"Come with us! Princess Jasmine!!" I hear Arielle chirping from behind like an animated bird.The next thing I know, I feel her collide against my back nearly toppling me down the stairs. I let out a shriek and grasp the banister railing."Arielle!" Rachael's horrified expression replaces with solid fury as she reaches out for her and me. "Get down from her at once!""No!" Arielle giggles, struggling she winds her arms around my neck from the back. This gesture almost pulls apart my hijab."It's fine" I laugh sheepishly as I try to secure my hijab in place with one hand while I grasp Arielle's tiny arms with the other. "She can piggyback ride me, I don't mind.""See! So leave me alone!" Arielle snaps at her mother and she tightens her arms around my neck.Rachael narrows her eyes at her daughter. "Watch your mouth young lady!""No!"I feel mildly awkward with this display between the two of them so I admonish Arielle gently "Princess Arielle, is that how princesses talk to their mommie
Abruptly the front door of the townhouse opens and the two guards strut forward toward us. "Miss Rachael, the situation is under control now, we've extinguished the fire!" The one named Harry states proudly."I need a word with you George! In private at once!" Rachael snaps at the other who promptly looks surprised at her severe expression. She hands Harry her car keys. "Harry please escort miss Kashani and the children to my car and have them wait there till I return."He ushers us ahead to an expensive navy blue jeep. I peer curiously over my shoulders at the retreating backs of Rachael and George disappearing into the townhouse.I slip into the back passenger seats with the children despite Harry's insistence that I sit in the front. I couldn't abandon them in the back, the kids came across as major mischief-makers in need of consistent surveillance.Within five minutes, we see Rachel returning with a grim expression set about her face. She yanks open the driver's seat of the vehicl
HAZEL -Coz Louis tol me it's a secret""Who's Louis?" I question.He gasps in shock over his revelation, planting his cute little hands over his mouth. I apprise Rachael with the detail. "He mentioned someone named Louis?""Charlie honey, tell mummy who is Louis?" She asks."He's a clown!" Charlie chirps happily. "He does tricks! He's my friend!"Rachael creases her brows in contemplation. "Likely one of his imaginary friends. He has a ton of them. I often find him talking to the air and it worries me."For some odd reason, I have a dubious feeling about this. But before I could interject with any further opinion on the matter, Rachael announces "We're here! Let's forget about what occurred and get some lunch!" ---Just like the luxurious exterior, the interior of the Italian restaurant appears very upscale and trendy. An immaculately dressed waiter leads us to a table for five since there aren't any left to seat four customers.Currently, my stomach is killing me from the lack of fo
"I'm paying you for it, seventy dollars an hour!" Rachael beams and with persuasive ease she continues. "The food, travel, vacation, etc expenses are on me since we would be traveling everywhere together anyway."" w-what ?!" I sputter in astonishment. "Miss Rachael you're being more than generous, I-I can't accept that you pay for the rest of my expenses. If that is to be the case then I might as well be a nanny without the seventy-an-hour charge!""Refer to me as Rachael, and please I insist you accept some money for your work...My children are not easy to deal with, so many nannies have quit-" Her voice cracks.My Curiosity getting the best of me, I ask. "How exactly do they behave around others besides me and umm.. your brother ?"She leans in very close to me with a concerned expression and whispers "It's terrifying, I can't describe right now in their presence. Trust me on my words, they aren't easy to deal with. As much as I love them more than my own life, they drive me insane!
HAZEL -A sudden dread creeps goosebumps upon my skin. I'm unable to avert my gaze away from his aristocratic visage.My feet have rooted themselves to the spot as if my shoes were nailed in with a hammer, refusing to allow me a quick escape."You dare defy me?" His frigid tone furls around my neck "Blatant negligence of my warning.."It feels as if his voice alone is enough to choke me.With difficulty, I swallow the lump forming in my throat. Noticing my throat bob in a frightened gulp, his eyes glimmer dangerously and he takes a menacing step down closer.Unknowingly my feet decide to obey me, finally taking slow steps down backward while my hand grips the banister rail.But he only moves along. Following me, looming above closer, forebodingly."Warning?" The shrill sound of Rachael's voice pierces the suddenly suffocating atmosphere.His attention snaps towards her behind me. Gradually, his lips press into a thin line of agitation.I tear my gaze away from him cautiously to peer be
Rachael whirls around in rage. "You dare threaten to snatch my children from me!?"There is a very brief glint of amusement in Vladimir's eyes as he merely shrugs his broad shoulders. A slight knowing smirk almost tugs at the corner of his lips before it vanishes in less than a fraction of a second.He cups her chin with his free hand and gravely looks her in the eyes before answering firmly yet softly "I'd never dare threaten my older sister. Consider it a heartfelt warning since those children are one of the dearests to my heart."With that, he leans down and plants a soft kiss on her forehead. Rachael's lips set into a thin line as she stares at him with a mixture of helplessness, exasperation, and anger."Uncle Vladddy!!! I'm so happy we are going to the theme park!!"I whirl around to spot Arielle dashing down the steps excitedly, behind her an austere-looking Huxley carrying Charlie in one arm.As soon as Huxley's eyes land on mine, he sets Charlie down on to his feet and promptl
She raises a confused brow and I explain to her. "Oh! MashaAllah is Arabic for God has willed it, and we say that so God protects the person from the evil eye.""Oh, thank you" she offers a wistful smile and her gaze adjusts to the portrait. "God wills it huh? Well, God willed my parents to depart this world..."Momentarily, I stare at her dumbfounded before what she says registers in my brain. "Oh my God, you mean they have passed away?"She nods slowly. "Not long after this picture was taken.""I'm truly sorry for your loss." I apologize earnestly. Before I could prevent myself, I ask. "What happened to them?"Her throat bobs as she gulps, and a melancholic glint appears in her eyes. She adjusts her gaze on me, that wistful smile lingering on her face, and answers. "Don't mind dear, but I prefer we not discuss that.""I'm so sorry!" I face-palm myself. "That was so very rude of me.""No need to apologize, you did no wrong in asking." She reaches out and gives my upper arm a gentle re
HAZEL -The third photo is of him in his early twenties surfing a giant menacing wave in the ocean on his silver He's dressed in a sleek silver surf garb-eyes narrowed in a very focused expression.The fourth photo is a collage of three pictures, in which the first one shows him clad in carpenter clothes, hammering a large nail onto wooden planks.The second shows what appears to be a half-complete frame of a manor with dozens of men on ladders working. The last of the collage photo is of the grand manor fully completed with him and the men standing in front of it, facing the camera.He's got his toned, sturdy arms crossed over his broad chest. There is a streak of soot on his cheeks, a stubble sweeps his chiseled jaw. while a triumphant ghost of a smirk plays at his otherwise austere facial expression.His eyes gleam in smugness and all I can think is how rawly masculine and commanding he appears."That's the family manor! He's designed it, overlooked it, and built it along the crew h