Cameron

The morning after Maddie and I's heated discussion, I woke up with bags under my eyes from our lack of sleep. Arguments are never fun, but the aftermath is sure as hell worth it. I spent the entirety of my night between her thighs, and there was absolutely nowhere else I would have rather been.

That being said, I've been running on fumes since five this morning, but I couldn't fall back asleep when Maddie's side of the bed was empty. She had to leave for work, and I had to be here for the pass-off with Izzy to Nina.

While I waited for Izzy to get up, I went for a run around the gated community to try and lower my stress levels, but it didn't seem to help. Two weeks. I have two weeks to find something on Katie or I'll have to agree for her to release the video. I can't let that happen.

I already wrote an email to the private investigator before my run. If he can't find anything in two weeks, he's fired, and he can kiss the rest of the money I had set aside for him goodbye. Maybe that will light a fire under his ass.

It's not his fault he can't find anything on her when Katie seems to be an angel on and off camera. Anything the press captures her in is charity foundations or feeding the homeless. It's as if she knows she's being watched. I'm not sure how since we've been so discreet, but the entire time we dated, I never once saw her lend a helping hand to anyone. Something isn't right.

Circling my way back to the house, my chest is dripping with sweat, and my calves are on fire, but I've always loved the clarity a run brings me. Plus, it energizes me for the day. I'll be more alert when I get to practice.

Checking the app on my phone with the monitor, Izzy is still sound asleep. She only has about thirty more minutes before I'll be forced to wake her up, which I hate doing. My daughter loves her sleep, and if anyone dares interrupt it, well, she'll be miserable.

As soon as I open the front door, the smell of bacon wafts into my nose, which can't be right because nobody else is at home except me.

With my t-shirt slung over my shoulder, I stride down the hallway into the kitchen, freezing dead in my tracks at the sight before me.

Nina is flipping pancakes on a griddle stretched across the length of the oven, her hair tied into a loose bun on top of her head. Eggs and bacon are beside the pancakes, and three plates are on the island beside her.

Her eyes briefly dip to my bare chest before she meets my eyes. "Good morning," she says brightly. "I figured you'd want some breakfast."

"I..." What the hell is she doing?

I mean, not that she can't make breakfast, but she doesn't come into the house unless it's for the pass-off with Izzy. She certainly doesn't flip pancakes wearing a set of pajamas that are a little too form—

Stop!

Eyes up, Holden!

I hastily put my t-shirt on, averting my eyes to stare at the food instead. Not that I want to look at Nina, but the pajamas she's wearing aren't appropriate, and I refuse to give her any sort of indication that I like them. "I'm not hungry, but I'm sure Izzy will love some pancakes."

"Oh, come on." She sets the spatula down beside the griddle, arching a brow. "You just got done for a run and you're not hungry?"

I'm starving, actually, but I'm not going to tell her that. Her job is to provide for Izzy and no one else. Maddie would not like the idea of the three of us eating breakfast together, hence my denial.

"I have to leave for work soon." I jerk my head to the staircase. "I'll get Izzy ready for the day and bring her down for you."

A flicker of disappointment flashes in her eyes before she eventually nods, sliding some eggs onto one of the empty plates. Now would be the time for me to leave her to finish breakfast, but irritation presses beneath my skin, and before I know it, I blurt, "Why did you make breakfast this morning? I mean, not that you can't, but Izzy wasn't up yet, and normally you'd text or call before starting your day and heading over here."

It shouldn't please me to see her cheeks turn red, but I want her to feel embarrassed.

"Oh, I just thought I'd try something new. I..." She sighs and bites on her bottom lip. "I overheard your disagreement with Maddie last night and thought you could use a pick me up. That's all."

The irritation quickly transforms into rage.

"That's not your responsibility. I appreciate the gesture, but Maddie and I are perfectly fine. All couples have arguments." And why didn't she make Maddie breakfast?

"Oh, o-of course," she stammers. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep."

How does she not realize she's overstepping? She's not even dressed for work. She's walking her way around the kitchen like she lives here with me. Like she's cooking us breakfast the morning after.

"It is overstepping," I explain. "We really like you as Izzy's nanny, Nina, but this..." I wave around the kitchen. "It's not part of your job description. If you want to cook Izzy breakfast, that's fantastic, but do so when you're officially on the clock and after the pass-off has taken place. Fair enough?"

A white-faced, ashen Nina swallows a lump in her throat, blinking away tears. "Understood. I apologize."

"And from now on, please be dressed for work when you head over to the house," I add. While I'm on a rampage, I might as well continue. Maybe I'm taking my stress out on her because of everything else going on in my life. Maybe her making breakfast isn't a big deal. Maybe I'm overreacting, but to me, it's inappropriate, and I won't let it continue.

"Of course. Again, I apologize. It won't happen again."

Why don't I believe that?

These interactions have been consistently getting worse, and even though she hasn't made a move on me, her actions insinuate she's interested in getting to know me more than just a boss.

And finally, even though it's awkward, I address the other elephant in the room. "What all did you hear from our argument?"

She pauses with the spatula in her hand. "I heard nothing," she replies after ten seconds or so. "I've held this position for other families with your lifestyle, Mr. Holden. I'm aware of how important it is to be discreet. My lips are sealed."

I don't know if she truly means it, but we have no choice but to believe her. If she does leak this information to the media and there's proof, she'll violate her contract with us. Right now, I have no choice except to believe her.

Leaving Nina in the kitchen with a slight dip of my chin, I head upstairs to wake up my daughter.

Maddie would know what to do about this, but I don't want to keep throwing shit at her when she already seemed overwhelmed last night. She hardly ate her dinner. The more situations keep unraveling, the more I'm worried that she'll decide my lifestyle is too much for her. Between Nina, the media, and Katie, it all feels like a recipe for disaster.

And if the next two weeks go by without any luck, what will I do then? I told Maddie if the private investigator couldn't find anything that I'd decline being Katie's date to the charity gala, but will I follow through with that when it's going to destroy everything Maddie has worked her entire life for?

Ethan thinks I should go as Katie's date, and while I want to ensure Maddie is included in this decision as well, she's choosing to tell Katie to protect me and whatever image she thinks I need to uphold for the world. I could care less about any of it, especially if it means she'll have to go through life unhappy rather than doing something she's passionate about.

If rumors circulate about an affair, my career can survive it. Will it be hell for Maddie and I with the paparazzi? Of course, but at least we're both still doing what we love. Her career won't survive if that video leaks. We'll still have to deal with Katie, but I'd deal with her bullshit for eternity if it meant Maddie's time and effort wasn't wasted. I can't let her take the fall for this because of a reputation I could care less about.

At the end of the day, we'll have each other, and that's all that matters.

I just hope Maddie will eventually understand that.