Nik’s pov 

“You’re back ” I muttered as soon as Maya stepped into the living room . She arrived looking flushed and flustered.

“You’re back” She threw back at me swallowing nervously. She avoided eye contact with me truly confirming my suspicion 

“Where are you coming from? “I asked studying her facial reaction

“we a- we went out for a test drive” Maya blurted out breathlessly making me cock a brow 

“Hmm, Test drive ?”

“And talking of which, I think we have to discuss ”

“About What? ” I asked directing my heated gaze on her which she replied by lowering her head. She was really easy to read. 

“Huh?…  .  Ye-yeah? yeah , the car. I think… ”

“Don’t just think,  do something about it ! “Izzy snapped at Maya out of nowhere for reasons best known to her while I stared amused at their drama.

Isabella shot lasers at us with her eyes while I stared at the unfolding drama confused and wondered endlessly, was she transferring her aggression on me or Maya ? What the hell were they hiding from me?

“Well, we will see to that later but at the moment lunch calls” I announced hoping it’ll end whatever madness was going on.

I stared at my daughter, she was glaring at Maya and at same time , me . It seems she was mad at the both of us but that didn’t stop me from being me. 

” Manners at the table, young lady” I warned as she gave an unlady like snort

“like I care ” She rolled her eyes and left right away while Maya stared at me with a questioning look, as if I guessed her intention, I warned right away “No comment ”

But Maya gave me an innocent shrug “I wasn’t going to say anything ”

“Then what? ”

“I was going to ask for permission to go up and change before coming down for lunch” She said and my gaze skimmed over her skeptically, I knew she was lying, but I decided to play dumb.

“Fine, be down in ten “I said  and never expected to see a slight frown crease on her face “What? ” I asked confused

“Ten minutes? ”

I stared at her flabbergasted “An hour? ” I threw at her but she growled at me and stomped away while I grinned inwardly.

I headed to my study to get some rest and get my thinking in order before the doomed lunch.

I know Isabelle wasn’t going to stay still for lunch, she was definitely going to cause an uproar, the girl had many tricks up her sleeve

I sighed,  pinching the space between my brow from exhaustion  wondering how different it would have being if she had lived with me but inwardly I knew it was impossible considering the fact that I was always busy and Kay implanted many evil seeds in her heart against me. 

Kay wanted me to know that I wouldn’t live above her influence, well good thing, she succeeded. Not only do I have to watch out for my own daughter, I can’t ever trust a woman again. 

“Wow ” I scoffed in disbelief. Even when dead, Kay still  wins. 

I must have being so lost in thought cause the next thing I knew, I was reminded by the  maid that everyone was down and the fact I’ve being staring at space for the past twenty minutes .

I got down to see a feast  organized on the table just as I ordered. I gracefully walked to the dinning table surprised to see Maya standing with her jaw dropped open 

“What the hell” She murmured scanning the mouth watering dishes stylishly dressed on the table.

“Are we celebrating a feast?” She asked, the question obviously directed at me

“What do you think?” I nonchalantly replied taking hold of my cutleries and digging into my meal. 

A furrowed brow made its appearance on her face “What? ”

“We’re celebrating you for being Isabelle’s nanny. Not many nannies can survive day one of the job,  you can go check her record ” I explained and saw her nod in understanding but still staring awkwardly at the dishes.

There was summer muesli  made with cold semi-skimmed  milk, oat, grated apples, chopped almonds  and a handful of mixed berries. Tomato and lentil soup with granary roll and pots of low fat yogurt. Grilled chicken with spring quinoa pilaf and finally crab meat Casanova with the iced shrimp and finally honey-glazed salmon with a bit of sauteed broccoli, red pepper  and green salad with some vinaigrette. 

“But the day isn’t over yet, how are you so sure I won’t quit before night falls? ”

I gave her a hard stare, holding her gaze as I muttered “Considering what you went through today, I’m sure you’d have no problem handling her”

I felt the cold energy, saw her stiffen and knew at once she’ve figured it out. “You knew all along? “She seem to say with her accusing look. 

“Enjoy the treat” I casually replied leaving her with no choice than to eat her meal. At once silence reign but just when I thought everything was back to normal ,Isabelle struck. 

“So I’ve being wondering…. ” She trailed 

I cast her a death glare (>..>) but she sure got her genes from me cause she was not one bit intimidated .

Rather she stared at me confidently and asked “When am I getting a new mom? ”

Maya choked and sputtered on her drink getting herself into a coughing fit while I was quite startled but showed no other reaction other than that. I was expecting it anyway 

Maya got herself after some moments “You! ” She bellowed “That’s no way to tal-”  I dismissed Maya with a wave of my hand fixing my attention on my dear daughter  .

“Why? ” I asked exuding an authoritative aura with an arrogant smile tugging at a corner of my lips 

Isabelle smiled back at me, a fierce determination to win this battle evident on her face “I need a motherly figure ”

“And? ”

“Girls just want their mom sometimes ”

“And? ”

“Need someone to talk boys stuff with”

“You can always discuss it with me” I blurted out without even realizing it and the repley I got was an awkward cough from Maya and a death stare from my daughter.

“Well, we can always compromise on that ” I tried minimizing the damage done. Why does it all go south when it comes to boy’s stuff?

Isabelle stood up abruptly and banged her hand hard against the table almost knocking some dishes over in the process “Just admit it!What makes you think you can be able to handle me in my rebellious teenage years? ”

I  wanted to reply when I heard Maya murmur beneath her breath “As if you aren’t rebellious enough now? ”

I smirked,she was definitely the perfect match for Isabella and I had the perfect plan in mind. 

“So let’s say I agree, who do you want for a mother? “I said throwing the ball in her court and hoping she’ll make the right choice “Tina? or…..? ”

Isabelle stared at me skeptically, obviously wondering if I was sincere or playing around. So I focused my intense and get down to business gaze on her and in a few moment, her lips twitch upward in a smirk , as if we were communicating telepathically, she said

“I want her” Isabelle announced pointing at an absent minded female entertaining herself with a grilled chicken and quite oblivious to what  was going on. I smiled, Isabelle was surely my blood 

“Fine by me “I agreed  knowing just how much Isabelle values promises ” I have to keep my own part of the deal then ”

I excused myself before turning to discover the horror on Maya’s face but that didn’t stop me, instead I added more fuel to the fire

“let’s get married”