Chapter 2

Jessica tried to wrench her gaze away from the distraction of Raphael's sublime rear view as she followed him along the wide, airy corridor. 

They entered into a massive room, decorated with children stuffs. 

The baby was crying nonstop. 

Raphael went over to the baby and carried him but he wouldn't stop crying. " He never stops crying once awake, except he has something in his mouth___ " 

" Give Alison to me, " Jessica said, stretching her hand. 

He stared at her fiercely. " I never told you his name, " he said, ignoring the little one's sobs. 

Her nerves clenched in her stomach and made her feel sick. " Your. . . your personal assistant told me, " she murmured stiffly. 

" She doesn't know him as Alison and even if she did, she will never tell anyone, not to talk of a stranger____ " 

She laughed wryly. " I saw his name scribbled on his cloth. Look, " she said, showing it to him. 

Taking a deep breath, he handed her the baby. She carried him. 

Raphael was surprised to see his little Alison stop crying at once. " How did you do that? " he asked. 

" Do what? " she replied, staring at him. 

" How did you make him stop crying? " he asked keenly

" I guess he recognizes me___ " 

" What did you say? " he asked, squeezing his hands into the pocket of his suit, and bringing out his ringing phone. " A minute, " he said and walked back to the room. 

" I am back, " she said to the baby as she stared at Alison's handsome face. " You must have missed me. Well, I am back for good and I am taking you along____ " 

" Well, I am sorry for the interruption. His name is Alison Paul Coleman. He is nine months old___ " 

" What about his mom? " she chimed in. 

" Ask me this question again and you're fired, " he said. The strictness in his voice made her wonder if Raphael would ever change from his cold, rude and annoying behavior. 

" Yes sir, " she said, swallowing in hardly. 

" Now listen to me, you will be provided with every single thing you need and you don't need. One of them, is your perfume. You are to use the perfume, my company makes. Another one is your hairstyle. No curls, I just want it straight. . . " 

" I'm sorry sir but my hair's length is good for the baby, " she said. 

" No one has dared to refuse any order I gave____ " 

" I am the first, so be it. I am your nanny and not your maid. If you are going to give me some crazy rules, then I quit. Take care of your son and make him to learn to stop crying in the hands of his father. . . " 

He looked at her speechless and full of expression. 

A fresh wave of panic welled inside her and she curled her hand into fist around the baby, battling the overwhelming urge to rub in her words and apologize to him___ to apologize to him for the way she spoke to him. A challenge that felt too big, too foolish to accomplish. Helplessly, she looked at Raphael. His clear eyes watched her and she could see curiosity mix with awe that caused an uncharacteristic threat to her. 

" I will let this slide. Do not repeat this attitude again, " he said and walked out. Deep down, she had began to interest him. What was it about her, that was trying to get into his skin. 

After Jessica had put the baby to sleep, she went to the kitchen to get a cup of water for herself. When she got to the kitchen, she found Raphael seated and drinking. 

She walked passed him and moved to the fridge. 

" You are not allowed to drink cold water, " he said, sending tension to her. 

" If I may ask, why? " that morale she was putting on, was actually becoming an attitude for her. 

Hell! The eagerness in her voice amused and troubled him. 

Sighing, he said, " I didn't employ you to be this disrespectful to me. . . "

" I am sorry if I sound disrespectful to you. It's just that, if you don't change your attitude, you will ruin yourself, " she said. 

He stood and approached her. He was almost nose to nose with her. He grabbed her shoulders. " Listen to me, if not for my son, I wouldn't have hired a moron like you. If you are going to backfire every attitude I put out at you, I will just terminate the deal we made. There are millions of nannies out there, who wants to be my baby's nanny. . . " 

" Now I see the reason why your ex nanny did what she did to you. Now I see the reason why your wife isn't here___ " 

" What reason? " he asked, staring at her lips. 

" The reason is because you are so full of yourself. You are so full of shit too. Try terminating my deal and test if any nanny in her right sense will offer to be your son's nanny. So, if you care about your son, learn to be a better father. " 

" Why don't you teach me, how to be a better father, Miss Jessica? " he said. 

She placed her hands on his neck and raised her toes. Their lips clashed and locked. He kissed her roughly but with passion. He sucked erotically on her lower lips. She clung to him. He began to caress her waist. 

She stopped the kiss at once. " I am sorry. I shouldn't have done this, " she said and began to walk out but he grabbed her hand, pulled her to himself and continued to suck at her tasty and charming lips, she struggled to stop him but his grip was too strong. So she gave in. He carried her on top of the kitchens table and continued to kiss her. He pressed her butts. Suddenly, a loud cry was heard. He continued to kiss her but she pulled herself away from him. He tried to kiss her again but she stopped him quickly. 

" Alison is awake. He is crying. I have to go to him, " she said as she came down from the table. 

He touched his lips, regretting why Alison had to intervene. Her lips were. . . Gosh! Her lips were enticing.

Jessica left the kitchen, he followed suit. 

They both went into the crying baby's room. He was fully awake for he was sitting up in his crib. Jessica went to him and picked him in her arms. " Cry no more, " she said, as she played with him in her arms. 

Raphael stared at them, they looked perfect. His lips curled up in a smile. Finally, there was someone to make his baby stop crying and laugh as well. His former nanny had failed to do that. She couldn't even put poor Alison to sleep, not to talk of making him stop crying. Maybe, just maybe, Jessica was the perfect nanny for his son. 

" He sleeps quickly, " she said, staring at him. 

" If he does, then you must have the charm in your hands____ " 

She smiled. " Come and carry him. He looks so cute. . . " 

" No. I don't want to wake him up, " he said. 

" Well, you have to take the risk. He may surprisingly wake up in your strong arms and find it comfortable. Then he wouldn't have a reason to cry, " she said moving her arms to and fro. 

" No, " he said and began to walk to the door. " Goodnight Alison, " he said. 

" A goodnight kiss to little Alison would be nice, " Jessica said softly. 

" Don't make me do it. . . " 

" You have to act like a father before your son will recognize that you are his father, " she said. 

" I won't. I can't, " he said and left the room. Unfortunately, he had never given in to anyone's wish, command or want, except his father. Not even his fiancee. 

" Mr Raphael, " she called out but he ignored her. This was just the beginning!