She's Just the Nanny

Chapter Seven

Tonight was the night of the Charity Ball. First thing Brooke did when she woke up was call Cara. "Hello my stranger of a best friend." Cara answered. "You were right about one thing. I am your best friend, but not a stranger."

"Says the best friend who has not called for days." Brooke chuckled, she was used this dramatics from Cara.

"You do know calling works both ways, you could have called me."

"Okay, you have made your point. Why did you call my, dear best friend?"

"Well, tonight is a charity ball and I was hoping you could come to me to help me get ready." Cara started screaming out of excitement.

"Seriously? Just let me take a bath and I'll be there in 30 minutes."

"Cara, you do not know where he lives, remember?"

"Oh please, everyone knows where Nathaniel Cashvian lives."

"You make it sound like he's some type of god." Cara did give a reply but Brooke could not hear that because another voice gave a reply as well.

"I am a god." His husky voice sent shivers down her spine.

She turned around and saw Nate standing at her door. "I gotta go.." Brooke said into the phone and then hung up.

"You need to stop doing that."

"Well I think I have right to hear things said about myself." Nate gave her a smirk and Brooke rolled her eyes. "Who said we were talking about you?" She asked cheekily.

"We both know it's me you were talking about." Brooke again just rolled her eyes

"You and your friend sure do love talking about me." Nate said smirking.

"She's the one talking; believe me I have better things to do than talk about some rich playboy billionaire." Nate laughed, brushing off her comment .

"Whether it is you talking or just listening, did your mother not teach you that it's wrong to speak about someone behind their back?" Brooke tensed up at the mention of her mother. Nate noticed it because he sent her a strange look.

"Didn't your mother teach you it's wrong to eavesdrop on other people's phone calls?" Brooke shot back.

Despite the fact that Brooke tried brushing off the mention of her mother, Nate noticed her strange behavior and he ignored her comment. "Brooke, are you okay?"

"Don't worry about, I'm fine." Brooke slightly snapped. Nate opened his mouth to speak but Brooke beat him to it. "Nate if you don't mind I'd like wash myself up and get dressed." Nate just nodded his head before leaving.

Brooke got out of the bed. She really hoped he didn't dwell too much on the way she acted right now. She shook her head, he probably forgot already.

The ball was starting 7 pm; Nate gave her the day off so she could get ready.

After Brooke was done there was a knock on her door.

"Come in." She saw Nate walking in.

"There is a woman at the door; she is one of the women I saw at the club. She says she's here for you yet she keeps staring at me creepily." Brooke laughed, she knew this was Cara. She walked pass Nate and saw Cara wearing an over-sized shirt that did not show her swollen stomach.

They walked to Brooke's room.

"So what should we do now?" Cara asked with a wide grin, rubbing her hands together.

"For now Cara we catch up, it's barely 12 pm and the event only starts 7 pm."

"Have you seen your hair Brooke?" Cara asked with a disbelief look. Brooke self-consciously touched her hair. "I'd like to think that my hair looks perfectly fine, thank you very much."

"Brooke, it looks like a bird made its nest in it."

"Way to make me feel pretty." Brooke muttered sarcastically. "I love you too." Cara said with a teasing smile.

"So, how is that baby of yours?" Immediately Cara's face lit up. "She's doing great. Jason and I picked a few names already."

"Ooh, really? What is it?"

"I like the name Kelsey but Jason prefers Hannah but we don't know yet. All we know is her second name will be Brooke."

"Awww, really? That is really sweet Cara."

"But only on one condition." Cara said slowly. "Which is?"

"Your child's second name has to be Cara."

"Of course it will be. But it won't be happening anytime soon." She muttered the last part

"Brooke you underestimate your beauty. I'm sure there are many men that really want you. I can think of one right now actually and he isn't that far from us, in fact he is right down stairs." Cara gave her a sly smile. Brooke chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"Nope, he definitely can't be the father of my child. I would want the father of my child to actually be married to me." Cara sent her a knowing smile but Brooke ignored it and changed the subject immediately.

"Why don't we get started on me?"

-------

"Alright. We're all done. You may look in the mirror now."

Brooke turned to the mirror to look at herself and inhaled a sharp breath. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Her hair was slightly curled and pushed to one side. She had light blush and eyeliner on. Just as Brooke wanted, the dress fitted her perfectly. Her heels were silver that matched her clutch.

"Wow! Nathaniel Cashvian won't be able to keep his eyes off of you." Cara breathed out with a sigh. "I doubt that." Brooke muttered more to herself. There was obviously going to be a lot of pretty women there at the charity ball.

"Brooke, dear I hope you're done. Nate asked me to -." Lucy stopped mid-sentence when her eyes fell on Brooke. "Brooke, you look absolutely beautiful dearie."

"Thank you so much Lucy." Brooke smiled shyly at her.

"Well you have to go. Luke and Nate are already done and they are waiting for you."

"Okay sure I will be down in a sec." She grabbed her silver clutch bag and turned to Cara. "Thank you so much, Cara. I'll see you soon I hope." Brooke hugged her before going downstairs while Cara grabbed all her belongings.

Brooke walked downstairs and saw Nate was on his phone while Luke immediately spotted her.

"Brookie! You look like a angel." Luke said causing Brooke to laugh. She made a note to herself to help him with English so he would say 'an angel' next time instead of 'a angel'.

"And you little man look like a prince."

Luke was also dressed in a tux like his dad. He was like the mini Nate. Brooke caught the eyes of Nate and he looked at her differently. His lips were parted slightly and his eyes big. He was dazed by her appearance.

"Does this look okay for a charity ball?" Brooke asked nervously.

"Okay? Brooke, it looks perfect." He breathed out. She felt her cheeks warm up but her lips turned into a smile. "Thank you."

Nate coughed awkwardly and he got out of the daze he was in.

"Well we should get going." They bid their goodbyes to Lucy.

"Brookie, you look really, really pretty." Luke babbled on their way to the ball. Brooke laughed and so did Nate. "I think she gets it Luke."

"She almost look like Mommy look in the picture by Nana's."

Brooke gasped. It was the first time she ever heard Luke talk about his mom. She turned to Nate and saw that this comment Luke made was clearly upsetting to him because his jaw was clenched and his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

She had the sudden urge to just touch him in hopes to make him feel better. She could tell Luke's mom was a touchy subject for him.

"Daddy doesn't she look like Mommy?" Luke continued. "Of course she does." Nate said through clenched teeth, hoping his son would stop talking about Sasha.

Brooke thought she had to do something. "Luke, you must stay by my side the entire time okay? I don't know these people and you my only friend." Luke smiled a big toothy grin. Brooke could tell Luke loved the idea of being her only friend. Nate relaxed slightly.

They reached the venue and Brooke felt could feel the nerves kicking in. Somehow Nate noticed and he grabbed her hand -the one that was not holding Luke's- into his, squeezing it reassuringly. Brooke felt grateful and smiled nervously at him. Camera lights started flashing, blinding her eyes.

"Mr Cashvian, is she one of your latest eye-candy?" Some woman asked. Brooke was flabbergasted at her bluntness. She however knew she should not be surprise. They were obviously used to seeing Nate with a different woman on his arm.

"No comment." Nate replied. More people bombarded them with questions but he successfully managed to quickly pull Brooke and Luke inside.

Once they were inside Mrs Cashvian spotted them immediately. "Well don't you look beautiful, Brooke. Absolutely beautiful." Brooke felt her cheeks warming up. Justine and Mr Cashvian joined them and also showered her with compliments.

"I thought I told you to bring a plus one." Mr Cashvian said. "I did. Brooke is my plus one." At those words Mr Garry Cashvian smiled approvingly.

"Nathan, my boy." Brooke heard a deep yet unfamiliar voice. The voice belonged to an older man. He had grey hair and just like the rest of the Cashvian family, he looked really well off.

"Grandpa!" Nate's face immediately lit up.

"Who is this?" His grandfather asked, looking at Brooke. He didn't sound the least bit interested. He stared at her rather disapprovingly. Brooke frowned at this but decided to ignore it.

"Pa, this is my plus one Brooke." Brooke looked confusedly at Nate. Why didn't he just say maid or even Luke's nanny?

"Plus one?" His grandpa asked. His eyes narrowed. Brooke could tell he didn't like her very much.

"Brooke this is my grandpa, my mother's father Jack Williams."

"It's nice to meet you Mr Williams." Brooke said politely. Mr Williams didn't answer her instead he turned to Nate. "Where's Sasha?" Nate stiffened.

"Father! I think you should stop talking. Where is Mother?" Mrs Cashvian interjected. "I don't know, mingling with her friends." He mumbled.

Mr and Mrs Cashvian walked off finding Mrs Williams leaving, Mr Jack Williams alone with them. Mr Williams again stared at Brooke disapprovingly.

Nate noticing his grandfather's stare turned to Brooke and asked her: "Brooke, why don't you and Luke find us a seat at one of the tables?" Eagerly wanting to get away, she nodded and walked off.

Surprisingly Luke was real quiet and Brooke realised that he was tired. She took a seat at an empty table for four and pulled Luke to her lap. He laid head on her chest and not long after, he fell asleep.

"What are doing sitting all, alone?" Brooke looked up when she heard a slightly familiar voice. She saw it was the same guy from the dinner and the friend Nate had at the club that night. Brooke didn't answer him.

"The names' Aiden. We haven't officially met." Brooke smiled at him.

"Brooke. Nice to officially meet you, Aiden."

"You have not answered my question."

"Nate asked me to find us a seat while he talks to his grandpa, who is not very fond of me." Brooke found herself at ease with Aiden. He had this aura about him that made her feel comfortable.

"Oh Jack isn't all that bad. He is usually like that with people he only met. He did not like me at first and now he insists I call him Jack." Aiden said but Brooke could not help but wonder if there was something more than her just being someone he just met.

"I doubt it would happen with me." Aiden took a seat opposite Brooke and they started chatting about other things, comfortably.

A few minutes later Justine came to join them.

"Aiden stop boring the poor woman with your presence." Justine announced her presence and took a seat next to Aiden. Brooke's arms were filled with a sleeping Luke. Aiden playfully glared at Justine. "

Who on earth would ever be bored with my presence, Justine." Aiden replied arrogantly.

"Your arrogance is suffocating me." Justine did her best to show Aiden her annoyance.

"Aww Justine but you love me for it." He shot back.

Brooke watched their back and forth bickering in amusement. She came to the conclusion that they clearly had a thing for one another. There was definitely chemistry between them.

"I'm surprised they haven't killed each other." Nate said softly beside Brooke. She jumped at the sight of his voice. "And I'm surprised to see Luke sleeping." He said pointing to Luke.

"What do you mean?"

"Well usually when he's at an event he would be running around with his previous nanny's having no control over him."

"I think it is because he did not have his afternoon nap that's why he's so tired."

"I guess." Nate shrugged his shoulders and took a seat next to Brooke. "Oh hey Nate; didn't see you there." Justine said.

"Of course not, you were too busy jumping down Aiden's throat." Realizing how weird that sounded Justine glared at her brother and Aiden simply smirked while wiggling his eyebrows at her.

Brooke actually enjoyed her night. She thought she would not fit in with these people. She never attended it. Her mother always went to these events leaving her with her father.

Mr Williams said nothing for the remainder of the evening; he only sent her occasional disapproving glares which she tried to ignore but it was very hard.

Once they reached home Nate took a sleeping Luke in his arms while Brooke went to her room. She washed off her make-up and pulled the pins that held her hair out. A knock was heard at her door. "Come in." Nate entered, smiling politely at her

"Did you enjoy the evening?"

"Yes thank you, I did." Brooke sent him a warm smile. "Aiden is surely a handful." Brooke commented. "Combine him and Justine? You'll want to kill yourself." Nate said smirking.

"They clearly have a thing for each other." Nate's smile faltered.

Immediately Brooke regretted saying anything. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that?" It sounded more like a question than and actual apology.

"The thing is, yes they have a thing for each other but Aiden is exactly like me. I don't want him breaking Justine's heart. He doesn't stick to one girl. I cannot have him breaking my sister's heart."

"Nate maybe Justine will be the only woman he sticks to once he has her." Nate laughed.

"Brooke I know Aiden and he never sticks to one girl. He tried it once but failed miserably.

Brooke decided to not go into it anymore. Nate was obviously not going to change his mind about it. But Brooke knew what love could do to someone. One look at Aiden and she could tell he was in love with Justine just by the way he looked at her.

The same way her father looked at her mother. It is the same way Aiden looked at Justine. The only difference is the look was mutual with them.

Her mother never shared her father's look and because her father was in love with her mother he allowed her to use his money. What surprised both her and Catherine was the fact that he left everything in his will to Brooke.

"Thanks Brooke." Nate suddenly said. Brooke looked up, a questioning look plastered on her features. "For what?"

"Everything you have done for Luke so far. I was wrong about you and I would like you to know that I do want you to stay now. Luke does need you." I need you. Nate did not dare say it out loud.

For the first time since she had met Nate, she actually saw real emotion in his eyes. It was one of sincerity and appreciation.

She loved the color of his eyes when there was emotion in. It wasn't the usual dark shade but a lighter one. His lips were pulled into a smile, not his usual smirks but an actual smile. He looked even more handsome that he already was.

She smiled at him. "I'm glad to hear you say that Nate."

"Goodnight then Brooke."

"Goodnight Nate." They shared a smile before Nate closed the door.

Brooke fell asleep smiling.