Nanny and Her Four Alpha Bullies

Chapter 25 

“Laura,” I say immediately, shaking my head. “It had to be her. She was the only one who had access to everything.” 

“Her,” Archer says. “Andyou.” 

“Seriously, Archer?” I sneer. “You’re still trying to put the blame one me? Even after all of this evidence?” 

“What evidence? Archer snaps. He throws a hand towards the fridge. “All we know is someone spiked the applesauce,” 

“Why would I go to the effort of spiking it if I was going to give it to her?” I throw back. 

“Maybe you and Laura are in on it together,” Archer says back. “Wouldn’t surprise me.” 

“Arch, come on,” Neil says. 

“No!” Archer shouts back. He jabs a finger at me. “Shehas been trying to sabotage us since she fucking showed up on campus. You’re all to blind to see it.” 

“We’ve made her life a living hell,” Steven says. “She was an Untouchable. How was that sabotaging us?” 

“I don’t think she’d ever hurt a kid,” Neil says. 

This makes Archer pause. He looks at me and his expression changes.Finally, he’s gotten it through his head that I’m not the bad guy here. Still, his words are eating at me. It’s all been too much. Too much change, too much time. I feel fear boiling up within me. The urge to fight or fly is so strong it’s over powering. As Archer’s one arm breaks lose, I crumble down any resolve. 

Ifly out of the kitchen like a bat out of hell. I sprint through the pyramid and back to my room. I slam the door behind me and lock it before! crumble down to my knees. Sobs over take my body as I completely and entirely break down. 

It’s all too much. 

The constant berating from the Hayes. Being away from home. Having this extra responsibility in taking care of a whole other human. 

My body can’t take it. The sobs shake me to my core. I hiccup and gasp between hysteric tears. 

I want to give up. I want to go back to my little slum with Navis and live the life that I’d always lived in Greendale. It was far from perfect, yeah, but it was something I was used to. I could handle it. This new school is uncharted territory. That, along with the patriarchal douchbagery that is the Hayes family is so overwhelming. Greendale had assholes but not ones that were this entitled. The Hayes brings a new meaning to the word. It’s a kind of fuckery that I’d never had the displeasure of being introduced to. 

I wipe the tears off my face with the back of my hand. I hiccup a few times and then try and steady my breath. I hear cooling and look up. Mia is standing at the edge of her crib. I gasp. She’s standingl 

I rush over to her immediately and flood her with words of praise. She giggles and squeals back at me. I pick her up into my arms and squeeze her to my chest. She smells so soft and fresh and I inhale her deeply. She presses her palm to my cheek again and I look into her 

eyes. 

They’re so wide and blue and full of possibilities. It’s then that I know I cannot give up. Mia depends on me. She needs me to help her grow up. I’ve been with her for only a few days now and she’s already progressed so much. The sight of it is magical. 

19:17 Sat, 22 Jun 

“You and me, baby girl,” I whisper to her gently. “We’ll get through this together.” 

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I sit down in the rocking chair, Mia still in my arms. I gently push my feet off the ground and swing us back and forth. The dull movement is enough to lull Mia back to sleep. I’m not much farther behind her. 

The next time I see the Hayes is Thursday at Nanny training. They’d been scarce on Wednesday and had let me and Mia have time to ourselves. I don’t know if it was out embarrassment or distaste but I was happy to be alone regardless. 

I’m waiting for them in Mia’s room for Nanny training that evening when Neil walks in. He gives me a sheepish smile and a tentative “hello.” gives me a sheepish smile and a tentative “hello.” 

“Hi,” I say back, annoyed that my voice sounds small. I clear my throat and try again. “Hello, I mean.” 

“How’s Mia?” Neil asks. 

I shift her on my hip. “Good,” I say. “She was standing in her crib two nights ago. Again, last night.” 

“Wow,” Neil breathes. He pinches Mia’s hand between his fingers. “Pretty impressive, little lady.” 

Mia gurgles something unintelligible and smiles widely at Neil. I rock her gently in my arms. The door creaks and both Neil and I look up to see Steven shuffling in. 

“Sorry I’m late,” he says. “Night class went over.” 

“No worries,” I say, gently, “The twins aren’t even here yet.” 

As if I summoned them, the opens again. Beau slips in first then Archer. His head is down. He doesn’t acknowledge anyone in the room. Beau 

waves at us. 

“Good evening nanny and daddies,” he says. 

I expect Archer to say something or roll his eyes or doanythingbut he doesn’t. I silently wonder if he’s ashamed of his actions the other day. 

“Oh! Uh,” Neil rubs the back of his neck. “I spoke with Laura.” 

My eyes almost pop out of my head. “You did? What did she say?” 

“She denied any involvement,” Neil says, solemnly. 

“That’s bullshit I say, louder than intended. Mia squeals in agreement. I shush her gently. 

“I don’t know,” Neil says. “Maybe it wasn’t her. Regardless, we need to figure out which staff did it and fire them.” 

“So you’ve dropped me as a suspect?” I say. 

“Yes,” Neil says “We’re all in agreement.” 

“Good,” I say, sighing in relief. I’m still suspicious of Laura but I keep my mouth shut to avoid a fight. “Okay, today were feeding Mia dinner.” 

“Mmm,” Beau hums. “Mommy’s milk?” 

“Ew, no,” I scoff. “She’s old enough for solid food.” 

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Steven lightly smacks Beau. “Yeah that’s why were in this whole applesauce debacle.” 

“Milk from the teet sounds better,” Beau drawls. Everyone collectively groans. 

I put 

Mia in her highchair that I pulled from the kitchen. She gurgles and claps her hands, knowing it’s time for dinner. I pull out some crackers and some grapes from my bag, dutifully prepared by me earlier that day. I hand some out to each of the men, 

“Now, it’s important to make sure the food is small enough so she doesn’t choke,” I say. “That’s why the grapes are cut in half and the crackers are broken, Feeding her is fairly easy you just have to keep your eyes on her.” 

“No milk?” Beau chirps. “Bummer. Would love to catch a view of you shirtless.” 

“Enough, Beau,” comes the booming voice of Archer. It’s a commanding tone, his alpha voice. 

I 

I flush immediately. Archer coming to my rescue is not something I ever envisioned. Especially not today with the way he sulked into the room. It mak