Chapter 5

Andrew's voice was quiet, but it exploded in my ear like a bomb.

I was confused, wondering where exactly I was supposed to be going with him.

I stared at him in disbelief, wondering if I'd heard him wrong.

"Mr. Cooper, w-what do you mean?" I stammered.

"Just as I said," he replied, unfazed, like he was talking about something completely ordinary.

"With my son like this, I don't think dragging him away by force is a good idea.

"Since he's so attached to you, you'll come back to our place with him for now, until he's willing to let you go."

I was totally stunned.

This was a truly bewildering turn of events. It made no sense for me, a complete stranger, to go with them. This situation was even more ridiculous than picking up the wrong kid.

"No, this can't happen." I shook my head frantically. "Mr. Cooper, I have my own life. I need to go to work."

"I'll have James cover for you at work. You'll still get your paycheck, and I'll pay you double your usual salary for the time you're with us," he cut in, sounding totally unfazed.

They were offering double my salary. My monthly pay was just over 3,000, so that'd be more than 6,000. But no, it was not about the money anymore.

"It's not about the money," I protested strongly. "Mr. Cooper, we have no family ties or close relationship. It wouldn't be right for me to stay at your house. This just doesn't sit well with me."

"There's nothing wrong with it," he replied coolly, glancing at me. "Just think of yourself as a temporary nanny."

I could barely keep myself together, and now I was supposed to be a nanny. That was ridiculous.

And no childcare provider had ever been invited under such circumstances. This approach was virtually no different from kidnapping.

"Daddy's right. Honey, you're my nanny now." Before I could even get a word out, Alex, still glued to my leg, suddenly stopped crying.

He looked up at me, cheeks still wet with tears, his eyes sparkling with hope and excitement.

He was really my little troublemaker.

I felt like I'd just fallen into a huge trap, and these two were playing off each other perfectly, working together to dig me in even deeper.

"Mr. Cooper, you can't just force me like this. It's not fair," I protested, making one last desperate attempt to get out of this mess.

"I'm telling you, not asking," he said, his patience clearly running out as he glanced at his Patek Philippe watch.

He ordered, "You've got ten minutes to pack your things."

With that, he turned away from me and addressed his assistant. "James, call the office and push back all the morning meetings.

"Also, have someone run a full background check on Ms. Reed, and get me everything on her nephew, Ryan."

"Yes, Mr. Cooper," James replied respectfully.

My heart skipped a beat.

He looked into my background and even into my nephew's. Clearly, he still didn't trust me and believed I'd gotten close to his son with ulterior motives.

A wave of humiliation washed over me, and I couldn't understand why I had to endure such suspicion.

I took a deep breath, about to blurt out, "I'm done with this. Do whatever you want," but then I caught Alex's big eyes.

He was still clinging to my leg, his little face tense and scared, as if I walked away, he'd be abandoned by the whole world.

The words got stuck in my throat.

No point arguing with a three-and-a-half-year-old.

Besides, with all those burly guys in black lined up outside, if I really dared to say no, they would just haul me off.

Sometimes you just gotta know when to go with the flow. I could roll with the punches.

I forced out through clenched teeth, barely hiding how much I hated this. "I'll go pack."

He looked completely unfazed, not the slightest bit surprised. He just stepped aside, leaving a path for me.

Resigned, I turned and dragged Alex toward the bedroom.

"Honey, are we really moving to our new home?" Alex piped up behind me, his little voice bubbling with excitement.

"Shut up," I barked, unable to hide my irritation.

Alex froze, his little mouth quivering, looking like he was about to start bawling again.

My heart melted a little. I sighed, crouched down, and ruffled his hair.

I explained, "Sorry, kiddo. I didn't mean to be harsh. I'm just. not in the best mood right now."

"Is it because we're going to my place that you're upset?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Looking at his innocent little face, all my anger had nowhere left to go.

I couldn't bring myself to speak the truth because he and his father were so unreasonable and domineering. I was about to lose my personal freedom because of it.

"I'm not upset," I said, giving his cheek a little rub. "It's just all so sudden. I haven't really wrapped my head around it yet. Is your place fun?"

"It's super fun." Alex's face lit up. "My house is huge. We've got a pool, a garden, and my own playroom. It's packed with Ultraman toys."

"Really?" I forced a smile, but inside, my heart was bleeding.

His villa came with a pool, a garden, even a playroom. God, the rich were insufferable.

I was speechless and couldn't put up any resistance.

I quietly opened my closet and started packing my things.

Honestly, there wasn't much to pack. As a corporate drone barely two years out of college, my worldly possessions were pretty pathetic.

A couple of changes of clothes, some skincare stuff, and my laptop, that was about it.