Chapter 9 HIS FEARS

"Is she serious?" Zane asked, and Madison immediately spoke up.

"She's my new babysitter!" she announced, causing more confusion on the guys' faces.

"New what?" Caleb asked. "Did Mom really hire a new babysitter?"

"Uh... g... good evening," I greeted nervously, bowing slightly. Then I heard Leo scoff.

"Is Mom around?" Evan asked.

"No, but she'll be back soon," Madison replied, fiddling with the toy in her hand.

"This has gotta be a joke," Zane said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He threw his glasses on the floor and sighed. Then he approached me, and that was when goosebumps raced down my arms.

He stood right in front of me!

I lifted my gaze from the floor to meet his striking eyes, which seemed vacant yet intense.

"Get out of here!" he said coldly and turned to take the stairs.

Oh, my God!

Leo pulled out his phone and began scrolling, then walked off. Caleb and Evan just shook their heads and left too.

I turned to Madison, my heart racing.

"I told you he'd be upset," she said with a shrug, and my anxiety deepened.

"I... Am I really supposed to leave?" I asked, genuinely worried.

"No, Nora! You're going nowhere!!!" she replied defensively.

I pressed my palms together and sighed. I was terrified. I hoped Mrs. Carter would return in time.

"Come on, Nora, let's go to your room. You wouldn't want him to see you again," she said, and I nodded, following her to the room.

I was filled with dread. Zane had seemed genuinely angry when he saw me. Would I be able to stay here?

I kept glancing out the window, wishing for Mrs. Carter's return on time before Zane could throw me out of the house.

After a while, Mrs. Carter finally came back. Thank goodness!

Madison stayed in the room while I left to explain things to her Mum.

I waited a long time, yearning for a word from her, but I didn't hear anything.

Horrible thoughts raced through my mind. Has Mrs. Carter decided to let me go? Were they really going to send me away?

After what felt like ages, I was getting tired of waiting. I had to see how things stood for myself.

Slowly, I left the room and made my way downstairs. The only person I spotted in the living room was one of the domestic staff, dusting some items. He glanced at me briefly before returning to his task.

Taking a deep breath, I looked towards the staircase, then quietly approached it.

Climbing the stairs carefully, I made my way to Zane's room and listened closely until I heard their voices. The faint murmur of Mrs. Carter's voice drifted into the hallway.

"Zane," she said firmly, her tone filled with frustration, "we've been over this already. I'm not discussing it again."

Then came Zane's voice, low and clipped. "Mom, I said no. I don't want any girl in this house."

"Zane," Mrs. Carter snapped, her patience clearly wearing thin, "what exactly is your problem? Why are you so against this? Tell me."

"I don't trust her," Zane shot back, his voice rising slightly, filled with frustration. "You just met her, and now you're moving her into our house? How does that make any sense?"

"She's a good girl," Mrs. Carter replied, her voice softening but still firm. "I've talked to her, Zane, and I've spoken to her father. She seems like exactly what Madison needs right now. She adores her. Do you know what Maddy's teachers have been saying? That she's been withdrawn, lonely. She needs someone to care for her."

Zane scoffed. "Hire an old lady, then! Someone who won't get involved in our lives. But not her."

Mrs. Carter's voice hardened again. "No, Zane. Nora is staying in this house, and that's final. I don't understand why this bothers you so much, but I won't let your attitude stop me from doing what's best for Madison."

There was a long pause.

"I've told you why," Zane muttered. "I don't want her around. She's... she's just..." His voice trailed off into a tense silence.

Mrs. Carter sighed, her frustration palpable. "You've always been like this, unreasonable and secretive. But let me make one thing clear: Nora is staying. If you have a problem with that, this house is big enough for you to avoid her. Be civil. You go to the same school, for heaven's sake. At least try to be decent."

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor punctuated the end of the conversation. "And don't you dare question my authority on this, Zane. This discussion is over."

I quickly stepped back into the shadows of the hallway as I heard her heels clicking against the wooden floor. My heart pounded in my chest. The tension in that room had been suffocating, and though I wasn't sure what Zane's problem with me was, one thing was clear: he didn't want me here.

What is his problem? Why is he so cold? He didn't talk to any girls at school, didn't even seem to look at them. It was like we didn't exist in his world. And this whole "I don't want any girl around me" drama... My mind erupted with questions I didn't have answers to, and it only made me more confused.

I let out a shaky sigh and bit my lip. Oh my God, I'm still crushing on him so bad. Even with his ridiculous attitude, his piercing eyes and that annoyingly perfect jawline were burned into my thoughts. He was infuriating, and yet, so undeniably cute.

Wait... What? Could it be what I'm thinking?

I blinked, staring down at the floor as my heart picked up speed. I shook my head quickly, willing the idea away, but it refused to leave. My cheeks burned, and I pushed myself off the wall, needing to move, needing to do something, anything, to stop my overactive imagination from running wild.