Alexander watched Violet eat her cereals with her mouth shaped into a pout. She was upset with him.
He had told her they would go watch the just released live action of the little mermaid at the cinema that weekend but he had something to go do at work. A client of his wanted to sign an important contract that day and he had to go or he would lose it.
He had done all he could to convince Mr. Kingston, the owner of Kings motors, to invest in his company. This was very important to him.
"Violet, come on look at me..." He signed to her while fixing his cuffs.
But she stubbornly kept her eyes peeled forward on the TV that currently showed Mickey Mouse.
He sat down beside her and signed, "I promise to take you out for ice cream tomorrow."
He hoped she would accept his peace offering. He really needed to get a new nanny for her. Her old nanny, Catherine, had resigned to go take care of her sick mother two weeks ago.
"Derek will take me out for ice cream." She signed back. Her fingers moved frantically, an indicator that she wasn't going to forgive him anytime soon.
Derek was his trusted bodyguard and chief of security. Alexander made him stay with Violet when he had to go.
Derek tried his best but he was a terrible cook and didn't know much about emotionally connecting with a girl child since he had three boys. That emotional connection was what Alexander looked for in a caretaker and he knew Nicole would have been perfect.
Most nights when Alexander couldn't stay, Violet had had to follow Derek home to his family and while it was fun for her, Alexander couldn't let it continue.
He sighed. Violet was a calm child but when she got mad, she got all grumpy and unforgiving. He couldn't blame her, she had been so excited about this movie.
He waited for a while but Derek wasn't showing up. He was about to call when he received a text message.
*Sorry boss, I can't babysit V anymore. My boy just came down with a cold but she can be brought over, my wife's sister is home.* the message read. It was Derek.
Alexander sighed deeply. This was the part he hated. He always felt like he kept inconveniencing that family.
He turned to Violet to tell her the news when his phone rang.
It was Nicole. Why would she be calling him? Except...
He picked it up quickly, "Alexander Roth speaking."
Her bold feminine voice filled his ear. He loved how she sounded and he couldn't help but wonder how she would sound in bed.
He shook his head. He was being ridiculous, she would never sleep with him. She hated him and had every right to.
"Hi. I called to ask for your home address. I decided to take you up on that job offer." She said.
Alexander couldn't be more relieved.
"Of course." He replied.
She hung up after and he gave Violet whose eyes were now fixed on him, a wide grin.
"Someone amazing is coming. You will love her." He signed to her.
She didn't sign back but she looked intrigued and that was all that mattered.
Nicole arrived at Alexander's mansion. His house was huge and very beautiful.
While its outside was magnificent, inside it was something out of a movie. The living room was painted a greyish colour and had a beautiful view of nature. It was designed to face a garden that had the most beautiful flowers and trees.
Nicole had always been a lover of nature.
A fireplace that looked like something from an ancient medieval movie was in place. His sofas looked very comfy and plush.
A beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling and beside it were smaller coloured lights. She had seen one of these before, they usually gave a space night kind of feeling with their dark mix of colours. She would like to see how it would be when it was dark - she knew she would love it.
The TV that displayed Mickey Mouse was very slim and looked very expensive. Outside, she had seen two cars; a Porsche and Ferrari at the wide parking space. This house looked like it cost a fortune and Nicole could swear this wasn't all of it.
As she looked at Alexander's kid who gave her a cheeky grin, she thought again if she was making the right decision.
She had come across Alexander's card in her bag days ago while she searched for an aspirin. She had searched her cabinet first but recalled that she had not replaced the finished cup yet. Irritated for not remembering to replace it, she then remembered she used to keep some tablets in her bag just in case her concurrent headache struck again.
She had almost zipped it up again with the resignation that she would look for another job but a part of her knew she needed this. She was already running out of cash.
While she could look for any other job, none would pay her a grand every week. The money aspect drew her in but then the little girl had tugged her heart strings when they first met at the hospital. Her face and the way she had grinned at her was the cutest thing she had ever seen.
Her love for children would certainly be the death of her.
The handsome black man that had escorted her in, gave Alexander who sat lovingly beside his kid, a slight bow.
Alexander was dressed in a dark blue suit. His hair was messy like he ran his hands through it a couple times.
"Thank you, Trevor." He said to him.
Trevor nodded and walked off.
Nicole was shocked that Alexander could thank anyone. She was left alone with her nemesis and his cute kid.
"You took your precious time getting here." He told her with a smirk.
Now, that was the asshole she knew.
"And I could take my precious time and leave." She snapped.
Alexander chuckled, "No need to get feisty. Thank you for coming, I really appreciate this."
He was so sincere that she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Hello." She shifted her gaze to Violet and signed.
Alexander looked at her in shock, "You know sign language?"
"Yeah. I learnt it in college." She replied.
Violet looked excited to see Nicole understood sign language.
"Are you my new nanny?" She signed.
Nicole smiled and signed, "Yes. We met at the hospital that day."
Violet nodded and signed back, "I remember you. You were so kind. Thank you for the chips."
Nicole could eat her up, she was so cute!
"You're welcome, honey." She signed back.
Alexander interrupted them with a cough. He looked very impressed.
Nicole could even see a smile tugging at his lips.
"Her former nanny understood sign language but only the basics. You're a pro." He stated.
She didn't know how to take his niceness. This was not the Alexander she was used to.
He took Violet's small hand in his and signed, "She will take care of you."
The little girl nodded excitedly.
He turned to Nicole, "I have to go to work, a client of mine is calling. Please, take care of my babygirl. I will break down everything to you when I get back but for now, food is in the kitchen. She loves her cereals and is allergic to eggs. By 2pm, she has to take her siesta."
She nodded as she brought out a notepad. She peeked a glance at the wall clock and it read 1pm.
"Little TV time, please. She needs to do her homework too."
She nodded as she wrote it all down.
"Thank you. I will be off." Alexander said hurriedly and with a small kiss to Violet's forehead, he walked away.
Nicole watched till he was out of sight.
She then turned to Violet who stared at her patiently.
"Shall we, sweetheart?" She signed.