Page 10 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
A laugh bubbled from her. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“Excellent,” Molly said, her voice cracking slightly, her scent spiking with anxiety, “I’m sure we’ll be able to find a compromise that suits both parties. Miss Copperfield, why don’t you write out your requirements and then I’m sure Mr. Accardi can—"
“I can deal with Daisy myself,” said Nicolas, his eyes never leaving her. A blush rose hot on her cheeks.
“I don’twantyou dealing with me. I’m not taking the job.”
“Fifteen thousand.”
“Fifteen thousand a year?” Molly’s voice pitched upwards. “Forgive me, Mr. Accardi, but I’m afraid that falls rather short of our—"
“Not fifteen thousand a year. Fifteen thousand a month.”
“Amonth!” Molly squealed, followed by a series of inscrutable noises.
Daisy didn’t care. She meant what she had said. She’d sooner go bankrupt.
“I’m not working for you.”
“Twenty thousand.”
“Nicolas, this isn’t a negotiation, I’m not—"
“Twenty-five”
She huffed, pushing her hair out of her face, her feet tapping against the floor. “I told you, it’s not a case of money. I can’t commute to you, and Ican’tmove in with you.”
“If you’re worried about the size of my house, then I can assure you—"
“Oh, of course,” Molly said, having apparently regained the ability to speak. “Mr. Accardi, remember I mentioned earlier that Miss Copperfield here is a mother herself, and—"
“What?” Nicolas growled, every muscle in his body tensing. Daisy swallowed, fear replacing her irritation.
Shit. She had to keep her face neutral. She couldn’t react, couldn’t get angry, couldn’t give it away—
“You have a child?” Nicolas’s fists were clenched, his jaw working.
“You do, too,” said Daisy, careful not to break eye contact.
He was silent for a while, his eyes a distant, unknowable storm, before he finally spoke again. “They can come with you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your child. Bring your child with you to live with me. Apart from anything else, it would be…beneficial for my daughter to socialize more.”
Daisy’s heart twisted in her chest. Of course. In her shock, she hadn’t quite put two and two together, but the reality came into sharp focus. Nicolas had a child. Which meant…which meant he likely had a partner. A girlfriend. A wife, perhaps. She didn’t dare look down at his hands in search of a wedding band.
Of course he had someone. He was Nicolas Accardi. Women threw themselves at his feet, shifter and human alike. Of course he hadn’t stayed single.
Not like she had.
That did, however, beg the question—why was he so apparently desperate for her to come and work for him? Surely his partner wouldn’t want Daisy anywhere near him, or their child. Not after…not after everything.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice small.
If he was shocked by the question, he didn’t let it show. “Because I want the best for my daughter. If I’m to return to work, I’d rather not leave her in the hands of a stranger. You’re not a stranger.”
