Chapter 9 · Late to Arrive, Warm to Stay

Chapter 9

Two days later, I got a call from Jason."Sophia, are you working as a nanny for Charles at Lakeview Manor?" he asked.My heart skipped a beat."How did you find out?" I asked."Claire did some digging. Charles is the CEO of Landon Corp. Sophia, you really have guts, working as a nanny for the richest guy in Northbridge," he said."What's it to you?" I shot back."Of course it matters," Jason's tone shifted. "Sophia, don’t be foolish. Men like Charles are far beyond your reach. Stay in your place as the nanny and harbour no misplaced hopes.""Funny ideas? What are you talking about?" I shot back at him."Come on, don't play dumb. A hundred and fifty thousand dollars a month, what do you think he really wants from you?" Jason sneered.I smiled."Jason, are you jealous, or just being a jerk?" I shot back."You...""You made it crystal clear when you dumped me. We're done. So why do you care where I work or who I nanny for?" I shot back."I'm just trying to help you out..." Jason said."Why don't you save your concern for your new bride? I don't need it," I cut him off.I hung up.Five minutes later, Claire called."Sophia, stay away from Charles!" she demanded."Why do you care?" I shot back."Charles is the most eligible bachelor in Northbridge. You're just a nanny. Don't even dream about it!" Claire snapped."What, scared your husband can't hold a candle to my boss?" I shot back.There was a three-second silence on the other end."Sophia, just wait. You'll regret this," Claire spat.She hung up.I blocked her number.But that wasn't the end of it.On the thirteenth day, I took Leo to the mall to buy some drawing supplies.The butler drove us to the biggest mall in Northbridge.Leo held my hand as we browsed the stationery section for a long time, finally settling on a box of forty-eight colored pencils.As we were leaving the checkout, a voice called out from behind us."Oh? Isn't that Sophia?"I turned around.A group of stylish women stood in the mall corridor, and the one at the front was someone I knew.Vera Jennings. She was Claire's best friend and also the wife of Jason's business partner."Sophia, long time no see!" Vera said with a smile, her eyes landing on Leo. "Whose kid is this?""None of your business," I replied."Geez, someone's feisty," one of the women behind her muttered.Vera smiled."Claire said you're working as a nanny now? A Northbridge University grad, babysitting someone else's kid?" she said.She didn't speak loudly, but everyone nearby could hear her clearly.Several people turned to look at us."Is there a problem?" I asked."No, not really. It's just kind of sad, honestly. You used to be the genius everyone admired in our group, and now what a waste," Vera said, shaking her head."At least I haven't stooped to stealing someone else's fiancé," I shot back.Vera's smile froze."What do you mean by that?" she asked."Nothing," I said, pulling Leo away."Stop right there!" Vera raised her voice."Sophia, do you really think you're still the old you? You're just a nanny now! What gives you the right to act all superior in front of me?" she snapped.I stopped in my tracks.Leo looked up at me, gripping my hand tighter.I turned back to Vera."So what if I'm a nanny?" I shot back."A nanny's nothing but a servant!" one of the women behind Vera scoffed."I earn my own money to support myself, and I'm just a servant? Then what do you call those women who splurge on designer bags off their husbands' cash?" I shot back.Suddenly, all their faces dropped."You...""Miss Winters," A voice called out from nearby.I turned around.A man in a black suit strode over. He was around thirty‑odd years old, and carried a sharp, capable air about him."Mr. Quinn?" I recognized him. He was Charles' personal assistant, Kelsey Quinn, whom I'd seen once at the manor before."Mr. Landon sent me to pick you and Leo up," he said, glancing at Vera and her group. "Is there a problem?"Vera's eyes landed on the ID badge on Kelsey's wrist, [Landon Corp].Her expression shifted."Landon Corp? You work for Landon Corp?" she asked, her voice trembling.Kelsey ignored her and turned to me. "Miss Winters, the car's waiting downstairs. Please, this way."I nodded and led Leo away with him.Behind us, Vera's voice was barely above a whisper. "Wait, she's working as a nanny for someone from Landon Corp? Landon Corp? That Landon Corp?""No way, you don't think it's Charles Landon, do you?" Another one said in shock."Impossible! Someone like Charles would never let a nanny get that close..."Their voices faded into the distance.In the car, Kelsey said, "Miss Winters, Mr. Landon told me to let you know, if anyone gives you a hard time, just call me directly."He handed me a business card."Thanks," I said."This was Mr. Landon's doing" he added.I stared out the window.How did Charles know I was getting hassled at the mall?Kelsey seemed to catch my confusion."Whenever the manor's car leaves, Mr. Landon has me track it remotely. It's just a safety thing," he explained.For safety. Alright.Back at the manor, Leo dashed upstairs with his new colored pencils.I was standing in the hallway, just about to head up, when my phone buzzed with a text.It was from an unknown number.[Sophia, Claire wants you to know: she's going to announce your dismissal at the wedding.][She's already gotten in touch with your former colleagues from the clinic, and everyone across Northbridge will find out how your mentor cast you out and your fiancé left you high and dry.][If you don't want to be publicly humiliated, you'll play the bridesmaid without a fuss. Jason]I read it, then calmly deleted it.It was not that I didn't feel angry. I simply saw no sense in wasting my energy on someone like him.But I knew this wasn't going to end so easily.Claire was never the type to just let things slide.She'd been like this since we were kids.If she saw me with something good, she'd always try to take it for herself.And if she couldn't get it, she'd make sure I couldn't have it either.

Chapter 9