F I V E - Helpful Hand

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Happy reading, Sade xx

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OPENING the door to her office Charlotte was greeted by Marie sitting on of her chairs as her eyes glittered in curiosity.

"So what was it? A secret grandchild? An underperforming grandchild who they're affraid will taint their family's pristine reputation? Spill."

"Actually, it's no grandchild," replied Charlotte earning a confused look from Marie, "She's making me look after her son!" she barked.

Marie sat with a her mouth slightly open, not saying a word.

"Can we even do that?" asked Marie in a whispernas of this was a some sort of secret. Which to some extent it was.

Charloote sat down heavily and sank into her chair as she informed Marie about the position Isabelle De Luca had offered both her and her son, making sure not to leave out any details.

She knew that words of the contract should not be relayed to the public but she didn't think that telling Marie would be a big deal, she was her assistant after all  and needed to know her whereabouts. Bianca was her best friend, how could you not tell something like this to your best friend ?

"Wow, talk about hands on parenting," Mused Marie.

Charlotte rolled her eyes, not in the mood for Marie's jokes today. Taking a deep breathe she straightened her back and moved some hair behind her ears, "Could you please bring a strong cup of black coffee ?"

She would not allow even the thought of Nicolas De Luca to invade her work space as that was the only time away from she that she has.




NICOLAS' mind was all over the place and the gala was the cause of it. It was currently 4 PM and he had hardly done any real work. How was he expected to bring a date when this stupid contract his mother made him sign all but forbade him from spending time with any one that would not better him in a personal or business aspect.

He let out a frustrated growl, he had much more important things to deal with and all he could currently focus was on the fact that he would arrive stag to an event.

As soon as he buzzed Daisy she appeared in his office, "Daisy, please clear my calendar for the rest of the day I have other things to attend to," he informed her.

He stood up, put on his jacket and walked out of the office in a sour mood.

Charlotte was in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea when Nicolas rushed through the door looking a lot less calm and smug than he did this morning.

She too felt unfocused at the office today and accused it for not sleeping well the previous night due to her unfamiliar surrounding, so she decided to leave work early to acquaint herself with her new home while Nic was out.

"Nicolas, are you feeling alright ?" Charlotte inquired, not because she really wanted to know but wasn't looking after him a part of this job ?

"No as a matter of fact Ms. Stein I am not fine, I am not okay," He announced, "I am expected to show up at an event that I am not prepared for, in approximately 3 hours. I don't know if I even have a pressed tux in my closet. I do not have a date to said event because this absurd contract that my mother drew up basically forbade me from going out on dates. So to answer your question Charlotte, I am not okay."

Nicolas' explosion left Charlotte sitting there with her eyes wide, she definitely didn't expect such an innocent question could arouse such an expressive answer.

"Okay, let's go," Charlotte said as she stood up.

"I don't think you understand. I can not go out I ha-"

"We're not going out, I need you to show me the way to your closet," She said as Nic's face morphed into a muddled expression, "So we can check if you have a tux and whether or not it needs pressing. Chop chop Nicolas we have problems to solve."

Shaking his head head he stepped in front of her and lead the way to his room.

As the lights lit up the dark room revealing an exceptionally neat closet, she looked around for a while, shifting her gaze between Nicolas and the racks and shelves of clothing that lined the walls of his closet.

"So I'm thinking a navy blue tux, white shirt, black bow tie and I'm sure that you have a pair of silver cuff links around here to complete the look."

"So now you're suddenly an expert on men's fashion Ms. Stein, nanny by day stylist by night, impressive," he mused.

"Take the advice or don't, all I know that you'd look a lot better in this than the black suit and tie combo I'm sure you would've chosen." Charlotte said with a burst of confidence and by the look on his face as she did, proved that she was in fact correct.

"Now what's the other issue you had ?"

"Well," he started, "I need a date." He said shyly.

She gave him a bemused expression, oh how the tables have turned and now it was his turn to feel embarrassed.

"I'm sure it's not a must for you to have a date, is it ?"

"Actually it is."

Nicolas informed Charlotte about this little tradition that his family started when he was about 17. At that time his elder brother Marco had a girlfriend named Stella, who is now his wife. Marco insisted on bringing Stella along to the gala as his date and determined not to be showed up, Nicolas demanded that he too be allowed to bring a date as well and of course not wanting to be left out so did 11 year old Max. From that day on wards each boy has brought a date along to the gala each year and Nicolas was not about to be the one to break this 13 year old tradition.

"Now you know why I have to bring a date."

"But like you said earlier the contract kind of hinders your list of potential dates."

The two of them stood in his closet not saying anything until Nicolas had a light bulb moment.

"Hypothetically speaking, if someone were to attended this event along with me in a totally platonic, professional way, that would still mean they would be my plus one, others would say perhaps... a date."

She narrowed her eyes, "Where are you going with this ?" 

"Technically Ms. Stein you were hired to always supervise my behavior hence you needing to move in as well. Allowing me to attend the gala alone or with someone else would actually be quite irresponsible and in fact in void of your contract. We can't let that happen now can we?" He taunted.

Charlotte let out an annoyed huff, attending this gala with him only adds to the unprofessional context of the situation she's currently in. She would and could not allow this !

"Mr. De Luca, I am NOT going with you to this gala." She stared firmly.

"Oh Charlotte, I think we've made it pretty clear that you will be. It starts in about two hours so I suggest you start getting ready." He said as he walked out leaving her alone in his closet with her mouth slightly open in shock.

"Tick, tock Charlotte." He yelled from somewhere in the apartment.

She angrily made her way to her room making sure to shut the door with a bit more force than necessary, a bit childish but it felt right in that moment. Now she knew where Nicolas got his persuasive bordering manipulative tactics from.

Stepping into her own closet with a smirk, she knew exactly what she was going to do. With a newfound sense of control she grabbed all of the items she needed and quickly made her way to the bathroom.

About an hour and a bit later Nicolas stood in the living room wearing the outfit Charlotte had chosen for him. Even if he didn't want to admit it, he did look pretty good. Just as he looked down to the watch on his wrist, he heard the clicking of heels and shifted his gaze.

"Wow.." he breathed.

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Hehehe, Nicolas what a persistently cheeky boy...

What do we think Charlotte did to extract that reaction she did from Nicolas ?

I hope that you guys enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please feel free to comment and don't forget to vote if you've enjoyed reading 💖


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