Zoey

I climbed into my car where Holly was sitting in the passenger’s seat with her earphones in.

“Hey, how did it go?”

“I got the job.” I smiled. “But you’re never going to believe who I’m working for.”

“Who?” she asked with a perplexed look on her face.

“You’re just not going to believe it.” I shook my head as I pulled out of the parking space and headed home.

“Zoe, come on. Spit it out.”

“Remember the man from Starbucks earlier today? The rude but sexy one?”

“Yeah.” She extended the word slowly.

“It’s him. Well, I’m taking care of his sister.”

“Shut the fuck up? You are not!” she exclaimed.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, Holly, I am. His name is Carter Grayson and his sister is Nora.”

Immediately, her fingers began viciously typing on her phone.

“Shit,” she spoke.

“What?” I glanced over at her.

“He’s like a thirty-year-old billionaire. He’s the CEO of Carter Enterprises and this article calls him a real estate genius and mogul. So, I guess this guy could pretty much own the world.” She laughed.

“Guess so. But even though he has everything he could possibly want, there’s something going on with him.”

“You know what they say: Money can’t buy happiness.” She smirked.

“He’s just so dark. To be honest, I’ve never experienced anyone like this before.”

“It doesn’t matter, Zoe. You’re hired to take care of his sister, not him.”

“I know.” I sighed.

I dropped Holly off at home, and when I walked through the door of my house, both my dads were sitting on the couch.

“Hey, sweetie.” John smiled. “How was your day?”

I walked over and gave them each a kiss on their cheek.

“It was eventful. That’s for sure.”

“What happened?” Scott asked.

“I got a job in the city taking care of a terminally ill patient with brain cancer.”

John arched his brow.

“Well, that’s good, but how? You didn’t say anything about an interview.”

“Mr. Grayson just called me today. He said he got my number from the family member of one of my previous patients. It just so happened I was already in the city, so we met. I start tomorrow. He’s sending his driver to pick me up at nine o’clock.”

“His driver?” Scott asked. “Who is this guy?”

“His name is Carter Grayson.”

“The Carter Grayson? Carter Grayson of Grayson Enterprises?” John asked.

“Yeah. Do you know him?”

“No. We know of him,” John spoke. “He owns half of New York City.”

“I’ve heard he’s not a very nice man,” Scott spoke. “His father owned a small mom and pop real estate company that was going under. After his father passed away, Carter took over, turned it around in a matter of months, and expanded from selling homes to buying and selling properties. He has the biggest real estate company in all of New York. I’m sorry to hear about his sister.”

“She’s young and she’s dying. But, unlike her brother, she has a lightness that washes over her. His aura is just all darkness.” I sighed. “I’m going to go upstairs, take a bath, and get packed.”

“Okay, sweetheart. We’ll see you in the morning before you leave,” John spoke.

I went to my room, started the water for a bath, and then pulled my suitcase from the closet. I couldn’t stop my mind from thinking about Carter and the way he rudely dismissed my hand when I introduced myself. How could someone be so rude? But as rude as he was, it didn’t take away the fact that he was so damn sexy. Living in the same house with him was going to be a challenge. I already knew it. He didn’t like me and I needed to prepare myself for the abuse he was going to throw my way.

The next morning after getting dressed, I dragged my suitcase down the stairs and set it by the front door. Walking into the kitchen, I smiled as the aroma of my father’s crepes filled the air.

“Good morning, pumpkin,” my father Scott spoke.

“Morning, Dad.” I kissed his cheek. “Where’s Dad?”

“He had an emergency at the hospital. He told me to give you a big hug and kiss for him before you left. He felt bad not being able to stick around and say goodbye.”

“It’s okay. He has lives to save.”

I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a seat at the island where a plate of crepes was waiting for me. My dad plated his and took the seat next to mine. After we talked and finished breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Upon answering it, a man who was about fifty years of age stood tall and proud in his black suit in front of me.

“Miss Benson, I presume?” he spoke.

“You must be Juan.” I held out my hand.

He gave me a slight nod as he placed his hand in mine and lightly shook it.

“Are you ready to leave?” he asked.

“Yes. Here’s my suitcase. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Very well.” He smiled.

I walked back into the kitchen and hugged my dad goodbye.

“I’ll miss you, pumpkin.”

“I’ll miss you too. But you and Dad can come visit.”

“We definitely will. Stay in touch. At least once a day.” He kissed my head and walked me to the door.

“I will.” I smiled.

Juan seemed nice. A lot nicer than his boss, Mr. Carter Grayson. I sat in the back of the black Bentley while he drove me to Carter and Nora’s Fifth Avenue penthouse. When he pulled up to the curb, I climbed out and he grabbed my suitcase.

“I’ll bring this up for you,” he spoke.

“No need.” I grabbed it from his hand. “I can do it. Thank you for picking me up and driving me here.”

“You’re very welcome, Miss Benson.” He nodded.

“It’s Zoey, Juan. Just Zoey.” I smiled as I wheeled my suitcase through the double doors that Joseph held open for me.

“Good to see you again, Zoey.” He tipped his hat.

“Good to see you too, Joseph. Have a good day.”

“You too.” He grinned.

I took the elevator up to the Grayson penthouse, and as soon as the doors opened, I stepped onto the exquisite black and white marbled flooring and took in a deep breath. This was going to be my home for the next couple of months.

“Hello,” an older woman with auburn hair pulled back into a bun spoke. “You must be Miss Benson, Nora’s nurse.”

“Yes, I’m Zoey.” I extended my hand to her.

“I’m Sadie, Mr. Grayson’s housekeeper. I’ll show you to your room.”

I followed her down the hallway and followed her into the room next to Nora’s. It was stunning. Solid hardwood floor with a chevron pattern greeted me as well as the gray-colored walls. A canopied bed dressed in white was the focal point of the room. The view was spectacular from the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Madison Square Park. In front of the windows was a window seat made of white buttoned material that would make the perfect spot to cuddle up and read a book or stare out into the New York City night.

“This is exquisite,” I spoke. “Is Nora in her room?”

“Yes. She’s sleeping right now. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Sadie.”

“You’re welcome, Zoey. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“I think I will as long as Mr. Grayson isn’t around.” I smirked.

She let out a light laugh. “He can be a little tough to be around sometimes.”

Sadie left the room and I began to unpack my suitcase. Once I was finished, I stepped into Nora’s room and found she was awake.

“Good morning.” I smiled.

She held her hand out to me. “Good morning. Welcome to Casa Grayson.”

“Thank you.” I placed my hand in hers. “Did you have breakfast yet?”

“I ate a small amount.” She lightly smiled. “It looks like it’s a beautiful day outside.”

“It is. There’s just a light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Unfortunately, we won’t have too many more of these days.”

“I want to go to Central Park,” she softly spoke.

“Okay. Let’s get you ready, then.”

Once I helped Nora get ready, I wheeled her down to the lobby where her driver, Frank, was waiting for us.

“Frank, this is my new nurse, Zoey. Zoey, this is Frank.”

“Nice to meet you, Zoey.” He smiled as he lightly shook my hand.

“Nice to meet you too.”

I helped Nora into the car while Frank folded up her wheelchair and put it in the trunk. Once we arrived at the location Nora requested, I wheeled her to the Conservatory Gardens.

“There’s a bench over there under the archway.” She pointed.

Once I wheeled her over and helped her from her chair and onto the bench, I took a seat beside her.

“This place gives me so much peace,” she spoke.

“It’s beautiful here.” I smiled.

“I’m sorry if my brother was an ass to you.”

“Don’t worry about it. He certainly is a grumpy man.” I laughed.

“He’s not like that all the time.” She looked over at me. “Hell, who am I kidding, he is like that all the time. I just don’t want him to scare you off or something.”

Placing my hand on hers, I spoke, “He won’t. I’m here to take care of and help you, not him.”

“I don’t have much time left on this earth and he’s having a hard time dealing with it. I’m going to need you to help him get through it. Can you do that, Zoey?” she asked.

Her concern for her brother touched me. She was putting him first before herself.

“Of course I’ll try to help him get through it. But I can only do that if he allows it.”

“He won’t, but you’ll have to try. Please promise me you’ll try.” She squeezed my hand.

“Yes, of course I will.”

“Thank you.”

We talked for a bit more and then I wheeled her around so she could touch and smell the beautiful flowers that surrounded the area. This garden was a sacred place and I knew why she felt so peaceful here. We spent a couple hours in Central Park and then she asked to go home for she was exhausted.

When we got home, I helped her into bed, gave her the medications she needed to take and waited until she fell asleep.