Page 13 of The Nanny and the Don
Soon I was backing out of the game and going corporate. My connections to the street were even stronger once I was able to finance up-and-coming players in the game. I made sure my people were always able to eat and in return they made sure I didn’t have to lift a finger unless I wanted to. I never had to.
I stayed out of the way these days because I knew there was always some clout chaser somewhere trying to earn stripes offa nigga like me. I had lost enough to the game, mainly my own mother and sister. It took ten years for me to even consider falling in love again. It only took a couple of days for me to abandon all hope again. I knew better than to hope, and I did it anyway.
I felt like such a fool for still wanting her. I had such high hopes for us, but now I was back in work mode. The only thing I could do was keep grinding and letting the distraction of a hard day’s work keep me occupied. The only real problems I had were when my money was missing.
Unless Brendan could explain what was going on soon and very soon, I was about to start looking at him sideways. If he would steal a woman right from under my nose and flaunt her in my face at an event my board members organized, he was capable of anything.
Six
Devlan
With my earbuds in my ears, I danced and sang my heart out as I finished up the dishes and put them away. It was eleven thirty at night. I’d showered and gotten ready for bed, drank two glasses of wine, and tried my hand at actually getting some sleep for a change. That only lasted about an hour before I was on my feet again and headed to the kitchen.
My socked feet slid across the floor as the bridge of the song came on. I was always torn between listening to music or finishing up listening to a book while I cooked or cleaned up. Tonight, I was playing mix and match.
When the song ended, I opened my audiobook app and started the next book on my never-ending reading list. I loved a good adult fairy tale with a happily ever after. They hit even harder now that I felt like my life was actually becoming one.
Once my book started, I removed my socks and left them in the living room while I swept the floor then put together a concoction to mop the floor. Cleaning and working with my hands was always a good distraction.
A few weeks ago, I would have never thought I would be dating my former boss let alone spending the weekend in his house so I could clean it while he was away. As annoying as Brendan was with all his bragging and grandstanding, he was equally sweet and funny. Getting to know him helped me realize that he worked hard for his money. I couldn’t blame him for bragging a little on his success.
He explained how he’d put himself through college selling drugs before leaving the street life alone and building his accounting clientele up brick by brick. When there was a crisis or big financial decision to be made, he would be on the phone for hours helping his clients sort them out. I was attracted to his drive and how dedicated to his job he was.
He made sure to shower me with gifts and money in lieu of the time he couldn’t spend with me. Even with my rent paid up for the next few months, I found myself spending more and more time at his place. Dating Brendan felt like a fairy tale come true. A handsome, rich man wanted little old me.
I was just an awkward, tall girl with dreams of taking care of hundreds of little children for the rest of my life. Then one night this dashing man hired me for a job that I could barely tolerate before ultimately coming in and sweeping me off my feet. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better story if I tried. Brendan seemed just as happy to have me in his life as I was for him to rescue me from the life I hated.
It was his idea that I spend most of my time at his place. He wanted me to move in with him, but I wasn’t ready for that. His reasoning was that he worked a lot but wanted to spend as much time with me as he could, even if it was just after a long day at the office or a few days on the road. It made sense to me to want to have someone to greet you with a kiss after a hard day’s work.
I missed having someone to come home to with Kelsea moving out of our apartment. We had only been dating for closeto a month. Of course, I felt like we were moving too fast but found comfort in knowing that I still had a place of my own. I got the feeling that he liked the idea of having a live-in maid just as much as he liked having a live-in girlfriend. Brendan liked having someone there to cook and clean while he was away, and I enjoyed doing it. His money was good, so I wasn’t complaining.
For the past few days, he had been on a business trip. He’d told me that he was returning yesterday, and so far, I hadn’t heard from him or been able to get in touch with him. I didn’t know if I should panic or not.
Brendan was in Nevada and had already let me know that his cell reception was spotty in the desert. It was a struggle to not worry about him, which was why I was up cleaning and mopping an already clean kitchen after midnight.
A looming presence behind me made my heart flutter as I turned on my heels to welcome my man home. The face splitting smile I wore for Brendan fell, and my stomach dropped through the floor when I found someone else standing behind me instead. Not just someone else, it washim.
My eyes darted around the kitchen for any sign that Brendan was here too. I didn’t see him, but that didn’t stop me from pulling one of the buds out of my ear. The sound of my heart drumming in my ears was deafening. I was almost certain that he could hear it too.
“Where’s Brendan?” I asked him.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“How did you get in here?”
“Where is your boyfriend, sweetheart?” he asked, taking a few steps to close the space between us. Suddenly I felt naked in the boy shorts and sports bra that had been just right for bedtime.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered nervously.
“What the hell do you mean you don’t know?” he snapped.
“I don’t know where he is. How did you get in here? Do you have a key?”
“So, you’re in here mopping and cleaning up like you’re the maid, and you don’t even know where he is? How long has he been gone? Where did he say he was going?” he quizzed.
“He was in Nevada meeting with somebody or doing whatever he does. I don’t ask him about work. He was supposed to come back this morning, but he didn’t show up.”
“And you’re not the least bit concerned?” he asked, narrowing his eyes as if he didn’t believe me.
