Reluctant Negotiations.

The first flashbulb blinded me before I even realized what was happening.

I’d just closed off from work the next day and was on my way home. I stepped out of the house I had au paired for and made my way to the gate where a bunch of journalists held cameras high, also trying to get a peek from the gate.

“Emilia! Over here! Smile for us!” “Alexander Sterling’s mystery woman, how much is he paying you?”, “Did you know about the custody battle? Are you his new nanny or his new wife?”

“Move,” I snapped, but my voice was drowned out. I didn’t bring my car today because I had no money for gas, and was cutting back on some expenses.

So I tried to push past the journalists at the gate, and then, just as I thought I might slip through, one woman’s voice cut through the noise, but enough for me to hear. “Veronica says you’re good at stealing what isn’t yours. Guess old habits die hard.”

I turned back, but I didn't see the woman. She was lost in the swarm of reporters waiting to tear me apart.

Was this my life now? I couldn’t let this go on for much longer.

****

I didn’t knock. I pushed through the heavy doors of the sterling tower, and a receptionist looked up, startled. The look on her face gave way to recognition and then she made a face. Guess I was beginning to get a bad reputation already.

“How can I help you—” She started to say, but I was too impatient for all of that. I strode past her and made my way to the elevator. I didn’t know where his office would be, but I had a pretty good guess he’ll be at the top of the building.

By the time the elevators opened up to the top floor, I was seeing red. My phone kept blowing up with notifications, and my boss had sent a text, laying me off. When the doors slid back, Alexander was there waiting for me.

“Good afternoon, Emilia,” he said evenly.

“You set me up,” I spat.

“No.” His tone didn’t change. “I didn’t.”

“You expect me to believe that?” I showed him the text from my boss. “There’s photographers and journalists everywhere. I can’t go to work anymore.”

“I didn’t call them,” he said, shrugging.

“Then who did?”

“Veronica,” he said simply. “Or someone working for her or, maybe you’ve just gone viral. These things happen, you know.”

If I could breathe fire out of my nose, I would have. “Why…why are you so calm about all these?”

“Because, I asked you to come inside, and you refused. You’re so stubborn it’s maddening, Emilia.”He took a step forward, while I took one back, my back colliding with the elevator door.

He was not wrong. Maybe If i had not insisted yesterday, my face wouldn’t be plastered everywhere. “Why me? I know Clara has had other au pairs, why do I have to go through this? Veronica sent me a message today, you know.”

“Clara likes you, and this will be easier for her if you’re the one I married. Do you think I’ll put Clara through all this circus on purpose?" That silenced me for a moment.

He took the pause as an opening. “This is exactly why I need you.”

“I told you no.”

“You said that yesterday. Today I’m asking again.”

I laughed bitterly. “Do you hear yourself? You don’t ask. You command. Same as always.”

“Because I don’t have time to beg.” He stepped closer. “Clara is in the middle of a custody battle. Veronica is ruthless. If she wins, Clara grows up with lies and spite instead of stability. That’s the reality.”

I turned back to him, heat rushing to my face. “And your solution is to throw me to the wolves? Again? Do you know what she did to me last time? She called me a thief in front of the staff. She had security escort me out like I was garbage.”

He looked away briefly, and his Adam apple bobbed up and down guiltily. “I know.”

“You don;t know, Alexander. I had nowhere to live, and no references yet. No one would hire me because Veronica had made my name mud. You were not there when I was selling my clothes to make rent. I…I can’t start all over again.”

“You survived,” he said quietly.“Barely.” I hugged myself. “And you want me to go back into that fire?”

He reached a hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want you to help me protect, Clara.”

I tried to step back but there was no place left to go. I shook my head instead. “You always know where to press. Use Clara against me, and I’ll fold, right?”

“I’m not using her. I’m telling you the truth. She loves you.”

I remembered the way she’d held onto me yesterday. “Don’t make me choose between her and myself, Alexander."

He studied me, “This isn’t about you or me. It’s about a little girl whose life is about to change for the worse if she stays with Veronica.”

I hated that part of me agreed. I shifted my bag higher on my shoulder, and turned away. “You think I can just pretend to be your wife?” I asked finally. “Smile for cameras, play the perfect wife, while Veronica waits to tear me apart again? What happens if we lose custody”

He smiled. “That’s the spirit, Emilia. We. I won’t let that happen, and my lawyer assures me that with you, winning this case is a done deal.”

I looked at him then. Really looked. His tie was loose at the neck, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbow. For the first time, I noticed the exhaustion under his eyes. He was not as untouchable as I’d thought.

His hand lifted slightly as if he wanted to touch me, but he stopped it and let his hand fall back to his side. I was horrified that I had actually wanted him to.

“Emilia, I’m giving you twenty four hours.” He said finally. “Think about it, for Clara’s sake.”

I stared at him, every nerve in my body pulling in two different directions. “You’re impossible."

“Yes, that’s why you’re here.” he said, his eyes falling down to my lips.

I knew it was time to leave. “I need air. I need to go home.” I fished for the elevator buttons, and when the doors slid open, Clara darted out.

She was escorted by a scary looking muscular man, who I assumed was her bodyguard. When she saw me, her face lit up. “Emilia!” She called out proudly and hugged me again, her hands only able to hold my waist.

My heart squeezed as I bent down to her level. She was such a precious kid. “Clara, sweetie. Back from school?”

She nodded enthusiastically and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Daddy said you’ll be staying with us. Is that true?”

“Clara, she’ll tell us her answer tomorrow. Won’t you, Emilia?” Alexander asked me, while Clara looked from him to me.