A Nanny for His Kids and Heart.

Her heart pounded against her chest as she fought back the tears while Mr. Chan continued talking.

"Ashley, you've been a great help to me and this Cafe, but home calls," he said with a sad smile.

He just told her about his Cafe's closure. She had worked her ass out there since she settled in Washington.

The cafe had been her main source of income since graduating from college.

Mr. Chan had been sick and on medications for months until his children urged him to come home for proper treatment, so he had to sell the Cafe.

"I'm sorry about the sudden dismissal. I know this Cafe means a lot to you, but I need to go home. Even if I were to die, I would prefer to die in my homeland."

She forced a smile despite the turmoil in my head, "Don't talk about dying. You will get well, Mr. Chan. I can always find another job. I wish you the fastest recovery."

Mr. Chan gave her a sad smile and patted her on her back. "I know you can pull out anything you want, Ashley."

She leaned in and dropped my apron on the counter. With trembling hands, she gave Mr. Chan a quick peck on his cheek. "Goodbye Mr Chan. Please take care of your health. Until we meet again."

"Bye Ashley" Mr. Chan's voice trailed off as I gently shut the door behind her.

She cast a final glance at Whispering Woods Cafe, my haven. Tears threatened to fall but I composed myself.

She remembered that morning, happily brewing coffee while Mr. Chan rested in the inner room. She was happy she would soon raise my share of the rent.

Once she closed the door behind me, tears of frustration threatened to slip down.

She sniffed and headed to the State Library just a few miles away.

She always went there to escape the harsh reality of life, and now was when she needed it the most.

Scanning the shelves and running her fingers along the crests of the books, she searched for the perfect escape from reality.

She finally settled on a copy of Cinderella and made her way to my quiet corner, she was the only reader in the library .

She loved fantasy novels because I could always pretend to be a princess who had all the work done for her rather than the reality of life.

As she engaged herself in the story, a strong scent of cologne drew her attention and she glanced up.

Her gaze landed on a tall, broad man in a suit, standing in the business section opposite her.

Curiosity gnawed at her. She tried to catch a glimpse of him and he turned. It was Owen Dalton, it felt like a dream.

She had seen him at my university business event four years ago and developed a crush on him.

Owen Dalton, the CEO of the Dalton Finance and Investment Empire. She wondered if he remembered that chance meeting.

They had never spoken, but she had harbored a secret crush on him since seeing him on the podium.

She observed him from a distance as he sorted through the section and finally picked a book.

He found a seat adjacent to her, his brows furrowed in concentration as he turned the pages of the book with focus.

Those piercing brown eyes. She wondered what stories hid behind them.

She momentarily forgot that she had no job and should be heading home, to explain what happened to her roommate, Jessica.

Owen sensed someone looking at him and he turned just in time to catch her gaze.

Caught in the act, she looked down nervously, her fingers tracing patterns on the book cover.

He averted his gaze and continued reading. His phone beeped and he returned the book to the shelf and left the library.

She heaved a sigh of relief, his gaze was so commanding. Memories of her ex, Kelvin, disrupted my thoughts.

They met when she first started at Crestwood University. She liked him because he was quite popular and handsome, unlike her who had an introverted nature.

She often caught him cheating and every time, he apologized. She always forgave him until a week ago.

She decided to pay him a surprise visit after work only to get surprised instead.

She entered the apartment with her key and immediately sensed something was off.

Her heart raced as the sound of a moan caught her ear, and she walked toward the direction of the sound that was coming from the bedroom.

There, in the bed was a blonde moaning under the sheets. Kelvin was constantly thrusting inside her and their moans filled the apartment.

"F**k me harder, Kelvin, fill my c**t" the blonde moaned through clenched teeth.

"F**k it, Avi," Kelvin's voice pierced my already cloudy ears. "You are so sweet, I could go all day long."

At that moment, she finally ended things with him and poured all her energy into working at the cafe. Enough red flags.

She shook her head back to reality, there was no point in pretending to read. She had real-life issues to address.

Returning the book to the shelf, she made my way out of the library. With the final wages from Mr. Chan in her purse, she headed to the grocery store.

After purchasing a few groceries, she rummaged through her purse and realized she had just enough money for the trip home and possibly the next day.

As she contemplated her next purchase, the voices of some kids at the coffee shop next to the grocery store drew her attention.

She approached two schoolchildren in a heated argument, they were arguing in Spanish, and asked what was wrong.

Growing up in Chicago, Ashley happened to be cast in several languages, she was hoping to get a job as a translator later in the year.

The younger one wanted a milk candy, but the older one didn't have the money. She bought them both milk candies and then showed them to the bus.

She returned back to the coffee shop to get her groceries and decided to wait for the free bus. Just as she stepped out of the cafe, she locked eyes with someone.

Owen sat looking at Ashley as she stepped out of the cafe. The intensity of the gaze caused a shiver to run down her spine.

He had seen her communicate with the kids in Spanish.

***

"Mr. Owen, I know it would be nice working with you," one of the associates said as he extended his hand.

"You won't regret working with us." Owen's lips twitched into a forced smile as he shook hands with them, and his P. A. led the associates out.

All his board members shook hands and congratulated each other. Noticing Owen's silent demeanor, they filed out one by one.

Owen had just closed a billion-dollar deal with one of the nation's top finance companies, yet he didn't feel any excitement. He arched his brows into a frown.

"Sir, your schedule is cleared for the rest of the day. Do you want me to put a call through to Mr. Adams?" his PA inquired.

"No, I'll just relax a bit and go home afterward," He replied, his eyes strained with tiredness. The library and the coffee did little to calm his apprehension.

"Okay, do you need anything, sir?" She asked.

"No, and I don't want anybody disturbing me. Close the door after you," he declared firmly, causing his PA to jump a little before nodding and closing the door gently behind her.

With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself away from the desk, the leather chair creaked in protest as he turned to gaze out of the window.

His office was situated on the upper floor of a skyscraper.

All his board members were happy that they got the deal they'd been dreaming of, but Owen wasn't. He couldn't seem to break the void in his heart, and his mind wandered away.

"I'm merely after your money, the plan was not to get pregnant for you, I don't love you, but I'm considerate enough to give you the children, but on a condition..."

His eyes snapped wide open, jolting him from his thoughts. He rubbed his temple.

It had been long since he last thought about that incident, and he instantly regretted having stopped therapy six years ago.

The past haunted him, and nothing brought joy anymore. Taylor, his ex girlfriend, left him shattered and in agony, leaving remnants of herself with him in the form of their twins– Ava and Aiden.

She had completely made him fall in love with her yet broke him into pieces. Since then, he had stopped believing in love and saw all women the same; opportunists and gold diggers.

Ava and Aiden, his seven-year-old children, were the innocent victims of their fallout, and he always avoided them because they reminded him of Taylor, their mother.

He couldn't let her take them away or do what she said she would do with them. He had always loved children and dreamt of having his own one day.

When Taylor told him she was pregnant, he was the happiest, until she became the nightmare he never knew he would have.

She started behaving strangely and without affection until she confirmed to him that the plan was to get his money and not get pregnant for him.

The details of the words she spat out years ago were etched in his mind like scars. "I'm merely after your money... I don't love you."

His hands clenched into a fist as he remembered her hurtful words and betrayal, she had blackmailed him to get money using the unborn kids.

Owen's life had been a rollercoaster. His father died suddenly when he was 15, and his mother was diagnosed with cancer and had to fly out of the country and had not returned home.

He worked harder and brought up 'Dalton Empire' to where he stood. When he saw Taylor, he fell for her and thought the storms in his life were finally going to clear up until she revealed that she was after his wealth.

His therapist had urged him to confront these emotions, but the wounds were still raw. It wasn't easy.

It had been seven years since the incident and it felt like yesterday, he gritted his teeth at the thought.

He avoided the therapist and kept to himself, never allowing any woman to come closer to him except for flings.

Instead of healing, he distanced himself from his seven-year-old kids who reminded him of their mother's betrayal.

He provided for their material needs but had nothing to do with them on other terms. He knew the kids desperately craved the emotional connection.

He remembered earlier in his study when the kids had walked in, pleading with him not to hire another nanny.

He had told them bluntly that they would have another nanny and left them in the study, the hurt in their eyes lingering as he closed the door.

Their tearful expressions haunted him as he left them in the study. He knew he had failed as a father and wished he would be able to treat them well before it became too late.

For over three years, they hadn't had a stable nanny, and he knew he needed to be careful when choosing the next one.

He longed to give the kids the love they deserved but was always reminded and haunted by the memories and betrayal of Taylor.

Pitching his forehead, he tried forgetting the past but the voice kept ringing in his head. "I'm merely after your money... I don't love you."

Feeling suffocated even by the cold atmosphere of the room, he tore off his suit jacket and stumbled to the bathroom in his office suite.

He stepped into the shower, letting the water drown his thoughts.

He closed his eyes, banishing all memories until an image of hazel eyes flashed before him, disrupting his privacy.

The hazel eyes, which almost cut into his eyeballs as if seeing all he had been through all these years in just a minute.

It was as if she was looking into his soul, which seemed so transparent at the time, and he didn't like that.

Over the past few years, all Owen had were one-night stands. He even approached flings with caution, fearing some women might desire a deeper connection.

He believed all women were the same and the same went for the hazel-eyed brunette he caught staring at him at the library, they all shared a trait –gold-digging.

After relaxing a bit in the office, Owen drove home. He was greeted by the animated sounds of children's games as he walked past the living room on the first floor.

"Dad?" The children paused the game. Owen stopped, thinking they were engrossed with their game.

Ava and Aiden greeted him with wide smiles and embraced him tightly.

"Dad, hi!" they exclaimed in unison.

Their arms wrapped around him, and he winced as he stiffly endured their embrace.

"How was your day at the office?" Aiden asked sincerely.

"Good," he replied briefly, stepping away from them before heading toward the staircase to his floor.

A few moments later the AI door, Alexa announced the presence of Ava and Aiden as he busied himself on his laptop.

He instructed Alexa to open the door. As the door unlocked, Ava and Aiden came in holding an invitation.

"We want to talk to you, Dad," Aiden said as they dragged their feet to where he was typing away at his laptop.

He nodded, giving them permission for them to speak, but continued with what he was doing without sparing them a glance.

"Dad, there's a school party with a 'date with your parents' theme. We'd like you to come," Ava explained.

He paused as his jaw tightened. Despite his consistent refusal to be part of any of their school's events, the kids always persisted in bringing them up.

"It will be fun, Dad. Other parents will be there too," Aiden persuaded.

"I won't be available, but Adams will be in attendance," he said firmly as he returned his attention to the laptop screen.

"But Dad-"

"I have office work I'm yet to finish. Goodnight." He cut them short. He could see disappointment etched on their faces as they slowly turned away and left the room.

After they left, he put the laptop away and pinched the bridge of his nose. He hated to see them so vulnerable but he felt helpless.

He called Adams to meet him in his study, and Adams arrived almost immediately.

"Good evening, sir." Adams bowed slightly.

"Did you know about the kids' school function?" Owen asked, getting straight to the point.

"Yes sir, they won't stop talking about it," Adams said, flashing a smile.

"You will be going instead," he stated simply, returning to his laptop.

"But Sir, they would be sad. They want you to att-" Owen glanced at him, furrowing his brow.

"I'm sorry, sir." He bowed slightly.

"Take them to their favorite game in the Rolls Royce Phantom."

"Yes sir." He went out quickly. Adams had started working with him six years ago and had quickly bonded with the kids.

He was glad the kids could relate to someone. He sighed inwardly as he returned to his computer and opened a new tab that showed the inside of the children's car.

He had installed cameras in their cars to monitor whatever the kids were doing and up to.

That was the only way for him to look at them without feeling self-conscious, and hear their discussion with Adams on the happenings in their lives.

***

Ashley slumped on the worn-out couch in their one-room apartment, and Jessica sat beside her, ruffling her hand through her hair.

"So you mean the job is gone?" Jessica asked in dismay.

Jessica moved to Ashley's seat and rubbed her hand on her shoulders, "Don't despair, Ashley. Everything will be fine, and luckily, I was browsing through the internet for job opportunities before you came in."

Ashley's eyes stung with unshed tears, "How will we pay the house rent? Where will we go if we are evicted?"

"Don't be pessimistic Ashley, I'm sure everything will work out fine, let's check out the job vacancies here."

Ashley sadly crept to the computer, and together they searched for job opportunities online.

Ashley spotted an advertisement from Dalton's Empire. She had always stalked his pages, but nothing personal about him was posted, only professional business.

"Fifty thousand dollars for a nanny job?" Jessica said, her jaw, dropping.

"Holy crap!" Jessica exclaimed as they scrolled through his pictures. "Your little crush, Ashley."

It didn't take much for them to put the pieces together. He had kids but why did he keep his private life secret?

"You should give this a trial Ash, you're very good at taking care of kids, I am not, so you should go for this job," Jessica advised.

"No,"

Jessica stopped typing on the computer wondering why Ashley rejected the offer.

"Yeah, I might have a little crush on him but he looks so aloof, you should have seen him today, I almost wet my pants, his looks are so intimidating and cold." Ashley sighed.

Before Jessica could respond, Ashley quickly cut in, "Moreover, I'm sure tens of thousands of people would have applied for it already, it was posted days ago."

"As you said, it was posted days ago, which means he hasn't found the right person for the job. Otherwise, he would have taken it down. There's no harm in trying Ash," Jessica said.

After some thought on it, Ashley decided to give it a chance. She submitted her CV and was surprisingly called to the company the next morning for an interview.

She dressed and made her way to Dalton's Empire the next morning.

Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, she approached the receptionist's desk and mentioned her interview.

The receptionist directed her to the waiting area, where she took a seat and looked around. The company was huge and she felt out of league.

She couldn't bear to mess things up in the presence of Owen Dalton, her crush. She smiled to herself. He definitely smelled of wealth.

Soon, her number was called, and with shaky legs, she entered the room which had the placard ''CEO, Owen Dalton." on the door.

Her eyes widened as she locked eyes with him. The room which had felt as cold as Antarctica, suddenly felt as hot as fire.