Chapter 4 CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

MILLICENT

My heart races, and heat flushes through me.

Romeo.

What is he doing here? What the hell is going on? Is he her son?

Nausea rushes through me, and my stomach knots. I cannot be here. I have to leave.

“This is Millicent Stark. She’s sixteen years old and will be a live-in nanny for the siblings. She’s amazing, and I’m so glad I found her. Your cousin referred her, and I’m blown away.” Rose gushes, cheeks flushed in happiness, eyes glinting.

Everything fads away, and floods back in. I cannot be here. I cannot work for her. I can’t stay under the same roof as him. He might not have touched me, but he’s complicit and just as bad as them.

He doesn’t speak. He just looks at me, stunned. I almost melt under his unflickering gaze.

I get up on trembling legs, goosebumps breaking over my skin. I hold on to the nape of my neck and try to steady myself, but my pounding heart doesn’t stop racing. 

“Millicent?” Rose whispers, but she sounds so far away.

I try not to fall deeper into the throes of a panic attack and regain my footing.

“Are you okay? You look pale.” She points out, brows furrowed in concern.

“I need … I need to go. I don’t think this can work.” I stammer, avoiding her eyes. 

“What? D … Did I say something wrong?” She grabs my hand, holding me desperately.

Oh, God. I can’t do this.

Her touch scalds me, and her perfume fills my nostrils. My head swims, and I try to regain my footing.

“I’m sorry, Mrs Sinclair, but I don’t think this can work. I cannot be a live-nanny, and I can’t work for you. I have another job lined up, and will take that instead. I hope you find what you’re looking for, but it’s not me. I’m truly sorry about this.” I whisper, looking everywhere but her.

“You can’t leave, Millicent. You’re perfect for the job. My children will love you. I can’t … I don’t trust anyone else with them, and I know it seems insane that I’m trusting you, but I do. I really do.” She rambles, falling over her words, eyes filled with panic.

My chest caves in painfully, but I step back, letting her touch drop.

“I’ll increase it. Four grand per week, which is twenty thousand every month. You don’t have to worry about feeding. I’ll take care of you. The relationship will be purely symbiotic. I’ll be there to guard you with the children. Come on, Millicent.” She urges, frowning at me, wondering what she has done wrong.

Four grand a week. Twenty thousand a month. I have never made that kind of money before. It’s a lot of money and will make all my problems disappear, but I have to endure Romeo, and pretend I don’t despise every inch of him.

“Mom,” Romeo scoffs, “We’ll find someone else.”

His dismissal assures me that I’m making the right decision. 

“Your son is right. You’ll find someone else. Thank you for your kindness and consideration, though. It means a lot.” I smile at her and turn around.

Kai is waiting for me with a frown. He doesn’t speak, just opens the door for me, and leads me to his car.

The silence lingers for a moment, and I inhale deeply, wondering if I’ve made the right decision. I can change my family’s life with that kind of money, but because of pride, I’ve refused.

He checks his pocket and frowns, “I forgot my phone.” 

I lean against his car, head aching, heart stinging.

“When were you going to tell me you’re related to Romeo Sinclair?” I glance at Kai, confused and very curious.

He scratches the nape of his neck sheepishly and murmurs, “We’re related. I just don’t like to talk about it. We grew up together, and used to be closer, but he’s a douche now, all macho and performative. I try not to relate to him in school. We ignore each other, and it works. We don’t even interact outside school. I only come here for his parents and siblings.”

His confession hangs in the air.

Romeo is too much of an asshole that his cousin doesn’t even want to be friends with him.

“And your parents know?” 

“Yes, they know. They believe we drifted apart. We’re not even in the same circle. Can we put Romeo aside and talk about this? Are you sure you really want to reject this offer?” His words are laced with concern.

He knows my situation at home. He knows I don’t have the luxury to reject a job.

“Romeo makes my life hell in school, Kai. He watches as his girlfriend and his teammate bully me. She tried to drown me today. Drown me. She’s insane, and he stood there, watching, doing nothing, validating her actions. I could have been hurt. I could have passed out, but that’s none of his concern.” I seethe, cheeks flushing in anger.

I remember how it felt to thrash underwater, how the helplessness seeped in like ink, how the fear wrapped around me like a thick, stifling blanket.

“Drown you?” Kai rasps, shocked.

I smile sadly and shrug, “It’s not the worst thing she has ever done. She has always been insane.”

He shakes his head, “You’ll still tell me everything, but for now, let’s focus on this job. The triplets are a handful, but they can also be the sweetest. Rose is very kind, and her husband loves her very much, which means he’s going to like you. She’s a good judge of character and has taken a liking to you. This job is a jackpot. You shouldn’t let Romeo take it from you. He has taken so much from you. Do not let him win, not this time.”

I frown and listen to him.

“Do what I do. Pretend he doesn’t exist. Ignore him, and do your job. You don’t need him. His mother needs you. Focus on what this means for you, and ignore Romeo. Tell her you’ll take the job.” He advises passionately.

I sigh and nod.

We walk back to the mansion. He’s right beside me, a remarkable moral support.

I frown when Romeo’s voice floats through, and still, when I hear my name.

“She’s nothing but a gold digger.”