Chapter 3

Camilla, who was busy with her phone, raised her head immediately.

Emily thought she misheard, until she saw Camilla glowering at Rex through the corner of her eye.

Rex, unbothered by this, moved over to a couch, placed the sobbing Drew on it, then went over to his chair that was directly opposite Emily.

“I'd sit for the interview,” he repeated, after sitting down.

What changed his mind?

Even though Emily had wanted this, unease still crept in.

She opened her mouth and was ready to speak, before she was cut short by Rex.

“But you have to help him first.”

Emily followed Rex's gaze to see Drew sniffling and looking down, “Your son? How do I do that?.”

“It’s easy,” Rex stated casually as he leaned back, “Be his nanny for a year and I'd give you the interview.”

He said it like it was indeed an easy task.

“What?” Emily blurted out. “I'm sorry, but–”

Camilla interrupted her. “Are you serious? You don't even know this woman, yet you want her around your son? Come on,” Camilla opposed.

Judging by how Camilla sounded, Emily was convinced she had no idea Rex would offer something like that.

Camilla wasn't just Rex's assistant, she was also the oldest staff member. Perhaps, that was why she always felt so important—even so, Rex wasn't having it with her this time.

“Leave. Now,” Rex uttered to Camilla with a deep frown.

Camilla, feeling mortified, shot a piercing stare at Emily before leaving.

Now alone in the office with Rex and Drew, Drew's big pitiful eyes locked on hers.

Sure, he was undeniably adorable, yet that didn't mean she would agree to be his nanny.

“Are there any other options? I can't be his nanny, I'm a full-time journalist.”

“There aren't. It's either this or nothing,” Rex noted.

Rex noticed Emily's hesitation. He understood this was a difficult decision for her to make on the spot.

“Don't be in a rush to decide, I'd give you three days to think about it,” he said after a brief silence.

Three days?

That wasn't even enough time for Emily to decide on which outfit to put on for an event, let alone this.

The discussion was clearly over for Rex; he went to Drew to comfort him, while Emily sat there deliberating about her next step.

_

Emily barely stepped inside before dropping on the couch, exhaling hard as her bag slid from her shoulder.

Ava glanced at her, then back at the magazine in her hand. “You look like you just survived a world war,” she remarked, flipping the pages.

“Yeah, I survived Rex Hale,” Emily muttered, bending over to pull off her shoes.

“You met Rex Hale?” The magazine slipped off Ava's hands as her voice echoed, and her eyes widening as if Emily just told her she had met a god.

“That's the part that got you? What about the part where I said I survived him? That man humiliated me.”

“Come on, Em. We're talking about ‘The Rex Hale’. He's literally a walking obsession,” Ava's actions were no different from an excited kid.

She silently wished she had been the one to meet Rex instead.

“Your walking obsession, not mine,” Emily snapped.

“Tell me you at least got his number?” Ava teased, winking playfully.

“You need to stop, Ava. A number from a man who said he could make me lose my job? Oh, please,” Emily scoffed, moving lazily to the kitchen.

“Well, he could if he wanted,” Ava muttered quietly.

Emily pulled open the refrigerator, “Whose side are you on?” she asked as she took out a can of a drink.

Ava chuckled, avoiding the question.

Emily landed back on the couch, after taking a sip from her drink, she spoke. “Carol wants me to land him for an interview—says it's the only way to convince her to promote me.”

“Okay?” Ava blinked eagerly.

“I had to put up with his cold glares and annoying assistant just to get him to agree—on the condition that I become his son's nanny.”

Ava covered her mouth as her brows raised, “Wait.. he's a dad? Oh my God, I knew the rumors were true. So you said yes, right?”

Emily pursed her lips, then mouthed a ‘no’.

“You're kidding.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Look, I went there to do my job, not to agree to some nanny duty whatsoever.”

“Well, this ‘nanny duty’ will get you promoted, Em. What is wrong with you? How else do you plan on getting him if you do not agree?

“Do you have any idea how many people would kill just to be as fortunate as you are right now?

“You’d get to see him everyday, wake up in the same house, and most importantly, have a nice view of his irresistible body.”

Ava went on and on, leaving no room for Emily to speak.

It was evident that Ava had a huge crush on Rex, in fact, she had a crush on virtually every tall, wealthy and handsome man in New York and beyond.

Ava had always been a flirty girl. She never went for the broke and ugly, only the wealthy and handsome.

Although she always comes back hurt and miserable, she never learns.

“I'm done, Em. There's no way I’d let anyone in anymore. For all I care, these men don't deserve me.” Ava would say, then jump right into a new relationship with the next available person.

Thankfully, Emily never failed to be there for her during those times.

Ava snapped her fingers in front of Emily's face, “Hey! Are you even listening to me?”

“Unfortunately.” Emily murmured.

“What's the plan? I mean, you're so stubborn about this, you've got to have a plan.”

Emily exhaled, then threw her head back in frustration. She hadn't any.

Ava slowly grinned widely, “Oh, you're so taking that job, you just don't know it yet.”