A Wondering Life

Just when I thought the rest of the day could finally go smoothly now that Aria was safe and we’d figured out a temporary place to stay, life decided to throw another curveball.

We had moved out of the house completely, leaving behind anything bought with Mr. Billionaire’s money. Most of it had already been seized, anyway. We only packed what was truly ours. I carried the last box down and passed the receptionist, who was clearly judging us with her eyes, like she’d been dying for gossip all day. Not like I cared, I was exhausted, emotionally and physically.

I was just about to slide into Collins’ car, ready to wave goodbye to the short, messy chapter of our so-called “luxury life,” when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and there he was. The red haired bodyguard.

Aria immediately jumped out of the car, rushing toward us and stepping protectively in front of me.

“Are you here to harass us again? What is it this time?” she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.

I gently placed my hand on her arm to calm her down so he could speak.

“I didn’t come to cause trouble,” he said evenly. “I was sent to pick up Miss Judi. Only her. My boss wants to see her.”

The three of us exchanged looks. Confused ones.

“And why exactly does he want to see her?” Aria fired back. “Is he planning to have her arrested too?”

“Maybe you should take a breath,” Collins stepped in, trying to defuse the tension.

I turned to the guard, arms crossed. “What does he want from me now?”

He gave a short nod. “He didn’t say much. Just that it’s about the situation, and it’s important.”

I stood there, thinking for a second. My first instinct was to say no. But with someone like Mr. Barginsen, “no” wasn’t really an option, was it? He didn’t seem like someone who handled rejection well. And honestly, I had a strong feeling that dropping the charges wasn’t out of goodwill, he definitely had something else up his sleeve.

So, I agreed.

I turned to Aria and Collins. “It’s fine. I’ll go. Just head back without me.I’ll catch up later.”

They weren’t thrilled about it, but they nodded.

I got into his car, and he drove off. On the way, the guard kept glancing at me, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you,” he finally said.

I turned to him with a small smile and nodded. “Okay… but what does your boss want from me? Please, just tell me.” I pleaded, my voice low. A million things were racing through my mind as we drove. I didn’t like the feeling growing in my belly nerves, mixed with a strange eagerness to finally know what was coming.

“I’m sorry. I wish I knew. He surprised even me when he told me to come get you. Like I said earlier, he’s not always that bad and now your sister’s free,” he added, as if that made it all better.

“My sister is free, yeah… and I can’t even say thanks to him because, well, here I am. In my captor’s car, going back to the same place that brought me hell since yesterday,” I muttered, then let the silence settle between us again.

We finally pulled up to the same building from yesterday the one where Mr. Billionaire had interrogated us like we were criminals. We stepped inside and got into the elevator again. I glanced at my reflection in the shiny elevator walls, checking if I looked halfway decent.

I had taken a quick bath after we got back from the station. I’d put on a long sleeved floral dress that hugged my waist and flowed down loosely past my knees. My curly hair was up in a messy bun, a few strands escaping around my face. I looked… okay, I guess. Not that it mattered. It’s not like the man I was about to meet would care. He hadn’t exactly shown himself to be the type who noticed people, let alone complimented them.

So far, every encounter I’d had with him had been pure chaos and full of attitude. I scoffed to myself just thinking about the words he’d used on me yesterday.

As we reached the office, he sat at his desk with his back facing us, talking on the phone. He noticed our presence and gestured for me to sit without turning around. I moved quietly and sat in the same chair I’d been in yesterday right before I got arrested… by him.

He talked for a while, casually, like this was just another day at the office. Then he ended the call, turned his chair, and finally faced me with that annoying little smirk plastered on his face. His ugly—ugh, I couldn’t even finish that thought. Because oh dear Lord, the man looked hot. Handsome as hell, in fact.

And that pissed me off more than anything. Why was I always catching myself thinking something nice about someone I was supposed to hate?

“You’re here, Miss Thompson. Glad to see you again,” he said smoothly. “I’m sure you might not be glad to see me, but I am. I had quite a great time here yesterday.”

I didn’t speak. Just nodded stiffly and forced a smile, barely.

“You don’t need to be shy,” he added, amusement lacing his deep voice. “You had a lot to say yesterday. What happened? Why so quiet all of a sudden? Your sister’s back home with you, isn’t she?”

“And I’m itching to know why you suddenly dropped the charges,” I finally said, finding my voice as I stared straight into his dark blue eyes.

Such a beautiful man with such an egoistic personality. That contrast alone was enough to make me want to roll my eyes.

“You should be glad,” he replied. “I’m not exactly the forgiving type. You cried a lot yesterday… I figured I’d do you a favor. And I did. Now, you owe me one.”

He stood up, hands in his pockets, and leaned on the desk right in front of me.

That’s when I caught the full scent of his cologne—rich, sharp, expensive. Yesterday, I had been too consumed with fear and confusion to notice. But now, in this strange calm, I could actually see him. Really see him.

God help me, the man looked good. And I hated that I noticed.

But that’s just who I am. I can hate your guts and still admit your eyebrows are perfect. I’m the type to compliment random beautiful women and men I pass by on the street. No shame.

Still, he just said I owed him a favor?

My brows furrowed a little as I tilted my head. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, my curiosity finally getting the better of me.

“You owe me,” he said again, point blank this time, like I hadn’t heard him the first time.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You see, I’m not exactly a fan of people outside business,” he continued, his tone casual, almost amused. “But you—you amuse me.”

He paused, a slight grin curling on his lips. “Very young. Very dramatic.”

I furrowed my brows at that.

“My daughter and I are here for the weekend,” he went on, “and her nanny had a sudden emergency just this morning. So we need a temporary replacement just until we leave on Monday.”

He said it like it was no big deal. Like asking me to jump into babysitting his child made perfect sense after all that had happened.

“So,” he added, switching to that Norse accent of his again, “I thought of you. I have a feeling my daughter might like you. You amuse me a little, too.”

That was when I realized, he liked to switch between accents when he talked. When he was serious or formal, he sounded British. But when he relaxed, even just a bit, his Norse roots slipped in.

And here I was sitting in front of this billionaire with a smirk, a scent that should be illegal, and a job offer that felt like a trap wrapped in velvet.

Feeling a little more at ease now, I realized the favor he was asking from me wasn’t as bad as I had feared. I mean, I had actually thought he’d ask me to seduce one of his business partners or humiliate myself in front of his rich friends just for his amusement especially since he said I “amused” him.

So hearing that he needed help with his daughter? That was honestly a relief.

It’s not even shocking that he has a daughter. He looks grown, probably thirty-two, maybe thirty-five.

“So you called me all the way here because you want me to babysit your daughter?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” he stated plainly. “And it’s not a request. “Remember you owe me.”

He pressed a little with that line, and it stung just enough to remind me of what had gone down. Still… if this was the favor I owed, then I could do it. It was just until Monday. Two days. I could handle a little girl. No problem.

“Okay. I’ll do it,” I said boldly.

He nodded. “Then let’s get going. She’s left alone right now with the bodyguard.”

I started to get up, then paused. “But I need to go back home pack a few things and tell my sister—”

“No need,” he cut in sharply. “I’ll send my men to get what you need from your sister. Just call her and explain.”

His voice had a slight edge now. “Miss Thompson,” he added, “I don’t like to be questioned.”

I followed him into the lift and stood by his side. I looked so short standing next to him, his hands still casually tucked into his pockets. I took a tiny step back, just enough to take him in properly and observe.

I inhaled slightly and let out a small chuckle, almost without thinking. He turned to glance at me, so I quickly offered him a soft smile before looking away.

I sat beside him in the car while the red haired guard drove. I really should ask for his name at some point can’t keep calling him “red haired” forever. The ride was quiet for a while until Mr. Barginsen got a call and began speaking in Norse. I sat there listening, not understanding a word, but somehow it still sounded… elegant.

Soon, we reached what looked like his place for the weekend. A simple but beautiful house. Clean lines, warm lights, a calming aura. He stepped out first and stood right in front of the house, then gestured for me to get down.

As I stepped out, I heard the soft patter of small feet running toward us and then a little girl’s voice, calling out to her dad in their native language.

She was adorable. So beautifully cute , probably around five years old, with wide eyes full of curiosity.