Chapter 1
Liam POV I ran my fingers over the edge of my desk, trying to focus on the mountain of business documents in front of me. The Hydes Empire had a hundred things demanding my attention, but there was one problem that cut through everything, Bella. My daughter’s safety, her well-being, was non-negotiable. With my mother not getting any younger, she could not look after Bella daily, I had no choice but to hire a nanny. I wasn’t exactly thrilled by the idea of letting someone else, a stranger take care of mydaughter my heart. The last thing I needed was someone who couldn’t handle her or the world I live in. I needed someone strong, intelligent—someone who didn’t look at my money and see opportunity. When Bailey Porter walked in for the interview, I barely glanced up. She was nothing special. Just another woman trying to make a living. She didn’t try to impress me with her resume or her appearance. However she is beautiful that cant go unnoticed. Instead, she focused entirely on Bella, which, honestly, was a relief. I wasn’t here for someone who was trying too hard. “Hello, Ms. Porter,” I said, keeping my tone professional. “I trust you know what the job entails?” She nodded, her voice steady. “Yes, Mr. Hydes. I’m here for Bella. My job is to make sure she’s safe and happy.” That was the first moment I saw it—her sincerity. She wasn’t interested in playing games. She was there for Bella, and that was enough to make me take her seriously.I stood up, motioning to Bella. “This is my daughter. She’s three. I’ll leave it to you to make sure she’s settled.” As Bailey walked over to Bella, my eyes followed her. There was something about the way she carried herself. She wasn’t intimidated by the vastness of the house or the glaring weight of my presence. When she knelt in front of Bella, her voice softened, genuine. “Hey there, sweetie. What’s your favorite color?” Bella’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Purple!” Bailey smiled, a real smile, as if she’d known Bella her whole life. I felt an odd tug in my chest. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I wasn’t about to entertain it. “Purple, huh? I like purple too,” Bailey said, standing up. “I think we’ll get along just fine.” I kept watching, even when I told myself I shouldn’t be.She had my daughter’s trust in an instant, something that most adults struggled with. I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed or annoyed by the way she disarmed me so easily.
