All Chapters of Nanny To The Billionaire's Secret Heir : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

RumoursMonday mornings had a way of making the whole house move faster.Theo couldn't find one shoe.Odette insisted she'd ironed Grayson's blue tie, not the grey one he was currently looking for.Marielle somehow ended up making toast with one hand while helping Theo pack his spelling book with the other."Did anyone see my briefcase?" Grayson called from somewhere upstairs."It's in the study," Marielle answered without looking up.A pause."How did you know that?""Because that's where you left it last night.""I was testing you.""No, you weren't.""No," he admitted as he appeared in the doorway, already knotting his tie. "I wasn't."Theo giggled into his orange juice."You forget lots of things.""I forget small things.""You forgot your lunch last Thursday.""I remembered eventually.""You remembered after Rie drove it all the way to your office."Grayson looked at Marielle."You told him?""I didn't have to."Theo nodded proudly."I saw."Marielle slid a plate towards Grayson.

Marielle didn't realize how tired she was until the ballroom disappeared behind them. City lights slid across the car windows in long ribbons of gold and white as Manhattan gave way to quieter streets, and Theo had already fallen asleep by the time they cleared the hotel driveway, head tipped sideways against the booster seat, one hand still wrapped around the toy dinosaur he'd insisted on bringing because, in his words, Sir Stomps got lonely otherwise.Nobody said much for a while. The quiet felt ordinary now in a way it hadn't a few weeks ago.She kicked off her heels and let out a breath. "I was right.""About?""These shoes were designed by someone who hates women."Grayson laughed under his breath. "You looked comfortable all night.""I lied the entire time.""I've been deceived, then.""For six straight hours.""You deserve an award.""I deserve better shoes." He glanced down at the heels abandoned by her feet on the floor of the car."I could arrange that.""You try to solve ev

Marielle had learned two things about Saturday football practice.The first was that six-year-olds somehow had endless energy even before nine in the morning.The second was that parents took children's sports far more seriously than the children ever did.Theo was halfway across the field before she'd even unfolded the camping chairs she'd brought from the car. The bright blue jersey hung a little loose on his shoulders, making him look even smaller among the pack of children chasing the ball with far more enthusiasm than strategy."I think they're all playing different games," Marielle said, watching three boys run one direction while everyone else charged the other.Beside her, Grayson took a sip of coffee."I've been told that's normal.""By who?""The coach.""The coach was lying to make parents feel better."That earned her a quiet laugh.She looked over."I like that.""What?""You laugh more now."He raised an eyebrow."I laughed before.""No." She shook her head. "You smiled

The morning after Theo's birthday, the house felt almost back to normal. Dinosaur balloons still drifted near the breakfast room ceiling, one already sagging toward the curtains, and someone had gathered the wrapping paper into neat bags overnight, though Theo's new football boots still sat exactly where he'd abandoned them by the back door after insisting on wearing them indoors for twenty-three straight minutes the night before. Marielle smiled at the sight of them and didn't have the heart to move them.Theo sat at the table pouring his own orange juice with fierce concentration, clearly convinced he had the situation under control."Easy," she warned.He said he knew, which turned out not to be true at all, and juice slopped over the rim onto the placemat a second later. She grabbed a towel while he insisted he'd almost gotten it, looking absurdly pleased with himself despite the puddle spreading in front of him. Across the kitchen, Odette pretended not to notice, because some vic

Tuesday arrived looking almost ordinary.The newspapers still carried stories about the custody case somewhere in the middle pages. Reporters were still camped outside the courthouse most mornings. Lawyers were still billing impossible amounts of money by the hour.Yet inside the Cole house, the day began with Theo refusing to eat the crusts off his toast because, according to him, "they taste too serious."Marielle looked down at the offending slice."They're bread.""They're suspicious bread.""They're the exact same bread.""They're older."She sighed toward the ceiling."I don't know why I argue with you anymore.""Because sometimes I lose.""I can count those times on one hand."Theo grinned so proudly at that she couldn't help smiling back.Across the table, Grayson lowered his newspaper just enough to watch the exchange."You've created a tiny lawyer."