The Nanny Affair

With one swift move, he lifted her up onto the drawer without a word. Her back bumped the wall, making her gasp softly, but there was no time to speak...... no time to breathe.

Even while she sat on the edge, his tall, muscular body framed her, making her more petite and trapped in the best kind of way. Their masks came nose to nose, they could feel each other's breath, and the air felt warmer. . And then, in the blink of an eye, his lips crashed into hers deep, intense, and desperate.

Her mouth moved with his, drowning in the kiss she didn't see coming. His hands roamed up her sides, firm and sure, squeezing her breasts like he already knew every inch of her. She moaned softly into his mouth, arching into his touch.

......

"Elena! Elena!" Sienna called out as she barged into the room and found her friend in a very awkward sleeping position.

With barely opened eyes, Elena groaned.

"Another wet dream?" Sienna teased as Elena blinked up at her.

Elena gave a small, embarrassed nod and sat up straight quickly.

"You two must be married by now in that dream episode of yours," Sienna muttered with a chuckle, walking over to the dresser to fix her hair in the mirror.

"Work today?" she asked, glancing back at her.

"Yeppp," Elena mumbled as she climbed out of bed, her hair all messy and tangled.

"When are they coming to your workplace?" Sienna asked, still fiddling with her bun.

"Today, Sienna. At this point, I could take a waitress job instead," Elena muttered as she started brushing her teeth in the bathroom.

"I feel you. No way they keep using you like that," Sienna said with a sigh. "Alright, catch you later...... I've got a meeting at seven."

She grabbed her bag and rushed out before Elena could even reply.

"Sure. Stay safe," Elena called out faintly, but Sienna was already gone......

............................

"Congratulations on your promotion, Mana," a woman in a fitted office suit said, standing among a group of coworkers gathered in celebration.

At the center of the group stood Anna.. dressed in a tight, seductive office outfit, radiating fake humility.

"Thank you all," Anna replied as she flipped her hair to the side as if the news had caught her completely off guard.

Elena walked in just then, her eyes scanning the scene. She paused by the door, watching silently as the laughter and chatter circled around Anna.

The moment Anna saw her, she smiled slyly. "Excuse me, ladies. I need to thank the person who made this all possible," she said with a mischievous grin, making her way straight toward Elena.

"Senior," Anna greeted with a slight bow and an exaggerated smile. "Though, I guess I shouldn't call you that anymore since I'm technically senior to you now."

Elena frowned with confusion on her face. "Excuse me?" she said with a steady voice.

"Oh, you might not have seen it yet," Anna replied, her grin widening as she glanced back at the others.

"She got promoted to PR," one of the women chimed in with a smirk. "So I guess you're done acting the PR role now"

The group burst into laughter.

"It's all thanks to you," Anna added sweetly. "Thank you for teaching me so well."

Without waiting for a response, she pulled Elena into a hug... a mocking and insincere one then walked away like a victory march

.........

"Elena Rivera, good to see you this morning," Mr Jorge said casually, lounging comfortably in his chair.

"What the hell am I hearing?" Elena snapped, slamming her hand on the desk. The sound echoed sharply in the office which made him flinch slightly.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, though the smirk creeping onto his face said otherwise. Then, as if suddenly remembering, he added, "Ah... I guess you mean the PR position."

"Why do you keep doing this to me?" Elena's voice cracked with anger.

"Oh, come on, Elena," he muttered, leaning back. "You never wanted it anyway. So why are you making a fuss now?"

Elena's eyes widened. "What was I supposed to expect? Every time, you ask me to train someone new and every damn time, that person ends up getting the job I've been killing myself for. And me? I stay stuck right where I am."

Her hands moved wildly with frustration. "How do you expect me to just smile and say, 'Sure, I'll train them,' while secretly hoping this time it's different only for you to crush it all over again?"

He sighed, brushing off her words. "Stop with the emotions, Elena. Honestly... I realized you're only good at teaching. That's where you shine."

She stared at him for a long time. Her eyes were shiny with tears she hadn't cried yet, but her voice was quiet now.

"Are you for real?" she whispered.

You've got to stop thinking like a lead character in some motivational drama," he added with a smirk. "This is the real world. You're a good helper, Elena. Don't confuse that with being leadership material...

Elena's eyes burned as she stared him down. "You know what? I'm done. I'm done with this company."

Mr Jorge gave a small, bitter smile as he slowly walked around his desk. "Don't even think about making that mistake, Elena. You won't get better treatment anywhere else." He leaned in slightly,looking proud of himself.. "Better change your mind. Let's see where I might put you in the next two years."

She scoffed. "Two years? You mean another two more years of being used, ignored, and passed over? No thanks."

Just then, the door creaked open.

"Good morning," a young man said as he stepped inside confidently.

"You must be Dave," Jorge said, smiling as he walked back to his seat. "Welcome."

"Yes, sir," Dave replied, stepping fully into the office.

Mr Jorge turned to Elena, like nothing had just happened. "Oh, this is Elena," he said casually. "She's going to train you in the OPM position."

Elena froze,too shocked to speak. Her chest rose and fell with quiet fury.

"I'm done here," she said sharply and finally. Then, without another word, she turned and stormed out of the office....

...........

"Whattttttttt?! What the helly.... what the actual hell?!"

Sienna's voice practically exploded through the phone.

"If I were standing in front of that girl, I swear I would've knocked her out with one blow! And your boss? He'd be missing a front tooth for life just so he never forgets how to treat people with respect. Rubbish of a human being!"

Elena let out a long, exhausted sigh as she held the phone to her ear. Her voice was low and weary.

"I'm so done with that company, Sienna. They treat me like absolute shit. No promotion, not even a raise...despite taking on every damn role they throw at me."

"I feel you, Elena... Honestly, I would've left years ago if I were you." Sienna huffed. "You've done so well to walk out of there without flipping desks and starting a riot. My God, if it were me? I'd have made headlines for months."

They both laughed softly.... It was a tired, sad laugh, but it helped her feel a little bit better.

After a few days of doing nothing but sleeping and binge-eating, Elena sat slouched in the sitting room. Her laptop was open in front of her, but she didn't touch it. She stared blankly at the screen.

"Anything yet?" Sienna asked as she walked in with a bowl of popcorn.

Elena gave a slow shake of her head. "No employment needed anywhere," she muttered, standing up only to flop beside Sienna on the sofa with a groan.

"That's crazy," Sienna said, offering her the bowl. "Let's just wait a few more days and see what comes up."

"Yeah. I'm not in a rush. I'll take my time," Elena said, popping a kernel in her mouth.

Sienna nodded, still scrolling through her phone. "Wait... Elena," she began, pausing. "I know last time you mentioned maybe taking a waitress job..."

Elena didn't even glance her way.

"I know, I know....having a Master's and ending up waiting tables? That's a tough pill to swallow. But hear me out. What if you try this nanny job instead?"

"Nanny?" Elena echoed, clearly uninterested.

"Yeah," Sienna replied, her tone brighter. "It's only for a month. You can do it while still job hunting. Keeps you active and sane."

Elena stared into the distance. "I'll think about it," she replied flatly.

"Please do," Sienna said, grabbing a handful of popcorn. "'Cause the pay is good."

Elena's head turned so fast it was like her battery just got recharged. "How good are we talking?"

Sienna smirked. "Eight figures."

"Whaaaaaaatttttt?!" Elena practically screamed, her eyes flying open.

.....................

"No, I'll make sure to put her in her place," the lady said with a confident flip of her hair.

Chris looked at her for a beat, unimpressed. He scribbled something on his notepad, then muttered, "Next."

The woman blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Thank you for coming," Chris replied flatly, already turning to the next applicant.

The next woman sat down, a bit too relaxed. "Well, what I'll do is super simple," she said, crossing her legs. "If the child misbehaves, a timeout. Or maybe a little clean-up punishment. Kids learn fast."

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Not his kid," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Next."

He waved her off without another word, scribbling a big X beside her name....

The notepad in front of him was nearly full of crossed-out names.

A young woman with bright red lipstick and overly high heels sat across from him.

"Do you have experience with children?"

"Well, I watched my little cousins once at a party until one of them disappeared. But I found him eventually!"

Chris blinked. "Next."

A man in a suit three sizes too small leaned forward with a grin.

"I sing to calm kids down. Want me to... "

"Neeeeexxxxxxt."

........

A woman in a sparkly blouse held up flashcards.

"These are my custom-designed discipline cards. I invented a reward system based on zodiac signs."

Chris didn't even lift his head. "Next."

.........

A girl chewed gum loudly while texting.

"Kids love me. I let them do whatever they want."

Chris slowly raised his eyes, chewing back a sigh. "Neeeeeeexxxxxxt."

Finally, he looked at the clock and groaned under his breath. "At this rate, I might as well move in and raise the kid myself."

Chris's phone rang and he picked it up instantly. "Mr Damien Hughston."

His posture straightened. "Yes, sir," he muttered respectfully, already rising to his feet.

"I'll be at the airport soon," he added, snapping the notepad shut.

Without another word, Chris strode out of the room....

.....

A sharp knock hit the door. Elena, still in her hoodie and pyjama shorts, sighed and dragged herself off the couch.

She opened the door and froze.

There he was.

"Ray?" she breathed.

He gave a sheepish half-smile. "Hey... you look... good."

She didn't say a word. Just stood there.

Ray glanced down awkwardly, then back at her with his signature fake-sincere eyes. "Look, I know I'm probably the last person you want to see"

"You think?" Elena cut him off as she crossed out her arms.

"I messed up, okay?" he said quickly. "I panicked. I wasn't ready back then. But I never stopped thinking about you."

She let out a dry laugh. "Three years of silence and now you're suddenly haunted by my memory?"

"I saw your picture online," he added, as if that explained everything. "And I realised... God, I was such an idiot. You're the one that got away."

"No," Elena said coldly. "I was the one you let walk away."

He stepped closer. "Elena, I made mistakes, I admit that. We should've gone ahead with the wedding and all I know is I messed up and... "

Before Ray could finish, a sharp voice cut in.

"Do you know what else is going to be messed up if you don't get the hell out of here?" Sienna's voice rang loud and clear from behind him.

He barely had time to turn his head before..

SPLASH.

A full bucket of iced water drenched his back and shoulders.

Sienna stood there, holding the now-empty bucket like a weapon. "Your clothes," she muttered coldly, stepping forward to block Elena completely. "Do you even realise what you did? You wasted six years of her life just to show up three years later like some pathetic rerun?"

Ray opened his mouth.

"Bro, save it. Get lost before I call the cops," Sienna snapped her eyes blazing.

Before he could argue, the door slammed shut in his face..

Elena let out a slow breath. "Thanks."

Sienna exhaled too. "I swear, if he ever shows up again, I'm bringing pepper spray."

Elena arrived at the estate for the nanny position, walking in with a mix of nerves and uncertainty. The place was grand... too grand. She felt slightly out of place, a bit under dressed which gave off a small fish-out-of-water vibe.

"For the nanny offer?" a gentleman in a sharp navy suit asked, meeting her halfway down the corridor.

"Yy..Yes," Elena muttered.

"Alright, come with me," he said, already turning to lead the way.

He guided her through a set of wide doors into a large waiting lobby. A few other women were already seated, most of them looking polished and overly confident.

Elena had barely lowered herself into a seat when she heard a loud voice from inside.

"Neeeext!"

A lady with perfect posture and glossy curls walked out, barely looking at the others as she passed.

Another went in. Then another. It became a cycle. A series of "Next!" moments.

Elena's heart pounded. Her throat felt tight.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves Just as she tried to stand up to adjust her side a glass frame up above her fell and scattered on the floor

She gasped, heart racing in her chest. The sound startled everyone...as their heads turned, and a few of the candidates gasped out loud.

"What the actual" a deep, irritated voice rang out from the far end of the corridor.

Elena's heartbeat skipped, and she turned sharply toward the voice.

A 6'2 tall man in a dark suit stood at the far end of the hall.His jaw was sharp, and his eyes looked very serious.

Elena's breath caught.

"He... he's..." she whispered, voice thinning as her chest rose and fell in panic. She couldn't finish the sentence before a rush of heat surged through her.

"Make me forget my problems," his voice echoed from the past, deep and rough. "And I'll make you forget yours."

Even under the mask, his eyes had burned into her soul.

She remembered how he'd grabbed her by the neck, not hard, just enough to steady her. Just enough to take control. Her back against the wall. Her body was trembling.

And before the alcohol could fully cloud her senses, he was already kicking her rose with so much soft pressure on the bed, skin to skin, heat meeting heat... He removed his mask without a word, while in the heat of the moment, he lowered his body against hers, and now it was chest to chest rubbing and greeting each other.

A painful, pleasure-laced moan had escaped her lips that night as her face tilted toward his and for the first time in that night, she saw him clearly without the mask, his muscular face rubbing teasingly on her belly...

"Hey!!!!!!"

The sharp voice yanked her back to the present.

Elena snapped out of the memory like waking from a fevered dream

Her eyes widened, locked on the man approaching.

"He's the one..." she whispered under her breath.

Her gaze clung to him, wild and stunned, as he walked toward her.....

How dare you?" His voice was sharp and cutting through the room like a blade.

As the other candidates all stood there fearing for her.

Elena instantly dropped to her knees, panic rising in her chest as she tried to gather the shattered glass.

"I.. I'm sor... sorry," she stammered, her fingers trembling as they grazed over the broken pieces.

"Sorry?" he scoffed, stepping closer. "Do you even know how much that cost? That could buy your entire existence."

Her throat tightened. The words stung more than she expected. Still kneeling, she kept fumbling with the shards, her heart pounding in her ears.

Before she could respond, he yanked her up with a force that sent a shock down her spine, and her back collided with the wall behind. She gasped more from the closeness than the impact.

Elena's eyes widened. He was towering over her now, his tall frame leaning in, just like that night. The scent, the stare, the storm in his gaze.... it was all there.

"I will make you pay," he said with a deadly look.

"Mr. Hughston! You're here," Chris called out, rushing from the interview room.

He stopped in his tracks, his eyes flicking from the shattered frame on the floor to Damien standing tall over a woman frozen in place.

"Pick her," Damien muttered without turning.

"Huh?" Chris blinked. "Mr. Hughston... "

"She's going to work. To pay for this," Damien said coldly, his eyes briefly dropping to the glass fragments. "Start her today."

Chris looked like he wanted to object, but Damien silenced him with a look.

"They can all go home," Damien added, gesturing toward the waiting candidates.

Then his eyes locked onto Elena's trembling self.

"And you..." He said, voice like steel, "Don't even think of running. If I have to tear the world apart to find you, I will. And I promise you, I will."

With that, he turned and walked out...