Chapter 09

POV Gabriel Lancaster

I blinked, impatient, watching Emily carry Charlotte off without my say-so. I clenched my jaw and reined in the emotion flooding through me, refusing to lose control. Behind me, someone let out a huff, a long, heavy sound. When I turned my head, I saw Scarlet wiping away tears.

Why was she crying? Why were her hands trembling so hard as she wiped her face? What secrets was that woman hiding?

She sighed in a way that said this would be an enormous problem to solve, her gaze fixed on the exact spot where Charlotte had just disappeared, and a second later, her eyes were on me. Her whole demeanor shifted instantly. Her blue eyes, so dark a moment ago, lightened, and she smiled, like she wanted to hide whatever she was feeling.

She was beautiful in a way I couldn't help but admire. Long blonde hair falling just past her waist, shining like sunlight. Her lashes so long, her skin so fair, her lips pink as if she'd just put on lipstick, her teeth perfectly white and straight.

She reminded me of Charlotte, and that was what scared me most.

Her smile widened by a fraction.

“I'm sorry, I got a little emotional.” She murmured, lowering her gaze. “I promise I'll take good care of your daughter, like she was my own.”

My brow furrowed, a chill running down my spine. There was something about her that intrigued me deeply. Her words seemed to carry a meaning I couldn't quite place. I'd hired more than ten different women to work as Charlotte's nanny; not one of them had ever said anything like that to me, and every single one had quit before finishing a month.

Charlotte rejecting yet another nanny wasn't new. But Scarlet's determination—that was something I hadn't seen before.

“We'll see if that's true.” She opened her mouth to answer with another apology, but we were interrupted again by the phone buzzing insistently in my pocket.

Mom calling… I put the phone back in my pocket and turned my attention back to our conversation.

“I'll give you a few days to adjust to the house and to Charlotte's habits.” I said, as she gave me a calm look. “I'm away from home most of the time, so if you need to reach me for anything, call my secretary.”

I held out a business card to her; her eyes fell on the paper without her making any move to take it.

“Why not speak directly with you, sir?” Her question caught my attention. “What if your secretary forgets to pass along my message?”

“She wouldn't make that kind of mistake.” I said, though I wasn't entirely sure. “I don't usually give my private number out to just anyone.”

“Forgive me, sir, but I don't think I'm just anyone anymore. I'm your daughter's nanny. I'll be spending most of my time with her. It would make sense for the two of us to stay in direct contact.”

Scarlet was very bold, which made me think she had no idea about my reputation for being arrogant and overbearing. No one came near me without some degree of fear, and no one would ever make a request as brazen as that.

But she was right, and I had to admit it.

Just not that quickly.

“I'll think about it.” I said, turning my face to look directly at the security guard beside me. “Please call the housekeeper to help the nanny get familiar with the house.”

I turned my back to her, ready to leave the house, when her hand caught my arm. My eyes fell to the spot, sliding slowly up to her face, her cheeks flushing with something like relief, before she pulled back, realizing she'd just made a mistake.

“Do I start taking care of Charlotte today, or will your fiancée be handling that instead?”

I caught a hint of irony in her voice. Scarlet was sharp enough to have noticed just how much her presence had bothered Emily.

“I hired you to do exactly that.” I took a step back. “Do you have any more questions?”

“No, sir.” She lowered her head again.

My feet felt heavy. I couldn't make myself move. I watched the housekeeper approach a second later and lead Scarlet away. Not only that, but I stood there, watching her go. The moment she disappeared, leaving behind only a light, sweet, almost imperceptible scent, I changed my plans. I went back into the house, straight to the one place I knew I'd find Emily and Charlotte.

My mind raced as I made my way down the hall toward the playroom. The door was closed, Charlotte's and Emily's laughter echoing from the small space inside. The weight of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I gripped the handle and turned it.

I shot a look at Emily; she was smiling, but it didn't look like she was playing around.

“Go to your room, Charlotte.” I ordered, not looking at her. “Scarlet will be taking care of you from now on.”

“You don't have to do this, Gabriel.” Emily rose to her feet, her bare feet hurrying to catch up to me. “Charlotte hates having a stranger take care of her.”

Charlotte's crying hung heavy in the air between us.

“My decision's made.” I cut Emily off before we could have the same conversation for the tenth time. “Don't act like you're already my wife and the lady of this house, because that's still a long way from happening. So please, Emily, don't get in between me and my daughter.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Her face crumpled, and she faked a sob.

“You should go home. Charlotte doesn't need you looking after her right now.”

I turned my back on Emily, took Charlotte's hand, and walked down the hall with her, her crying growing louder with every step.