The secret of the billionaire matchmaker

Valerie dialed his number again, and again, but it wasn't going through. She wasn't going to blame Justin because it's not his fault. If Patricia didn't tell him, maybe she would have summoned courage to tell him any other time.

"I have to find a way to explain everything to Justin"

She got up from the bed, and headed downstairs. She was on her way out when she stormed into her stepmother, Claudia, and her father.

It has been barely a week since they got the money, and they are already squandering it. She even wondered how her father recovered so fast.

"Where are you going, Valerie?" Claudia gave her a deadly glare. She gulped hard, and turned her face away. "I don't want to go on with this anymore. My life is already ruined, all because of this baby. I want to further my education".

Tears circulated in her eyes, and her father gasped. "Valerie, how could you say something like that? If you don't give birth to this child, then we'll be doomed. I've taken care of you ever since your mother, and here you are willing to throw all of that away. If you ever think of getting rid of this child, then our family will be in deep trouble" Her Father freaked out.

"Why should I be the only one to do this? Justin just broke up with me" She continued sobbing, but her stepmother wasn't moved.

"And so what if that rascal does? He doesn't deserve you. As far as you give birth to this child, your father and I promise to give you whatever it is that you want. I don't want you to get yourself stressed up, so you're not allowed to leave this house, and as for anything you need, we'll provide it for you right in your room" Claudia pretentiously patted her back.

Valerie bowed her head in sadness, and headed upstairs. Her life was getting messier by the day. Now, she's trapped in her room. It was more like a prison than a house. She was still crying her eyes out when the door creaked open. It was her stepsister, Patricia. Patricia was carrying a tray of food, which she dropped on the table beside her bed.

"Your lunch, sister." Patricia laughed sarcastically at her. Valerie turned to her with teary eyes.

"I'm not... I'm not hungry" Valerie managed to say. Patricia snorted at her.

"You better eat your food because the child ought to be very healthy. If anything happens to the child, then we'll all be going to jail" Patricia laughed, before walking out of the room. She locked the door as soon as she left.

That was the last time Valerie left her room. She stayed in her room like a prison, and was given everything she wanted.

Months later, Valerie was in labor. She was rushed to the hospital. The cry of a baby was heard all over the ward.

Even though Valerie didn't want the child, the baby was still hers. She needed to look at the child's face.

Valerie struggled up from the hospital bed, and grabbed the nurse's gown. "Nurse, can I please see my baby?" She requested.

"What baby are you talking about? This baby is not your child, you've already been paid in full. You're not allowed to touch the baby" The nurse slapped her hand off.

"Nurse, let me just look at the baby. I just want to see my baby" Valerie cried, but the other nurse overpowered her as they held her down to the bed.

"Take the child out of the ward, now" The doctor instructed the first nurse, as she left with the child.

"I just want to look at my baby, please" Valerie kept struggling before a syringe was injected into her arm. The baby's cry was the last thing she heard before passing out.

After the baby was taken from her, and she woke up, she was yet to set her eyes on her stepmother, Father, and stepsister. Did they abandon her at the hospital?

Two days later, at the Watson's residence, the voices of Claudia and her daughter were heard yelling at Valerie, who just got back from the hospital. Her luggage was packed, and kept at the doorstep. Her Father wasn't in the house at that time.

"Why are my bags packed? Am I finally going to Oxford?" Valerie asked the moment she stepped into the house, and Patricia laughed mockingly.

"You actually think that Mom and I would give you some money so that you can further your education?" Patricia mocked her.

Valerie stared at them with confusion all over her face. Are they really not going to give her some money? "You promised me, mother. You told me you were going to give me some money so that we can further my education with it".

"You have no place here again, Valerie. No one is going to save you, your father travelled out to get his treatment completed. Take your bags, and leave this house. Don't bother coming back because you have no place here anymore".

"Mother! How could you do this to me?" Valerie sobbed as she went on her knees, but Claudia wasn't touched by her genuine tears.

"You wretch! Do you think your tears are going to help you? Get out of this house, Valerie. You're not wanted anymore. Don't bother going to Justin because he already left the town. I will take good care of him because I'll be going to Stanford University soon where I'll meet him" Patricia made fun of her, and Valerie glared at her maliciously. She couldn't take it anymore, so Valerie slapped Patricia hard on the face.

"You wench! How dare you hit my daughter? Get out! Leave, you piece of trash" Claudia pushed her out of the door, and threw her bags at her.

Valerie sniffed hard as she picked her bags, and walked out of the Watson's gate in agony.

"Audrey, your teacher is here" A deep, but attractive voice came from the sitting room, and Valerie turned swiftly. Her jaw dropped in awe as soon as she set her eyes on him. It was the President, Ethan Davison, she had seen him a few times on the television, but he looked more handsome in real life.

"I thought today was going to be a free day? Why do I need a home-teacher?" Audrey, the little girl, pouted her mouth.

Valerie stared at the smart girl with a smile. Why does she feel so familiar with the little girl when she hasn't met her before? She couldn't even believe that the girl could be so outspoken.

"Audrey, stop! You have to behave, young lady" Her Father cautioned her, and she exhaled deeply, and bowed her head.

Valerie turned to the elderly woman, whose name tag showed her name was "Vero".

"Ma'am... Vero! Isn't the little girl so adorable? She speaks fluently too?" Valerie smiled, and the old lady scoffed.

"You're not here to see whether she's outspoken or not" She shrugged, and Valerie nodded her head. Why was the old woman being so hostile?

"You're new here, right, lady?" Audrey walked to Valerie, and she nodded her head. "Um...yeah"

"I heard you'll be working as my nanny. I hope you can make rice cakes. They are my favorite, and I don't want a nanny who can't make those" Audrey fluttered her long lashes.

"Really? Do you like rice cakes? That's my favorite, too. You'd have nothing to worry about because I can make very delicious ones" Chatty Valerie smiled, and Audrey raised her brows attractively.

"Woah! By the way, your dress is somewhat old-fashioned. That's off" Audrey added with a smirk. Valerie stared at her with her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe her ears, did the little girl just say that to her? Valerie couldn't help but chuckle, Audrey's height could barely reach her waist.

Her chuckle attracted President Ethan's attention, and he turned his gaze to her. Valerie forced a smile at him, but he eyed her before turning his gaze away. He was probably surprised that she could make his little girl chuckle... that's a first.

"Who is she?" Ethan asked with his eyes fixed on the laptop in front of him.

"Oh... that's Valerie. She's here to get interviewed because she applied for a job as Miss Audrey's nanny. Lest I forget, she's really nice" Dan, Ethan's assistant replied.

"Audrey, upstairs now" Ethan ordered, and Audrey sniffed before heading to the stairs.

"I'm definitely not your daughter. I can't believe you..." She mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say, Audrey?" President Ethan raised his brow, and turned to Audrey, who paused before turning her gaze to him.

"I said I'm not your daughter. Maybe I'm the cleaner's daughter or probably the cook..." The little girl breathed hard, and Valerie almost laughed out loud, but she had to get a hold of herself.

"This little girl is such a drama queen".

"What? You're my daughter, and I want the best for you, little one. Go ahead now, and behave yourself. I don't want the teacher complaining that you haven't been paying attention to her" Ethan snapped, and she shrugged.

"Yes daddy" She ran upstairs.

"Haven't you had enough of the drama? Do you think you're here to moop around? You came here for an interview, and here you are making yourself so comfortable" A saucy young lady walked to her. Valerie gulped hard as she walked away with the lady. She had thought it was the President who was going to interview her, but she was mistaken. He wouldn't waste his precious time on a mere nanny.

A few minutes later, Valerie was already in the kitchen with the saucy lady whose name she learned was Anastasia.

Valerie was told to prepare a cup of milkshake, and then a dessert, which she did. Even though it didn't really match up perfectly to their tastes, it was manageable.

"Have you ever worked as a nanny before?" Old Lady Vero took off her glasses as she asked her.

"ERM... Actually, I haven't certainly worked as a nanny, but I love kids a lot. So, I get along with them each time I come in contact with any of them" Valerie simply replied.

"That is not enough. I thought you were sent by an agency. I can't believe you are just an ordinary..." Anastasia was saying, but Lady Vero cut her off.

"Anastasia, stop it! Okay, we will be placing you on a month's trial. If you fail to fit in, then I'm afraid we'll have to fire you" Old Lady Vero said, and Valerie forced a smile at her.

"Thank you, ma'am." Valerie bowed slightly.

"I'll give you the full details of your work, you, and come back to the mansion tomorrow. By the way, meet Anastasia, she's the cook" Lady Vero walked out of the kitchen, and Valerie scoffed. "Anastasia is the cook? Why was she behaving like she's the President's wife ?" Valerie thought.

"Uhm... Barbara, what Lady Vero meant was that I'm the chef of this noble home" Anastasia gulped nervously.

"Correction! I'm Valerie, not Barbara, and a chef... you mean a cook? Of course, I understand" Valerie scoffed at her before walking out of the kitchen.

Valerie sighed the necessary documents, and she was also told when and how to deliver her duties. It was shift work, so she didn't need to be present all the time. For the first time, she felt very comfortable with her work.

Then she remembered her encounter with the little girl, Audrey Davison. Her lips curled to a smile. She was six years old.

Suddenly, she thought of her baby, who she had birthed when she was very young. Her child would be the same age as Audrey.

"How dumb of me! Why should I think of a child who I didn't even get to see?"

Even if she meets her child, she won't even recognize the child. She told herself to forget about the child.

The doctor's words to her that fateful day kept ringing in her ears, and she blinked her eyes rapidly to stop herself from crying. It was six years already, and she shouldn't think of it.

Valerie was on her way out of the club, and trying hard not to shed a tear for her sister and her boyfriend.

"Valerie... wait!" She heard Patricia's voice again, and paused. If she didn't, then it will seem to Patricia like she's so much affected.

"What more do you want, Patricia?" Valerie forced a smile at her, but deep down she was breaking down. Her friends couldn't help but glare at Patricia.

"What are you up to, Patricia? Why do you have to call her back?" Justin whispered into her ears, grabbing her arm. "That hurts. Let go of my arm"

With that, Justin released her arm, and she smiled dryly at him. "Sister, you know you're the only sister that I have. And you are the only sibling I have as well, so it will be very insensitive of me if I don't tell you this" Patricia walked closer to Valerie.

"I'm surprised, Patricia. You've never for once, considered me a sister, and I really wonder what you have to tell me" Valerie shook her head, still showing a fake smile on her face. Her eyes met with Justin's, and he bowed his head in guilt.

"If you would rather not be here, Val. I think we should leave this place. I don't see any reason why you'd be somewhere you want to avoid being in" Andrew grabbed Valerie's arm, and she turned to him with a weary smile. "It's okay, Andy"

"Take a look at my diamond ring, Justin and I are engaged. I'll be getting married soon, and I was just thinking It will be better if I get your contact. I mean, I could just invite you over to my wedding, don't you think?" Patricia smiled mischievously, and Valerie clenched her fist in fury. "That punk" She cursed under her breath.

"Patricia, what are you up to?" Justin glared at her.

"I just wanted to..." Patricia was still speaking, but Valerie cut her short.

"Oh, is that so? Congratulations, Justin and Patricia. That's good news, and you have nothing to be worried about, I'm surely going to attend your wedding" Without giving Patricia any opportunity to mock her again, Valerie snapped cheerfully.

With that, Valerie tapped her friends, and they strode out of the bar.

"I think that your ex-boyfriend is still affected by you, Valerie. Even though you really lack sense of dressing" Susan teased her as they were seated at the back of a cab, heading home.

Valerie rested her head on the seat with her eyes shut. Of course, she was influenced by what Patricia told her, especially the engagement ring she showed her.

"Yeah. I saw how he stared at you. His face countenance said it all. It looks like the witch is forcing herself on him" Andrew nodded in agreement with what Susan has said.

"So? What if he's still altered by me? Does that change the fact that we can't have anything to do with each other?" Valerie exhaled deeply. "If you still want him back, then you can snatch him from that malicious sister of yours" Susan snapped.

"What?" Valerie's voice erupted like a volcano. Susan and Andrew nodded their heads, and she shook her head in disagreement.

"I've never blamed Justin for once. The fact that I gave birth to someone's child is still something Justin can never forgive me for, and I kept it from him as well. Even though he accepts me back into his life, things are never going to be the way it used to be between us" Valerie smiled dryly.

"He should understand you. Isn't it that you gave birth to the child because you had no choice?" Susan scoffed.

Andrew patted Valerie's shoulder softly, "Stop being hard on yourself, Val. You didn't give birth because you wanted to do it"

Smiling sadly, Valerie bowed her head. "Although I was forced, it is still a fact that I gave birth to someone's child"

With a snort, Susan turned her gaze away. "Your family is just heartless. So insensitive!"

"I just feel bad for you, Val. It's obvious that you're still in love with Justin. I just wish there was something I could do to help you" Andrew countered, he felt bad to know that Valerie was still hurt.

Valerie smiled, and shook her head slowly, "I still love him, but I don't want him anymore. Probably, because he was my first love that's the reason I'm still affected, but I'll be fine guys"

Anyway, her love for him had faded after six whole years.

Susan nodded her head. "Yes, you shouldn't be with him. With all these beauty and brains of yours, you deserve someone better, not someone who chose that flirtatious half sister of yours"

With that, they burst into laughter. Valerie felt better after what they told her. She felt so grateful for her having such friends who are ready to defend her at all times.

"I could punch them hard in the face if you like, or perhaps you can walk down the aisle with me so that you can get back at them" Andrew suggested, and Valerie smacked his head.

"You punk! Walk down the aisle indeed! You're silly" Valerie snorted, and they shared a laugh again.

All Valerie needed was to focus on her new precious work at the Davison's mansion.

Meanwhile, Justin fastened his pace as he headed out of the bar. Patricia had to run after him since he was walking so fast.

"Justin, wait for me. What's wrong with you?" She cried out.

Without sparing a glance at her, he coldly replied, "Go home, Patricia. I have other important things to take care of. With that, he unlocked his car door.

Patricia gasped, and grabbed his hands,"What are you talking about, Justin? You're going to leave me here? Why are we leaving so soon, anyway? I don't have a car, and it's already too late to call an Uber"

Justin brought out his wallet, and threw some cash at her. "This will do. Don't bother getting into my car"

Shuddering in fear of losing him, Patricia grabbed his hands again and said. "Why are you so angry with me? Does this have to do with my sister?"

Justin scoffed. Slapping her hands off, he hopped into the car, and Patricia kept knocking at the car window. Ignoring her, he stepped on the accelerator and zoomed off without second thoughts.

Patricia fumed in anger, and kept stamping her foot in annoyance.

"Valerie, you tramp! Why do you have to show up?"

"What?"

Valerie's shaky voice gasped, and the little girl raised her brow. Valerie couldn't believe her ears.

"What the heck? That's her rules? What makes her think I want her daddy, anyway?

"Why do you sound so surprised, Miss old-fashioned?"

"Why... Why would you think that I'd want your daddy?" Valerie arched her eyebrows at her.

"That's what all the nannies who came to take care of me did. They have always wanted my daddy" Audrey pouted her mouth, dropping her drawing book on the bed.