Chapter 3

Emily's POV

“You want me to be your son's nanny?”. Emily couldn't believe Rex's request as she sat down across from him.

He had humiliated her publicly at the lobby almost an hour ago, and instead of an apology, he's offering such a ridiculous request?.

She thought Camilla had more humiliations on the way when she had asked her to wait. But then Rex surprisingly walked in.

He was the last person she wished to see again that day. But unfortunately, here she was, sitting in the same office with him.

Rex leaned back, with his eyes focused on her like she didn't just ask him a question.

He was unpredictable. Almost an hour ago, he was upset with her by just asking about his son –now he's asking her to be his nanny?.

She looked at the little boy sitting on the couch located at a corner in the office. He looked so naive as he sat there looking at her with hope in his eyes.

“I can't be his nanny, I'm a full time journalist”. Emily said.

If only he knew it was all about him, not his son.

Camilla didn't like the request and she didn't bother hiding it. Her face said it all as she glared at Emily. Before she could say anything, Rex beckoned on her to leave.

His gaze landed back on Emily, not bothered by her response.

“I know your kind,” He said, swiveling slightly on his chair as he rested both arms on the padded armrest. “And trust me it's easy”.

Easy?

Emily’s brows furrowed as she glared at him.

He paused and stared at her calculatively. Then, he slightly leaned forward. “How much?”.

“Excuse me?”. Emily blinked.

Money. Right. She almost forgot that wealthy men like him always thought money could solve anything and that alone disgusted her.

“I hate to repeat myself”. His tone flattened, losing all his patience. “How much”.

She could hear the impatience in his voice. She swallowed hard trying to avoid his piercing gaze. “This isn't about money or your son”.

She looked at him, hesitating. “It’s about you”.

Rex raised a brow slightly, then his once tight lips slowly curved to a smirk. It felt almost as if he already knew what she was talking about.

“What’s with the face?”. She didn't when that had rushed out of her mouth. Still, he ignored her and kept staring.

She hated the way he stared.

He leaned forward, this time both his elbows were resting on the table.

“I agree with you”. He said with a low voice. “This isn't about my son”.

He paused. “It's about you”.

About her? That wasn't what she was expecting.

“What do you mean?”. She asked without looking away.

He ignored her, brushing his hair backwards as he stood up. He moved towards the window as he slid his hands into his pocket.

“My son is so special to me, which means I don't hire just anyone to take care of him”.

Emily sat there, confused on how to respond to that. She turned to look at the boy again, he still looked at her with a lot of hope.

Looking at Rex now, “Then you should hire someone who qualifies for it”.

“I did”. Rex faced her now.

She didn't trust the look on his face. It looked like he had already chosen her.

“You're forgetting I never agreed to anything”. She said angrily as she stood up furiously.

How dare him think he could just make decisions for her and control her?.

He slowly nodded, then looked at his watch. “Then why are you still here?”.

Because of him damn it!. Why was he so difficult?.

“I said it earlier. It's because of you”. She said with folded arms. “As much as I hate it, my promotion is in your hands”.

He titled his head slightly, seeming more interested.

Emily took a deep breath. “I need an interview with you. That's the only way I can get promoted at work. You're the big deal, not your son”. The words rushed out of her mouth.

Rex seemed amused by what she said. “So this is what it's about, huh?”.

He pulled out a drawer and took out a file, dumping it in front of her.

“These contain the terms. It includes your housing, security and your monthly payment”.

She refused to touch the file. “I'm not a nanny. That's not my job”.

Pulling out his chair, he sat. “I'm not hiring you as a nanny”. He leaned back. “I'm giving you an opportunity to work as a nanny, in exchange for an interview. I'll sit for an interview only if you work as a full time nanny for a year”.

Emily scoffed, shaking her head slightly. “So you're using your son as bait?”.

He leaned forward to take the file back. “You don't need this anymore. I'll have a new contract prepared with the new terms”.

“What if I refuse?”.

Rex paused for a second, then walked gently towards her.

“You won't”. He took a step closer. “You care too much about that promotion”.

He stepped back, then held Drew by the hand and walked out on Emily.

****

“You met Rex Hale?”. Ava’s voice echoed, with widened eyes as if Emily just told her she had met a god. She quickly placed the chips on the table –some flew out from the bag.

Emily sighed and threw her bag on the couch. “That's the part that got you? What about the part where he humiliated me?”.

Ava sat up with one leg folded under –placing a throw pillow on her thighs, she grinned. “Come on, Em. We're talking about ‘The Rex Hale’. He's literally a walking obsession”.

“There are tons of people who are dying to meet him. And today, you got to see one of his most famous glares?. Em, you're blessed!”. She said, hugging the pillow excitedly.

Emily rolled her eyes. “I wish it was just the glare”, she said, heading towards the kitchen.

She forcefully pulled open the refrigerator like it was the reason for her bad day. “He said he could make me lose my job, how about that?”. She said, taking out a can of drink.

“Well, he could if he wanted”. Ava muttered, slowly recovering from the excitement as she picked up the bag of chips from the table.

“Whose side are you on?”. Emily asked, landing on the couch facing Ava.

Ava bit on a chip, “I'm just saying you shouldn't have gone there alone. What if you were thrown out? Or he made you lose your job as threatened?”.

She threw an extra bag of chips to Emily. “Rex's got a face to die for, but his attitude is completely opposite”.

Obviously. She had experienced it herself. Munching on the chips, Rex's voice echoed in her head. “You care too much about that promotion”.

“Arrgh”. She threw her head back in frustration.

Ava looked at her in confusion. “Everything okay?”.

Emily shook her head.

“Okay?”. Ava looked at her eagerly. “Spill it”.

“He wants me to be his son's nanny, before he can agree to sit for an interview”. Emily muttered.

“Oh my God!. Please tell me you said yes”. Ava said.

Emily slowly shook her head as the word ‘No’ formed on her lips.

“You've got to be kidding me, Em”. Ava yelled out. “Do you know what it means for Rex Hale to offer you something as serious as that?”.

“Look, I really do not care what it means. I went there to do my job, not to agree to some nanny duty whatever”. Emily said nonchalantly.

“My God!. You're so annoying”. Ava flung a pillow at her, frustrated. “How do you plan on getting him if you do not agree?”.

Honestly, she couldn't think of any other way. Maybe, accepting his offer was the only way after all.