2: Hired By The Hot Billionaire

Ivy’s POV

I watched my brother’s doctor walk away. His words echoing in my mind, heavy and unreal.

"Meet me before the end of my shift."

It should’ve been an easy decision. The job he was offering me was a golden opportunity. He’d pay my brother’s bills? In full? I wouldn’t have to skip meals, work graveyard shifts, bear an hour of sleep or two everyday. That would solve my ninety-nine problems but at some point I felt like there was a trick to it.

He wasn’t… a friend of my uncle, was he? No. That would be impossible because he had been my brother’s doctor for years now and nothing ever happened. Still, the way something was twisting in my stomach when he talked to me felt foreign.

Or was it the opportunity that felt weird to me?

I breathed hard, my heart stablizing.

I looked down on the crumpled medical bill, slowly opening it up see the numbers that had been keeping me awake. Noah’s bills are skyrocketing. After spending years of working multiple jobs, although I did what I could, the amount didn’t even go down when I paid in installments—it just kept increasing every day he was here.

Now he was telling me I apparently have been given the opportunity to completely erase these numbers, and give him a future? Was that really possible?

I bit my lower lip and looked up to see the path the doctor took when he walked away. The thought of climbing up from this hellhole situation made my heart skipped a bit… in hope.

Gabriel Lancaster was right. I was struggling. And whatever this job that he wanted me to take, be it becoming his daughter’s real nanny, a mother figure, or maybe something else too…

I would have to take it. I needed his money. I needed this job. I was desperate and if it meant trusting him… I would. For Noah’s sake.

My eyes traveled around the lobby to look for a clock. Dr. Gabriel told me I would have to meet him before the end of his shift, which I assumed would be three hours from now.

I pulled up the hood of my jacket, put the bill on my pocket and began walking. I have exactly three hours to pack my bags, and meet him to sign the contract. I used it to sneaked in to my apartment.

Luckily, the landlady wasn’t there the whole time I was packing up my clothes and important stuff. All the other tenants weren’t there to snitch me either. I was able to shower, and leave after an hour and half, with all the things I needed.

When I got back, the hospital was quieter. Since visiting hour was already over, there were only few people at the lobby. Patients were back on their rooms, too. I could only see nurses and doctors walking up and down as I waited.

I ate my sandwich as I killed time. The last minute, I thought about going up to see Noah, but I changed my mind upon paying him a glance form the small glass of his door. I figured it wouldn’t be right for me to feel vulnerable when I was about to meet Dr. Gabriel.

That was me being cautious.

When the clock ticks 9, I was outside of Doc Gabriel’s office, standing straight, my grip tightening on the worn-out strap of my bag as I stared at his door knowing he’d come out any minute.

I was hoping he’d pop out and assure me he wasn’t kidding when he offered me that job, the same time, I was warning myself from the possible disappointment in case he decided to go on on a more suitable candidate— which definitely wasn’t me because all I knew was clean the table, serve food, and sweep the floor— completely different to being a mother figure.

Unconsciously, I let out a deep breath.

Then, I heard the door creaked, which made me feel tense.

Dr. Gabriel stepped out of his door, his demeanor engulfing the whole area. He had a commanding presence, and I knew it wasn’t just because of his white, and clean coat, nor the crisp dark blue shirt beneath it. I knew it wasn’t the stethoscope hanging around his neck, neither, or his shining black shoes I could give my life and still not afford.

I guess it was because he was Gabriel Lancaster.

The tall doctor with a masculine frame, sharp and defined face features, the nurses always talked about. For the first time— I could agree. He looked gorgeously unwavering. He barely looked tired, despite the long hours of working.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath, until he spoke with his tone deliberate— with natural authority. “Have you finally decided, Ms. Ivy?”

I looked down, unprepared to meet his sharp, unreadable gaze. “Y-yes.”

“I see. I take it that you’re ready to come with me, considering you’ve already packed your clothes?”

“I’m ready to start as soon as possible…” I couldn’t understand why I felt embarrassed.. And why my cheeks were heating. “W-where’s the contract?”

He removed his stethoscope. His actions looked precise, and I had never been intimidated by him before. I gave him a quick glance before shifting it elsewhere.

“Follow me.”

Doctor Gabriel turned on his heel and started walking in the hall. I followed him silently, unable to say or ask anything. We trudged in with this thick silence and tension I didn’t know if we could feel mutually.

We took the elevator, and went out the hospital. He guided me to the parking lot, in a sleek, black car. An expensive looking one that didn’t belong to my world. The windows were tinted, the interior was pure leather. It only had three numbers on his plate— and it made me wonder if it meant he was a son of a general or a vice president.

Before I could even say anything— the door on the driver seat opened. A man in a blue uniform popped out, and bowed to Gabriel like he was his master. He handed him a phone.

“Where to, Sir?” The man politely asked, giving me a glance.

“Home. I’ll take her with me.” Dr. Gabriel responded, moving towards the car to open the backseat door— “Come in.” —for me?

I was clueless as I followed him and entered his car— where I immediately smelled sandalwood. A masculine scent that smelled natural rather than fresheners. It was distinctively him.

I felt out of place.

He was taking me home. I kind of know I would eventually, and I remember I did say I was ready to start as soon as possible, but tonight?

Was I going to sign the paper in his house, too?

Gabriel slid in after me, then his driver. That scenario made me lose my tongue. It pushed back all my courage, making me re-think what just happened this morning… and if this was all real.

So I was like a sore thumb the whole ride. G abriel wasn’t saying anything either so it felt more awkward on my side. The only thing’s making noise in the car was the radio playing mellow music, that seemed to relax Dr. Gabriel seeing as he’d had his eyes closed the whole time.

We passed by a city, then a towering wrought-iron gates, which I assumed at first was a gate of a Villa. It has “Lancaster” text written above, and I only realized why after we entered.

The driveway was long, lined with tall oak trees, the leaves rustling softly in the night breeze.

And at the end of the road stood a house.

No—a mansion. His mansion.

It wasn’t a subdivision. The wide lot was all his.

I nearly gasped as I looked at the breathtaking structure of glass and stone, modern and elegant, its grand windows glowing warmly against the dark sky. It was the kind of place I had only ever saw in magazines.

The kind of place I never thought I could go in.

The car stopped. Gabriel stepped out first, moving with effortless confidence that came with belonging. He opened the door for me again. Then the car left— as if on cue.

“This… is your house?” I couldn’t help but blurt out a question.

“Yes…” He turned to me, his eyes scrutinizing me. “And you’ll be staying here from hereon.”

My lips pursed. My eyes went back to the entrance hall of his house, which was way bigger than my apartment. Dr. Gabriel turned in front top lead the way. He didn’t even have to do anything because the door opened before he could. Two maids greeted him, before their eyes traveled to me.

They were smiling— but it turned fake the moment Dr. Gabriel walked passed them.

“Prepare a light meal for both of us. Rita, a coffee for two, please.” Dr. Gabriel gave his order like a Prince in his servants.

I hesitated to step inside. The marble floors looked clean. It was sparkling and I was afraid I would dirty it by stepping my shoes. I breathed hard, arching my brows.

“Come with me, Ms. Ivy.”

It was too much. My mind registered, before keeping all my emotions together to get inside and follow him.

We walked down a corridor, past sleek furniture and abstract paintings, until we reached a room— perhaps his private study. He turned the knob, and entered. So did I.

The room was dimly lit, lined with dark bookshelves, a polished mahogany desk in the center. He went to his table, then glanced at me to gesture to the chair across from him. "Sit."

I did. Then he moved to get something from a drawer beneath his desk. He pulled out a stack of papers and placed it in front of me.

"This is the contract I had prepared in advance," he said. "It outlines everything," he continued, flipping the page. "Your salary, living arrangements, responsibilities. You’ll be required to be here full-time, act as a mother figure to Sophie in school events, take care of her day-to-day needs, guide her, teach her basic knowledge a normal mother should."

His voice was even, almost clinical. Like this was just another business deal to him. I forced myself to nod— overwhelmed.

"Most importantly," he added, "You stay for four years. Until she turns ten. No leaving before then. No backing out." His gaze locked onto mine, something unreadable in his expression. "If you accept this, Ivy, there’s no halfway."

I gripped the pen, breathing heavily. “I understand, Doctor Gabriel—”

“Just Gabriel, and I’ll call you Ivy.” He corrected me. “This is to instill a sense of familiarity in front of Sophie…”

I once again nodded. “I understand, G-gabriel.”

“One more thing before you sign, Ivy.” His tone was serious, eyes piercing like what he was about to say was the most important of all. “No personal feelings attached. Do you understand?”