The Billionaire's Nanny

34

Needless to say, Lucas won the challenge, and I left Binarid shaking and trembling and trying to hold back my screams. Lucas though looked like he was having the time of his life, torturing me right in front of his employees and if I was correct there were a few investors too. In my defense, he neither took it easy on me nor played fair. 

After picking up the kids, I got home limp as a noodle, unable to move my trembling legs. With an evil and smug grin of satisfaction, Lucas carried me in his arms upstairs, that itself was more than enough consolation even though I still wanted to kick him. 

The kids were more than understanding when Lucas told them I was not feeling well and I would have to take the evening off to rest. And as part of my reward for being his good girl, I got to have dinner made by my boyfriend and eat it from his own hands. The rest of my consolation price though, I got after Lucas put the kids to bed.

The rest of the week seemed to drag on, with everyone excited about Mia's arrival which was due Friday. She had called me twice since Monday and Lilian had called too. We seemed to be bonding faster and they had even given me a chance to choose where we would shop when Mia returned. 

Work was heavy on Lucas through the week. I could tell from how tired and stressed he looked every day he returned. He did make time for me and the kids, but the rest of the time he was in his office working all night. I could tell it was from all the problems at his branch in Millan and I hated to see him so worked up, but he refused my help every time I offered, saying he was fine. I knew he wasn't so when he offered to go pick Mia when she arrived Friday night, I refused sternly and asked him to rest with that time. He was really stubborn at first, but with my insistence, he reluctantly agreed to stay home, while I took the kids to the airport to get her. 

"Aunt Mia!" Abby and Aiden squealed at the top of their voices as she came through the baggage claim. She turned around and gave a beaming smile. Her blue eyes were bright with excitement and I knew she was putting a good effort to walk instead of race into the kids waiting arms. 

She looked the simplest I had ever seen her, a blue pair of jeans and an ash button-down sweater and of course her contagious smile and positivity. 

Benard went for her luggage as she slid to the ground and hugged Aiden and Aby that had not stopped their excited screams since she came into view. "My little angels," she wrapped them in a tight hug that lasted seconds as she said a million times how much she had missed them. For a second I almost forgot Mia was like their mother since she had raised them and it must have been hard for her to be away from them for so long. 

She placed many kisses all over their faces until their giggles came out as screams. "God I've missed you both so much," another row of kisses.

"Chris," she cried, as she got to her feet and hugged me too. 

"How have you been Mia," I asked as she released me from her warm hug.

"I don't know how I've been fine these last few weeks, but right now I feel like I'm about to burst with excitement at seeing you all, especially my princess and genius." she looked down at them, they stood closely next to her and she blew them each a kiss. "where's the asshole," 

I snorted, and before I could answer, Abby asked, "aunt Mia, who is asso?" 

"It's daddy" Aiden answered, "that's what aunt Mia and Lilian call daddy," he said proudly. 

Mia and I shared an amused look, she was trying to hold back her laughter just like me. I leaned down to correct him before we both got into some serious trouble, "Hey buddy, that is just a nickname your aunt had for you daddy before, but right now he is no longer that. His new nickname is now gentleman," 

"Tell me about it," Mia snickered behind me. Thankfully, Bernard came back with her luggage before the kids had the chance to ask any more questions on the topic. 

"You have not told me where my brother is," Mia asked again, "and I want to know how he switched from asshole to gentleman in just these few months I left,"

"He's home resting." I answered, "I made him do so, don't be mad at him. He's been too stressed from work." 

Mia's head turned to me, eyes wide and mouth hanging, "you made him stay home and rest, and Lucas did so." her confusion was genuine since she did not know just how much had changed since she was last here.

"He was a little reluctant but yeah," I opened the car and let the kids in while Benard dropped the luggage in the trunk. "And before you ask me ore questions, where is your fiancee, everyone has been on about meeting him again, I for one have never seen him so..." 

A blush crept up her cheeks at the change of topic and she smiled sheepishly. "Well, he would be here in two weeks so you can all have some patience till then," 

"I don't need to ask if you had a great time," I wagged a finger around her face, "that grin says it all," 

"I do not know what you are talking about," she rolled her eyes, but her blush only deepened. "Also I need to tell Lilian I am here now, I've missed Zoey too," 

She climbed into the back of the car next to the kids, while I sat next to Benard in front. "I did not know Lucas changed Benard's car," she said as she tried to get familiar with the car. 

"This is not mine, Miss Mia," Benard said with a small smile as the engine roared to life. 

"Who's is it," 

"It's for Chris," the kids answered happily before I had the chance to speak. 

"f**k me," she mumbled, eyes wide. 

"Mia!" I scolded, thankful that the kids were too focused on their tablets to hear her. 

"Do not Mia me," she warned, "I am hearing all about this once we get home. Jesus I was only gone two months," she cried. 

"And one week," Aiden said proudly. 

Mia gave him an impressed look, "That's impressive, you have both grown so much or maybe it's just because I have not seen you for so long,"

"Grown does not nearly cover it," I chuckled and fixed my seatbelt. 

"Aunt Mia, we can fix our room by ourselves now," Abby started, her eyes glittering with joy and pride as she spoke. 

"And we can get ourselves ready for school now," Aiden added. 

"No we can't," Abby shot back. 

"Yet," I said as I typed a message to Lucas to ask how he was doing. It was my trick to know if he had gotten some sleep as I asked. If he replied, I would know he was not sleeping and well he would be in some hot water with me. 

"Chris says we have to take it step-by-step," Abby said, "First our room, then to get ourselves dressed after school, and then we'll learn how to prepare for school on our own." 

"I cannot say who I'm more proud of, you or Chris," Abby said in a croaked voice, I looked behind to see that she was fighting tears. Trust Mia to have watery eyes at something anyone else would see as trivial. 

"Me," Aiden raised his hand. 

"No, me," Abby added. 

"I think, your aunt is proud of you both," I gave her a reassuring smile, and she mouthed a thank you to me, while the kids went on and on about all the new things they learned how to do. 

Meanwhile, my phone chimed and I frowned seeing that the message was from Lucas. The fact that he did reply, but not immediately as he usually did was enough proof that he was awake and working again. Workaholic. 

I shook my head and shoved my phone in my purse, then turned to the kids, "who's ready to have some dessert?" 

Benard pulled over in front of the house and the kids jumped out, racing and pulling Mia too. They were excited about showing her how they helped to get her room fixed for her return, so excited that they led her upstairs without letting her see Lucas first. 

I shook my head with a chuckle and helped Benard bring the luggage out of the trunk. As with every time I tried to help with stuff, he refused and insisted on carrying them all in on his own, while I was forced to go inside. 

I met Lucas drumming his fingers on the kitchen counter when I walked in. Emma was at the sink, trying to clean up after making our dinner. I sucked in a breath and put on my face that said "I am upset," before walking in. 

He got to his feet and I strode past him to Emma without sparing him so much as a glance. "Emma dear, do you need help with anything?" I folded my long sleeves and asked. 

"I'm almost done here, but thanks for asking." her eyes darted to the door occasionally as she spoke and I knew she was just as excited for Mia's arrival, but knowing her, she would always put her job first. 

"I know you want to see her," I said and handed her a towel to wipe her hands, "she's in her room. I'll finish up the dishes here and serve dinner."

She almost jumped to hug me, but I could tell she was saving that hug for Mia, so I let her go and resumed washing the dishes, well aware of Lucas's boring gaze from behind me. I grinned, seeing as my feigned annoyance was working. 

"What's up muffin," he said as he stepped closer, but I quickly turned around before he could reach for me and wagged a finger in his face. "Do not muffin me," 

"You're upset," 

"That I am," I gave another grin with my back turned to him. "What part of getting some rest—sleep, do you not understand." 

"I did sleep for about two hours..." I shot him a glare and he paused to reconsider his words, "okay I could not sleep, but only because I was also excited about my sister coming home." 

"You're only making it worse, it was a simple order and it was for your own good too." 

"I do not take orders," he growled and turned me around swiftly making me drop the dishes in my hand. 

"But I asked nicely," I said in a much calmer tone. 

"Even if it comes out nice," he chuckled, "also no you did not ask nicely,"

"I do not want to talk to you," I said and turned around just in time to let out the grin I was holding back. 

"You do know I can see you smiling right now," he chuckled and stepped closer to wrap his hand around me from behind, "You're not as sly as you think and I am way taller than you Chris."

"I'm smiling, but that does not make me any less upset," I tried to twist out of his grip with no use. "you've been working yourself out all week and I just wanted to see you rest a bit before you have a breakdown."

"I'm not going to have a breakdown just because I had a few extra time this week," a low chuckle vibrated from his chest, sending shivers coursing through me. 

I shook my head tersely to wipe off the images my head had already begun creating. Focus. 

"You have not had any sleep for four days, except you sleep at work and I know you don't, so yes you can have a breakdown from all that over time." I retorted. 

"Okay if it means so much to you..." 

"It does," I raised my head to scowl at him. 

"I'm sorry, let me take that again, I'll do as you say." 

"You're only saying that so I can get off your back and for your information, I already have," I folded my hand across my chest. 

"I promise," he used one arm to release my folded arms and leaned down to nibble on my neck softly. "After dinner, I'll go get some sleep."

"Thank you," I said with a satisfactory smile, this time, he let me turn around and kiss him on his chin, giggling as his stubble brushed my lips lightly. 

"There's friction again," I noted. 

"I told you it grows fast," he chuckled, "also I think I deserve a lot more than a chaste kiss if I'm sacrificing the time especially reserved for exploring your body, for sleep." 

"Everyone is at home,' I reminded him. 

"Why does it matter?" he shrugged. 

"Because they do not know about us just yet," I quirked my brows, "especially Mia," 

"That does not bother me, I have no intentions of hiding you from my family or kids, and if I still known my sister, as well as I think I do, I know she would not mind that you are my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?!" 

Mia's voice came from the doorway and from the way her voice dripped with anger, I could tell she did not take the shocking news so well. I turned sharply to see the iciest glare aimed directly at me, along with some invisible bullets on the side. Her gaze was cold, and murderous like she would shoot me on the spot if she had a gun. I had never seen her look so upset before. 

"s**t!"