An Affair With His Virgin Nanny

REINA“Ray! Ray, Gramma is not responding to me!”I spring up from bed, eyes snapping awake as I scramble off the mattress. My hands reach for the flashlight on my bedside table and I rush to Gramma’s room.She’s unresponsive, cold and a bit stiff. I burst into tears at once, unable to even try to act strong for Tee. We’re both a crying mess as we lift her and take her outside by the wee hours of the morning, manically flagging cabs.It’s almost an hour before we find a cab, we’ve stopped crying by now. Gramma’s gotten even colder. We’re cold as well, but I don’t care. I comb my fingers through Gramma’s silky gray hair. She seems to be slipping away, but even until now, I can’t seem to imagine a life without her.At the hospital, we’re pacing about when Tee asks, “I think we’re behind on a drug, I couldn’t find any medication in her room. Did you forget, Ray? I gave you my cut.”I’ve been unable to make mine.I shake my head no, looking everywhere but at him. “I didn’t. Pete refused t

REINA“You paid off every single penny of Gramma’s medical bills. That’s a lot of money, Ray. Where did you get all that money?” Tee’s voice is a whisper as he shuts our room’s door behind us.I stand in front of the cracked mirror above our dresser, brushing my hair. The room reeks of menthol and Gramma’s herbal medicine, a smell we’d gotten used to overtime.I’m getting ready for my first day at Alan’s house… as his son’s nanny. I’m nervous, and not because of Ethan. The curiosity in Tee’s voice barely even gets to me.“I promise I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s just work. I told my boss about Gramma and he said he’d clear the debt and send me the balance of my payment when I’m done working for him. The balance would be for rent.”“What?” His voice bounces off the walls. I shoot him a sharp look, gesturing to the door with my hand. Gramma’s right in the other room, trying to sleep!Tee sighs, moving away from the door.He’s tense still, his jaw locking even he whispers, “Ray… What

REINA“… Ethan left his room door open this morning. I didn’t have to knock the door down. That was fast.” Thelma beams, loading some clothes into the washing machine while I stand beside her.I shrug.“I’m just happy he’s fine.”“I’m thrilled, girl. Been praying for the day that little boy gains a little spark in his eyes. I know why he likes you. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you without a ghost of a smile on your face.” Thelma tells me. I can’t help it. My lips curl in a smile.She jams her hands together, “There it is!”We both chuckle. There’s a long stretch of silence before I finally blurt out the question that’s been on my chest, “Did you have to… did you have to take your uniform from his room?”Thelma doesn’t look up at me. Her brows draw together, her expression a mirror of deep concentration as she sorts and loads more clothes in the machine.But she answers, “Whose room?”I scoff. “Who else? Alan.”Thelma gasps, jerking up straight at once. She starts to glance around like s

REINA“We only used a juicer when Mrs King was around, and not often still. She used to have a sweet tooth. Passed that down to Ethan. So Mr King got them a juicer to make fresh juice and stop taking the store bought ones. We only used the juicer about four times. They really hate the fresh juice.” Thelma tells me.“Oh.. okay, but I brought back some cherry flavored fresh juice from home some days ago. Ethan loved it and wants me to make it again.” I unload the fruits from the fridge.Thelma sighs. “I knew he was just going with whatever his mom wanted. He liked to do whatever she did so bad.” She looks around, then scoots closer to me to say, “I think he even stopped talking because he can’t hear his mom anymore, so he’s copying her by going silent. Doesn’t that make sense?”I must have the most stunned look on my face, as it’s exactly how I feel… utterly stunned. What the hell?“Uh, forget I said that.”Oh, I will.I start to make the fresh juice in silence, while Thelma continues wi

ALAN“The project is ninety percent complete. We need new workers, though. You know the launch is close, just two weeks from now.” My COO and close friend, Jeff, relays to me.I nod understandably. “True. I already started the search for new workers, Tim is handling it.”“Great. He has a list of the workers we need?”“Yes. But if you have more suggestions of places we might need help, you can relay those suggestions to him.”But Jeff is no longer listening to me. His gaze is locked on someone behind us. I turn, my eyes locking with Reina’s. She smiles softly at me, approaching us with a bottle of wine and two glasses.Reina actually bends over to set the drink on the table, followed by the glass cup. My fists clench when I catch Jeff staring at her thighs, looking dumbstruck.“Where is Thelma?” I snap, my voice loud and harsh.She jerks upright, only pouring the second drink halfway. Her cheeks are almost always flushed, and her lips are parted in surprise… I know it’s my tone. I don’