7. Make Them Pay

Nicole’s POV

But it didn’t change the fact that this is who I am.

Helpless against oppressors.

It’s so unfair. It feels like there’s some sort of suppressor keeping me from lashing out.

I blame the darn accident I had in college.

But then I think about how I could have lost my mom, and I become overwhelmed with gratitude.

She was sick, but she was alive. And I would do everything in my power to take care of her.

The love of my mother is what calmed me down every time, and this wasn’t an exception.

“Please excuse me, I need to get to work.”

I didn’t bother with my bags. It was a mistake coming here.

I could have just stayed back and worn the clothes I had at the office.

My priority had shifted. I needed fresh air slapping my face more than anything. I closed my eyes and calmly imagined myself by the side of the beach.

Their shouts and condemnation turned into the strong waves of the sea, and suddenly, I no longer felt threatened by them anymore.

“Because you work at a big corporation, you think you can walk all over us? You must give us some real cash.”

“I won’t be coming back,” I swallowed and pinched my palm to ground myself.

“This is not the first time you’ll be moving out. We are not fools that we’ll let you come back inside after we’ve paid the rent. But if you pay the full thing now, we’ll let you go.”

“Oh God,” I groaned, closing my eyes again.

I could not picture myself on the beach anymore.

---

Xavier’s POV

“And that was all that happened.”

I’d brought some work with me to the hospital, but not once had I left Loise’s side.

I’d stepped aside to receive Jay after he’d dropped Nicole at home, and the first thing I’m told is that she got bullied all through the process of packing out.

I always did a background check on everyone who worked for me. This often excluded the details of their living conditions.

“And how long has this been going on?” I asked, livid, until the pen in my hand cracked.

“Six years. Since they moved together.”

Nicole endured all that for the most part while working under me.

Her perseverance would not go in vain. “Get me every bit of information about them. I know what to do,” I said with clenched fists.

No one hurts what’s mine and goes scot-free.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and in those three days, I’d seen a different version of Loise.

She didn’t initiate any chats, neither did she tell me how much she missed me.

She’d only hugged me once, when she woke up the second time. She’d cried and told me how scared she was, but that was all.

I’ve been racking my head for answers, but the doctor assured me it was a normal thing.

Not because of a head injury like I’d assumed. Their only suggestion was to bring her over to see a child therapist if it affected her daily life.

“Are you comfortable?” I asked as I adjusted her seatbelt and held her hand in mine. 

Her little hand lay gently in mine as she nodded. “Hmm. Is my new nanny at home yet?” she asked, looking into my eyes for the first time that day.

“Yes. She’s been at home for three days now. Waiting for you, actually.”

“You really fired the old one?” she asked quietly.

I wondered yet again what the old nanny had done. Not once did I hear any negative reports, and I’d easily assumed that all was well, but my daughter’s dissociation proved otherwise.

I paused. “I did.” I patted her hand and made a promise to investigate the matter since she wouldn’t tell me anything.

She gave a small nod. “Okay.”

Her curt response stabbed my heart, reminding me of how much I’d failed her.

I couldn’t wait to see Nicole. Maybe together, we could figure this out.