Grumpy Billionaire CEO's Nanny

15.

Xander

My father died before I got to say goodbye. One minute he was alive and well, and the next, he was just dead. With my mom, it was better because I was expecting it, but my dad's death will forever haunt me. I can't remember the last thing I said to him but I do know I never got to say goodbye.

We were really close when he was alive. Despite working hard to provide for the family, when I was in college, he would make sure to try to call me occasionally to ask how I was. He always had some kind of life advice for me. One such piece of advice was for me to never let my guard down. You never know when a person is going to betray you. Human beings are fickle.

He rarely trusted anyone farther than he could throw them. And I mostly follow that rule as well. Ever since I lost my late wife, I've been closed off. Apart from my kids and Declan, I never let anyone in. Until Juliette.

She's giving me a reason to let her in. And the fact that I'm even considering it is fucking terrifying.

A knock on my door distracts me from my thoughts and I call for whoever it is to enter. Juliette opens the door and gives me a small, awkward smile before turning back to the man behind her.

"Okay, John. I got here without even a speck of dust on me. You can go now," she tells him.

My manager rolls his eyes at her. He notices me watching and hurriedly inclines his head before walking away. Juliette walks into the office and practically falls into the chair in front of my desk.

"He hates me. Everyone hates me," she groans.

"You're being dramatic," I say.

Although it does bother me that they treat her like that. She hasn't done anything to deserve any form of mistrust or unkindness. I offered her a job because she's damn good at what she does and I thought she would be an asset to my hotel. There weren't any ulterior motives involved.

She sits up and glares at me. "This is your fault, you know. You can't keep doing things like asking John to fetch me. People think we're sleeping together!"
I clear my throat. "We are sleeping together."

The fact that we slept together is all I've been able to think about all day. I came here to get some work done but I keep getting distracted by the thoughts of her. The sounds she made last night, the feeling of her body beneath mine, and the way she felt. My dick twitches in my pants.

"Stop making that face," Juliette says sharply.

I smirk, looking at her. "What face?"

"The expression on your face was filthy."

"Would you like me to demonstrate the thoughts that led to that expression?"

She looks away, her cheeks reddening. "Regardless, everyone already had the wrong idea of us, before we even slept together and it's all your fault. Stop giving me any preferential treatment. When we're at work, just treat me like a regular employee, please?"

There's a note of desperation in her voice. I let out a small sigh. "Alright, fine. I understand."

She beams and I'll do anything in the world to keep her smiling like that forever. I'm about to question her disappearance this morning when there's a knock at the door. I raise an eyebrow and Juliette shrugs right before I call for whoever it is to come in.

"Hey, Lexy," Justine purrs, poking her head into my office.

Her smile dies when she sees I'm not alone. Her blue eyes narrow in Juliette's direction as she walks in. "What is she doing here?" she questions accusingly.