Invading My Privacy? Hell No.

James POV.

I'd been expecting a delivery for the past two hours.

And when Desmond–the exterior mansion butler–informed me of a visitor, I was expecting the delivery man.

Not this strange lady with big brown eyes, long red hair, and an awestruck expression on her face.

“I'm–I’m the–uh–new babysitter,” she stuttered, her tone a little shaky, like she meant to say more but was deliberately not.

My brows crossed from that observation.

A babysitter? That was strange.

How was she hired without my knowledge? I'd mentioned hiring one for Lily–my niece who was coming to spend the holidays with me. I didn't want to have to indulge in anything related to the holidays and at the same time, I couldn't afford ruining my niece's holiday.

So why did Patricia Ma hire this lady without consulting me?

I was just about to ask her another question when I heard Patricia Ma’s footsteps behind me. The sound of them made my chest burn like I'd just been punched. I stepped aside, clearing the path before she arrived.

I hadn't seen her yet but my expression was already tense, my insides hardening from the aura of my mother.

It wasn't like she intimidated me, well who was I kidding? She sometimes did that but it was only because she wasn't the woman I used to know.

My mother used to be loving, affectionate and maybe even sweet. But after my father's death, she became an entirely different person.

“Oh, you're here! That's great,” Patricia Ma said excitedly, darting her gaze towards me, “James, meet Esther Martins, Lily's babysitter. What do you think of her?” She asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

My body stiffened immediately, a reaction I always resorted to whenever she established contact between us.

“She's…” I paused, trying to gather my thoughts, “Ma, do you think she's competent enough?” I asked because if there was one thing I didn't play about, it was my niece.

Lily was second to my job and no one had ever come that close. Not even my mother.

She withdrew her hand, clasping them together behind her back. Relief washed over me like I'd managed to avert some danger.

“Of course she is. She was personally screened by me. Lily's in good hands son,” she assured me and I forced a tight smile, nodding to that statement.

Even if I'd objected to this lady, she'd still work here. Patricia Ma called the shots in the Silver Family and my respect for her often superseded my opinions or preferences.

“I'll be heading back to my workspace now. I have to finish up some work. Do let me know if a delivery man comes around,” I said to her, crossing her frame to the stairs.

“Alright dear. Keep working hard and keeping the family in overflowing wealth. I'm proud of you,” she smiled at me.

I returned the smile before skidding up the stairs. I tried not to think too much of her last statement but I couldn't help it. I was sure she'd be paying Esther a fat check and even though I'd object to it, she'd still go ahead. She believed money was made to be spent but she preferred to be the one spending while I kept working.

But that didn't lessen my respect or love for her. She'd worked so hard to keep the family standing strong ever since my father's death. It was only natural for her to want to be a little extravagant right now.

I shoved those thoughts to the back of my mind when I arrived at my workspace. I shrugged out of my suit jacket, dropping into my executive chair.

As my fingers hammered against the keyboard, the sounds echoed through my ears alongside the little dings of finished projects. I soon got engrossed with work and I didn't stop until about seven hours later.

I could tell I'd sat for that long because my fingers were aching and my muscles were sore. I rose from the chair, closing my laptop and arranging the space before I left.

All I wanted to do right now was to get some good sleep, and pick up from where I left off at the board meetings coming up.

I stalked towards my room, already feeling relief spreading through me from the thought of a warm bath and some drumsticks before sleeping.

When I reached my room, I found the door slightly ajar. My brows furrowed, irritation finding its way up to my nostrils. My room was never opened and if for any reason it was, there would be only one good reason for that.

Cleaning.

And that should have happened earlier today, not at seven p.m.

I walked into the room and the sight of my room made my eyes widen.

The nanny was standing on a short ladder, twisting a red and green silky material together and pinning it to the edges of my room. They looked like flowers with pomspoms of the same colours hanging out the flower-shaped decoration.

The sight of it made my blood boil. My jaws clenched and oh my god, I wanted to punch something.

Everything she was doing reminded me of that very day. The way I'd been so happy, so excited for the holidays only for that incident to happen.

She could have decorated any other room but she chose to decorate mine. That too, without my consent.

Hell nah.

“What the fuck are you doing?”