MALACHI'S POV

★MALACHI★

It was late afternoon when I got back. The meeting had concluded really quickly. Taking off my suit, I nodded to the security men who opened the door. I wasn't being threatened to have all the security I did, but it was better to be always prepared.

I entered inside and walked through the unusually quiet foyer. Lila had inhuman hearing and she always knew when I opened the door. But this time, she didn't. It made me raise my guard up, prepared for anything that might've happened.

I walked inside then the noise reached me. It was more of Lila's and another older feminine voice. A voice that sounded sweet to the hearing. I made my way to the kitchen and that's when I saw them. Lila was standing on of of the kitchen stools, reading a book. The space wasn't dirty but the bowl of something milky inside and the pan atop the electric gas told me what they were doing. 

Lila was giggling too much and Nina would read from the book and do exactly what was being said. She stirred for sometime while I quietly watched them. Lila had always been a happy and cheerful girl, not for once asking for her mother. I wondered if she had grown up a lot at four to understand why her mother wasn't with her. 

Nina scooped out some and poured into the frying pan. The shrilling sound reached my eyes, Lila flinched but she didn't. I walked further inside and that's when Lila noticed me. 

"Daddy daddy! Are you back?" She giggled, she wanted to come down but she was too small and the height too much. Nina immediately helped her down and turned to me in shock.

"Mr Malachi." She said z shifting away from the pan while staring like she had done something wrong.

Lila perhaps noticed the light tension and pulled on my pants, "Daddy, I'm the one that asked Aunty Nina to make up pancakes. Please don't be mad at her." Lila pleaded and I chuckled.

I crouched down and picked her up in my arms, "I'm not mad, darling." I kissed her forehead and took her back to the dining room. I set her down and sat too, watching as Nina's eyes widened. 

After a few minutes, Nina was done with all the pancakes, she set one down for Lila who munched on it right away with her pink silicone fork. 

"Daddy daddy, won't you eat too?" She asked, peering up at me. 

"Daddy doesn't like sweets." I told her, watching her pick the jam and rub all over her pancake. Children and sweets...

What's the point of that thing when all it's use is to ruin the body?

"Pancakes isn't that sugary." She shook her head but didn't force me. 

I looked over to Nina, she was standing beside the wall on the kitchen, staring at Lila with a small unguarded smile.

"You can join her too." I said and she looked up at me, shaking her head.

"It's alright." She muttered immediately. "I'm not really hungry."

"It wouldn't be nice if you finished making it and wouldn't have a taste." I said and jer lips thinned. 

"Yes, aunty Nina! Your pancake is delicious, you should have a taste!" Nina said, almost finishing her plate.

"Okay." Nina finally nodded and put two pieces of pancakes on her plate than came to sit on the dining, on my leftside and took out one of the pancakes, putting on Lila's plate. 

Lila giggled in appreciation and they both started eating and occasionally discussing. My eyes involuntarily landed on Nina's mouth when she wasn't looking. They looked so soft and kissable.

"How was your lesson with Cynthia?" I asked Lila, taking my thoughts away from her nanny's mouth. I shouldn't be thinking about her that way. I shouldn't even be looking at her.

"It was fine, daddy. Aunty Cynthia is a good teacher and she's patient with me."

"Is she now?" Lila nodded at the question then enveloped Nina in a childish harmless conversation again.

Evening time reached and Nina carried Lila back to her room to tuck her into bed as she had slept off while watching Frozen. I hadn't changed from my professional wear. I'd been too occupied with Lila. I climbed up the staircase, meeting Nina halfway.

"I've tucked her into bed." She said and I noticed she was still wearing the same clothes since morning. She probably haven't realised her room, but I'll show her that, after I clear the air about a particular topic.

"What was that earlier?" I asked. 

Nina blinked in confusion. "What was what, sir?"

"You and Lila earlier. That is not what you're here for."

Nina blinked again then slowly bit her lips, nodding. "I'm sorry of it conjured anything in your head. I just wanted to play and make pancakes for her."

"You're to be her nanny, not her friend."

Hee eyes widened a fraction but she nodded regardless. "Yes sir."

Nodding, I climbed past her and reached the second floor. "Follow me." I ordered.

We walked past Lila's room and mine, stopping at the one directly beside mine. "Your room." 

I turned back and walked inside my room, finally taking off my suit and pants and the watch too. I had a cold shower and laid back on the bed, the image of Nina and Lila in the kitchen filling my mind.

I had to do what had to be done. I didn't want Lila to become attached to Nina as she was with Karen, incase I'd have to send her away early. 

I sighed, closing my eyes and succumbing to the sleep that came.

***

★NINA★

I hadn't opened this room while I was in my little tour. The room was big and spacious enough with a big bed that could contain three more people. I'd never slept in a bed so big, I hardly slept in a bed at all. 

I took off my sundress, and the inner shorts and crop top I wore inside. The wardrobe on the side caught my eyes and I walked to it. Opening it, my breath hitched. Nice decent dresses lined up inside, as well as pyjamas. The only missing thing was underwears but I could get those. 

I hadn't expected Malachi to purchase clothes for me, I was already planning on getting some with his payments. Touching them with my hands, I pulled out a purple short nightgown and dropped on the bed. After having a warm shower in the bathroom—where you could actually pick the temperature of water you'd like—i donned the dress and gave in to the night.

★

The next morning, it was Sunday but I woke up by six, regardless. I'd always been an early to rise woman and I didn't want Malachi to think he'd made a mistake by employing me. 

I showered and brown knee-length dress with tummy belt. I still needed to thank Malachi. I slipped out of my room and was about to got to Lila's room when I remembered it was Sunday and she didn't have school. I wondered if they went to church.

I and my family didn't go every Sunday, but we did on some Sundays. 

Turning back, I climbed down the stairs and walked to the storage room, bringing out the mop and bucket. I filled the bucket with water and put a responsible amount of detergent then went to the kitchen. It wasn't really a mess but I could tell it was grimy because of our activities yesterday.

I walked to the dining and my heart almost leapt out in shock. I gasped, placing my hand in my chest but got myself the second later.

"Good morning, Mr Malachi."

Malachi who was sipping something suspiciously like coffee—and scrolling through his phone—looked up at me. He regarded me before he nodded.

"Morning." He said with his deep voice. He was wearing nothing but only a grey sweatpant and his hair looked kinda of damp. He looked insanely hot and my cheeks flushed from appraising my boss.

Remembering the cloths, I said; "Uh... Thank you Mr Malachi, for the clothes."

Malachi didn't look up but nodded. "There's nothing to thank for. It had always been there, waiting for whoever would fill in the position."

His words weren't supposed to hurt, but they did regardless and I didn't even know why.