Chapter 2
two
NICOLE
F or the last three weeks, I’ve been working for my brother’s best friend and my ultimate crush, Jakob Petridis. Broody and gorgeous, Jakob has never paid much attention to me other than to grunt at me, answer me with distain, or, my personal favorite, give me a curt nod. Honestly, I was surprised he would even trust me enough for the job. Yet here I am.
He must’ve been desperate. But he’s a millionaire, so I don’t see how he couldn’t find anyone else.
Covered in paint, glitter, glue, and possibly gummy bears, little Dafni works on her masterpiece. I’m not much better off. I don’t even know how I’ve managed to get glitter in some places. At this rate, we could both add wings and be fairies, or style our hair to point straight at the ceiling and be trolls. Actually, Dafni would love either one. Maybe after we finish being artists, we’ll play pretend.
Dafni may be five years old, but she’s quickly becoming my new best friend. She’s a great listener and dance partner, and she laughs at my jokes. Plus, we both love junk food, especially gummy bears. We’ve been having a blast, but we always had fun at her birthday parties, holidays, and family get-togethers.
I’ve seen Dafni more over the years than I have her father because sometimes her Yiayia, Jakob’s mother, or her aunt Vivian would bring her. However, I was unsure about being a nanny. When Noah told me it was for his best friend, I laughed and immediately said no . Big no.
Jakob and Noah went to primary school and college together but still lived in completely different worlds. Jakob’s family are Greek-Americans. His parents came to America when the kids were teens and started a hotel and bakery in our town. For as long as I can remember, they vacationed back in Greece every summer. Life really changed when Jakob turned twenty-one and inherited a fortune from his grandparents’ shipping company. Turns out, his mother’s family was extremely wealthy.
He still finished med school and continued life as usual—like he hadn’t just become filthy rich overnight. Noah thinks he wanted to prove he could make it on his own before ever touching a cent of his grandparents’ money. He might not have ever touched the money if his mother hadn’t done some serious convincing, which is ridiculous to me. Nobody would’ve had to tell me twice.
Yet Jakob remains humble, aside from his gorgeous mansion, of course. He doesn’t speak much, never has, and especially to me. It’s only him and his precious daughter, along with a full staff of housekeepers, a lawn crew, and one dreaded head of staff, who I’m positive is the mistress of all evil.
He clearly doesn’t want to chitchat with me. Despite me moving into the mansion so Dafni has twenty-four access to me, I only see him in the mornings for breakfast. Sometimes he refuses to even glance my way. Other times, I catch him staring. However, every single day at six pm, I’m dismissed as soon as he arrives home. And it’s not even him telling me but Satan’s favorite minion, Midge Owens. She’s the worst. She detests me more than Jakob does, I think. It’s hard to tell…
The Empress of Darkness is in her midthirties, and I’m positive she has a thing for Jakob. Not that I blame her, but there’s no reason to take it out on me. Obviously, I’m not a threat considering he doesn’t pay any mind to little ole me. Plus, if he does have a type, it’s her. Prim, proper, put together, and dull. But that’s fine because I love my chaos and being a free spirit, which is why I’m killing it at this nanny gig. I’m of no threat to her boring head-of-house job or charming the pants off that coldhearted brute.
“Look, sweet Nicole!” Dafni holds up the construction paper, causing excess glitter to rain down.
“Oh! I love it, sweet Dafni.” I’ve always called her sweet Dafni, so now she’s been calling me sweet all the time as well.
I didn’t know Dafni’s mother. Jakob’s sister, Vivian, who is an absolute doll, told me and Noah that she’d only seen her twice. One of those times was at the hospital when Dafni was born. She didn’t want to marry Jakob, and she didn’t want to be a mother. In fact, she wanted none of it, so Jakob has full custody of Dafni. If the woman never wanted to be a mother, I don’t hold that against her. Some of my best friends don’t want children, and I respect that. Not everyone should be expected to bring another life into the world. After all, the responsibility is daunting.
However, my heart does break for this sweet little girl. I know the feeling all too well. Noah and I have a twelve-year age gap because I was the result of my parents last attempt at their marriage. The effort was in vain, I guess, because my father left without ever looking back. Dafni’s mother was less cruel. She didn’t allow Dafni to get attached, only to walk away and never come back .
“Can I make another one?” she asks, her adorable dimples on display.
I hand her another sheet of construction paper. “Of course! In fact, make two more. Want more gummy bears?”
She nods eagerly and I empty the bag into our bowl, then pop another red one into my mouth. Dafni opens her mouth, and I toss a squishy bear inside. We giggle as we go back to our crafting. She’s so beautiful, with her dark hair, blue eyes, and olive skin—like Jakob. I wonder if he giggled as a child. I don’t recall him ever laughing. How sad.
Jakob’s always been quiet, with a serious expression permanently in place. He was athletic but never celebrated his victories. Extremely intelligent. Gorgeous. Basically, he’s always been a Greek god. He dated around and rumors flew about how amazing he was in bed. Of course he was; he’s Jakob Petridis. However, no relationship lasted, because everyone said he was cold, distant, and definitely not a cuddler.
Yet here’s Dafni.
She’s so friendly and warm. While her dad is all gray, she’s vibrant and full of emotions, sunshine, and life. Honestly, I never would have thought Jakob had a heart if it wasn’t for how he is around her. He softens, as though his cold heart thaws slightly. Only slightly.
“I like this song,” Dafni tells me .
“It’s The Shirelles. They were a girl group popular in the sixties.”
“Was that a long time ago?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Was it when you were a kid?” Her voice is full of excitement.
I giggle. “No, no, no. More like when my grandmother was a kid. But that’s what makes them great—their music is timeless.”
“What’s timeless?”
Before I can answer, we hear a gasp from the doorway. I turn to find her Royal Darkness standing there in horror. I follow her eyes back to Dafni. Okay, she does look like a hot mess, but it’s nothing a little soap and a change of clothes can’t fix.
“What have I told you about glitter, Miss Wilson?”
I can’t resist. I know I should bow my head and apologize, but I can’t. “That it’s fun?”
Dafni giggles and I smile at her.
“Not funny, Miss Petridis.”
I can’t stand it when she doesn’t call her by her name. The hurt look in the child’s eyes has me on my feet. “Listen, Midge, don’t get a tone with her. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“First of all, Miss Wilson, you’ll address me as Miss Owens. Second, I realize you’re but a child yourself; however, I don’t think you’re as simpleminded as you pretend to be. This little act might fool Mr. Petridis, but it doesn’t work on me. Get this mess cleaned up at once. I won’t have the staff wasting their time on your nonsense.”
Dafni bursts into tears, and it’s at that opportune moment that Jakob decides to make an appearance. His voice booms throughout the room.
“What’s going on? Dafni? Are you hurt?” He crosses the room and scowls at me as he takes Dafni from my arms.
I cringe as glitter covers his designer suit, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care. My heart melts; his only focus is on sweet Dafni.
The moment is ruined when Miss Owens comes to stand between us. “I’ll take her, sir. She’s upset because of the mess Miss Wilson made. Honestly, you should consider someone who isn’t a child herself.”
“I’m twenty-two. Will you stop acting as if I’m twelve?”
She gives Jakob a look as though I just proved her point with my outburst. I release a defeated sigh. Miss Owens calls for one of the other staff members to come and take Dafni for a bath. I’m left standing in front of Jakob and the hateful Miss Midge Owens.
“Mr. Petidris, look at how reckless and careless Miss Wilson is. Dafni could’ve easily swallowed some of the tiny gems.”
I roll my eyes. “She wasn’t going to swallow the gems. I’ve been right here, and she’s not an infant. ”
The witch ignores me and continues. “Then eating gummy bears covered in glitter. She could’ve choked or gotten glitter or glue in her eyes. What kind of example is she setting for your daughter with making such a mess? Look at the marble floors.” She makes a tsking noise and sighs. “This isn’t the first incident.”
Jakob makes a noise at the back of his throat before turning his glacial glare on me. “Do you have anything to say?”
“Jakob,” I plead. We’ve known each other all our lives, and he knows I love Dafni. I care more about her than this cold woman, who is only here because she was hired.
Okay, technically, I was hired as well.
Before he can say anything, the she-devil speaks again. “The disrespect. I know she’s your best friend’s kid sister, but that’s part of the issue. She doesn’t take this seriously. It’s a child’s life in the hands of another child.”
My anger is coming to a boiling point. Jakob hired me, but he’s standing by and allowing this woman to treat me as though I’m her employee. Crossing my arms, I open my mouth to make this point but stop short when I notice Jakob’s eyes zero in on my chest. I look down, and to my horror, I see that my top button has come undone and my cleavage is sparkling, with gummy bears sticking between my breasts. His cold stare still manages to send heat up my neck. I’m flustered, stuck between being angry and shamefully aroused. Well, this is quite the predicament.
Jakob’s eyes snap up to mine, and his jaw hardens. “But why was Dafni crying? Nobody has answered my question, Miss Wilson. ”
Oh, I’m Miss Wilson now? Okay. “She was fine?—”
“Her cheeks blotchy and covered in tears is not fine, Miss Wilson.”
All arousal has been replaced with annoyance. He’s not even allowing me to fully explain. The audacity he has to interrupt me and speak to me in such a belittling manner, all because Miss Owens is here.
“Well, if you’d let me explain, Mr. Petridis. We were having a nice time using our imagination and creativity making beautiful masterpieces. Then the ever so lovely Miss Owens arrived and rudely interrupted the fun. Her tears might’ve been out of fear.” I give a bitchy smile. “It was rather traumatizing.”
Miss Owens’s eyes become slits. “Cute.”
“You’re excused, Miss Wilson.”
I hate the disappointment in his tone. Not because I want his approval, but because he could think I’d seriously put Dafni’s well-being in jeopardy. Disbelief and hurt is evident in my voice as I whisper his name. “Jakob.”
His eyes widen a fraction; in annoyance or surprise, I can’t tell. In a low tone, he calmly asks, “Did I not make myself clear? ”
Miss Owens’s smirk is what finally makes me snap. I’ve done nothing wrong. The three weeks that I’ve been here, I’ve not only taken care of Dafni but have cared for her. I adore her. I took this as a side job more as a favor to my brother and the Petridis family, who has always been close to mine. I’m ashamed that I couldn’t last longer than fourteen days. I hate that I feel like I’m letting down Dafni, but I don’t deserve this. I refuse to be mocked by this hateful woman and take any more of Jakob’s cold, dismissive attitude.
“Yes, you did,” I tell him.
He gives me one of his signature curt nods. Like that settles that. Far from it.
“I’m sure Miss Owens will be happy to take over as Dafni’s nanny,” I continue. “I don’t know why you didn’t think of that before having Noah call me.”
“What? I’m not a nanny.” Disgust laces her every word.
Jakob levels me with a hard look. “I did not have Noah call you.”
I ignore him and focus on the demon. “Clearly, you can do the job better than me.” I turn to Jakob and mimic his nod. “I hope I made myself clear.”
I leave them standing there and don’t look back. It’s not until I get halfway down the road that the guilt settles in. I let Midge get to me and left without talking to Dafni. I did the one thing I swore I’d never do to someone—leave them without saying goodbye.