Holding on to You

Chapter Two: The blessing of heartbreak

Slouched on my favorite sofa, I heard my phone ring. It had been three weeks since I broke up with Craig and tendered my resignation at the preschool. Now jobless, I had little time to fret about pennilessness amidst the heartache and loneliness. Craig had persistently called, but I ignored him, assuming he was the one behind the latest call. However, a change of heart prompted me to check my phone, revealing four missed calls from an unknown number. Suspicion lingered, yet I decided to return the call —just in case.

“Hello…” A deep, sweet and compelling male voice greeted me. “Is this Ms. Rayne?”

“Yes, it is. And who are you?”

“Nathan White. I require your services. Could we meet on Monday?” His straightforwardness caught me off guard.

“What kind of service?” My tone was doubtful.

“The kind you offer,” he chuckled, unsettling me.

“Stop wasting my time and tell me your purpose…” I snorted.

“Mrs. Gray described you as a gentle soul. Turns out she was wrong,” Nathan expressed his disappointment, oddly calming me.

“You know Mrs. Gray?”

“Indeed. And you’re familiar with Charles and Charlene White?”

“I was their teacher.”

“I am their father. My children are struggling to understand their new teacher, and I’d like you to tutor them,” Nathan explained.

“Why not transfer them to another school?”

“My situation is complicated. I confided in Mrs. Gray, and she suggested I speak to you.”

“Well, I don’t know.” I replied in a skeptical tone. I didn't think I was up to the task given my present situation.

“Please do not refuse me before hearing me out, Ms. Rayne.” Nathan’s voice held a compelling sadness that immediately wore down my resistance. “Can we talk in person?”

“Where?” I responded, quirking an eyebrow as I reached for a pen and paper.

“WhiteTech Incorporated, Brooksville Road in Ibex.”

I repeated the address as I wrote it down. “Alright, Mr. White. I will see you on Monday…”

“Morning?”

“Monday morning it is.”

“Thank you for your time, Ms. Rayne,” Nathan said before disconnecting. I placed my phone on the table and growled. I wasn’t ready to return to work, but I couldn’t refuse him —especially knowing he was the father of my two favorite students. Thoughts of them flooded my mind. What had caused their IQ to decline so rapidly? Perhaps they missed me, or perhaps something else troubled them. I pondered long and hard, unable to pinpoint a reason. Anticipation swirled within me as I looked ahead to my Monday meeting with their father.

***

Monday arrived like a flash of lightning. I woke up as the sun was rising and headed for a hot bath. Mentally preparing for the meeting, I knew a good bath would help set my mind straight. Dressed in my trusty blue flared dress and sandals, I opted for simplicity. No need to dazzle —it was business, after all. My hair, a simple knot that cascaded into a ponytail, reflected my no-nonsense approach, and a quick glance in the mirror confirmed my readiness.

In a taxi, I decided to do some research on the man I was meeting up with. Nathan, a prominent figure in Fort Jameson, owned a vibrant technology company. His name graced tech-magazine articles and television screens, thanks to his cutting-edge devices. But beyond business, Nathan was a physical specimen —a heartthrob. Tall, well-built, with broad shoulders and a straight back that accentuated his long, elegant legs. His skin defied typical male expectations, smooth and inviting. His face held an entrancing quality, often gracing magazine covers as he endorsed various products and services. And those eyes —dazzling, with an inexplicable power over fans. But his smile, the best of all, was inviting and heavenly.

Yet, Nathan’s life was far from perfect. His wife, Felisha, lay in a coma after an accident when Charles and Charlene were still babies. Nathan became their sole guardian, juggling work to keep his company thriving. Nannies cared for his children and bedridden wife, while the office piled up with responsibilities.

At 8:30 AM, I stood before the imposing edifice of WhiteTech, mesmerized by its grandeur. The building’s white walls held hidden beauty, promising secrets within. As I stepped inside, I braced myself for what awaited me. A polite secretary guided me toward the elevator, and its doors slid open. But there, another woman awaited us —her attire a dead giveaway: the security department.

“Welcome to WhiteTech, Ms. Sophia Rayne,” the woman’s voice was crisp. “Please step into the circle to the left.”

“How did you know my name?” I asked, my nerves dancing as I complied. WhiteTech felt like another world —a place where everything operated under technological scrutiny.

“Your name and facial features were collected the moment you walked in,” she replied softly. “Although we already have the information that you are visiting us, we need to follow standard procedure.”

She scanned my entire body, then turned to her colleague.

“Security check is positive.”

The secretary handed me a visiting card, her warning stern: “Do not lose it, or else you will be considered an intruder. Furthermore, you will not be able to leave the premises until further inquiry is made.”

We continued our journey. As we climbed the stairs and entered another elevator, the secretary briefed me on company rules for guests. I was shocked at the number of regulations. Why had Nathan suggested his company for such a trivial meeting? Surely, he could have spared me the trouble and boredom of navigating through lengthy rules and regulations.

Finally, the elevator doors opened, revealing a vast hallway. “This is where the CEO’s office is,” the secretary informed me. “No one comes here without an appointment —employee or guest.”

“How safe am I?” I blurted out, my anxiety mounting.

The secretary’s warm smile reassured me. “Don’t worry. You are safe,” she said, leaving me at the hallway’s entrance. “Please proceed down the hallway and knock on the first door you see.”

“Thank you for your help,” I murmured, my voice low. I followed her instructions, knocking on the designated door. A familiar deep voice beckoned me inside. Gathering my courage, I stepped into the room, finding myself in a boardroom. Nathan, whose face had graced countless magazine covers, sat among colleagues, engrossed in an important discussion. In person, he looked even more handsome.

“Ms. Rayne, please take a seat. I will be with you shortly,” Nathan’s eyes met mine. I nodded, choosing a spot away from the discussion table, my gaze darting around the room like a lost little girl.

The place seemed too good to be true. Half an hour later, Nathan dismissed everyone and approached me with a warm smile.

“Ms. Rayne,” he extended his hand for a handshake. “My name is Nathan White. Nice to finally meet you.”

I smiled heartily, but withdrew my hand quickly, earning a chuckle from him. “I hope you didn’t face any trouble coming here,” he said, settling onto the sofa across from me.

“I wish I could say I didn’t,” I replied candidly. “Your company’s security consciousness is rather frightening.”

“Do you have anything against technology and artificial intelligence?” Nathan leaned forward.

“No, everything looks great. I just happened to feel uncomfortable with the procedures. But I understand why you have to be security conscious.”

“Thank you, Ms. Rayne. What can I offer you?” His eyes studied me.

“I am alright, thank you.” My confidence held firm. Nathan placed a document on the coffee table, and my curiosity piqued.

“What is this?” I inquired.

“Our contract,” he chuckled.

“What happened to ‘hear me out first’?” I pressed.

“Relax, Ms. Rayne. I am getting to that,” Nathan laughed. “I heard that my children are underperforming in their schoolwork because a certain Ms. Rayne got involved in a scandal and resigned afterward.”

“There are two sides to the story,” I countered.

“Exactly. That’s why you’re here, Ms. Rayne. I listened to the other side from Mrs. Gray, and I’d like to give you the responsibility of tutoring my twins.”

“I am not up for this job at the moment.”

“But you are jobless,” Nathan pointed out.

“I will find a job soon.”

“No one will want to employ you after what happened.”

“Are you blackmailing or negotiating with me?”

“I am negotiating with you, Ms. Rayne. My children love you, and I’m sure they’ll improve drastically once you start tutoring them. I would have transferred them if I wasn’t alone.”

“Where is their mother?” I asked, despite knowing the truth. But Nathan didn't reply. “You divorced your wife and now want to put the children in someone else’s hands. Men are all the same.”

I sneered, rolling my eyes and Nathan chuckled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “My wife, Felisha, and I are still pretty much together, but sadly, she is in a coma.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“What happened to ‘there are two sides of a story’?”

“I apologize for being judgmental.”

“It’s not your fault. You believe the side of men you've seen.”

“Do men have a different side to them?”

“There’s only one way to find out. Get into another relationship."

“It’s high time I gave up.”

“In that case, let’s return to our reason for meeting up,” Nathan smirked, gesturing toward the contract paper on the table.

“Mr. White, I adore your children, but—”

“You adore them, and that makes me happy. So, please say yes.”

“Mr. White, I am a mess right now, and—”

“Your salary is $10,000 per month.”

“You are not listening to me.”

"$30,000 per month?"

“I have been through a lot. I need to regroup, Mr. White.”

"$50,000 monthly salary."

“Mr. White! Listen to me!” I yelled before suddenly realizing the amount he had placed on the table. “Wait, what did you say?”

"$50,000… You will make $600,000 in a year.”

“The pay is tempting, but no.” I hardened my heart and shifted my gaze away from his compelling look.

“Please, Ms. Rayne. This is a plea for help.” Nathan’s frown deepened. I tried hard not to look at him, but I found myself gazing into his enchanting eyes, overtaken by sympathy.

“I will tutor them,” I agreed. “But I will tutor them for $10,000.”

“Thank you so much.” Nathan chortled, and the next thing I knew, he was embracing me so tightly. Flustered, I quickly stepped back and awkwardly looked away.

“I am sorry. I just got excited,” he said, chuckling. “Please sign your contract.”

I nodded, taking a pen from him, ready to put my signature on the documents, but he stopped me with a polite wave of his hand.

“Won’t you read it?” he asked.

“We’ve already discussed it, haven’t we?”

“There are some clauses—”

“Relax, Mr. White,” I said as I signed the contract. “So, when do I start?”

“Tomorrow. You can move in tonight.”

“Move in?” I looked shocked.

“The contract states that you will move into my house for the period of one year and six months while you tutor my children for easy access and assessment,” Nathan explained.

My mind raced, caught between disbelief and practicality. The offer was ludicrous, yet the temptation of financial security tugged at my heart. I had never imagined my tutoring gig would lead to such an intimate arrangement. But Nathan’s children; my beloved students, were at the center of it all. Could I really turn my back on them?

“This is… unprecedented,” I stammered. “I mean, I appreciate your trust, but living with you? In your house?”

Nathan’s eyes held a mix of desperation and determination. “Sophia, I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t necessary. Felisha’s condition, the kids… It’s all so complicated.”

“And what about my life?” My voice wavered. “My independence? My privacy?”

“You’ll have your own space,” Nathan assured me. “And the salary? Think of what you can achieve.”

I glanced at the contract, and then at him, and I nodded in agreement.