Chapter 5: The Offer

Why was the ride taking forever? We sat in silence, the silence was starting to pick at my skin. I was getting bored and looked at him through my side eye,with all the chaos I hadn't gotten a good look at him, from his fingers gripping the wheel tightly, going up to his arms, his veins literally bulging out making me gulp. I finally got to his face and ohh sweet Jesus I guess Mia was right when she said he looked like a Greek god.

I would never say that to him though, his ego seems big enough already, I continued staring at his features, sharp jawline, subtle beard, sexy hair cut and good looking lips “Ariana please tell me you're not fawning over him, girl stop” my inner self thought. I think he caught me staring because he cleared his throat “done staring, would you like a picture” he said with a non chalant tone.

I turned my head back with a whiplash, my cheeks turning hot “I wasn't staring” I said looking anywhere else apart from him .

“Hmm mmm” he hummed sarcastically

He drove into my neighborhood and asked for my house, I gave directions till we ended up outside the scrawny looking apartment. I've been living here with mama forever, even though it's small it's our home.

He looked at the apartment and neighborhood with disgust, before he could utter a word, I would very much like to leave his presence so I unbuckled my seatbelt, said “thank you for the ride” , opened the door and was about to get out. But then he held my hand and said “wait” ,

“what does he want now” I thought to myself

He reached into the compartment by my seat and pulled out a mini first aid kit, handed it to me saying “treat yourself with this and report to my office in the morning, I don't want excuses” .

I rolled my eyes, got out of the car and walked towards my home, I opened the door quietly so as to not wake up my mom. I took a little water because I really needed it , the whole night was draining. I walked towards mom's room to check on her first, she was laying on her side so I assumed she had slept. As I was leaving she said faintly “Ali is that you” , ohh shit she was awake.

“Yes mama” I walked closer to her and sat on the bed, she turned towards me and touched my cheek softly

“Where have you been dear and who was that in the tinted car that dropped you off” I totally forgot her bed is next to the window of the side of the house and she could clearly see from there.

I hesitated before answering “it was an Uber, Lyra booked it for me because it was really late” as someone who hates lying I've done a lot of that lately

She looked at me unsure but decided to let it go “okay Ali if you say so, did you get the job and how was your night?” She asked

“It was okay, I'm going to know in the morning if I've gotten it, you're asking too much questions already you need to get some sleep” I said trying to avoid the conversation further

“I'm going to be leaving early tomorrow morning because I have an appointment with the boss, but I'll check up on you before leaving” I continued

“No problem dear go have some rest” she said, I kissed her head and said goodnight before the room to mine. Immediately I got to my bed I crashed, I was so freaking tired that within two minutes I got to dreamland.

I was back in the car with Ares again and instead of him gripping the wheel, I was the one being gripped, “how did I end up here” I thought, his strong arms were wrapped around me caressing every inch of my body, I was getting hotter and I just wanted him to rip my clothes off me.

He unbuttoned my shirt and palmed my breasts softly, they fit into his palm perfectly, I couldn't help but moan “yes Ares just like that” , he kept on teasing me till I was a hot mess

“I can't take it anymore, please”

“Please what” he said

“Please fuck me Ares” I said desperately, I really needed a release, he moaned after I said it and that turned me on more.

“As you wish” we ended up in a position with his tip about to enter me and just as he did.

I woke up heaving and breathing heavily, with my sheets soaked “no no no you can't be having a wet dream and of all people Ares” I screamed at myself internally, I touched my panties and I was freaking soaked “fuck this can't be happening” .

I got up from my bed and went to take a cold shower, after I was done I checked the time and it was 7:30 . I had to start getting ready , I didn't want to be late.

I was dressed in a floral sundress and my hair let down this time around, it was starting to get hot and I didn't do well with the heat. I prepared mom’s food, took it to her and made sure she finished it all. After giving her the pills, I left home towards the club. I got there by exactly 8:55 , at least I'm early, and those two bulky bodyguards were outside again. I told them I had an appointment with the boss, they talked to someone with their walky talky and I was escorted inside.

I saw Xavier as I entered the main area, he was smiling at me which started getting weird for me , he came towards me “Aliana , nice to see you again” he said with a charming tone

“Same here” I replied without much emotion, I don't think I can trust him yet

“Follow me” he said while walking towards the stairs leading upstairs

I followed him at his back till we reached a large black polished wooden door he knocked and a “come in” was heard from the other end .

We both entered and there was Ares reading a file in front of him wearing specs and they sure as hell look good on him “I need to freaking stop” I thought

He looked up “Xavier you can leave” , he said.

“What do you mean Xavier you can leave, don't leave me alone with this man” I thought while trying to find a way to escape

The door shut behind me and then there was silence. “Lord help me” I thought once again.

“Are you going to keep on standing or you take a seat” he said still looking at the file

I walked towards the seat opposite him, sat down and said nothing

“Now what do we have here” he said while reading from the file

“Alaina Hales , 21 years old , graduated from college by studying nursing

Mother Martha Hales , suffering from cancer and not undergoing treatment

No father figure seen, best friend Lyra Jones

No boyfriend or past ones

Owing rent , hospital, electricity, water bills

No source of income

I think I've covered it all” he said while closing the file and looking straight at me.

By the time he was done I was fuming, how dare he, where did he get all the information from, I was this close to lashing out on him and I think I was expressing it on my face.

“Why do you have information on me and how is my life any of your business?” I said angrily at him.

He didn't answer my question, he just raised his eyebrows and continued talking “ I've an offer for you” he said like what I was saying before didn't matter

I gave a puzzled expression, I wasn't even close to getting calm , I just wanted to claw at his pretty face.

“I'll pay for all your debts, your mother's treatment, in addition to that you get $1000 a month and your mother the best care” he said calmly

Hearing all that made my eyes widen, what did he mean by that , is he serious right now “what do you get out of this in return” I said suspiciously , he can't just be giving out free money

“You've to be a caregiver to my nephew” he said

I was still confused “so basically you want me to be a babysitter to your nephew”

“Whatever you want to call it, you must have heard about what happened. I've been absent from work for the past month due to my nephew. I need someone to care for his every need , anything he could possibly need” he said while cracking his knuckles

“So why are you picking me , I'm sure they're other people that would be willing to accept this offer” I said still suspicious and confused like why me

“Firstly the way you handled yesterday night's situation, I watched everything from the old man that disrespected you to how you handled the situation, if it were the others they would have stayed right in the man's lap.

Secondly you're the first person apart from Xavier that has stood up to me and lives to see the next day” I gulped after he said that

“Thirdly you didn't try to seduce me which 99% of women do just to get in my pants, instead you don't seem interested in me and that's exactly what I need. I need someone that'll be solely focused on my nephew Cole without being distracted and you fit right into that qualification” he continued while staring at me with a serious expression.

“I think I need some time to think about this” I said while looking at my hands, my brain needs air at the moment.

“You've till 7pm to decide after that the offer is closed, and also if you agree you're going to be moving in with me, I can't have you roaming around while caring for my nephew” after he said this my eyes widened and I looked at him like he had two heads.

He handed me a card “this is my number , text me when you've decided. Now you can take your leave Miss Hales” he said deeply, he literally just gave me no room to say anything, it was either I accepted the offer or I didn't.

I stood up and left immediately, during the ride home my thoughts kept on spiralling, I didn't know what to do. I called Lyra and told her about everything, she kept on squealing and told me to accept it saying it would be very beneficial for me and I should think about mom's treatment. This was the only way mom gets to live, I had to think about her and not me no matter if I don't like Ares.

Immediately I got home I typed in the number and sent a text “I Accept” , that was all I said but why did it feel like I was stepping into something dangerous, "it's just babysitting right, everything will be fine" I hoped as I drifted off to sleep.