"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 that too my furry bosses made me feel a bit uneasy.
Hollis must have sensed my hesitation, as he quickly reassured me, "Just for tonight, tomorrow I will have the spare room cleaned and furnished for you to use during your stay." He reposted, walking to his bedroom, with me following closely behind.
"How about I sleep in the living room tonight?" I said, feeling uneasy about sleeping on his bed.
Hollis smiled warmly and replied, "You're my guest, and I want you to be comfortable. Just for tonight, but tomorrow the spare room will be all ready for you. Don't worry about a thing." With that, he opened the door to his room, the room that is adored by him and his wife, their faces beaming with happiness. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the reminder of his loss. This man standing before me seems like a completely different person than he is in the photos, full of life and joy.
"Make yourself comfortable," he says as he walks in somewhere and gets out, holding spare clothes and a laptop in his hand. "See you in the morning for breakfast," he added with a smile before disappearing down the hallway.
I couldn't shake the feeling of unease as I settled into the room. I sat on bedside photos of his wife and him, wondering about the story behind their smiles; they both seemed so much in love.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for Hollis, who lost his love of life and is now alone with two children, all alone in the world.
It's ironic how people like me are caught in abusive relationships while others like Hollis lose their loved ones unexpectedly. Life can be so unpredictable and unfair at times.
I also feel sad for his wife; she seems so beautiful in those pictures, but she has to leave the world too soon, leaving behind a grieving husband and two young children. It's a reminder to cherish our loved ones while we have them, as we never know what tomorrow may bring.
I sighed as I shook my head in disbelief at the cruel hand of fate playing with our lives in such unexpected ways.
I need a shower to wash away the heaviness of these thoughts weighing on my mind. I scanned the room and saw a door and an entrance room that seemed to be a walk-in closet. My mouth popped in awe as I saw rows of neatly organized shoes, clothes, and accessories, all perfectly arranged on shelves and hangers.
The space was divided into two parts, female and male, with each section reflecting a different style and taste. Dresses, heels, and delicate jewelry adorned one side, while suits, ties, and polished shoes filled the other.
I moved my hand, touching one of the dresses, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers, and imagining myself wearing it to a fancy event. But I shook my head and remained myself; that was not mine to take.
These clothes must be Hollis's wife's, and I had no right to intrude on their personal belongings. Hollis must have kept them as a reminder of her, a way to keep her memory alive in his home. It was a touching gesture, and I felt a pang of sadness for his loss as I carefully stepped away from the delicate garments.
I walked out of the closet and closed the door behind me, feeling guilty for even considering trying on the clothes that were a souvenir of his late wife.
Forget the shower; I just want to sleep. I stare at the bed, and no matter what Hollis says, I feel wrong sleeping on his bed, but the bed seems so comfortable that I can't resist lying down for just a moment.
As I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine the woman who once wore those clothes, her presence lingering in the room. But as sleep overtook me, a warm scent of Colombo enveloped me, bringing a sense of comfort and peace.
But my peace was short-lived as I awoke to the sound of crying coming from the next room. I opened my eyes and got up from the bed, startled, and walked quickly towards the source of the sound, my heart pounding with concern.
It must be Max crying again, I thought to myself, hoping he was okay. As I entered the room, I saw him in his crib, tears streaming down his face.
"It's okay. Did you have a nightmare?" I picked him up and held him close, whispering soothing words to calm him down.
"Mama..." Max whispered, burying his face in my shoulder.
"Hailey..." I corrected him as I rocked him gently, feeling grateful for the chance to comfort my son in his time of need.
"Mama..." Max repeated, his voice barely audible. I smiled, knowing that no matter what he called me, I would always be there for him. As he calmed down and finally fell asleep in my arms, I felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over me as I put him in his crib, planting a kiss on his forehead before turning to leave.
"Max..." I stopped when I saw Hollis running inside the room with only his towel and his hair dripping wet from the shower. "What's going on?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"He is sleeping," I said softly, gesturing towards Max's crib. "I just had a bad dream, but he's okay now," I reassured Hollis before quietly leaving the room to let them both rest.
"But why do you like these?" I said, staring at Hollis's wet hair and toned physique, feeling a surge of desire wash over me. I couldn't help but stare at his wet body shining in low light, feeling a sudden rush of heat spread through my body. I quickly averted my gaze, trying to regain my composure before saying, "You should probably get dressed before you catch a cold."
"Sorry… I just took a shower to wake myself up," Hollis replied, grabbing a towel to dry off. "No problem, just be careful next time," I said with a smile, trying to hide my embarrassment as I tried to walk away from the tempting sight in front of me, but to my worst luck, I slipped on the water covering the floor, with my body falling on top of Hollis and our lips accidentally meeting in a brief, unexpected kiss.
“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.
"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