"So help me build that bond with them," Hollis said with determination in his voice as he looked directly into my eyes. "Help me, please."
I sighed, feeling the weight of his request. I don't know what I can do for this guy when I have so many problems of my own to deal with.
Ben is after me; I don't have any money; I missed my flight and the job that was about to change my life; but here I am with billionaire Hollis, asking for my help.
Great! What a drama is unfolding in my life.
"Are you listening to me?" Hollis asked, his eyes searching mine for a response. "Ask me anything; I can give it to you, but help me connect with my children before it's too late," he pleaded.
"Anything," I whispered, feeling the weight of his words. Connecting a billionaire with his estranged children seemed like an impossible task, but I knew I had to try. This could be my chance to make a real difference in someone's life and change my life in the process.
"Just ask for cash, a house, cars, private jets, whatever you need," Hollis offered, desperation evident in his voice. "I don't need any of that," I replied firmly.
"Then what do you need?" he asked, confusion evident in his expression. "I need your time and effort to rebuild the relationship with your children," I said, determined to help him mend what was broken before it was too late.
"Can we talk somewhere comfortable?" I said this with my back aching from all the stress and tension in the situation.
Hollis nodded. "Come with me to my office; we can talk there in private." I followed him, hoping that this conversation would be the start of a new chapter in our relationship.
He opened the door to his office and gestured for me to take a seat. "Wow, this is a nice space you have here," I commented, trying to break the ice before diving into the difficult conversation ahead. Hollis smiled, appreciating the effort to lighten the mood before discussing such heavy topics.
I stare at the space filled with books and family photos, wondering what secrets and stories they hold within them. A large table in the middle of the room caught my eye, covered in papers and files that hinted at the work Hollis did behind closed doors. Hollis cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Let's get down to business."
I nodded my head, sitting on a chair and pulling out my own notebook to begin the meeting.
"Notebook..." Hollis raised his eyebrow. "What are you planning on taking notes?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I simply smiled and replied, "I like to be prepared for any surprises that may come up during our discussion." Hollis chuckled and nodded, signaling the start of our serious conversation. "And I always find it helpful to have a record of what was discussed."
Hollis stood before me, his heart towering over me as he leaned close to me, his face mere inches away from mine. "I like your style," he said with a grin before taking his seat across from me. "But we are discussing my children, not some mysterious business deal," he added, his tone softening slightly.
I nodded, staring at him intently, ready to delve into the topic at hand. "Of course, and children are far more important than any business deal. Let's make sure we cover everything thoroughly." Hollis laughed softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Agreed," he said, reaching for a pen and notebook. "Let's get started."
"I am not an expert, nor do I have children of my own, but I am here to help in any way I can," I replied, eager to assist him in his parenting journey. "Don't blame me if I may offer some unconventional advice," I added with a smile, ready to brainstorm ideas together.
Hollis chuckled, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he said, signaling the beginning of our productive discussion.
I asked, "Do you know how old Summer and Max are?" I asked. It was irrelevant, but I was curious.
"I am there, Father; of course I know," Hollis replied with a laugh. "Summer is 7, and Max is 10 months."
"Great, so do you know what they like to do for fun?" I inquired, hoping to tailor my suggestions to their interests. "Their favorite food or something they enjoy doing?" Hollis nodded, eager to share. "Summer loves arts and crafts, while Max can't get enough of playing with his toy cars."
I bite the pen in thought, jotting down notes to remember for future reference. "You know so much, then why is it hard to connect with them?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Hollis sighed. "After the death of their mother, they've been going through a tough time adjusting. It's been a struggle for all of us." Hollis said there was a hint of sadness in their voice. "Honestly, I was never a good dad; it was my wife who always knew how to connect with them. Now that she's gone, I'm just trying my best to fill her shoes."
I stare at him, realizing the weight of his words and the burden he must be carrying. It's clear that he's doing his best in a difficult situation, and I feel a sense of empathy towards him. "You miss her too, don't you?" I ask gently, hoping to offer some comfort in his time of need.
Hollis looked at me, his face stern yet vulnerable. " I do," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "She was the glue that held us all together. It's been hard without her."
"She is lucky to have someone like you to love her," I say softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Hollis nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thank you," he murmurs, his eyes reflecting gratitude and sadness.
Not everyone is lucky enough to find love like that in their lifetime. I thought in my mind, reminiscing about my time with Ben, the man who had once made me feel the same way. But his love is more of an obsession than a blessing, consuming me in ways I never thought possible.
I shook my head, pushing those memories aside as I focused on being there for Hollis in his time of need. "You know what your wife will always be with you—in your heart and your memories," I say softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You are going to be a wonderful father, and I will help you every step of the way," I said, offering him a reassuring smile.
"So you agree to be my nanny?" He asked with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Not yours, but your child's," I replied with a chuckle. "I'll be there for both of you."
"Thank you... for everything," Hollis said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"Don't thank me, because I need you to do one thing for me in return," I said, my tone serious.
"What do you need from me?" Hollis asked, his expression now serious as well. "I can't tell you yet, but when the time comes, I hope you'll be willing to help me," I said cryptically, a hint of mystery in my voice. "I will do anything for you," Hollis responded, determination in his eyes. "Just say the word."
I stare at his unwavering gaze, feeling a sense of reassurance in his words. I just hope he can protect me from Ben if things go south. I don't know if I could count on Hollis, but the thought of Ben's potential reaction still lingered in the back of my mind. I had to trust that Hollis would come through for me when the time came. "I will when the time is right."
"I will when the time is right," I said, staring at Hollis, who nodded his head in response, understanding the weight of my words.An awkward silence surrounds us as we finish our conversation, both lost in our own thoughts. The tension in the air was palpable, making it clear that there was much left unsaid between us.A yawn escaped from my lips, breaking the heavy atmosphere as my eyes got heavy from exhaustion. Today was filled with odd surprises and unexpected emotions, leaving me drained and in need of rest."It's getting late; you should go to sleep," Hollis suggested, breaking the silence.I nodded my head but lingered a moment longer. "Where should I sleep tonight?" I asked, suddenly unsure of where I belonged in this unfamiliar place.Hollis smiled warmly. "You can take my bed. I will be sleeping in the living room ." I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me at his kindness, feeling a sense of comfort in this moment of vulnerability.But sleeping on a completely strange bed t
“How much more do I have to suffer?” I cried alone in the airport bathroom as tears started streaming from my eyes. In just a week, my life took a drastic turn. I don’t know if I’m the same person that I was a week ago. How much worse have things gotten in my life? As an orphan, I only ever wished for one thing: a family of my own, but now that one wish seems impossible to fulfill. I had always believed that life couldn't possibly get any harder, but recent events shattered that belief. But my bad decisions had led me to this point, and now I had to face the consequences. I knew deep down that I had to find the strength within myself to overcome this adversity and rebuild my life, even if it meant starting from scratch. From today, everything will be different—a new start. That is all I want in my life. A fresh start in a new place, a new me. My phone rings in my pocket, distracting me from my thoughts. I looked at the caller ID and wanted to crash my head on the wall. ‘Him...
"Who the hell are you?" The man shouted, holding Max in his arms and pulling Summer away from me. Staring at me in anger. "And how dare you brainwash my kids against me?" All my senses went numb at the sudden interruption of the man standing in front of me. His eyes burned with fury as he clutched Max tightly, and his voice was filled with a mix of desperation and rage. Who the hell is he, and why the hell is he shouting at me? I thought as I looked at both Max and Summer struggling to get out of his grasp. I could see the fear in Max and Summer's eyes, their innocence tainted by the tension in the air. "Leave me alone..." Summer cried, trying to get away from the man, her voice trembling with fear. The man's grip tightened, his anger escalating as he ignored her pleas. I could feel my heart racing and adrenaline coursing through my veins as I desperately searched for a way to intervene and protect them from this unknown threat. "Shut up, and why the hell are you here alone?" He
“You can’t leave,” he said, pulling me along with him out of the airport. My heart raced as his grip tightened, and I struggled to break free. “What the fuck?” I creaked, trying to free myself from his grasp. “Let me go." My mind raced with fear and confusion as I desperately searched for an escape route. “I said you can’t leave,” I shouted again, trying to push him away, but this man was as stiff as a giant brick wall. He doesn’t move an inch. I realized that I was trapped in his grasp. “Come with me." He said he was pulling him along with him outside the airport. “What do you want?" I questioned him as he pushed me inside a giant, expensive car. My heart pounded in my chest as the car door slammed shut, leaving me feeling even more trapped. The man's cold, calculating eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and I knew that whatever he wanted, it wouldn't be easy to escape. "Now, are you talking?" I said, my voice trembling with fear. The man's devilish smile only grew wider, s
“I need you to take care of my kids,” he said, pausing for a bit. “I want you to work as a live-in nanny for my kids.” I went silent for a minute after listening to his words. “Are you crazy or not?" I couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and disbelief at his request. The thought of being responsible for someone else's children on a live-in basis seemed overwhelming and daunting. He shook his head at my words. “I’m just stating the facts. I want you to take care of my kids, and for that, I can pay any amount you wish.” I sighed loudly, trying to calm my mind. “For the last time, I didn’t care about money. You are a piece of sh*t, and I don’t want to work for you.” Hollis smiled while listening to my words. “Why don’t you care about money? Are you that rich?" I chuckled at his assumption. Rich, and me... What a joke! “I’m anything but rich." “Then you are a fool to let go of such a great deal," he said, his eyes not leaving mine. "Maybe..." I replied with a hint of sad
I don’t know how many minutes, seconds, or hours have passed since I lost consciousness, but I couldn't make myself open my eyes; my head is starting to throb badly, and I can feel a dull ache spreading throughout my entire body. The darkness surrounding me feels suffocating, making it even more difficult to gather the strength to regain consciousness. I also heard random voices from around: “She seems to be sleep-deprived and also malnourished. Other than that, there doesn't seem to be any problem with her.” The voices seemed distant, as if they were discussing my condition from afar. “Is there anything I need to take care of?" I heard someone say something, but I couldn’t make out who the person was. “Nothing much; just feed her some healthy food, fruits, and vegetables, and let her get enough sleep. She will be fine.” The other voice said reassuringly. As the conversation continued, my mind lost consciousness again as I was lulled into deep slumber once again, unaware of the dis
“If you wanna know that, follow me.” He stepped out of the room. God... I hate him. But still decided to follow him. Walking behind him, we reached the kitchen, where I see Summer having her supper sitting on the kitchen stool by the kitchen counter. “Hailey….,” she shouted, jumping out of the stool and wrapping her arms around my waist. “Are you fine now…,” She might be worried about me. God, this is the first someone cared about how I am. “I’m fine…how are you?” I said with a smile, ruffling her hair playfully. “I’m happy that you’re fine…,” she said, staring at my face. “Are you now going to stay with us? Right?” “Well….,” I don’t know how to answer her question. “Summer…you should finish eating your food first.” Hollis interrupted, saving me from answering the unknown question. “Okay Daddy..,” she said, returning to eat her food. “Sit…” Hollis said this time to me, as he pointed his finger to a stool next to Summer. “Okay…,” I sat beside Summer, as Hollis walked to the m
“I won’t force you if you don’t want to work here, but I will do anything in my power to change your mind,” he said, then paused. “Not because I want you, but because my kids want you." I sighed, shaking away the unnecessary thoughts from my mind. I understood the weight of his words and realized that my decision would not only impact my future but also the lives of his children. Why the hell, Hollis' words kept repeating in my mind. The same scene kept repeating in my mind. The image of his pleading eyes and the sound of his desperate voice echoed in my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else. I knew that I couldn't ignore the significance of this opportunity and the potential impact it could have on all of our lives. No, why should I care? It's none of my business. But deep down, I couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility that weighed heavily on me. The thought of turning my back on Hollis and his children felt like abandoning them in their time of need.