Page 13 of The Accidental Nanny (All Of You #1)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Alex

I t’s the start of a new week, and I’m sitting in my office with a very pissed off Ivy standing over me, her eyes digging into my skull. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under.

“What?” I’m trying to read the newest data that has been sent over to me. I don't have time for a mood swing.

“You hired Fern last week,” she says, her hands going to her hips.

“You told me to.” I look up at her. I don't understand why she is so angry.

“You left her alone! She doesn’t even know where to start. I’ve not shown her anything. Are you completely incompetent?” she demands.

“I pay your wages,” I remind her.

“I make sure you have a business to run.” She stomps her foot so hard, the force of it rattles my desk.

“How?” I stare up at the red face of a woman who is about to give birth any day now. Why did I start this argument? I should know better than to say anything. Pregnant women scare me .

“Because if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t know if you were coming or going. You’re so disorganised. You were a dick to her. Apologise.”

“No, I’m busy.” I look back at my paper.

She walks out, slamming my door. The glass shakes to the point I think it might shatter, and my mood darkens even further when Julia’s name flashes on my phone again.

“What?” I say in anger. Now I’m the one who’s pissed.

“Have you signed it?” she’s so abrupt, but I have come to expect nothing less now, she’s a cold-hearted woman.

“Yes. I hope you know the damage you have caused two little children,” I spit into the phone.

She hangs up, not even caring.

I decide to collect the children from school, letting Gemma know on the way. I need to hold them, to show them they’re loved.

Penny spots me and gives me a massive smile, waving at me as I wait for Ace to come out. Eden holds my hand so tight I think she cut off the blood supply. She’s telling me about everything that happened at school today and who she has fallen out with.

Girls.

“Dad,” Ace shouts as he sees me.He waves at me with the biggest smile.

As the children are released from their classrooms, Ace’s teacher catches my eye.

“Mr Whitlock, I need a word, please. Can you wait?” the teacher asks as Ace tries to come to me.

I stand back until all the other parents and children have gone. She waves me and Eden over.

“Hello.” She smiles. The middle-aged woman looks tired; her hair has strands of grey and blonde mixed together.

“We had a slight incident at school today, which is very unlike Ace. Unfortunately, I don’t know the full details as none of the boys are talking, but Ace pushed someone to the floor at break time.

The other child is fine. Ace admitted he did it, but that’s all. He won’t tell me why.”

“Ace? What’s going on?” I question him.

“Nothing.” Ace looks down at his shoes.

“This doesn’t sound like him,” I tell the teacher.

I’m shocked by Ace’s behaviour. He is so well-mannered. If I was told Eden had done it, I wouldn’t even question it.

“I know, I was very surprised as well.” She turns her attention back to Ace. “Ace, if something is going on, I want to know. I’ll be talking to the other child’s mum tomorrow.” She gives me a sad look. “He might talk to you.”

“Is he getting expelled?” Eden asks, smiling.

I have serious concerns about my daughter at times.

“No,” both his teacher and I reply. We try again to see if Ace will tell us more, but he keeps saying he doesn't know.

“Let’s go home and talk about this.” I take his hand and walk out of the school grounds.

The ride home is in near silence. Ace doesn't say a word, but Eden makes up for it. She mutters to herself for the entire journey about Annabelle and something to do with getting some scissors and needing to cut hair. I need to have words with her as well.

When we arrive, Gemma is walking around on her injured foot, and dinner is being cooked. I look in the pot: what the hell is this?

“Sit down, Gemma. I’ll make dinner,” I tell her, not exactly sure what I’m meant to be doing either. “Ace, we need a chat first…” I look at Eden, who has started rifling through the cutlery drawer. “Eden, what are you up to?”

She picks up the biggest yellow scissors she can find.

“Give those here.” I put my hands out for them. I stand there waiting for her to hand them over, but she just gives me an evil look.

“Eden, leave all the scissors alone… I’ll count them afterwards.”

She storms off to the playroom. Seems like I need to lock all sharp objects away from my daughter. Somehow, I can imagine Gemma doing the same thing when she was little. Now it is just the three of us, I decide to talk to Ace, but Gemma gets in there first.

“What’s wrong, Ace?” she asks, limping to get him a drink and some biscuits.

Something else I need to deal with—no snacks before dinner. She doesn't follow any instructions at all.

“Nothing.” He sulks.

She places a cup of milk and three biscuits in front of him. Three?

“He pushed someone over at school,” I tell her.

“Dad!” He looks up, blushing, then hides his face in his hands.

“Did they deserve it?” Gemma asks, her voice smooth and caring.

That’s not the question I was expecting her to ask. It’s not one I would have asked myself.

“Yes,” Ace replies, his voice just above a whisper.

“There you go, all good,” Gemma says with a wink, Making Ace look at her.

“Gemma, please. I’m trying to parent here.” I’m getting impatient with her and not getting anywhere with Ace.

“No, he said the child deserved it, end of story,” Gemma retorts.

We are going to have an argument any second now. She is being irresponsible again. I take a breath. “Ace, why did they deserve it?” I ask, trying to stay calm.

“No reason.” He sulks again.

“There must be a reason. You don’t just go around pushing people,” I say.

Gemma grumbles at me. Why is she huffing? What is wrong with the women in my life today?

“I’m sure when he wants to tell you, he will. Getting mad at him won’t get you answers. If he said the boy deserved it, then he did,” Gemma offers.

“I wasn’t getting mad,” I growl. How am I the one in trouble?

“Tell your voice that,” she remarks, her tone snide.

“Ace? Why did you push him?” I ask again.

Instead of answering, he storms off, taking a biscuit with him. Gemma shrugs her shoulders.

“I’m trying to find out what happened,” I snap at her.

“You’re trying to blame him,” she argues back.

“I’m not. I want to know why Ace pushed someone. And no snacks before dinner.” I slam my hand down on the counter.

Gemma looks at me with a frown and then hobbles away, muttering to herself about men.

We don't speak much after dinner. Unbelievably, she is annoyed with me! She’s the one acting like a child. I decide to have it out with her when the children are asleep.

That, however, isn't easy. Getting them to sleep as they're both in moods takes the majority of the evening. I’m an hour later than normal, but I manage to get them off.

Gemma is in the kitchen filming something for her social media.

I don't want to disturb her until I hear her talk about Ace. She never speaks in her videos.

“What are you doing?” I stand in front of her while the camera is still recording. She leans over and stops it.

Gemma

“I didn’t mention him by name,” I say. He’s making me cross.

“I don’t want you at any point talking or saying anything about the children. Do you understand me?” Alex’s eyes are practically bulging. I've never seen someone so mad.

“I just want another opinion.” What is his problem? It isn't that big a deal. Everyone airs their issues in public now. Nothing is private anymore.

“He’s not your son! You’re just the nanny. You do as I say.”

“Just the nanny? Are you taking the piss? You think I don’t care about them?” I snap at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Not like I do, no.”

Oh, now he's pissed me off. I stand up.

“You are a fucking asshole. That kid is amazing, and as soon as he said the other child deserved it, that’s it. I believe him, and I know when he’s ready, he will tell us what’s going on. You jumping down his throat will achieve nothing.”

“You don’t need to tell me how amazing my children are. I know!” he yells at me.

“Do you?” I scream back.

Alex walks away from me. I walk after him, pulling him towards me–his face close to mine.

“Don’t tell me how to parent. He’s my son,” he growls just inches away from me. He’s so close, just a breath away.

“No. If that were the case, you would have fired me on day one. You told me I have to prove myself, and I’m doing it. He’s done nothing wrong. I bet my life on it. Can you say the same thing?”

“I love him. I am the only person who truly loves him,” Alex shouts at me, his nostrils flaring.

I ignore the speck of spit which lands on my cheek. “I’m not denying that. I know you love Ace, but this is about trusting him.” I put my hand on Alex’s arm, stroking it as I try to calm him down.It was a trick I learnt with an ex-boyfriend. He got mad because I hit his car with mine once.

He looks me in the eyes. His thumb wipes my cheek, and he stares at me, tilting my head up to his.

There is silence as we both look at each other.

I can see he’s arguing with himself, so I make it easier.

I lean into him and the next thing I know his mouth is on mine.

Our tongues are touching, swirling around; he tastes of coffee and the sweetness of the vanilla ice cream.

My hands are in his hair, holding onto him, scared he’ll stop if I let go.

He picks me up in his arms and puts me on the kitchen table.

As he undoes his shirt, I pull my top off.

Oh God, is this actually happening? My body is reacting to him as his mouth moves along my neck.

I let him take the lead, unsure of what to do. All I know is I want him.

“Gem.” His breath is heavy, he looks me in the eyes, kissing my mouth one more time.

My legs open as he stands between them, pressing against my sex. There’s a wetness in my knickers. His hand slides between my legs. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. His fingers lightly press on my clit.

“This is my first time since Julia.”

“This is my first time ever,” I reply.

He stops suddenly, staring, before he grabs his shirt, walking away.

“Alex?” He turns to look at me.

I stare at him, hard. He’s rejecting me.

“It was a mistake, I’m sorry. I took it too far.” He walks out of the room, leaving me behind.

He really is an asshole. I run up to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me, there is a quiet tap. I lie there in my shorts and bra, unsure about what to do.

“Gemma, can I speak to you?” Alex’s voice is muted through the door.

“Go away, I’m fine,” I call.

“You don’t sound fine,” he says.

“I am.” I sniffle, and a tear rolls down my cheek. I wipe it away.

“I’m coming in.” He opens the door.

Lying on my bed, I stare at the ceiling, but I still feel his presence consuming the room. I look over to him, and I catch him raking his eyes over my body.

“I took advantage. I shouldn’t have kissed you. That wasn’t fair to put you in that position,” Alex admits. His voice is soft like he uses with the children when they are upset, but I’m not taking this. He was scared, and I needed him to be honest with me.

“I wanted you to kiss me.” I sit up, giving him a better view of my breasts.

“Don’t say that, please. You’re saving yourself.” Alex runs his hand through his hair, grabbing the back of it.

“Is it because I’m a virgin?”

“Yes, no…yes… I wouldn’t feel right if I had done that.

It should be with someone you care about.

You love. Not from an argument. Not something you will regret.

I don’t want you to regret it. Trust me.

” He pauses, looking around the room. When he turns back to me, his jaw is set.

“Night, Gemma. I’ll see you in the morning. ”

“Alex, would you have stopped if I hadn’t told you?” I question him. But he doesn’t answer, he just leaves and shuts the door.

I want him to be my first. I want him. Now. I don't care. I get my phone to text my only friend. Next weekend, I am going to party and lose my virginity.