"I just met Charles Leclerc and I don't think I'm ever washing my hand again!" I announced walking into the apartment.

I heard three laughs instead of one, Julia and Gabriel were here too! I completely forgot about "family" game night.

Harriet and I used to have game nights every weekend, until I moved out for college and life got in the way. She managed to keep the tradition alive by playing with them, now that I was here she beamed that it was just like the good old days.

"What are we playing tonight?" I joined them.

"No you tell us how you met Charles!"

"You're not going to believe this, the kid I've been babysitting, is Charles' daughter! He's back in town for her." I squealed.

"Who are you babysitting again?" Gabriel asked.

"Pascale, the hair salon owner, her granddaughter Mia."

"Wait didn't Harriet get you the job?" Julia asked.

"Yeah! She did! Crazy she didn't-"

"I knew all along!" She chimed in.

"Did it not occur to you ONCE to have told me?"

"I thought it's an insignificant detail."

"Insignificant my ass! I panicked so bad in front of him!" I cried.

"Oops! So dinner first or Monopoly?" She tried changing the subject.

I gave in and decided to sit down for dinner, we ate, laughed and talked about all sorts of things and then cleaned up. It was finally time to start playing Monopoly, my favourite board game. As usual, I was made the banker and we started playing, it was going to be one long night the way it was going.

"Give me your cards losers!" I smirked checking my balance.

"There is no need to be so harsh Tara." Gabriel sighed handing his card.

"Let her win at something-"

"You're just bitter you didn't win!" I laughed.

I was packing the game up when my phone rang, it was an unknown number. Here's the thing about me, I hate phone calls.

Seeing an unknown number all the more gave me the excuse to not answer it, we waved goodbye Julia and Gabriel and just sat in the living room.

I wasn't sure just yet, if I wanted to tell Harriet about my little arrangement with Charles. My phone rang again, this time it was Pascale. I quickly answered to know why she was calling.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes, well Mia is okay. She is fast asleep but there's someone who's now in great discomfort."

"What happened? Should I come over right now? Give me 5 minutes let me just-"

"No no! There's no need." She laughed, "I was talking about Charles, I gave him your number, he wanted to talk to you."

"Oh."

"He said that he even called you but you didn't answer the phone."

"I'm so sorry! I was having dinner with my sister, I'll call him right away."

"Good! Well, you and Arthur were a more ideal pair but this works just fine! Good night!" She ended the call.

I called up that unknown number with a tinge of guilt, Pascale had been so nice to me! Lying to her just didn't sit right with me, and now talking to him on the phone without freezing was going to be difficult.

"Hello?" He answered sounding somewhat sleepy.

"Hi, it's Tara. I just got off the phone with Pascale, I'm sorry I didn't answer your call."

"Yeah it's alright, I just wanted to tell you to send over your schedule to my manager so that he can list all the events you'll be present at."

"I currently don't have a schedule, it's just 12 pm to 4 or 6 pm I'm busy with Mia."

"What about tomorrow? We need to make a public appearance before I leave for Canada to fuel rumours."

"All this plotting and scheming, don't you get tired?"

"Answer my question Tara, I don't have time for this."

"Come with me when I go to pick up Mia from school, also try being nicer! It's free and wouldn't kill you." I ended the call.

I did not expect him to treat this as some sort of business deal, but clearly that's what it was. I felt stupid for even thinking, that we were going to be friends in the first place.

"I'm going to sleep." I yawned.

"How are you tired? I was the one who had a long shift at the restaurant!"

"I attended a party, shit is exhausting!"

"You forgot it's a bunch of six year olds." She chuckled.

"At least I met Charles." I smirked walking into my room.

The next morning, I woke up to lots of text messages and a note on the fridge from Harriet. She was called in early today, she made a smoothie for me before leaving.

I gulped it down, watched the news for a bit and scrolled on my phone mindlessly. The weather looked pleasant, I decided to go out for a jog. Jogging along the harbour with music blaring in my ears seemed like the best thing to do right now.

I headed down for a jog, as expected it cleared my mind up. My favourite track was playing, the sea looked incredible and before I knew it I was looking at the sea and jogging with a smile on my face.

I stopped by at the bakery to get today's fresh goodies, that's when I noticed I had a few messages.

😉

He was being friendly? What happened to being all cold and "oh this is a business deal?"

😂

I ended the conversation, thanked the cashier and started my walk back home. I tidied up, researched a little more about career options in Monaco and took a shower.

By the time I was done, it was time to pick up Mia. I was bummed about not being able to use the fresh bread I bought today for lunch.

The pleasant breeze took away the discomfort of walking in such hot weather, the sun glare was blinding me. I had to squint my eyes for a while, until a shadow blocked the sun for me.

"Hey." He awkwardly waved.

"Hi." I squinted.

"Why are you squinting?" He asked.

"I can't see? I wear contact lenses, sunlight is my worst enemy."

"Take my sunglasses." He said taking off his shades.

"I'm going to look stupid in them! They look cool on you, keep them on." I smiled.

"Fine then, I'll continue walking a little ahead so I can block the sunlight for you."

We waited outside the school gates, there were a few whispers and stares. I ignored them, but it was getting hard to considering how many eyes were on us.

"Tara! Papa!" Mia beamed running towards us.

She leaped into Charles' arms and give him a big hug, he showered her with kisses on her cheeks. They had such big smiles on their faces, I couldn't help but grin.

Her teachers stood at the gates, star struck to see him. I don't blame them, I didn't know how to act around him either.

"So what's the plan?" He asked her.

"Now Tara will take me home and then I eat lunch and then we do homework and then I nap and then we colour and then we go to the park and then we come back and then she gets me ready for bed and then Mamé comes home-"

"And then she eats dinner and then she goes to sleep." I finished her sentence.

"Let's change it today." He winked.

"How?" She looked at him.

"Let's go out for lunch! And then go on a long drive!" He beamed.

"Yes! Can Tara come?"

"I don't know, can she?" He looked at me.

"I don't want to intrude on the time you get alone with her, carry on!"

"Papa can we go to her favourite pizza place? See Tara! We're going to your favourite pizza place, you have to come!" She pouted.

She had mastered the puppy eyes, I had still not grown immune to them. I gave in, and so we set out, to eat pizzas.

I thanked them for lunch and headed back, I saw them drive past in his silver Portofino. She was waving frantically at me as they zoomed past.

Harriet was still not back, I sent her a text message asking when she'll be back. She replied 'soon' being the asshole she is.

I started dinner, ate it, read for a while and decided to head to bed. I had a text notification.

😉