Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Ethan turned his face away. He was trying as hard as he could not to show how furious he was. Why was he furious? That's a question that he couldn't even answer.

Faking a smile, he replied. “I just saw how close you both were. I'm just curious, you know”.

“Truth is, I really love Valerie. If I have the chance, I'd like to date her, but she's a bit difficult so….” Nicole paused.

Ethan reprimanded. “Stop messing around, you punk. Please keep in mind the reason you came back. You are bad because you need to take part in the family business, and that's why you shouldn't focus on women”.

“Focus on women? Valerie is not just some woman, she's not just anyone to me. By the way, since she's working for you, I'd like to ask you for a favor” Nicole smiled.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, dropping his cell phone on the stool beside him. “A favor? What is it?”

“Well, you have to help me take good care of Valerie since she's working for you. She's a special person to me, and I wouldn't want her to have a hard time” Nicole pleaded, and Ethan forced a smile at him.

Ethan assured him. “There's nothing for you to worry about. It turns out she's on good terms with my daughter, and that is very difficult to come by. Who would have believed that Audrey would actually have a nanny who she loves?”

“Really! Val is lovable. I'm not surprised”.

Ethan smiled nervously with a nod. “I guess she is”.

Two days later, Valerie walked into the kitchen with an apron. Anastasia, who was in the kitchen chopping some onions, glared at her. “What are you doing here, Valerie?”

“Do I need to explain? It's obvious that it's Audrey's cake day. I'm going to prepare a cake for her lunch” Valerie dropped the bowl of flour on the slab.

“It is really Audrey's cake day, or you want to look for a way to seduce the President as always” Anastasia replied with sarcasm.

Valerie narrowed her eyes in shock. “I beg your pardon?”

“What? You think no one knows? Just a piece of advice for you, you flirt. The earlier you know your place in this house, the better for each one of us. You should know you're just a nanny” Anastasia rolled her eyes.

“You…” Valerie was going to shout at her when Audrey rushed towards the kitchen with her iPad.

“Miss old-fashioned! Where are you?” She ran to the kitchen. Unable to get in, she stood at the doorstep.

Valerie turned her gaze away from Anastasia. She walked to Audrey, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Audrey, you look so happy. Tell me, what is it?”

Audrey pouted her mouth, and grabbed Valerie's hand. “Miss old-fashioned, I have a favor to ask of you. Please don't turn me down”.

Valerie smiled dryly. Without being told, she knew that Audrey was going to force her to do something she wouldn't want to do. “What is it, baby? If it's something that I can help you with, then be rest assured that I will help you”.

Exhaling deeply, Audrey held her hand and kissed her fist. “Here” She handed the iPad to Valerie. Valerie wiped her hand on the apron before taking the iPad from her.

She read from the iPad aloud. “Clown dressing competition at the kiddies' playground. The winner will be awarded a box of sandwiches, a big teddy bear and a box of lollipops ”.

Dumbfounded, Valerie turned to the smiling Audrey with furrowed eyebrows. She was actually wondering what she got to do with the competition. “What do you want me to do then, baby? I know this is a clown competition, of course”.

Audrey bit her lips, and signalled her to bring her ear closer to her ear. Reluctantly, Valerie bent to her height, and she whispered into her ear. “I really want to win the prize so much. Why don't you help me, Miss old-fashioned?”

“Help you? I don't understand. How do you want me to help you out? There's obviously nothing I can do” Valerie snapped.

With that, Audrey shook her head negatively. “You can help me, Miss old-fashioned. This afternoon by 2pm there is the clown competition. Why don't you accompany me to the kiddie's playground?”

“What? But we didn't get permission from your daddy. That's risky, he's going to be mad at me” Valerie shook her head in disagreement, and Audrey's face countenance changed.

Sniffing hard, Audrey cried out. “We'll be back before daddy gets back. Miss old-fashioned, I have to win. You don't know how many classmates of mine will attend”.

“Oh, Audrey. I don't think this is a good idea, little one”.

Audrey burst into tears immediately she refused. “You're my last hope, Miss old-fashioned. How could you turn me down after saying you'd help me?”

Valerie bit her lips, and brought her close to her bosom. “Fine. But we don't have a ticket”.

Audrey quickly wiped her tears off, and chuckled excitedly. “Really, Miss old-fashioned? You approve, huh?”

“Yes, Audrey. But we have to come back real quick. What about tickets?” Valerie anxiously inquired.

Audrey smirked mischievously. “Of course, I have taken care of that. I have two tickets”.

Thirty minutes later, Valerie and Audrey were already riding in the luxurious Lamborghini. In as much as Valerie wanted to calm down, she couldn't help but worry.

“I hope Audrey doesn't put me into trouble. What if her father finds out that I took her somewhere with permission? He had always warned me not to take her to crowded places. Oh, God!”

Not long, they got to the kiddie's playground. “Let's go, Miss old-fashioned” Audrey held her wrist as she walked into the building with the unwilling Valerie.

Valerie took her to the dressing room, where she was given a clown outfit. The children were going to dance on the platform with the clown outfit. So, Valerie helped Audrey dress in the outfit.

“You should cheer for me, miss old-fashioned” Audrey giggled, and Valerie nodded her head nervously.

In a few minutes, she was already prepared. Audrey was too excited that she was running down the stairs. “Take it easy, Audrey. You'll…”

Valerie was still talking when Audrey sprained her ankle, and gave out a shrieking cry, drawing the attention of the performance mistress.

“Ouch… it hurts, Miss old-fashioned” Audrey kept crying as they say her down.

“I'm sorry, little Miss Davison. You can't perform with a sprained ankle” The lady shook her head.

Audrey burst into tears on hearing that, and Valerie, who was still scared, hugged her tightly.

“Can I get a substitute?” Audrey suddenly said. The lady reluctantly nodded her head.

“What are you talking about, Audrey? Of course, we won't be able to get a substitute for you” Valerie replied.

Audrey ignored her, and turned to the lady. “Can my nanny be my substitute?”

“Uhm… sure” The lady replied.

Valerie gasped. “What? Should I dress and dance like a clown? Hell no, Audrey!”

“Please, Miss old-fashioned”