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I almost choke on my coffee. "That's my boss' place," I tell him, surprised.
"Really? That's awesome! I heard one of the main owners, Roland Carmichael didn't have much money growing up, but now he's a billionaire. Is that who you work for or the German guy? Brett I think he's called?" Damien's eyes widened with admiration.
My mind races, processing this new information. A billionaire? And he wasn't born into wealth? I had no idea. I always assumed he came from money, given his confidence and commanding presence. Maybe there's more to Roland than I thought.
"I work for Mr. Carmichael. Maybe I can introduce you? I told him that if I have to work weekends you need to come with me, or he has to pay for a nanny. I even have a large room to myself in his place."
"Awesome," Damien says, his eyes big as saucers. "Make sure I get to come along. I bet it's amazing working for him."
"Erm," is all I say in return. "My throat is killing me, so let's not talk about my work now. I'll do my best to introduce you to the guy soon." At this, I can't help but roll my eyes as I don't think Roland is all that spectacular. "But get ready for school now so you don't miss the trip."
I shake my head as Damien runs off shouting, "Just wait till I tell people he's your boss."
An hour later, I knock on the door to Roland's apartment, bracing myself for another day of work. My throat feels like it's on fire, but I'm determined to prove my worth as a dependable nanny. Leo lets me inside with a grin. He’s holding one of Gina's amazing cups of coffee in one hand. I might need 10 of those cups to get through the day, though the thought of having to swallow makes me shudder.
"Carmen not up yet?" I ask.
Leo shakes his head and takes a bite of a muffin he's holding. "Nah."
I nod and decide to go check in on her. She's been awake the other days when I've gotten here.
I walk to her room, open the door and take a few steps inside before stopping abruptly. Sitting next to Carmen's bed and fast asleep is Roland. His dark hair is tousled, and he's leaning his head on the bed on top of some of the stuffed animals.
As I take in the scene, my eyes drift to the open MacBook on the floor beside him. A stack of papers catches my attention–they look like legal documents, maybe divorce papers? But hasn't he been divorced for years? Why would he be looking at those now?
"Wha...?" Roland stirs, his eyes slowly fluttering open. He blinks, trying to focus as I freeze in place. I was just about to back away, but now it seems like an impossible task.
"Uh, good morning, Roland," I say sheepishly, cursing my curiosity. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Morning? It's already morning?" His voice is still thick with sleep, but he quickly sits up, rubbing his eyes. When he catches sight of me, he frowns, clearly concerned. "Maddie, you look terrible."
"Thanks," I mutter sarcastically, self-consciously touching my face. "I feel terrible too."
"Is your throat still bothering you?" He reaches out and grabs my hand, halting my retreat. It's a surprisingly gentle touch for someone who can be so brash and commanding.
"Y-yeah," I admit, feeling the warmth of his hand on mine.
"Then why are you here?" His question is straightforward, but there's a hint of protectiveness in his tone that I haven't heard before.
"Because I need to work," I reply stubbornly, trying to pull my hand away. He doesn't let go.
"Enough," he says firmly, his alpha side making a comeback. "You're not going to work today. You need rest."
"Roland, I–"
"No arguments," he interrupts, releasing my hand at last. "Go to your room and get some sleep. I'll send Gina in with some of that tea I made last night and some ibuprofen or aspirin. I'll manage by myself today."
"Are you sure?" I ask hesitantly, touched by his unexpected concern.
"Positive." He stands, suddenly very much awake. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room," Roland says, gripping my arm gently. The action surprises me, but I allow him to lead me through the sprawling apartment.
When we get to "my" bedroom, I'm once again taken aback by the sheer size of it. It's really like stepping into a princess' bedroom!
"Get some rest," he instructs, his voice soft as he releases me near the edge of the bed. "I'll take care of Carmen today."
"Thank you," I saw hoarsely, touched by his concern.
"Feel better, Maddie." With that, he closes the door behind him, leaving me alone in the beautiful sanctuary he's provided–because there’s no doubt this place is beautiful.
