So, Shall We Get Married?
Chapter 20

I didn’t want any kind of trouble with those girls, they looked like spoiled brats. It was clear they didn’t need a babysitter, more like they needed to be put into military school.

-Mr. Palmer, I appreciate your…

-Can we talk in my office? I’d like to make the job proposal formal, and you’ll see if it suits you or not.

-That’s nice! -You hire your own mistress to work for you. You hire your own mistress to look after us, what a great father you are.

Talia turns and leaves just like that. Olivia faithfully believed that she shouldn’t take that job, she’d be crazy to say yes to that man. She would definitely say a resounding no to Caleb. Her double trouble she wasn’t going to put up with.

It was an exorbitant amount of money on that check. It was a lot of money to be just a nanny to two spoiled little girls. Olivia looked at the paper with astonished eyes, it was not possible that he was offering her that amount just to take care of her daughters.

Either he was very desperate, or he’d gone mad… although, if she looked at it closely, those girls were walking demons. They were so feisty and spoiled, it was well worth the amount.

On the other hand, it wasn’t right that he should think of those girls that way. Maybe their mother was too permissive, that’s why they didn’t listen to their father. But then again, where the hell was the mother?

The brunette looked up at the space around her, there were only pictures of the girls with their father, but there was no mother anywhere. Was she dead?

-So, what do you think about my proposal? -Caleb’s voice brings her back to reality. I’m sorry I was so mysterious, but if I told him what the job was about, he might not have wanted to come to my house.

-Why weren’t you honest in the first place?

-You know, it’s just that when I look for a girl to become my daughters’ nanny they refuse. If I told him, it was possible he would refuse.

-Why would she? -He frowns, not understanding a damn thing.

-No one wants to babysit my daughters, everyone knows that.

-What are you talking about? I don’t understand why he had to know.

Caleb sharpens his gaze and thinks about whether she was pulling his leg. How come he didn’t know about his daughters’ former nannies.

-None of them stay long enough, there’s a lot of talk about that in the gossip magazines.

He says to himself mentally, looking away…

-Well, I don’t read magazines much.

-Ah!

That was funny, Caleb thought. He was a well-known man, everyone read about his private life in the gossip magazines. And she didn’t even bother to look into his life.

-Anyway, is he interested in the job?

-It’s a lot you’re paying, I think it’s exaggerated.

-It’s what I usually pay girls,” she raises her face in complete astonishment. I even thought about raising the amount a little, it might encourage the next nanny.

Olivia notices the desperation on Caleb’s face, apparently he really needed a nanny for his daughters. But there were a lot of things at stake; the attraction she felt for him, the temper of those girls and that they suspected that if all the previous nannies had left it was because they made their lives miserable, she would be no exception.

-His daughters are…” She looked down, she had no idea how to tell him they were terrible.

-I know what your daughters are like, I’ve tried to correct them, but the truth is that with so much work and well, their grandparents spoil them a lot. It’s hard for me to support them, well…” He looked down, he seemed defeated and a bit exhausted.

-And his mother? -He asks curiously.

-Will she take the job? -He asks her in return.

She wasn’t an idiot, it was clear that she was changing the subject. How stupid, she asked something she shouldn’t have asked. What the f**k did she care to know about the mother? God, what a f**k-up. she thought.

Olivia let out her breath, she wasn’t sure she could do that. They were difficult children, and it was clear they didn’t want her. But, as she looked into their father’s eyes; it was one of concern, weariness, and even a little pity.

The brunette was touched. The truth was that she did want to help him, but she wasn’t sure she could.

-I don’t know why you think I would make a good nanny for your daughters.

-Your spirit is strong, and your character is what my daughters need. I know you won’t leave them, Talia can be a little difficult. But it’s possible they can get along, I need them to be more childlike and less rebellious.

Caleb picks at the bridge of his nose….

-They’re not easy, but that’s because I always leave them alone. Alma copies everything her sister does and I don’t like it, because she’s creating a mini version of herself, and she’s actually a sweet girl,” he adds. You have character, and that’s what I liked most about you Olivia. Please take the job.

-Mr Palmer…

-I’ll raise your salary, if that’s what you want.

She was flabbergasted… practically begging him to be her daughters’ nanny. Now she was in serious trouble, because how on earth could she refuse such a request.

Besides, with the doubled salary she wouldn’t be out on the street. She might even have enough left over to buy a car. It wasn’t so bad after all, he was only looking after them during the day and at night at home. How bad could it be?

-All right, I’ll take the job, Mr. Palmer.

At that moment, the CEO’s face lit up at her response. Olivia didn’t think it was a good idea, but she was willing to take the job, for her sake, and to help the man. She wasn’t denying it, she was also doing it because she liked him a lot.

But she had to keep those feelings away from her work, otherwise she would absolutely ruin everything.

-Thank you very much, really, I’m very grateful to you.

-And when do I start?

-Immediately, after signing the contract.

-Contract? -He widens his eyes.

A few seconds later, the brunette was reading a sheet of paper. She couldn’t believe what her eyes were reading. It couldn’t be that in order to earn so much money she had to adapt to so many rules, simply because she was the nanny of those girls, that man demanded so much.

-Mr. Palmer, I, why are you asking me to sleep at your house, I have my own house.

-It’s necessary, when I’m out of town. I can’t take the children with me, I must sleep here.

-What about these events?

-Well, you must wear a ball gown. Depending on the event we go to, there aren’t usually many. They’re sporadic.

-Traveling? It’s her holiday, why would she have to go on a family trip?

-Well, some trips end with me working a bit. Sometimes I need some extra help. Everything would be on me, don’t be in a hurry about it.

It was a lot of clauses I had to abide by… it was best to be honest from the beginning.

-I don’t think I’d have a problem staying a few nights at your house. But gala events, Mr. Palmer, I don’t have cocktail dresses for that kind of party. And as for travel, I might have no objection to accompanying you. Well, I’m only going in the capacity of babysitting the girls.

-Don’t worry, if we have an event coming up, I’ll take care of it. Otherwise, I think it’s taken care of.

-I waited! -She reads between the lines, sharpens her gaze, then widens her eyes. Can’t I have a boyfriend while this contract is in effect?

Caleb clasps his hands on the desk, counting on her not to object to the stipulation, but replaceing that it wasn’t possible. The contract was good for two years, and in that time she couldn’t have a boyfriend or any kind of relationship, because if she broke it she’d be fired, or she’d have to reimburse him for the first payment she’d made.

He knew it was a bit rash, but these were girls he would be working with, especially a cute teenage girl… he wouldn’t feel safe in case Olivia met someone and the girls got to share with this guy he didn’t know. Best to avoid that problem.

A bit of his intentions, on the other hand, were that she would always be available for his outings. If she had a boyfriend they would only be an inconvenience to his work. And well, a tiny part of him didn’t want her to be dating anyone, it was absurd and selfish, but he preferred her alone and out of the way.

-Does it bother him? Does she have a suitor in the offing? If that were the case, I couldn’t give her the job.

< What are you talking to me seriously?

But who would think of putting a condition like that and for two years?