Chapter 5: The Billionaire's Change of Heart
1345 Words
-Jafaar's POV-
“Have a seat,” I watched her as she settled into a single large chair in my living room.
The baby looked like her; beautiful, but she had my eyes, those freckles, and that hair. Unmistakable. She was one beautiful baby. And so was her mother; large, doe-like eyes with a color similar to the whiskey swirling in my glass, her hair, raven dark against her cinnamon, caramel skin. And she had some meat on her bones for sure. There was definitely a lot to admire. It was a distraction. And not a welcome one.
“Thank you,” she said in a humble tone, one contrary to the feisty one I had experienced on the elevator. It was certainly amusing. It was most certainly even harder to hide my mirth at her snappiness, as well as my admitted attraction to it.
“For what?” I lost my train of thought thinking of her physical assets. Like I said...distraction, and it was frustrating. I found every response dictated to her was filled with attitude at this point, because despite the few pros, I was still overwhelmingly frustrated by the cons of this situation.
“The water.” There’s that attitude again.
“You can check that bloody attitude of yours. I’ve had just about enough of it.”
“I…I’m sorry, I just…I don’t know what this is about, and I’m nervous. And you...well,” she hesitated.
"Well, go on. Spit it out."
She sighed frustrated, "Well, it's not like you're the nicest guy I've ever met," she confessed. "So...I am a bit anxious."
I'd say that her assumption of me was a bit rude, but it wasn't like I was being necessarily cordial to her. So, I shrugged off her insult of me being mean and cut to the chase. “You’re right to be nervous. What you did-putting me in this compromising position? And at the worst possible time!”
“It wasn’t my intention. I just want Jasmine to be-”
“Yeah, yes, I bloody know what you want! You want me to make things easier for you because you made the stupid decision of having a child that you can not afford.”
“That is not at all what happened!” In one fluid motion, she swiftly stood to her feet and gingerly placed the baby behind her on the sofa. I noticed her protectively take a step back against the chair. I was assuming so that she'd know if the baby rolled. Clearly, she didn't trust that I'd care enough to intervene if she did.
“I had a dam good job!" She snapped, demanding my attention. I was at the top of my career! I’d been weighing the options for years prior to the three years that it took me to even make this decision. Tears began to mist in her eyes. “I never…could have imagined that this would happen to me-even with all of my preparations and well-thought-out decision-making.”
“Apparently, it wasn’t that well-thought-out if you’re standing here in my bloody home with nothing to your name but an old car, and a baby.”
A bit harsh, I’ll admit. But it was true nonetheless.
“Look, I…I’m not asking you to take care of me. I’m not even asking you to love her, not even a tenth as much as I do. Get a nanny. Let the nanny raise her until I can come get her. You won’t have anything to do with her. You won’t even have to look at her. I just…foster is not the answer for me.”
She was not a bad person, that much I’d gathered. I still didn't like her, however, and I was still certain that I didn’t trust her. It was hard for me to trust anyone after what Princess did to me.
“Sign this.” I slammed a few sheets of paper on the table.
“Wh-is this a contract?” She looked at me in bewilderment.
“NDA,” I said. “If I’m going to take care of this kid, I’m going to need reassurances that this won’t get out. I’m not claiming a child that I didn’t ask for.”
She looked over it with rapid eyes, nodding with every flip of the page. “I-I won’t, I promise!” She immediately signed the papers. “I promise as-as soon as I get a job, I’ll come back and get her, and we’ll be out of your hair-”
“You’re not going anywhere,” I quickly clarified. “I’m not hiring some stranger to be in my bloody business. “You’re going to stay here, and take care of that child. On your own. As far as a job, it’s nothing special, but you will get paid a hefty amount, enough to get you out of here in a few months. Maybe less.”
“What?! You...you're giving me a job?” her eyes widened with excitement. “I-thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Don’t get too excited. You’re not too good to clean up after others are you? I assume not, considering the position you are currently in.” I remarked, and admittedly, I could have been a bit less condescending when I did.
“No-no, I’ll do anything! Jasmine is my only concern.” She responded without hesitation. This, another clear indication of her priorities seeming to be in the right place.
“Hm, good.” I grabbed the contract after she finished signing it. “Come on,” I wasn't a fan of this part. As we made our way to the other side of my spacious condo, I began to explain the rules. “Just because you’ll be staying here does not mean that you have carte blanche to do whatever you want. You take the back elevator when you leave.”
“How? I don’t have a key-”
“I’ll give a temporary code each morning.”
“Oh.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Maybe for you?” she said. “It seems tedious. I don’t want to cause trouble-”
“You mean outside of what you've already done?" I retorted sarcastically. "You’ve already done that.” We reached the bedroom. “Here’s the spare. Bathroom inside, towels and washcloths inside. Fortunately, for you, the washer and dryer are on this side of the apartment. I don’t expect to see or hear,” I glanced at the little one. “Much frorm either of you, if this goes right. Any questions?”
I expected none. Until I saw the look on her face.
“What is it?” I asked impatiently.
“W-Jasmine…she…I mean, I’m grateful for everything. I…who’s going to watch her while we…are not here?”
Did not think of that.
“I will take care of it…make sure she’s ready in the morning.”
“If…if you have a childcare plan, why not-”
“Are you really further questioning my kindness?”
“No-no, I’m sorry. I…I’m sorry.”
This woman!
I inhaled and then exhaled to keep what very little patience I had left intact. “I’ll bring your things up. Just-”
“You don’t have to do that. I can-”
“I said…I will do it. You…take care of the child.”
-Journee's POV-
I watched him leave. He was clearly irritated, and had a lot on his mind. How could I blame him? “Thank you!” I yelled after him. He stopped, taking one final look at me. “Thank you so much,” I reiterated. Despite his disdain, I was very extremely grateful.
He simply nodded and walked off in the opposite direction.
I wanted to cry. I was so happy. I walked towards the bed with Jasmine in my arms. I sat down and just stared lovingly into my daughter’s eyes.
“It’s not home just yet, baby…but it’s a start. I promise. Everything’s going to be okay.”
- Writer
