"Now i finally know where you were two nights ago but that's not a problem. Hello Miss Irene Noris, I'm Ivory and i guess you're my nanny" Ivory said,climbing down from the stairs with her glossy brown hair bouncing and Irene could swear she fell in love with the girl immediately.
"Yes I'm your nanny" Irene smiled at the little girl.
She's naturally in love with kids..
But what Harold just said sound unbelievable to her ears.
"He has been celibate for five years!
Has he been divorced with ivory's mother for so long?
He and his daughter must have had a hard time" Irene thought pitifully.
She's beginning to think the man has no ulterior motive but again,who just select a whore as his daughter's nanny and he's not just any man.
A billionaire!
Billionaires always want the best for their families and she's nowhere near the best and he knows that.
She doesn't even have the experience.
"You almost got on my dad's nerves" Ivory said, interrupting Irene's thoughts.
"Hu..h?" Irene raised a brow up and glanced at Harold whose expression was unreadable.
"Please try not to get on his nerves, you won't find it funny when he get totally angry" Ivory said.
"Ohh.. okay" Irene said,amazed at the little girl's smartness.
"So, I'm Ivory Marshall and you are?" Ivory said, making an attempt at introduction.
She always sees her father do that whenever she goes with him to his companies.
Harold smiled knowingly at his daughter who winked back at him.
Irene who watched the exchange admired the daughter and father's bond.
She remembered the days she was also very close to father, they would stay together all night thinking of new designs,most times she'd sleep off without completing her designs and her father would complete it and show it to her the next morning.
Some days, they'll both laugh over her ugly drawings.
Irene put an end to the memories knowing how emotional she could be.
She breathed in and finally replied Ivory.
"I'm Irene Noris, your new nanny"
"You look beautiful and...natural" Ivory said.
"Thank you. You look beautiful too" Irene smiled.
"But i hope you're nothing like Betty" Ivory said worriedly.
"Betty?" Irene asked, confused.
"I'll fill you in on that later" Harold said.
"Ohh..okay" Irene said, wondering who Betty could be and why the little girl could wear such worried look while mentioning her name.
"Ivory,you can return to the library" Harold said.
"With Irene right?" Ivory asked expectantly.
"No. She's to resume tomorrow" Harold said.
"Huh?" Irene and Ivory chorused coincidentally.
"Yeah" Harold nodded.
"But why?" Ivory pouted.
"Ivory, you know she has to go through your rules booklet" Harold said.
"Ohh" Ivory sighed.
" But she can do that now" Ivory persisted.
"No and I've not even discussed with her yet" Harold said.
"You've not discussed with her yet? How come she's here as my new nanny?" Ivory asked.
"I mean I've not discussed the pay with her yet" Harold said.
"Ohh" Ivory said, slowly retreating to the stairs .
"Bye Irene and i hope you don't back off after reading my rules booklet" Ivory said before disappearing up the stairs, leaving Irene to wonder.
Harold cleared his throat noticing Irene's confused state.
"What does she mean?" Irene asked.
"Come with me" He said and noticed her hesitation .
"I'm not going to kill you" He added, a little pissed.
"I never said that" Irene said.
Harold didn't respond,he walked on leaving her to follow him or not.
He's so pissed that she doesn't even have an iota of trust for him.
Maybe he shouldn't have stretched out a helping hand to her but he can't just leave her after knowing such a thing!
He turned to see if she's following him and Irene who was staring at his broad back quickly switched her gaze to her feet.
Harold finally led her to the garden where they could have a peaceful discussion without interruption.
Irene stood really amazed.
Every part of the house looks like it's made of gold.
How can a garden be this beautiful?
"Oh..my... Are those beautiful butterflies real" Irene thought.
She was still taking in the splendor of the garden when Harold pointed to the iron bench.
"Sit" He said and she did.
"You have a beautiful garden" Irene said.
"Thanks" Harold said.
This is his personal place,he enjoys the serene.
"Ivory has her rules booklet, you'll receive it before you leave"
"Ohh...what then did she mean by..." Irene was saying.
"Ivory rules are kind of ... Well, you'll know after you go through her booklet. Most applicant find her rules too difficult to follow so they quit before they even start" Harold said.
"Really?"
"Yeah".
"She made the rules herself?" Irene asked.
"Of course and it's a must follow and that's why i want you to go through it before you resume"
"Ohh okay, so who's Betty?" Irene asked.
"Ivory's nanny. I fired her recently"
"Why?"
"I never knew she was so mean to my daughter, she acts all nice and pleasant whenever I'm around. I never knew she was a snake. She made Ivory cry so many times" Harold explained,still pained by the incidence.
"Really!" Irene exclaimed.
"Yeah but i already put her behind bars. She even hit Ivory once and threatened to do more if she ever tell me"
"Oh..my! Who would do that to a little girl, she deserves more than that" Irene said, frowning.
"It's my fault for not been observant, i was always busy with work and all. If i hadn't caught her yelling at Ivory that night,then my daughter will still be in that devil's hands" Harold said.
"But Ivory seems smart, she should have told you when it all started"
"Betty threatened to take her father far away from her if she ever voice out and Ivory can't do away without me,even for a week. I take her with me on business trips most time.
"Wow" Irene said aloud.
"Yeah"
"But why did you choose me to be your daughter's nanny after the Betty's incidence,you should have gone for someone you could trust with your daughter."
"I feel i can trust you with Ivory"
"Why? You don't even know me! What if i turn out to be like Betty" Irene said.
"I know you can't. I trust you that much" Harold said still impressed with the smile that had lit up her face when she saw Ivory.
"You shouldn't trust someone you don't know at all" Irene said.
"Let's leave that aside and discuss your pay"
"Okay"
"There's an official payment for nannies" Harold said.
"Okay"
"You'll be paid one million weekly which amounts to thirty million monthly" Harold said.
He had lied, that's not the official payment for nannies, he does not pay them as much as that.
But he knows the money will go a long way in Irene's life.
Irene who looked dumbfounded for a moment finally spoke up.
"What!" She screamed.
"What?" Harold asked, he had expected that expression.
"Is it little?" He teased.
"That's way too much" Irene said,still surprised.
"Thirty million monthly!
For a nanny?
That's half of her stepmum's surgery money!" Irene's inner mind screamed.
"Is that really the amount you pay?" Irene asked.
"Yes and it's fixed, it can't be changed" Harold said.
"How do you... never mind" Irene said.
She had wanted to ask how he copes with the payment forgetting he's a billionaire and a philanthropist.
"I think that'll be the end of our conversation. You're to resume tomorrow" Harold said and Irene nodded.
"You'll be given the rules booklet once you get to the living room" Harold added, getting on his feet.
Irene wasted no time in standing up too.
"I guess you can find your way back to the living room" Harold said.
"Of course" Irene said.
"Okay bye" Harold said walking far into the garden.
Irene shrugged and started walking back in the same direction Harold led her in.
She gazed admiringly at the garden once more before finally leaving.
Her mind was so occupied that she didn't even knew when she go to the edge of a passageway.
There were two doors and she stood wondering which was the door to the living room.
"Irene you deserve some heavy whip!" She said biting her owe lip.
She had been staring at his broad back all the way to the garden and now she's lost in the middle of two doors .
How could she not even know which door.
Is she that dumb?
Or distracted.
She sighed and made to turn the knob of the door on her left.
"That's the door to my room" Harold suddenly said, startling the hell out of Irene.
She breathed in and out before turning to face him.
"You said you knew the way back to the living room" Harold said.
"Well..it got confusing" Irene said, embarrassed.
How long has he been behind her?
He must have been entertained by her stupidity" Irene thought, almost cursing at herself.
"You can use the door on your right " Harold said and walked into his room.
"Thank you" Irene murmured and hoped he heard through the thick door.
___🍂
"Thirty million?" Damien asked in disbelief.
"Yes,i was shocked"
"Oh..my..God! That's half of mum's surgery bill" Damien blinked rapidly.
"Yes!" Irene exclaimed in smiles.
"Why didn't you start immediately" Damien said and Irene laughed.
"I wanted to but im to resume after going through the little girl's rules booklet"
"Rules booklet?" Damien asked..
"Yeah, it's right here in my bag" Irene said searching her bag.
She brought out the little book.
"The girl made the rules herself?" Damien asked.
"Of course and the little girl said she wish i won't back off after reading her rules booklet"
"Really? Are her rules that hard to keep?" Damien wondered aloud.
"Everyone has rules but you know rich kids rules are far different, they set their rules with some kind of level, but i know i won't find the rules difficult" Irene said.
"Does she appear like a spoilt girl?" Damien asked.
"Not at all, She's so smart and a bit of a talkative, i really like her" Irene smiled.
"You like all kids" Damien stated.
"Yes" Irene said.
"There were more of those guys that came to pick me in the morning?"
"Really?" Damien laughed.
"Yeah, the workers in the house are quite much but the mansion is wide enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
The living room alone is wider than our entire compound" Irene said, chewing on the cheese she got on the way.
"Wow!" Damien said interestingly.
"I hope the man was nice to you?" He asked.
"Yes he was and i think he's less creepy today" Irene said and they both laughed.
"Is his behavior different from other billionares?" Damien asked, raising a brow up.
"Totally! He's humble. Can you believe he told me not to bow to him. Something most wealthy people want"
"I knew i didn't made a bad choice in choosing that man as my role model. I admire everything about him and the fact that he's a philanthropist made me admire him more." Damien said.
"But you never told me about him" Irene said.
"Really? I do mention him,to mum though" Damien said.
"Ohh" Irene said, slapping his hand off her cheese.
"Sis!" Damien whined.
"Bro!" Irene mimicked.
"Fine! No one should expect chocolate chip cookies in this house anymore" Damien said.
"Aaarrgh..you know how much i like that cookies and you decided to use it against me huh?" Irene asked and Damien shrugged.
"You can have it" She said slapping the cheese against his ear.
"Ouch!" Damien pouted.
"I need to go check on mum" Irene stood up, sliding her feet into her flip flops.
Damien nodded,busy with the cheese.
Irene shook her head and muttered 'food monger' under her breath before heading to her stepmum's room.
Her stepmother was very different from others.
The woman had broken her legs while trying to get them what to eat.
She acts exactly like their mother, she never for once maltreated them.
Their mother had died long ago before their father and Irene and Damien had forced their father to remarry,they needed a mother in their lives and their father hadn't made a bad choice.
They loved her from the beginning, till now.
She cared for them so much and would sacrifice anything for them.
Most people mistake her for their biological mum.
"Damien, take my bag to my room okay?" Irene said loudly before opening the door to her stepmum's room.
She walked in and met the woman seated on her wheelchair, knitting.
Thats actually what she loves doing most.
"Mum" Irene smiled pecking her on both cheeks.
"Rene" Mrs Neave smiled.
"How are you? Have you eaten?" Irene asked.
"Yes, i have."
"Mum,there's something i want to tell you" Irene said, sitting on the bed.
"Rene.." Mrs Neave paused. "Damien told me everything already" She said.
"Really?"
"Yes and I'm okay with whatever decision you take." Mrs Neave said.
"Thanks mum. I love you" Irene hugged her.
"Look, I'm making a new sweater for you" Mrs Neave said, she had wanted to make it a surprise but it slipped out of her mouth.
"Yaaaaay" Irene squealed excitedly like a little kid.
___🍂
"You mean Harold is about to employ a slut as my daughter's nanny" Carrle shouted, pacing her living room.
"Yes" Her husband confirmed.
He just received the information from their spy, who's one of Harold's bodyguards but secretly works for them.
"Get me my car key!!!" Carrle screamed.