Married To My Daughter's Nanny

Dane’s POV

“Alright, everyone. Prepare the documents and ensure to incorporate the necessary adjustments we've made. Have them ready on my desk in two days. Do have a good night rest” I say to my team through my computer screen before ending the zoom call which lasted for over three hours. I check my watch to see it's almost 10pm. I take off my glasses and toss them on the table in my home study. I run my hands through my hair and relax back on my chair. 

We have a huge deal pending so the team and I have been working tirelessly. I make a mental note to increase their current overtime pay. My phone dings, signalling a message from Ophelia, my housekeeper. I pick it up from the table and click it open. The message reads that my daughter's nanny had just quit. Again. That's the eleventh nanny in two years that has quit in less than two months of working here. For some reason, my daughter is finding it difficult to connect with any of them. They don't last past three months. Averie is not one to hide her feelings if she dislikes you. She's not easy to deal with. I can't even blame them for leaving. 

I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a breath. I stand up gently and make my way upstairs. I stop by Averie’s room to check in on her briefly and proceed to the room my Grandfather usually stays in whenever he visits. He came two days ago to check in on his great-grand-daughter as he would normally do every few months. I’ve told him to stop moving around but he says he'll always make an exception for Averie. He loves her too much. I knock lightly on his door and twist the door knob before entering inside. I check to see if he's awake and I find him in a seated position, scrolling through his phone.

“You know you should be resting at this time” I say, taking a seat by the side of the bed.

“Says the one person who works like he's got a gun to his head” he shoots back and I let out a small laugh.

“Considering my age, it's not concerning. But you Old man needs to rest” I gently take the phone from his hand, switch it off and place it on the bedside table.

“I’m not too old, you know. Stop acting like I'm all shaky and sickly” he says with a humph.

“Whatever you say, old man”I tease. I stare at him and wonder how much time I have left with him. He doesn't have any grave illness, at least none that we know of, but I still can't deny the fact that he's getting old. The man who raised me and Ethan, my younger brother, after our parents passed earlier on. I was about eleven then and Ethan was just seven. Grandfather stepped up to raise us and now, it's just a bit difficult knowing he's getting old and wouldn't be here for too long. Averie and Grandfather are the two most important people in my life. My brother, Ethan, had proven time and again how much he detests me for reasons best known to him. He lives recklessly and spends money he doesn't work for. I've tried getting him to get his act right but he calls my bluff every time. I eventually gave up and focused on my daughter, grandfather and the company.

“You look stressed. What's bothering you?” Grandfather asks as he leans back on the headboard by the wall.

“I had a long meeting I just got off from and Miss Ophelia just informed me that Averie's nanny quit again. This is the eleventh nanny in the space of two years. Averie finds it difficult to connect with any of them. She hates them and gives them a hard time on purpose. I can't blame them for leaving though” I run my palm over my face and stare at my interlocked fingers.

“You got a fireball there” Grandfather laughs, referring to Averie. Everything about her somehow amuses him.

“Grandfather, this is serious. I can't keep hiring nannies all for them to quit in two or three months. Some didn't even last for a month. I need to find a solution to this but I can't think of anything at the moment” I let out a hot breath.

“There's a solution though” he says

“And what's that?” I ask

“Get married again. Averie needs stability, that's why she's finding it difficult to connect to her nannies. Her mother left too early and she craves that motherly love hence her attitude towards her nannies” he says in a mild tone.

“Grandfather please, not now. I'm not having this conversation with you. You know my stance on this” I say in a tired voice.

“Of course I do. I know how you've sworn never to give your daughter the opportunity to experience motherly love” he squints his eyes at me.

“Grandfather, you should know better than to try to emotionally blackmail me. That doesn't work on me” I smirk.

“Then stop complaining and go get another nanny. Just be ready to find a replacement sooner than you expect” he says in a mocking tone. The old man has to be the pettiest person I know. I shake my head.

“Well, I could reach out to an old friend who runs a domestic staffing agency. See if he can help out. Yours has failed for two years. I guess we should try mine” he suggests.

I think about it for a second and I feel it's a good idea. I mean, I haven't been able to come up with the best fit for the job. It wouldn't hurt to try a different angle. “Alright. Do whatever you have to. I just hope this one stays. This is getting exhausting already” I say, unbuttoning the two top buttons of my shirt. I realize I'm still in my work clothes. I went straight into my study when I got back from work due to the impromptu meeting. 

“You already know the permanent solution to all of this but you're too stubborn to listen to anyone” he says with a gruff voice.

“That's not happening. At least not now” And not ever. But I don't say that part out loud. It'll only make him worry the most if he finds out that I have no plans on ever getting married again. I've always told him I would but I've used bad timing as an excuse due to my commitment to work and Averie. That has been able to get him to back off for the past two years since my ex-wife left me for my business rival. 

I still clearly remember coming home that night to a quiet house. I wondered where she was until I heard the sounds coming from our bedroom. They were unmistakably Melissa's voice and that of a man. I opened the door, bracing myself for what I already knew was happening behind those doors but it did nothing to shield me from the impact of the sight I beheld that night. My business rival, taking my own wife from behind on our matrimonial bed while her moans filled the room. 

They were too lost in each other to notice my presence. I stood there for another second as my heart shattered into tiny pieces. I stared at the woman I loved with everything in me, having sex with another man on our matrimonial bed. Not just any other man. My business rival, Richard Cole. I was beyond livid but I tried as much as I could to hold myself together. The last thing I wanted was for my rival to see me break. I simply cleared my throat and that finally got their attention.

“Do well to lower your voices. We don't want our neighbors filing a noise complaint now do we?” I said in the most composed voice I could come up with. The colour drained from both their faces as they turned to me and I simply walked out  of the room with Melissa on my tail. She had attempted begging me with fake sincerity but when she saw I wouldn't budge, she packed a few things into her duffel bag and strode out of our penthouse suite without a backward glance at me. That told me all I needed to know. She had planned to leave anyway. She just saw the perfect opportunity and grabbed it. 

The idiot Richard waited at the car park for her and they both zoomed off. That was the last I saw of her until our divorce hearing in court. She signed the papers easily and quickly without any complaint or demands. She didn't even ask after our daughter. She only wanted to go off with her lover without anything or anyone stopping her. I immediately moved us out of that apartment into a new house. The court granted me full custody of Averie and ever since that day, I swore never to get involved with any woman again. I didn't want them in my life or my daughter's life. We will be fine by ourselves. It's been two years now and we're still doing okay. I blink away the memory and return my gaze to Grandfather.

“You should go to bed, son. You look really tired” he says

“I should. I have an early start tomorrow anyway” I say, standing up and tucking him in gently. I switch off the lights before quietly leaving the room.