stressing his
Where the park was situated was a good distance from Denver's Headquarters in New York City. And since, Chase took his daughter almost everywhere; for walks, drives and several outings, the six year old was quite conversant with some parts of the city.Dawn had watched Hailey stroll away to get the ice cream, she'd waited for just the right opportunity to make Hailey look bad, so her father would have every cause to fire her.To her, Hailey was nothing but a Daddy stealer, just like Natalie, and every other nanny that they had hired. Hailey was happy when she requested chocolate flavour, and had gone to get the ice cream. Only that Dawn's favourite was actually mint, and the unsuspecting girl had left Dawn to carry out her mission.Quickly, she'd left the bench and ran all the way out of the park, and had headed straight to her father's office. By the time she got to the Office, she was breathless and her little legs shook at the strenuous exercise she had undergone.The security g
Hailey felt like dying.She was sure Chase would arrest her for not taking proper care of his daughter. They had searched all over the park again, and outside the streets, asking if anyone saw Dawn. But, it looks like the six year old just disappeared into thin air.No trace of her or anything."Shouldn't we go to the police station?" Ciara asked her friend at some point."And turn myself in?" Hailey questioned with tears filled eyes."What do you mean by turning yourself in? You're not a criminal," Ciara started in confusion."No, I'm not. But, it was my carelessness that caused her disappearance. If only I had stayed at home with her, then I would not be in this situation," She lamented.Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Hailey was a brave girl, and her friend could notice how she struggled to maintain her brave front."Hailey, it's not your fault Dawn went missing. You were only trying to be nice. If she had stayed put, then we wouldn't have been searching for her for close t
Hailey had spent a few more minutes to collect herself properly, before deciding to return to the mansion. Ciara had hailed a taxi, but just when she was about to enter, Hailey stopped her."Go home, Cee. You have done more than enough for me today," She said, touching her shoulder lightly."You can't just go alone. I would be there for moral support," Ciara reasoned."My boss will be more pissed if I brought you along. I think I should handle this on my own." Hailey said with some sort of resolve."But--are you sure?" Ciara pressed doubtfully "I could wait outside the building. I don't want you breaking down before your boss," her voice held concern, and Hailey's heart melted.Pulling her friend closer, she hugged her tightly. Ciara returned the hug patting her back reassuringly."I'm going to be fine. Now, you just go home, take a shower, eat and rest those legs," Hailey said with a small smile.Ciara nodded, fixing a little smile as Hailey detached from her then slid into the wait
"You're a whore!""A cheap slut!""Get the fuck out of my house before I call the security on you!""You're fired!"The angry outbursts of Chase rang in her head, repeating each word like a broken record. Maybe she was wrong in taking Dawn out after all. Maybe, she could have taken her to the ice cream stand instead. Maybe she could not have taken this job. She should have left on that first day."You are a cheap slut!" Something in her snapped at those words. Her only crime was taking a child he had spoiled out to have fun, and this was what she got in return?"I said get the fuck out of my --""Enough!" Hailey cut him short, her teary eyes now blazed in anger. She couldn't take any more insults from him, or anyone. He was just her boss, and even if her pay was a whooping sum of multiple zeros, she would not be reduced to nothing.On a normal day, she would not be subjected to this kind of job, boss or environment. She was a journalist for crying out loud, not some hobo, or a call gi
Chase stared at his little girl in a mix of shock, confusion and unbelief. He could not believe what she had just revealed. How had she even thought of such a thing? Why would she even think of such a crazy ploy?"I am really sorry, Daddy. Please forgive me" Her little voice had dragged him from his confused thoughts. He stared down at her. What was Dawn becoming?"Why did you?" He asked her just the same question Leo had asked earlier. Leo who at this point, stood at tone corner of the room, his hands folded before him."I'm sorry." Dawn said instead."No, I want you to tell me why you would lie against someone, and have them punished" Her father had insisted."I was scared" The little girl began slowly. Chase's brows curved in curiosity. He was literally confused at her reply. Leo shifted a little on his feet, what was little Dawn playing at? He queried inwardly."Scared of what?" Chase pressed."I do not want to lose you, Daddy. I do not want you to leave." She said softly, twisting
"You will have to apologize to Hailey for lying, Dawn" Chase said, fixing his knotted tie. He stood before the mirror in his large master bedroom that was doused in gold and wine colours, with magnificent artistic collections strewn in beautiful orientation across the room.The large bed made in pale gold with little feels of red wine colour splashed around. The bed was made just the moment he walked into the bathroom. The efficient staff had cleaned up before he came out.Dressed in a beautiful two piece dark suit that oozed elegant expense, he decided on leaving for work quite early today. He planned to eat breakfast with an old business associate of his father, and then meet a Spanish investor later. Then finish the unfinished business he had with Craig.Struggling not to soil his mood with that reminder, he stared at his daughter who perched at the foot of the bed, her green eyes uneasy. It was now a thing she came For him every morning, just before they went down for breakfast. O