A Baby For Billionaire Knox

THEME: I won’t allow it

OLIVER SCOTT HOME

Eretia punched in the password and the door came opened. “How was the interview?” Oliver asked.

Eretia settled down beside Oliver on the couch. “It was fine.” She answered.

“I’ll be right back.” Oliver exited the living room to the kitchen and he came back with a glass of apple juice.

“Here, drink this to help you relax.” He handed the glass over to her.

“Thank you, Oliver.” She sipped from the drink.

“Did it go well? I mean… the job.” Oliver asked again.

Eretia didn’t know how to tell Oliver about the offer she got from the chairlady.

“Is something wrong?” Oliver noticed the perturbed look on her face.

“No.. why?” She asked.

“You look disturbed.” Oliver replied.

“The interview went well Oliver and I got the job.” Eretia said.

A small smile formed on his face. “That’s good news.”

“Yeah.” She shook her head in agreement.

“So tell me about the job.” Oliver requested.

“Like you know I met with Chairlady of Martin Empire.” She paused.

He nodded. “What job did you get?”

Eretia spoke up after a faint sigh. “Mrs Elaina Martin wants me to be her son’s personal assistant.”

Oliver raised his eyebrows. “She wants you to work for her son who is a celebrity… that sounds good.” He said with a half smile on his face.

“Yeah it sounds good.” Eretia toyed with the rim of the glass.

“Are you sure you want to take the job?” Oliver asked as he rubbed his palms together.

“Yes.. but James that’s not all about the Job.” Eretia mumbled.

“So what else?” Oliver questioned.

“As.. Knox’s personal assistant, I have to move in with him.” Eretia picked her choice of words carefully.

“What?!” His jaw dropped slightly and his gaze met hers.

Eretia studied his expression. He was furious.

Oliver stood up. “What kind of job is that?” He demanded.

Eretia stood up and went to him. “Listen to me Oliver, I won’t stay with him for too long. I just want to help Mrs Elaina reconcile with her son.” She explained the offer to him.

“Her family problem is none of your business. Mrs Elaina should find a way to settle things with her son. And why did you sign that document without consulting me first?!” He demanded in a slightly raised tone.

“I -”

“You signed it because of the money right? Do you even know who Knox Martin is?”

“I don’t know him.” Eretia replied sincerely.

“Fine, he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. So Eretia you are not taking that Job.” He blurted out.

“But Oliver I need to work. I don’t want to be a burden to you. I -” Her voice trailed off when Oliver went to her and cupped her face in his hands.

Oliver whispered. “You are not a burden to me. And remember you have to regain your memory -” He paused and rested his forehead on hers.

Eretia withdrew from him. “I am fine… Oliver.” Eretia snapped in immediately.

“I can’t allow you live with someone you barely know.” Oliver countered.

“Please Oliver.” Her eyes pleaded with him.

“We can get another job. We will look for other decent jobs.” Oliver said with a serious look on his face. “As a matter of fact, you can also enroll in a college for now. I will pay for all the expenses and you can start your life over again with me and Ryan.”

“No Oliver.” Her objected was sharp and immediately. That was his way of stopping her from taking the job.

“Why do you insist on taking this job?” Oliver demanded.

“Listen Oliver, you took me in without knowing me, same thing applies to me working for Knox and -”

“It is different. You don’t remember anything about yourself.” Oliver ran his hand through his hair.

“No you barely knew who I was back then but you helped me. I don’t know Knox Martins that well but I am ready to work for him. It is all about taking the risk and -”

He cuts her off again. “Risk? No I can’t allow you take such risk. You are not doing this Eretia.”

“I already signed the document and I have to resume work on Wednesday.” Eretia said.

“Wednesday? You even agreed without consulting me? Without bothering to talk to me about it first.” He had an angry look on his face.

“I am sorry.” Eretia apologized.

Oliver cursed under his breathe. “Damn it Eretia!” And he stormed out of the house.

Eretia felt sad. She sank onto the couch slowly. She did not like the fact that Oliver was mad at her.

FIVE HOURS LATER

Eretia lay on the couch waiting for Oliver. She was worried about him. The door clicked and she stood abruptly. It was Ryan Scott.

“Hi Miss world,” Ryan greeted with a smile on his face.

“Welcome Ryan.” Eretia replied and she lay back on the couch.

Ryan noticed her tone was different and her face was sad. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Her answer was immediate.

“Where is Oliver?” Ryan asked.

“He stepped out five hours ago.” Eretia answered.

“To where?” Ryan questioned.

She sat up again. “I don’t know.”

“Something is wrong. So tell me what happened.” Ryan requested.

Eretia sighed. “Oliver and I had an argument earlier.”

“About what?”

“The job.” She mumbled.

“Yeah how was the interview?” Ryan asked.

“Good.. and I got the job.” She looked down and fiddled with her finger.

A smile crept on his face. “I knew it! This is great news. So what type of job is it?” Ryan asked.

“I have to work as Knox Martins personal assistant.” She answered.

“Wow! That’s awesome!” Ryan gasped out with a surprising look on his face.

“Yeah.. but the thing is I have to move in with him.” She added quickly.

Ryan smile disappeared immediately. “What? Why? I mean… why… that.. condition?” he stuttered.

“I need to help Mrs Elaina convince her son that her husband’s death was not her intention.” She explained.

“So Oliver was mad at you for accepting the job?” Ryan questioned.

“Yeah.” She nodded.

“My brother is scared of losing you.” Ryan blurted out after some minutes of silence.

“Scared of losing me? What do you mean?” Eretia furrowed her eyebrows.

He didn’t respond.

“But Ryan, I am not leaving forever. I will always come around as soon as Mrs Elaina sees changes in her son.. and I can do the same whenever I am less busy at work for the main time.” She looked straight at the boy.

“It seems you don’t understand Oliver. And I am not in the best position to tell you anything. But don’t worry I will talk to him.” Ryan said in a calm tone.

“Thank you, Ryan.” Eretia said in a tight whisper.

The door clicked again and Oliver stepped in. “Oliver-” she stood and went to him.

He tucked his hands out of his pocket and walked towards his bedroom. Eretia followed him immediately.

“Can we talk?” She asked but he didn’t respond.”You know it is fine if you don’t want me to take the job. I can-”

He slammed the bedroom door at her face which interrupted her words. She stood outside for seconds. She had no idea why Oliver was acting differently.

Eretia turned and saw Ryan staring right back at her.

“Don’t worry I will talk to him.” He said.

Eretia shook her head and walked into her room.

IN OLIVER’S BEDROOM

When Ryan walked into the room, he met Oliver staring out through the window.

“Hello Bro.” Ryan greeted.

Oliver didn’t respond. Ryan dropped his school bag in the wardrobe and dashed off into the bathroom to take a quick shower. When he was done, Oliver sat on the bed rubbing his palms together anxiously. Ryan knew his brother was disturbed by Eretia’s new job.

“Can we talk?” Ryan asked.

“I want to be alone.” Oliver replied.

And Ryan said after a long pause. “I think you went too hard on Eretia. I mean when she tried to talk to you earlier.. you ignored her and now she is sad.” He said in a low tone.

Oliver met his gaze. “I am sorry Ryan. But I don’t know what has come over me to act this way.” He admitted sincerely.

Ryan went closer to James and sat beside him on the bed. “I know how you feel for her.”

Oliver frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

“Come on bro… I know you are in love with her and you are scared of losing her.” Ryan said with a shrug.

“That’s not true.” Oliver denied.

“Then why won’t you let her take the job?” Ryan snorted.

“She is still getting better.” Oliver answered.

“No I think she is fine now… I know what’s going on in your mind. You don’t want to confess your feelings to her because you are thinking it would change your relationship with her and at the same time you don’t want her to work so you won’t lose her to another man like how you lost your ex girlfriend.” Ryan stopped to look at his brother.

“You know too much than your age.” Oliver mumbled.

“Am I right?”

Oliver shook his head in agreement. “Yes, you are right.”

“Miss Eretia wants to work so that she can help you.” Ryan said.

“But I don’t want her to repay me for anything. You know our inheritance is more than enough for us even if I decide not to work for years.” Oliver countered.

“Yes I know but you should let her do whatever she wants.” Ryan said.

“I don’t have a problem with the job but I am only concerned about her moving in with Knox Martins. I don’t trust that guy, someone who doesn’t have any regard for his biological mother then how is he going to respect a lady who will be a personal assistant at work and maid at home but Eretia doesn’t understand. Ryan, you might think I am selfish because I want to keep her around me but this is beyond that or my feelings for her.” He stood up from the bed.

“Why don’t you just put her interest first?” Ryan asked.

“Then what if she somehow falls in love with Knox Martins?” Oliver asked.

Ryan was silent.

“If she ends up falling in love with Knox then I have to let her go again.. just like what I did with the other women in my life.” Oliver replied in a tight whisper after sitting back on the bed.

Ryan placed his hand on Oliver’s lap and pats him gently. “Hey bro if Eretia is the woman for you then no one will take her away. If you guys are meant to be together, even Knox Martins won’t be able to take her away.” Ryan responded.

They lapsed into silence. Ryan was aware that his brother has been through many breakups in the past. The women he loved and dated, somehow they ended up dumping him. His last girlfriend complained that he was too busy with work and he never had time for her, so she cheated on him and broke up with him the day he found out she was cheating on him. Then he decided to remain single till he finds a woman who would make him fall in love again. A woman who will love him, Ryan and understand the nature of his work and also be loyal to him.

And then Eretia came into the picture and he found himself falling in love with her while he was teaching her things humans could do. Oliver couldn’t confess his feeling simply because he doesn’t want Eretia to think he was taking advantage of the fact that he helped her. He clearly knew that Eretia doesn’t love him. She liked him as someone who saved her life and also sees him as a family.

“She might end up running away from you if you don’t let her work.” Ryan said after a long momentary pause.

“I won’t let that happen… even though I keep having this feeling that sooner or later Eretia would end up leaving us someday.” He answered.

“What are you thinking?” Ryan asked.

“It is just a feeling.. or maybe my instinct.” He forced a smile on his face as he looked at Ryan.

“So will you let her work for Knox Martin?” Ryan questioned.

Oliver heaved a faint sigh. “I have no choice.” He answered.