Chapter TeN

by Roxanne Rene

She had been enjoying a splendid day filled with coloring at Daddy’s vibrant office, indulging in delectable snacks from the shiny, enticing vending machine, and even charming Mr. Ivan into letting her sport his oversized, stylish sunglasses. But now?

Now, she found herself trapped in the clutches of Miss Marie the Meanie, a woman with a saccharine smile that could easily disguise the thorns lurking beneath.

“You know, Nessa,” Marie said, kneeling to Nessa’s level, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “wouldn’t it be easier if it was just you and your daddy?”

Nessa blinked, caught off guard.

Then, she scowled, her brow furrowing like a little storm cloud preparing to unleash its fury.

“Mommy is already here,” she stated firmly, her voice a small but unwavering beacon of resolve.

Marie sighed as if the weight of the world rested solely upon her shoulders. “But don’t you think your Daddy could take better care of you all by himself?”

Nessa’s tiny fingers curled into fists, her determination hardening like steel.

Who did this lady think she was to question her family?

“Excuse you, ma’am.” Nessa crossed her arms defiantly, a pint-sized warrior standing her ground. “Mommy does all the work. She packs my snacks, gives me the coziest cuddles, and sings the Pirate Bunnies song every night. Daddy didn’t even know what cereal I liked until last week.”

A twitch of irritation flickered across Marie’s lips, but she pressed on. “But, sweetheart—”

“Nope.” Nessa raised a small hand like a stop sign. “I don’t like you. You smell like bad apples and jealousy.”

Marie’s eye twitched, disbelief mingling with her frustration.

“Also,” Nessa added sweetly, flipping her curls with a flourish, “Mommy says we don’t trust people who talk sneaky trash.”

With that final statement, she spun on her heel, stomping away with the poise of a tiny CEO asserting her authority.

---

Rowan had just savored the last warm sip of her coffee when Nessa stormed into the room like a tiny tornado on a mission.

“Mommy!” Nessa panted, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide with indignation. “Marie is being mean!”

Rowan blinked, caught off guard by the ferocity of her daughter’s outburst. “What?”

“She said I’d be better off without you!”

Rowan’s blood began to boil, her protective instincts igniting like a flame.

Like that, Marie’s tenure as their nanny felt perilously close to its expiration date.

Marie glided in, adopting an air of fake innocence that barely concealed her disingenuity. “Oh, Ms. Hart. I was just—”

“You were just fired,” Rowan interjected, her voice smooth yet laced with an undeniable edge.

Marie’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of incredulity. “Excuse me?”

Rowan stepped closer, her posture radiating authority, her voice steady and unyielding. “Let me make something crystal clear,” she declared. “You do not get to whisper in my daughter’s ear like some second-rate fairy tale villain.”

Marie’s lips parted, confusion clouding her expression. “I was only suggesting—”

Rowan tilted her head, her eyes narrowing challengingly. “That my daughter would be better off without me?”

A tense silence hung in the air as Marie hesitated, clearly taken aback.

A sharp smile curved Rowan’s lips. “Let me share a piece of wisdom my mother always imparted to me,” she murmured, her voice thick with intensity.

Marie stiffened, the atmosphere charged with tension.

“I was born to love my daughter the way my mother loved me,” Rowan asserted, her voice a blade ready to cut through the pretense. “And I will not allow anyone—especially a glorified babysitter—block my family’s path.”

Marie’s complexion drained of color, realizing the gravity of her misstep.

Then—

A deep, resonant chuckle reverberated through the doorway.

---

Damien sauntered in, hands lazily tucked into his pockets, emanating an aura of effortless confidence that felt out of place amid rising tensions.

“Now, now,” he drawled, his voice smooth like silk. “I leave you two alone for just five minutes, and suddenly, we’re caught in a soap opera.”

Rowan shot a glare in his direction. “Your nanny was being a snake.”

Damien sighed, moving seamlessly to stand beside her.

Then, with an insouciant gesture, he reached out and ruffled Rowan’s hair, the audacity sending a shockwave through her.

Rowan jerked back, shocked. “Excuse me?! Did you just pet me?”

Damien smirked playfully, then turned his attention to Nessa, ruffling her hair too. “There, there,” he said dryly. “You’re both perfectly adorable.”

Rowan felt a mix of exasperation and amusement bubbling within her.

Marie visibly stiffened, her posture rigid. “Mr. Cross, I—”

But Damien waved her off with a nonchalant hand. “The services of a backstabbing babysitter are no longer required in my household.”

Marie’s face darkened in silent fury, but after a brief moment of hesitation, she bowed stiffly and exited, her heels clicking defiantly against the polished floor.

Rowan exhaled, a sense of relief washing over her.

Nessa beamed up at her, eyes sparkling with admiration. “Mommy, you were so scary!”

Rowan couldn’t help but smirk back. “You think that was scary? Just wait until bedtime when I tell you only half of the Pirate Bunnies story.”

Nessa gasped, eyes widening dramatically. “Mommy, no!”

Damien chuckled, thoroughly entertained, shaking his head at their antics.

And then—he turned to Rowan.

---

Rowan felt it coming.

She could sense the moment as surely as she could feel the warm rays of sunlight streaming through the window. Damien had that look that said he was about to do something that would leave her utterly speechless.

So, when he casually declared, “Marry me,” Rowan sighed deeply, a mixture of frustration and intrigue setting in.

“Damien.”

He flashed a roguish grin that effortlessly disarmed her. “Rowan.”

“No.”

He tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Not even a maybe?”

Rowan pressed a finger to his lips, silencing any further protest. “Try something more reasonable.”

A mischievous glint danced in Damien’s eyes.

And then—he kissed her finger, turning the moment unexpectedly tender.

Rowan froze, her heart racing at the sheer romanticism of it.

She dropped her hand, yet he seized the moment, capturing her lips in a kiss that was anything but sweet. It was heated, consuming, igniting a fire within her that she could hardly contain.

Rowan felt herself melting, her carefully constructed walls beginning to crumble around her.

She loathed him. She adored him. She—

Oh, to hell with it.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back, surrendering to the electric chemistry that crackled between them and losing herself in that fleeting moment of reckless abandon.

When they finally drew apart, breathless and wide-eyed, Damien wore a smug smirk that spoke volumes. “I’ll take that as a trial basis,” he declared, his tone playfully victorious.

Rowan rolled her eyes, half-amused and half-exasperated, feeling the rush of adrenaline mixed with a hint of affection. “Fine,” she relented, her heart still racing. “But no more proposals,” she asserted, her voice firm yet tinged with humor.

He nodded, adopting an exaggeratedly solemn expression. “Deal,” he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“And no more kids,” she added firmly, her tone carrying a weight of seriousness that belied her playful demeanor.

Damien paused, seemingly weighing her words with mock contemplation. “Yet,” he mused, a teasing smile creeping back onto his lips.

Rowan playfully swatted his chest, annoyance, and amusement bubbling within her. “Damien,” she warned, unable to suppress a smile of her own. He just laughed, pulling her back into his embrace, their chemistry palpable.

From across the room, Nessa groaned dramatically.

“Ugh. Grown-ups.”

Rowan snorted against Damien’s lips, their laughter mingling, painting a scene of chaotic joy and undeniable love.

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Return to Chapter 9 <—