THE PRICE FOR MY SANITY

DAMIEN’S POV

The very woman who has been tormenting my mind since last night. The entire reason I took that cheap stripper to a hotel room was.

She was standing right in front of me, wearing a pink tank top and blue jeans that hugged her curves perfectly once again.

Her jaw slacked, a sign that she’d also recognised me, but I was too busy admiring her to care.

I couldn’t see much of her last night because of how dark it was. But now, standing under the bright lights of my own home, I could see her clearly.

Fuck, she was stunning.

The soft glow of her cream skin complemented her hair that flowed past her shoulders in thick, shiny layers.

But it was the face that completely held me captive. That full pouty lips, delicate nose, and bright eyes framed by long lashes. With her smoky makeup gone, she looked more innocent than she looked last night.

My dick immediately stirs in my pants, hardening to a thick ache at the mere sight of her. And the uncontrollable rush of desire only makes me angrier.

“You,” I growled. “Did you stalk me here?”

“What? N…No,” she stuttered, her voice shaking as she pressed a hand to her chest. “I ran away from you yesterday! Why would I stalk you here?”

“Then what the fuck are you doing in my house?”

“I… I’m Ivy. The new nanny.”

My heart stopped for a fraction of a second. Mrs. Reynolds had told me all about the new nanny. She said she was certain Ava would be in good hands, as the girl was very caring and Ava already liked her.

But what Mrs. Reynolds left out is that she was a fucking alcoholic who kissed random strangers in clubs!

And also fucking gorgeous, a toxic part of my mind added, but I inwardly growled at it to shut up.

“You? A nanny?” I stepped closer, towering over her. “If Mrs. Reynolds weren’t already retired, I would have fired her this instant for bringing you to my home. How can you take care of a child? You want to teach my daughter how to club and assault strangers, huh?”

“I didn’t assault you. You kissed me back!” She snapped, but paled when she realized that this was the worst time to defend herself. She quickly lowered her head. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t intend on doing any of that…”

But I wasn’t interested in her explanation. There is no way in hell I was letting her stay under the same roof as me. I had a reputation to uphold. I was a man who never lost control, who was always strictly professional.

But looking at her, I had a strong feeling this woman would ruin all of that. She already drove me crazy enough to take a stripper to my hotel last night. Having her live here was me playing with fire.

“Pack your things and leave my house,” I demanded. “You’re fired.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped again, and I forced my eyes to avoid those pretty lips.

“Don’t tell me you’re shocked?” I scoffed, “I saw you in a club last night in a dress meant for whores. You were reeking of alcohol, and then you kissed me, a random stranger you ran into. And you’re shocked I’m firing you?”

“No, it’s not like that! I can explain—”

I raise my hand in the air, cutting her off. “You should be grateful I’m not suing you for assault, as I intended to yesterday. Pack your bags and get out.”

As I stepped closer in an attempt to intimidate her, her scent hit my nose. It was a sweet, intoxicating blend of vanilla and flowers. The same cologne from last night. The smell wrapped around my senses, driving me absolutely insane.

Shit, I needed this lady gone right now before I do something I regret.

“Are you fucking deaf?!” I barked, and a sharp cry filled the room as Ava burst into tears.

My heart squeezed with guilt as my eyes fell to my daughter. I’d been so blinded by rage and frustration at the sight of Ivy that I completely forgot she was right there.

“Oh, shh, shh, sweetie, it’s okay. Don’t cry, Ava, I’ve got you,” Ivy coos softly, turning away from me to rock Ava back and forth. “It's okay, I’m here. It’s okay, baby.”

If she thought she could use my daughter to trick me into letting her keep this job, she was wrong. I was very much smarter than that. I stepped forward to rip Ava out of her arms, but before I could touch her, a word left my daughter’s lips, making me freeze with shock.

“Mama,” Ava sobs, burying her face deep into Ivy’s neck and clinging to her tank top.

Fury blurred my vision. “Mama? Is that what you taught her to call you?!” I yelled as my fists clenched at my sides. “You’ve been in my house for less than two hours, and you are already teaching my daughter to call a total stranger her mother? Is this part of your sick plan to manipulate your way into this family?”

Ava shrieked, frightened by my shouting, and Ivy rocked her faster, glaring at me as tears gathered in her own eyes.

“I didn’t teach her anything! She called me yesterday during the interview! Mrs. Reynolds said it’s because I look like…” She hesitated, swallowing hard before she finished the sentence. “…your late wife.”

I flinch at that word “wife”. I hated hearing it from people.

But then I see the eyes. They are the exact shade of brown as Serena's.

She was right.

I probably didn’t notice it yesterday because of how I fought to bury every single memory of Serena after everything she did to me.

“Give her to me,” I demanded, stretching my hands out. “Now.”

But Ava only screamed louder as I tried to take her, wrapping her tiny arms tighter around Ivy’s neck and completely rejecting my touch.

It’s the same way Ava reacted to me when Serena was alive. And those times, I didn’t even blame the kid, as I was hardly ever home, and when I was, I was either buried in work or locked in my study, sleeping. I rarely spent time with her.

But reacting this way with a stranger? That was odd.

I reached out one more time to take her, but she shook her head and tightened her hold around Ivy.

“I think she’s crying because she’s hungry,” Ivy said softly, her voice breathless from rocking the baby. “I went to the kitchen to pick up her food, but before I could go back to her nursery, she’d crawled to this room. That’s the only reason I entered this room in the first place. I was trying to get her.”

“Fine. Feed her and put her to sleep, but I want you gone immediately after that”. I spat and stormed out of the room, eager to escape the presence of the woman who was slowly ruining my sanity.