Page 42 of The Billionaire and the Nanny

How dare Tia make me feel guilty about one stray kiss while she was doing so much worse?

I wanted to break down her door in anger. I wanted to break this Derek’s face. I wanted to make Tia watch as I broke stupid Derek’s stupid face. But none of that would do anything to change the fact that she was turning out to be just like Natalie.

We might not be in a relationship, but Tia was still seeing another man behind my back. I wondered what it was about me that made women think it was okay to cheat on me. But all of that ended now. Right now.

I kissed my daughter goodnight and headed straight to my room to work all night. When I woke up the next day, it was past noon, and the household was in its usual pre-Christmas frenzy. I took Maddie to help out at the local soup kitchen for a few hours, ignoring Aunt Fee’s suggestion to take Tia with us.

“She can help you set up for tonight,” I replied. “And give her the day off tomorrow, Aunt Fee.”

We always gave the staff the day off for Christmas, and I wanted to underline the fact that she was nothing but an employee in this house.

“Where will she go?” asked Aunt Fee, nonplussed.

I shrugged.

“Let’s leave that to her to decide.”

My aunt shot me a disappointed look as she agreed to tell Tia that she had the day off. I know she enjoyed her matchmaking games, but this time, she had picked the wrong girl. If I wanted another wife who cheated on me, I’d have remarried long ago. If I ever married again, it would be for love, and it wouldn’t be to a woman who stood for all that was wrong in my life.

We got back in time for dinner and a loud, raucous game of Monopoly with the whole family. Tia had the evening to herself, too, because I made it clear to my aunt and brothers that this was strictly time for the family. If they forced me to include Tia, I would also invite Leanna to spend the evening with us. That was an empty threat because I couldn’t stand being around the woman, but it was enough to make my family back down.

Tia came down to wrestle an over-excited Maddie into bed, and I spent the rest of the night working on the contract for the takeover. Maddie woke me up early the next day, yelling Merry Christmas in my ear. I carried her down to the sitting room, where my brothers were already huddled next to the tree and fighting over presents. Ramsay brought us all some coffee, and we waited for Aunt Fee. To my dismay, Tia followed her into the room.

“I’ve asked Tia to join us as well because she’s almost part of the family,” announced my aunt, and was met by shouts of agreement from my stupid brothers.

“This is really not necessary,” said Tia, looking uncomfortable. “I’m just Maddie’s nanny.”

“You’re my friend, too,” said Maddie, taking her by the hand and leading her to the couch. And I didn’t know how, but Aunt Fee maneuvered me into sitting right next to her!

I glared at my aunt, but she went around the room distributing presents gaily. As always, Maddie opened hers firstand exclaimed in delight at her loot. Then she looked up at Tia in surprise.

“Didn’t you get me anything, Tia?” she asked.

I hushed her immediately.

“Tia doesn’t have to get you a present, Maddie,” I began, but Tia interrupted me.

“Actually, I have a very special present for you, honey. Ramsay is bringing it in right now.”

As she spoke, Ramsay came in with a small covered basket and set it in front of Maddie. She bent over it and screamed in delight when she raised the cover to show us the ugliest black cat I’d ever seen in my life.

I was on my feet immediately.

“What the hell is that?” I roared.

“This is Louisa,” announced my daughter happily, picking the cat up and hugging her to her chest. “She’s a cat.”

“That’s not a cat. That’s vermin,” I argued.

Everyone in the room glared at me, and I glared at Tia in turn. She had turned my whole family against me, and now she was introducing vermin into my house! And then, she had the nerve to tell me off.

“Louisa only has one eye. You be nice to the poor thing,” she scolded.

“Daddy, say hi to her,” insisted Maddie, before I could rip Tia’s head off.

I put out a reluctant hand to pet the vermin, and she hissed at me.

“See? That is not a nice cat! We’ll get you a real one that purrs when you pet her,” I said, trying to cajole Maddie, but she was having none of it.

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