The Billionaire’s Choice

{Winter’s POV} The alarm clock buzzed loudly in my ear, I could hear the beeping, so close it felt like my head might explode. I reached around trying to feel for it, smacking my nightstand over and over again, and burying my face deeper in my pillow. “Ugh” I grunted angrily. I sat up slamming the alarm clock finally making the beeping stop. I groggily got out of bed and slowly made my way to the bathroom. Today was my first day at a new job, one that I haven’t exactly been looking forward to. I was to become a teacher at a pretentious elementary school. I’d be teaching 2nd grade, which is new for me. All of the rich parents sent their kids to these schools, and honestly, most of the parents are really rude and snobby. I got to meet some of them at the open house. Most of the parents just dump their kids on us so they don’t have to “deal” with them. It made me so sad, these kids need love and affection from their parents, and instead they’re ignored, when they’re not being ignored they’re being ridiculed. I hate watching these little darlings suffer like this. I made my way into the bathroom and turned on the shower, quickly stepping in and washing off. I washed my long dark brown hair, and ran some conditioner through it. It’s down past my butt now, I’ve been letting it grow out over the past few years. I quickly lathered up my loofa and began washing myself off. Once I was satisfied I rinsed off and got out of the shower, wrapping my towel around me, and wringing out my hair. I meticulously brushed out the tangles and blow dried my hair. I brushed my teeth and looked in the mirror. My skin is pale, and my face and shoulders are covered in freckles. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, and put on some mascara and light brown lipstick. Walking back into my room I could see the light, sage green dress I had laid out. It was down to my knee, and had a sweetheart neckline, with spaghetti straps. I grabbed my cream colored sweater from the back of my desk chair, and threw it on. I finished the look with a cream colored purse and practically ran to the kitchen. I made myself an egg sandwich and ran out the door, locking it behind me. I ran to the car and started it up, and made my way to my first day as a teacher at LilyValley Elementary. As I pulled into the parking lot finishing up my sandwich I looked over to see some of the parents standing around gossiping. This was normal in this town, everyone knew everyone, which means, everyone knew everyone else’s business. As I walked to the front door I could hear one of the parents talking, it was Veronica Jenkins, “I heard that Mr. Lemoi’s kids are starting preschool, I’m going to get my daughter to make friends with them, then I swear I’ll wiggle my way into that man’s life!” She said, her groupies nodding in agreement. Ugh, as if I didn’t have enough on my plate, now I had to deal with Veronica and her drama. We met years ago, back when I was attending school to get my teachers degree, she was banging one of the professors at the time, and happened to think that I was “sleeping” with him to get better grades. Jokes on her, I still have my virginity, and I was just smart enough to actually get good grades, she ended up dropping out after finding out she was pregnant. She refused to marry the professor who got her pregnant, claiming that,” he wasn’t rich enough” for her. She’s living off daddy’s money, and always had been, meanwhile I’m still paying of my student loans, what a pain! “Well, well, well, what do we have here? How did a little slu* like you make it as a teacher at this prestigious school?” She asked in a condescending tone. “Well, Ms. Jenkins’, while some of us were too busy having fun with the professors, the rest of us were studying and taking tests, and eventually graduating. I personally, graduated at the top of my class, and I didn’t even have to sleep with anyone. Must be frustrating still trying to find a rich man to take care of you. So glad that we’ll be seeing each other so often. I’m sure you have SO much to tell me. Nice catching up, but I’m running behind this morning and need to get to my class.” I said sneering back at her. Her groupies snickered, and I could see her seething with pure rage. Nice going Winter, your first day on the job and you’ve already pis*** off one of the parents! I mentally patted myself on the back as I ran into my classroom and began setting up my things. The children began walking into the room, most of them with their Nannie’s, some of them with one parent at least, sadly Veronica’s daughter was in my class. She looked and acted like a miniature version of Veronica, her name is Victoria Jenkins. Perfect, another spoiled child and an even more spoiled brat as her mother. Veronica sauntered up to my desk laying an envelope on it. “I’m sure my daughter will be top of her class, you’ll make sure of that right?” She said pushing the envelope towards me. I grabbed the envelope and opened it to see a signed check for $100,000 in it. “Ms. Jenkins, attempting to bribe me on the first day? I’ll just have to report this to the principle, we don’t want people who think money can control everything in this school.” I said taking the envelope and tearing it apart, throwing it in the garbage. Sadly that was more than I’d make in a year, but I can’t accept bribes, it wouldn’t be right. She huffed stomping her foot and twisting around she walked out of the room quickly and I knew she’d cause trouble. I took the check out of the garbage and placed it in my sweater pocket so I’d have evidence if it came to it. I finished pulling out all of the papers from my folder and began pulling up the roster on my computer when I saw the cutest little boy come in, and beside him a sweet little girl. The boy had black hair and brown eyes, and the girl had light brown hair and blue eyes. He walked into the classroom and looked around as if they’d never been in a room with other children. Suddenly the lot of kids in the room flocked to them. They looked shocked and distressed. “Alright class, that’s enough!” I said walking over to the group. There was one little boy still sitting, and reading a book alone at the front of the classroom. I made it to the group of students and said. “You’re all scaring them, can’t you see that?” I reached out my hands to the small boy and the girl they hesitatingly took them. I walked them to the front of the class and sat them next to the boy that was reading. “I will now go over the seating chart!” I yelled from the front of the class getting the students attention. I ended up leaving the two boys and the girl in the front alone, and put Victoria and her group of friends in the back of the class on the opposite side of the room. These poor kids had enough problems, I didn’t even see anyone bring them in. So they definitely didn’t need Victoria stirring up trouble. I sighed as I sat down at my desk and began going over roll call. I got to a name and froze, there were two names side by side, and they were almost identical. “Tessa and Teddy?” I called. The last name was one I recognized, the last name of the man that Veronica was talking about earlier. These were the children of the billionaire James Lemoi. So many women were shamelessly throwing themselves at him and constantly being rejected. Everyone wants to be the new Mrs. Lemoi, but no one wants his kids. It’s so sad, they seem so sweet, and yet it also seems like no one really cares for them. They raised their hands pulling me out of my daze. “Good. That’s everyone on the roll call. I’m glad everyone is in attendance today! That will make introductions go by so much easier.” I said standing up from my desk and walking over to the dry erase board. “I am Ms. Rosewood.” I said writing my name on the board. I turned to see Victoria’s hand raised in the air. “Yes Victoria?” I asked putting my marker down. “If your name is Ms. doesn’t that mean you aren’t married? Why aren’t you married? Aren’t you a little old to not have a husband.” She asked in a snarky tone. “Well Victoria, for starters, I’m only 24. I’m not married because I haven’t found the right person yet, and I know for a fact your mother is older than me and still doesn’t have a husband. We can’t judge others for not being married, some people take their time to find someone they can really love.” I said giving her a warning glare. That statement about her mother shut her up rather quickly. “Now, how about you all stand and give introductions, we’ll go from front to back.” I said. I leaned back on my desk and waited for everyone to give their introductions. The twins were so sweet and soft spoken. They talked about their favorite colors, and what games they liked to play. They also talked about how they’d been homeschooled until now, no wonder they looked so lost. Everyone took interest in the twins, most likely because their parents told them to. Of course Victoria just talked about her mother and her grandfather and how rich they were. It was so nice to hear all of the children going over their lives at home. “Okay kids, now today we’re just going to get to know each other, I’ll ask you all to write your names on these bags, and at the end of the day there will be goodies waiting for you in them.” I said handing out gift bags to everyone in class. “I’ll also be sending you home with paperwork for your guardians to fill out and you can bring them back tomorrow.” I said laying a folder down as well with paperwork in it. “Remember to put these folders in your backpacks and take them home.” I said handing them each a pack of crackers, and a juice box. I turned on an educational show on the tv, and let them all talk amongst themselves. Of course everyone kept trying to swarm the twins, I had to tell them to stay in their seats more times than I cared to count. At the end of the day parents came to pick up their kids and they all tried to get a look at the twins. The two day still in their chairs and waited until everyone else left before standing up. “Thank you for helping us today.” The little girl said shuffling around the room taking everything in. “Yeah, I’m glad we have a nice teacher like you. Most people are after our daddies money.” The boy added also looking around. “Well, you two seemed a little overwhelmed, which is understandable seeing as how this was your first day in an actual school. Just let me know if you need anything, okay? I’m your teacher, and I’ll always be here to help.” I said nodding to them. I handed them each another juice box and looked outside the window. “So, is someone coming to pick you up?” I asked. “I’ll stay here with you until someone gets here, you’re welcome to stay here in the classroom, or I can give you a tour around the school.” I said. “Can you show us the school? Daddy wouldn’t let us come take the tour, he said there would be too many people.” Tessa said. “Of course.” I smiled standing up and walking over to the door. I showed them around the school which was practically empty at this point. It was over a half an hour last pickup time and still no one was here for them. We finished the tour and began walking back to the classroom. The front door burst open and an older woman stumbled in. She was short, and chubby, her hair white and put up into a loose bun. She wore a long black dress that went down to her ankles, and a white apron over it. “I’m so sorry children, I didn’t look what time pickup was.” She said bowing her head to the twins. “Pickup time is at 3:00pm for any future reference.” I said. “They we’re perfectly behaved and took a tour around the school. They really seemed interested in the art and the music rooms. We’ll have class in there from time to time. Be safe on your way home, I’m afraid I must be going, I have some paperwork to fill out tonight, and lesson planning.” I said walking back into the classroom. “Thank you Ms. Rosewood, we loved the tour.” Teddy said. “Can’t wait for tomorrow.” Tessa added. I nodded at them and walked back into the classroom. I saw their backpacks sitting on their desk and quickly grabbed them running out to the parking lot to catch them. Their nanny was putting them into the car when I made it to her. “I’m sorry ma’am, they forgot their bags.” I said handing them to her. “Probably my fault, I should have reminded them.” I said turning to walk back into the school. “Thank you.. Ms. Rosewood, was it? I’ll make sure master James knows the twins are being well taken care of.” She said, a look of disdain on her face. “No need.” I said sending a shocked look across her face. “Mr. Lemoi is just another parent who doesn’t even pick up his own children from school. I don’t need his approval of how I treat his children, however I would like you, personally, to know that these children and all the others in my class are important to me. They’re just children, and they deserve love and respect just like everyone else.” I added before walking back into the school. I finished packing up my bag and left the school to head home. This was only the first day, and everything seemed like a giant mess. Maybe tomorrow will be better, I thought to myself as I pulled into my driveway and parked my car. I got out, walking inside and locking the door before sitting at the kitchen table and beginning on my lesson plans. This was going to be a long year.