Chapter 22
“Good morning, Princess Nina! Do you always wake up with such a big smile?”
God, I perfectly understand why her father is so in love with her. The little girl is enchanting. Who wouldn’t be completely at her beck and call when greeted with that smile in the morning?
She’s sitting in the crib, and I think that in a short time, Guillermo will have to lower the height. I have no doubt she’ll quickly learn to climb it. Yesterday, Nina didn’t stop for a second.
I took a quick shower and came to check on her. I would have offered to spend the day with her again, but two things stopped me: one is that I need to change clothes, and the other, the most important one, is that now, in the light of morning, my Cinderella moment is over.
It wasn’t anything he said; I’m the one determined to keep my feet on the ground. Still following the clues from what I’ve read in romances, I’m not going to play the na?ve girl who waits for a marriage proposal after a night of sex—although the sex part didn’t happen.
We spent the night on the couch.
A big, huge, comfortable couch, but still, a couch.
Although he held me close to his body the whole time, I think I received a clear message: No bedroom, no intimacy beyond the sexual.
That didn’t matter while we were sleeping because the feeling of being in his arms was too good, but when I woke up early this morning and lifted my head from his chest, he was already awake and watching me.
I couldn’t decipher what I saw in that look, but I thought he wanted to tell me something and didn’t know how, so to avoid embarrassment for both of us, I got up with the excuse of taking a shower. Then I quickly dressed and came to Nina’s room because now I’m the one needing space.
And that’s why, even though I regret that the poor thing has to spend the day at the office again because as far as I know, the issue with the nanny hasn’t been resolved, I didn’t offer to stay with her, not even at the hotel.
I have no clue what will happen to us from here, but I certainly won’t be the needy girl who hangs around the boss.
“Who the hell are you?”
At the sound of the aggressive tone, Valentina, who is in my arms, pouts and starts to cry. For my part, I just got the confirmation that I’m not spineless—for the second time in a few weeks—or I would have died of fright.
There’s a man in the room as tall as Guillermo, and although they’re not exactly physically alike, I have no doubt he’s one of the Caldwell-Oviedo brothers.
Yesterday he told me there are five of them in total, counting the girl, Martina, so even without knowing the name of the last one, I mentally eliminate the golfer, the actor, and the girl, leaving only one element—whose name and occupation I don’t know.
“Olívia,” I answer, unsure and at the same time wanting to hit him.
“I didn’t ask your name, but what are you doing in the nursery with my niece?”
“Speak quietly. Can’t you see you scared her?”
Nina clings to my neck as if trying to climb me. My protective instinct kicks in, and I move her away from the rude man.
“What’s going on here?” Guillermo appears at the bedroom door already in his suit pants but shirtless.
“Who is she?”
“Olívia.”
“Yes, that’s what she told me. But what is she?”
That is the million-dollar question, and now I couldn’t be more embarrassed even if I wanted to.
Instead of answering the guy who I’m now sure is his brother, Guillermo asks, “What did you come here for so early, Joaquín?”
Joaquín—so that’s the name of the arrogant being.
I take a few steps closer to Guillermo and without looking into his eyes, I say, “Hold her, please. He scared her.”
The little girl doesn’t want to let go of me, and only when she sees that I’m passing her to her father does she release her little hands from around my neck.
“You’ll be okay, my love. Your daddy’s here. It was great spending the day with you, Nina.” I give her a kiss on her forehead and quickly leave the room, without making eye contact with either of them.
What’s that saying? No response is the best response. Guillermo took too long to explain to his brother who I am, probably because he doesn’t even know himself.
Unfortunately, I do. I’m an employee who slept at the boss’s house.
Now in the morning, what happened doesn’t seem natural anymore, and feeling embarrassed, I quickly descend the stairs.
Yesterday, I left my bag near the entrance, and searching for my phone—which still has battery, thank God—I request an Uber. I already have the corporate credit card given to me by the company, and since I came to take care of Nina, I’ll consider this a work expense.
Wait time: two minutes, the app indicates.
Great.
I didn’t really have any intention of going back to the hotel with him to avoid allowing room for gossip among the other employees, but it seems like the choice was taken out of my hands.
Yesterday afternoon, several heads turned to look at us as we left together, and after what just happened, I’m more determined than ever to keep a safe distance.
Caldwell-Oviedo Tower Hotel
I took another quick shower and got ready in a few minutes, as I was technically running late.
Shortly after, I went looking for Melissa.
I intend to spend the day as her shadow. The more occupied my mind is, the better.
“So, did you stay with the baby yesterday?” Melissa probes.
Although I had no doubt she would ask, there’s no chance I’ll talk about Guillermo or Nina with her. “Yes.”
“Had you already met her?”
“No, it was the first time I saw her.”
She sighs and then smiles. “I’m sorry. It’s not fair to pressure you for answers, but the entire hotel was talking about it yesterday, and Kathleen seemed about to kill someone. And speaking of Kathleen, Mr. Guillermo said he wants to talk to me this afternoon. Do you know what it’s about?”
I drop the salad—which I wasn’t feeling like eating anyway, to start with. “Melissa, I’m not sure what your question means, but let me give you a heads-up: I’m just an employee, so how could I know what our boss wants to talk to you about?”
“Wow, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It was just a question.”
“I have to get back to work. I’m sorry,” I say, already getting up, but she stops me, holding my arm.
“Olívia, I didn’t mean to upset you. I promise not to be nosy anymore.”
“You already promised that before.”
“I know, but how can I not be curious? Mr. Guillermo has never let strangers near Valentina.”
“I don’t know anything about that, but let me tell you what I think about prying into others’ lives: it’s none of our business, Melissa. No matter what you or anyone else is thinking, what others live through is not our concern.”
Her cheeks turn red instantly. “I know. You have my word that even if I catch you two in the act, I won’t open my mouth to ask anything again.”
I should be upset because even after apologizing, she doesn’t give up, but I end up laughing at her audacity. “Alright. Thanks for your consideration,” I say sardonically. “But now I really need to get back to work.”