Living With Him

Julia pov

My greatest fear came to pass, I was sacked. My boss told me that I was very dedicated to my job but he couldn't keep me any longer.

"Why?" I asked, "what did I do?"

"You did nothing wrong, but I love my life. You have something to do with some bad people. I was threatened, so I have to let you go. I'm sorry." He said and handed the letter to me.

I was speechless, my eyes were burning with unshed tears. My life was such a mess, from one trouble to another. What did I do to deserve all this? I lamented.

I know who was behind all these misfortunes. My uncle, Anas Gomez. What was surprising was the fact that they always tracked me down anywhere I am. The fact that they know my place of work... They know where I live and are watching my every move.

***********

I was jobless for over a month and I became more worried because the bills were piling. I submitted my CV to different companies but it was rejected.

My house rent had expired, I hadn't paid my daughter's school fee and the promotion exam was around the corner. I can't allow my daughter to stay at home while her peers are writing exams. I had to do something urgently.

I started looking around for jobs even if it was a brown-collar job, at least it will be manageable.

As I was going down the street in search of a job, I saw a poster which read 'Nanny Needed Urgently. Apply In Person'

I knocked on the gate and the gateman opened it.

"What do you want and who are you looking for?" He asked scrutinizing me.

"I saw the poster and I'm interested," I said.

"What's a beautiful damsel like you doing here?" He asked and I glared at him.

"Would you please mind your business and attend to me?" I asked tersely.

"I'm sorry." He apologized and led me into the building.

A wow escaped my lips before I could control myself. The compound was spacious and adorned with flowers. The building was a very magnificent one. I had never seen one as big as this before.

My dad was rich and had his own house, but it was nothing compared to this. With my heart pounding furiously within my ribcage, I prayed that I would be accepted.

The woman was watching a movie in the sitting room when I entered. As courtesy required, I didn't sit until she told me to do so.

"What's your name?" She asked not sparing me a glance.

"I'm Julia Davies. I said as politely as I could.

"Have you had any experience in catering for kids?"

"Not really," I said and she turned to look at me for the first time since I entered.

"What do you mean?" She asked. "How do you plan on looking after my son when you have no experience?"

"Well, I've never been a nanny, but I have a daughter, so I think I'll make a great nanny," I said trying to muster courage.

She looked at me with disbelief but didn't say anything.

"My son can be very stubborn at times. How are you going to tolerate him?" She asked.

"When my daughter was a kid, she was very naughty too. I didn't hit her, no. I just talked to her. You know, there's a way you talk to children and they accord you that respect." I said and she nodded.

"If I may ask, how old is your daughter?" The woman asked and I hesitated before I responded.

"Ciara is five years old, she'll be six next month." I said and the woman raised an eyebrow.

"You married quite early." She said.

"I'm not married, I'm a single mom."

"I'm sorry." She apologized.

"what for? You did nothing wrong.

"I like you and I bet you'll make a good nanny. You'd start tomorrow. I'll introduce you to my son, his name is Steve." She said and I nodded.

"Oops, I forgot to introduce myself, stupid me." She said and I smiled. "I'm Mrs. Ashley." She said and we both stood up.

"Uhm... Ma'am, I mean Mrs. Ashley, can you give me a part of my salary for the month?"

"Why?" She asked.

"Well, I need to pay my house rent, else we'll be ejected from the apartment."

"There's no need for that because you're staying here. I'll give you a room in this apartment where you and your daughter can stay."

"Tha..."

"Don't bother thanking me," she interrupted me "because it's a norm. All my workers stay right here in this building. All you need to do is pack your belongings and come here."

"I'm grateful ma'am." I said and we both walked out of the apartment.

"I bet you're learned, right?"

"Of course I am." I said and she smiled. After thanking her profusely, I left.

Shawn POV

I went to the sitting room to watch my favorite program on the television. Just then, my brother Steve came in. He just came back from school

"Good afternoon uncle Shawn." He said hugging me.

"Hey buddy, how was school today?"

"It was cool." He said and headed upstairs but a mom who was in the sitting room all along stopped him.

"Oops mom, you're here?" He asked and ran to hug her. "I'm sorry, but I didn't see you." He said and she smiled.

"Steve, I want to have a word with you. You can go and freshen up later." She said and he sat beside her. "You're going to meet your new nanny tomorrow." She said and I saw Steve's countenance change.

I suddenly lost interest in the movie I was watching.

"I don't want a nanny mom. I thought I told you that earlier grown-up mom, can't you reason with me?"

"Who'll be around to take care of you especially now that you'd soon be on holiday now I and Shawn are always busy."

"If you knew you'd never have time to take care of me, then why did you and my father have sex?"

I saw mom's face contort with anger.

"Steve," I shouted but he ignored me as he stood up and headed upstairs. "All I know is that I wouldn't have a nanny and that's final." He said and proceeded to climb up the stairs.

Mom rushed towards him and grabbed him by his shirt. "You think you can walk out on me? Never. You're having a nanny and that's final." She said between clenched teeth.

Steve struggled free from her grip and ran up the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him. Mom stood there for some seconds before she too went up the stairs.

**********

Since dad left us nine years ago, mom has always been short-tempered. Dad left mom for another woman when she was pregnant saying he had a family outside which also meant that he had been cheating on mom all along. He hadn't even set his eyes on Steve who resembled him.

It left me and my immediate younger sister traumatized. Mom made us go see a therapist but I was stubborn and didn't go. That was what made me get involved in some bad which I'm still regretting.

Sophia, my sister is happily married to Cadde. They got married a few months ago and she's now pregnant.

I can't see my brother pass through what I and Sophia passed through. When dad left us, we were lonely because mom locked herself up in her room.

*************

I left the sitting room and headed upstairs to Steve's room. I turned the doorknob, but it was locked. I knocked and knocked but there was no reply.

"Steve comes on, it's uncle Shawn". I said and after some time, he opened the door for me. His eyes were red. He sat on the bed and I sat beside him.

"You've been crying? Talk to me, what's the problem? It was not because of what mom said, right?" I asked and he nodded.

Tears streamed down his face. I placed my arm on his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. I looked around his room and it was scattered. He probably went wild and scattered everything.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to mom, ok?"

"You and I know that she doesn't listen to anyone." He said in between sobs, and that was right.

"Don't you think mom hates me?" He asked and I was shocked.

"She doesn't hate you, she loves you that's why she wants to make sure you aren't lonely as I and Sophia were.

"But I don't want a nanny, uncle Shawn, I don't."

"Why are you insisting on the fact that you don't want a nanny? There must be a reason." I said but he kept mute.

"Let it be a secret." He said and I nodded. "The previous nanny mom brought,"

"The thin lady, right?" I asked and he nodded.

"What did she do?" I asked.

"She raped me several times. I didn't know it was a bad thing until I was taught in school. I was the one that made her get sacked." He said and I gasped.

"Are you lying or what?"

"I knew no one would believe me that's why I kept it to myself." He said and I believed him.

"This is serious. I'm going to tell mom so she would change her mind."

"Don't tell her. Secret, remember." He said and I nodded.

"Listen to me Steve, I'm your brother, okay? If you need anything or something is bothering you, don't hesitate to let me know, okay?" I said and he nodded. "If you had told me earlier, she would've been in jail by now," I said and he scrunched up his face.

"She said something to me before she left."

"What?" I asked curiously.

"She said she had taken revenge on what you did to her sister, that you raped her sister and that her sister got pregnant, aborted the baby, and died in the process. She even said you wouldn't dare report to the police, if you did, she'd file a report against you too.

I tried hard to control myself as I was shocked. I couldn't even count the number of girls I had raped.

"That's true," I said, whispering. "Secret, okay? Don't tell anyone." I said and he nodded and we both hugged.

Julia POV

The next day, I hurriedly packed my things with the help of Mrs.. Porsia, my Persiaor. She had always come to my aid anytime I was in need. She was like a mother to me and she took me as a daughter. We didn't keep secrets from each other, I had even told her about my uncle, Anas.

After packing, I bade her goodbye. I was going to miss her. My daughter was still in school but she knew we were packing out.

I got to the house and Mrs. Ashley welcomed me warmly. She introduced me to Erastus a cook and Mia, her cleaner. They both received me warmly.

I was in my room putting things in order when I was being called upon. I hurried downstairs and realized that Mrs. Ashley's son, Steve was back from school with a guy, whom I assumed was his elder brother.

"Meet Steve, my son," She said and I waved at him but he just stood rooted to the ground. His elder brother stared at me and took off his shades and my heart skipped a beat.

What was Mr. Shawn doing here?

Shawn POV

I picked up Steve from school after work, although I was damn tired. My main aim was to get home, take a shower, and rest.

I entered the sitting room, and to my amazement, I saw the lady from the restaurant, Julia whom I met about a month ago.

What was she doing here?

Mom was busy talking to Steve that she didn't notice the tension between Julia and me I. Julia refused to meet my gaze.

Mom introduced her to Steve who was putting up a stoic expression.

"How're you?" She asked stooping low to meet his height. Steve didn't say anything but continued staring at her.

"Don't mind him," mom said, "he didn't want a nanny that's why." and Julia smiled.

She had a nice set of teeth. It made my heart skip a beat.

"He's Shawn." Mom said introducing me to Julia.

"We've met before," I said and mom beamed. "Really?" Mom exclaimed. She seemed happy probably because I didn't have a girlfriend, not even female friends.

I avoided girls like plague since my girlfriend betrayed me several years ago. But this one, she was different, there was something about her that attracted me to her. She was beautiful. Beautiful was an understatement.

Julia stood up feeling uncomfortable.

"She's my friend and is a good person," I said squatting to Steve's height and he brightened up immediately.

"I'm going to take some rest now," I said, not taking my gaze away from Julia.

"I'm leaving the both of you now." I heard mom say and I then went upstairs.

Julia POV

I was in the sitting room with Steve. He was operating his phone. I cleared my throat and he stared at me.

"I didn't picture that you'd be like this. You're not as stubborn as I expected I've not noticed any iota of stubbornness in you."

"So my mom told you I was stubborn?" He hissed "she hasn't seen anything yet."

"What do you plan to do?" I asked.

"I will be more stubborn so that she'll start giving me attention"

. "What have you benefitted from being stubborn?" I asked and he stared at me.

"But she doesn't care about me. She's always busy working and doesn't have time for me."

"I'll talk to her about that, okay?" I said and he nodded. "But she's always paying your fees, right?"

"Yeah." He replied.

"Which money do you think she's using to pay your fees?"

"Stop trying to justify my mom's behavior." He spat. "I have uncle Shawn and also an elder sister."

"If you weren't stubborn she would've created time for you, right?" I asked but he didn't say anything.

"She has always been employing nannies since I was a kid. I think she hates me."

"Why did you say that?" I asked with a brow raised.

"It's because my dad left her when she was carrying me in her womb. I think I was the reason he left my mom."

"You see, you're just assuming, you aren't even sure. If she hated you then she would've aborted you, right?" I asked staring at him and I could see that he was looking remorseful. I wrapped my arm around his neck.

"I've hurt her." He said.

"You should apologize to her, okay?"

"She might scold me. I've been rude to her on so many occasions."

"Don't worry, I'll be present. She wouldn't scold you, okay?"

"Thanks, Aunt Julia."

"Promise me that you would be of good behavior."

"I promise." He said and I hugged him tightly. "I'll take my leave now. I want to freshen up." He said and I nodded.

I looked at him as he ran up the stairs and I smiled, but it faded as soon as it appeared when I noticed that Mr. Shawn had been watching me the whole time, he didn't even stop staring. Beads of perspiration ran down the back of my neck.

Just then, the doorbell rang and I was glad. Mr. Shawn walked briskly to the door and opened it. My neighbor, Mrs. Porshia entered with Ciara.

Earlier on, I had told Mrs. Porshia to help me pick up Ciara from school.

"Mommy," Ciara screamed as she ran to hug me.

"How was school today?"

"It was fine," she replied. "Is it true that we're living here now?" She asked whispering and I nodded.

"Ciara," Mr. Shawn called "you didn't see me?" Ciara looked at me shocked.

"Uncle Shawn" she screamed as she ran to meet him. "I had always expected you to come and visit at least, but you didn't," she said. "Or have you canceled the proposal?"

"Not at all" he replied.

I watched them chit-chatting and noticed that Mrs.. Porshia was not comfortable. She quickly excused herself and left not after bading me goodbye.

"Ciara, go and freshen up so you can have your meal," I said and she ran up the stairs.

Immediately she left, I realized I had made a mistake as I and Mr Shawn were the only ones in the sitting room. I was nervous. He stared at me for a long time but I pretended as though I didn't notice, but what! He was coming towards me and he sat very close to me and our bodies were touching. I tried adjusting, but there wasn't any more space on the couch.