Chapter 3

I hated these feeling. I mean I didn't know this woman from Adam. I watched intently as Sal introduced herself and they got right to the interview. Alfred walked into the study without even knocking which he knew exactly what I was doing.

"Sir," Alfred says as he sits across from me.

"Do you have the contract made out," I ask.

"Yes, she’ll have room next to your daughter, if she takes the job. I have all the paperwork and security lined up," he says knowing full well that I would want her treated just like Sydney because my daughter would be spending a lot of her time with her and I wouldn't want anything to go wrong.

"She might not want the security, Weston might be enough for now for the both of them," I say watching how she perceives my daughter as she enters the room. Weston walks into the office.

"Sir," he says.

"Take a seat," I say. "What are your thoughts on Miss Harper," I continue.

"I think she seems a little quiet," Weston says glancing from me to Alfred.

"I agree with him on that, she is kind of timid in her manners and how she presents herself," Alfred states as we watch Sal get up from her spot and leave the room. I see Miss Harper talking to my daughter and then Sydney give a small smile. Then something that none of the other nannies or interviewers did. Miss Harper stood up and walked around to Sydney and sat down beside her.

"She's the one," I state matter of factly.

"She seems to have captured your daughter," Weston says as I begin to stand up.

"Thank you gentlemen," I say clearing my throat preparing myself to actually confront the woman in the other room, both men exit before I can muster up the courage to just walk out there. I mean come on it's just another woman, and she is in my house. Get it together Brandford.

I walk toward the kitchen area to see Alfred give Sal a look and then watch as Weston enters the security room. Alfred moves around to the great room and clears his throat as I follow behind him. I watch stunned as Miss Harper and Sydney are quietly working on some dot game. Then Sydney looks towards us and jumps up.

"Daddy," she says as I pick her up and sit down on the couch opposite of where they were just seated. I watch as some kind of knowledge passes through Miss Harper. She does not look happy about it.

"Miss. Harper," I say reaching my hand out like a peace offering not even knowing what I did to make her look so uncomfortable, when moments ago she was as content as a lark.

"Mr. Brandford, you have a wonderful home," she says taking her hand all too soon from mine. I felt a slight shock go through me as our fingers first touched. The tingling sensation went right to my groin, not again. What is this woman doing to me? I feel like I am disintegrating under her spell.

"Mr. Brandford, dinner is ready," Sal says as she walks back into the great room. Sydney looks back toward Miss Harper.

"Can Blake stay for dinner?" she asks moving to get off of my lap.

"Blake," I ask playing dumb.

"Daddy, Blake is the nanny," she says moving toward her and pulling her hand toward the kitchen without even waiting for me answer.

"Well if she wants to," I mutter as they are already half way out of the room.

"I really don't want to impose," she says stopping in her tracks, but not letting Sydney's hand go. I liked this thought; she did seem to want to be here for my little pumpkin.

"I think that would be nice, it would give you some time to get to know us better," I say trying to ease the tension in my groin.

Once we are all seated at the dining room table Sydney begins to drown Miss Harper with all the little tid bits of her life from school to her favorite things, what she dislikes and how she is always one step ahead of Weston. I just listen to the two of them talking. I have never seen anyone take such an interest in my daughter like this except for family.

Miss Harper seems to be hanging on every single word Sydney says. I didn't even notice Sal taking the dishes away and them being replaced by a slice of red velvet cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I am just so mesmerized by this brown haired woman that I am lost in a daydream.

"Sir," she says as she is bent over the red leather couch in the playroom. I grab onto her braid and pull it tight. She lets out a moan. I take the whip that rests in my hand and drag it up her back.

"Hush!" I demand as I slap the whip up against her backside getting her to jump a little from the impact. I check her binds as I rub my fingers around her clit making it wet, getting it ready for the main course.

"Daddy," I hear as the daydream is ended by my daughter's peculiar look of interest on her face.

"Huh," I stumble out.

"Were you sleeping daddy, you have drool on your face," she says making me wipe the drool from my chin. Damn it, I just daydreamed about the woman right in front of my seven year old daughter, I am a horrible father.

"Yes, I think I was. I have had a busy day, but so have you. Mrs. Gering," I call out.

"Sir," she says as she enters the room.

"Would you help this little rascal with her bath, I need to have a chat with Miss Harper and see what her plans are," I say as I stand up to kiss my little girl.

"Yes, Sir," Sal says as she reaches for Sydney's hand.

"Will you come and read me a story before I go to sleep," she asks as I move around the table.

"Of course, I will be in there as soon as I get things taken care of with Miss Harper," I say as I watch Sal lead her off. "Miss Harper would you please follow me," I say reaching out my hand. She gets up, but refuses my hand. I open the door and walk over behind my desk and sit down. She sits in one of the chairs in front of me.

"You have an amazing daughter, Mr. Brandford, but I don't think I can work for you, I’m sorry," she says without even meeting my eyes. What the fuck? She would take the job, but won't because of me. Who the hell is she to judge me?

"Why?" I snap.

"You are a mean man," she says still staring down at her fingers.

"I don't even know you and you're sitting there judging me," I snap back letting emotions get the better of me. I just want to spank her butt right now and whip her into shape.

"My friend came home the other day after interviewing you and cried herself to sleep because you were so mean to her," she snaps back glaring into my eyes. Shit. I am trying to think of having an interview.

"Sam Douglas," I say recalling the questions she was asking and how they made me upset, especially when she asked if I was gay or not.

"Yes, she is my best friend and roommate," she says picking up her purse from the ground. She was on her feet ready to walk out the door. She was going to walk out of my life and for some selfish reason I just couldn't let her go. I needed her.

"Please wait," I say as I stand up and walk around my desk to stop her from going. "Just hear me out and then decide," I say ushering her back to her seat.

"You have 5 minutes," she says as she sits back down.

"You seem like a nice young lady, and my daughter likes you. I would do just about anything to keep her happy. I have interviewed several nannies and you just seem to mesh with her. I mean you were at her level. No one else even dared to go to her, they all just stand close or sit opposite of her, not you though," I say as I run with a small smile.

"I bet there are more qualified nannies out there than me," she mutters.

"Perhaps, but I saw a sparkle in my daughter's eye this afternoon that I haven't seen in a long time. She likes you, Miss Harper. Please consider the job for her and not me," I say relenting some of my control. She was totally messing with my mind and it was driving me up the wall.

"Fine, I'll think about it," she says.

"Good, the job requirements have already been given to you by Mrs. Gering so I think that is covered. You will have health benefits, the use of one of the cars in the garage, a room, meals with us, and this card," I say as I slide the Amex across to her. She looks at it for a moment and then back at me.

"What is it?" she asks.

"I have set up an account for you to purchase things you might need for your room, or if you’re out with Sydney and she wants something this is for that use," I say looking at the NDA.

"Is this all included with the salary," she questions.

"No, the salary is $16,000 a month that is for anything else above and beyond that" I say. She looks surprised at me.

"I don't need all that extra stuff," she says quietly.

"I know that, but I always treat the staff with the utmost respect. Miss Harper, what I am giving you isn't going to break me. I know you won't go on a spending spree, but you do have needs and might want something and that is for those times," I affirm softly. She only nods her head.

"Okay," she says almost broken.

"There's some paperwork we need to sign," I say passing several papers over to her. She begins to read the papers and starts signing them. After she has read and finished signing the last one, she pushes them back to me. I reach into my desk and pull out her cellphone and hand it over to her.

"Can I say goodnight to Sydney," she asks softly.

"Of course, I'll show you to your room as well. I guess you can move your belongings over when you have a free day," I say as I show her out of the study past Sydney's room to hers.

She walks into the room; it is painted a soft blue. There is a queen size bed in the middle of the room, a small dresser, a nightstand and plenty of room for whatever else she might want. On her bed is a laptop already set up and waiting for her to use.

"This is too much," she says croakily.

"No it's not. I want to make sure you're comfortable. This is nothing," I say moving toward her, but stopping because I remember I need to have boundaries.

"Thank you," she says softly.

"Since you’re still in college, you might want to get a desk and other things for your room to make it feel more personal," I say.

"Yes, sir," she says not even knowing what those words do to me.

"Why don't you say good night to Sydney and we'll see you tomorrow," I say walking out of the room. We both went next door and Sydney had her read her a book and then they said their goodbyes. I walked Miss Harper to the elevator.

"Have a good night," I say as I watch Weston climb into the elevator with her.

"You too, Sir," she says as the doors close. Damn it. I have never felt this lost or in need before. I go to my bathroom and strip down to nothing. I run warm shower and begin to jerk off, something I haven't done in months. Then I head to bed.

Turns out, that I would dream of Miss Harper that night, the nightmares that habitually plague my sleep, a thing of the past, at least for the moment.