Nicola Taylor

"Let go of his hair, Arabella. No, don’t do that," I say urgently, finally freeing Tim's hair from Bella's grasp as I lift her up to calm her down. My assistant teacher rushes to Tim’s side to check on him.

I carry Bella out of the classroom, her fits continuing in my arms. I sit down on a bench outside, placing her on my lap. Her face is flushed with anger, her gaze fixed angrily on the ground.

"Baby—" I begin, but she cuts me off abruptly.

"Punish me, I don’t care. I don’t want to hear more lectures!" she screams, startling me with the intensity of her outburst.

"I’m not going to punish you," I say gently, but Bella refuses to look up. "But I can tell you’re hurt and feeling bad, right?" I ask, trying to reach her.

She nods angrily.

"So if you know how bad it feels when you’re hurt, why would you want someone else to feel that way? Tim is crying inside because you hurt him. He feels bad now too. Does that make you feel better?" I ask, stroking her hair gently.

She shakes her head no, finally relaxing in my arms. The tension slowly eases, and Bella leans into me, her anger giving way to remorse.

"Bella," I begin again softly, "it's okay to feel upset, but hurting others isn't the way to handle it. You're a kind and smart girl, and I know you can find better ways to express your feelings."

Bella's gaze flickers up at me, her eyes still brimming with frustration but also a hint of vulnerability. "I'm sorry," she murmurs, her voice wavering, “He kept throwing my crayons away.”

"Next time, he or anyone troubles you. You can come to me.” I reply gently, tightening my embrace around her.

Bella nods slightly, her anger dissipating further. She leans into me, seeking comfort, and I hold her close, feeling the weight of the moment settle between us. The tension from earlier seems to melt away as we sit together on the bench, the sounds of the school day continuing around us.

After a few moments, Bella lifts her head, her expression softer now. "Can we go back inside?" she asks quietly.

"Of course," I say with a reassuring smile, brushing a stray hair from her face. "Let's go back in and see how we can make things right with Tim, okay?" I tell her as we walk back to the class.

As the clock strikes 2 o'clock and I'm preparing to leave for the day, the principal's assistant intercepts me, summoning me to her office. I enter hesitantly, and she gestures for me to take a seat.

"Nicola, this is strike three. Tim’s parents are going to be furious. Go and talk to her father once. We might have to remove her otherwise, and that would cause our school a lot of loss. Figure out a way to discipline this child. This cannot keep happening," she asserts firmly.

"But Tim also troubles her a lot. Many parents have complained about Tim troubling their kids too," I counter, hoping to explain the context, but her expression remains unmoved.

"Yes, but physical violence? In my school? Go and talk to her father at once," she insists again, her tone brooking no argument.

"Wait, he has to come here. Why would I go there?" I protest, reluctance coloring my voice at the thought of facing my old bully.

"He's a billionaire. They don’t come to schools. We go to them. Any more questions?" she replies briskly, already anticipating my objections. "The school chauffeur will pick you up from the house and drop you there, don’t worry. I just got off the phone with Mr. Harrington; he said he'll be home by 6. You can go there by 7. It shouldn't take more than half an hour, in my estimation."

"Do I have a choice?" I ask, though I already know the answer, frustration simmering as I resign myself to the task ahead.

As much as I dreaded it, there was no avoiding the meeting with Cole Harrington, especially after the incident involving Bella and Tim. Reluctantly, I agreed to the principal's assistant's plan, knowing that the repercussions of not resolving this could be severe for both Bella and the school.

The drive to the Harrington residence was smooth but felt like an eternity. Thoughts raced through my mind—memories of high school bullying, the fear of confronting Cole Harrington again, and the weight of responsibility for Bella's behavior.

I don’t think I ever want to have kids.

Arriving at the sprawling estate, I was greeted by an imposing mansion surrounded by manicured lawns. The chauffeur escorted me to the front door, where I was met by a butler who led me to a tastefully decorated sitting room.

Wow, and I am still struggling to pay my car loan on time.

I sat nervously, waiting for Mr. Harrington to arrive. The clock ticked by slowly, each minute stretching into what felt like an hour. Finally, at precisely 7 o'clock, Cole Harrington entered the room.

He was just as I remembered—his damn brown unruly hair tousled, hinting that he had just showered. He wore a plain white t-shirt that accentuated his muscular arms and broad chest, paired with black pants. His aura exuded authority, filling the space around him effortlessly. Our eyes met briefly, and in that fleeting moment, I caught a flicker of recognition before he composed himself with practiced ease.

"Ms. Taylor," he said, his voice measured but polite, "can I offer you some coffee or water?"

"Oh, it's fine, I'm good, Mr. Harrington," I replied, trying to maintain my composure despite my nervousness. Being here, around Cole, made me distinctly uncomfortable. All I wanted was to go home.

He took a seat opposite me, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence hung heavy between us.

Finally, Cole broke the silence. "I understand there was an incident involving Bella and a boy," he began, his tone businesslike yet tinged with concern.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I gathered my thoughts. "Yes, Mr. Harrington. Bella has been struggling, and it's led to some unfortunate conflicts at school… again," I explained carefully, choosing my words to convey the seriousness of the situation without directly accusing his daughter.

Cole listened intently, his expression inscrutable. "I see," he murmured after a moment. "But she mentioned that Tim keeps troubling her. As a father, I think I would prefer it if she defends herself."

"That's true, but the school aims to avoid physical violence, and—" I began, only to be interrupted by a cute giggle.

"Miss Taylor!" Bella exclaimed, bursting into the room and running straight into my arms. I couldn't help but smile as she settled onto my lap. "What are you doing here?" she asked happily, hugging me tightly.

Cole’s demeanor softened slightly as he watched Bella's affectionate interaction with me.

"I came to talk to your dad about school," I answered Bella with a gentle smile, glancing up at Cole.

Bella's face lit up. "Oh, Dad I promised Miss Taylor I won’t repeat it again and I will her if someone bothers me instead of hitting them." she told her father sweetly, “am I still in trouble?”

I chuckled softly, reassuring her. "No, sweetie, we're just talking about how we can make sure everyone gets along at school."

Bella seemed satisfied with that answer, and she hugged me again before looking up at me, "Can you stay and play with me and have dinner and have ice cream with me?" she asked eagerly.

"Oh honey, I don’t think that’s possible. I have to leave after I am done talking to—" I stopped as I saw her eyes filling with tears, which soon started falling down her chubby cheeks.

"But I will be n-nice and I-I will b-behave," she said, her voice trembling as she cried, wiping her tears away with her small hands.

"Can you stay for some time? Bella could use some time around you," Cole asked, and the desperation in his voice was audible. I felt bad for making the assumption that he was a bad father. He seemed like he was trying to do his best.

"Sure," I said without a second thought, making Bella jump in happiness.

"Yay! I am going to bring all my toys, Miss Taylor. Wait here," she exclaimed, running towards her room, but Cole stopped her by picking her up with one hand.

"But now that Miss Taylor is staying, you have to promise me a few things. You will eat all your food for the rest of the week? No pouting and complaining." he said, and she happily nodded her head before running upstairs to her room.

As Bella disappeared from sight, Cole and I were left in an unexpected and slightly awkward silence. He cleared his throat, looking slightly relieved. "Thank you for agreeing to stay. Bella... I feel like she needs a woman. I feel like even though she doesn’t remember her mother, she feels something is missing.”

"It's no problem," I replied, still processing the turn of events. "She's a sweet girl, and I don’t mind helping in any way I can."

Cole nodded, his expression softening. "She really likes you. It's been hard for her, losing her mother and adjusting to me as well.” My stomach drops as I look at the wedding ring on his finger. How could I not see this? Bella isn’t struggling because she misses her mother but Bella is struggling because her father is too grief stricken to be there for her all the time.

"Yeah, I understand. I guess I'll stay for an hour and then I have to leave because the chauffeur has to go home too," I told him as we stood awkwardly in the living room.

"Please stay for dinner. I'll drop you home. You can ask him to leave," he said, and I looked at him, unsure of what to say.

I liked his daughter and felt bad for him, but I didn't want to be alone with him.

"Are you sure?" I finally asked, trying to buy myself a moment to think. "I don't want to impose."

"You're not imposing," Cole said firmly, his eyes earnest. "Bella would love it, and... well, it would give us a chance to discuss more about her situation."

I hesitated, but Bella's earlier excitement and the genuine concern in Cole's voice swayed me. "Okay, I'll stay," I agreed, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Cole's expression softened with relief. "Thank you. I'll let the chauffeur know."

We heard Bella's excited footsteps before we saw her, and she reappeared, arms full of toys. "Miss Taylor, look! I brought my favorite dolls and cars," she announced, spreading her collection on the floor.

I joined her, engaging with her toys and making her laugh, while Cole watched us with a mixture of gratitude and something else—something warmer, softer, that made me feel a bit unsettled yet intrigued.

Dinner followed soon after, a simple but delicious meal prepared by the household staff. Bella was on her best behavior, her earlier outburst seemingly forgotten. Bella chatted animatedly, her joy infectious as Cole couldn’t take his eyes off his daughter.

After dinner, we indulged in Bella's much-anticipated ice cream. As she devoured her treat, Cole and I exchanged a few glances, the initial tension between us slowly giving way to a tentative understanding.

As the evening drew to a close, Bella's energy began to wane. She hugged me tightly, her earlier tears a distant memory. "Thank you for staying, Miss Taylor. Today was the best."

I said goodbye to Bella, who couldn't stop hugging me before she went back to her room, leaving me alone with her father.

"I ordered an Uber, actually. You don't have to—" I began, but he didn't respond immediately. He stared at me for a moment, then glanced at the clock, which showed it was 11 PM.

"Can I talk to you in private for a minute?" he asked, the seriousness in his voice both scaring and intriguing me.

"Sure," I said, my curiosity piqued and a knot forming in my stomach.

Nicola Taylor

“Where are we going?” I asked, following him through his gigantic house. “You know it's already 11 PM. Arabella shouldn’t be up so late.”

“She’s with Ms. Kinsley, who tucks her in bed and stays there till she falls asleep,” he replied. I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to ask why he didn’t do it himself. Who am I to judge a person’s parenting style?

“Are we in your bedroom? This is highly inappropriate. I need to leave,” I said, but he just shut the door behind us.

“Relax, I just need to talk to you,” he said, gesturing to the bed. I shook my head, my eyes falling on the pictures of his late wife. Her jewelry, clothes, all her belongings were still in the room.

This man is heartbroken.

“Alright,” I said, sitting on the bed. For some reason, I felt comfortable. I looked him in the eyes as he stood two feet away from me.

“Marry me.”

I choked on my spit, coughing as soon as I heard the words come out of his mouth. “Is this… (cough cough)… a joke?” I said as he patted my back to help me.

“No. My parents have been forcing me to get married again for Arabella’s sake, and I didn’t want to because what if I picked the wrong woman and she doesn’t treat Arabella well? For the first time, my daughter finished her food, spoke the way a child should, and had fun. You make her happy, and she might actually grow up to have a good childhood with you in the picture,” he explained. I stood up, staring at him with wide eyes as if he had gone crazy.

“Cole, I still hate you. I was being professional for the sake of my job and your daughter’s well-being. I would die before I marry the man who tormented me my whole life. Secondly, I want to get married for love, not because you need someone for your daughter,” I yelled at him angrily, expecting him to get angry too, but he remained calm.

“Married for love? You’re thirty years old. Are you dating anyone?” he asked, making my anger rise. “I’m asking you to consider it for Arabella’s sake. She needs someone like you in her life.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “Cole, this is insane. You can’t just propose marriage out of nowhere because of your daughter. There are other ways to support her without dragging me into your life.”

He nodded slowly, absorbing my words. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I don’t expect you to say yes immediately. But please, think about it. I have never seen her so comfortable around someone.”

“What’s my first name? Do you remember?” I asked him. He closed his eyes, clearly knowing he was going to mess this up. “Cole, it’s sweet that you care so much about your daughter, but I refuse to marry a man who is still in love with his late wife. I feel for you, I really do. But you will find a good woman who will love Arabella. This isn’t the way,” I told him as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“What do you want? I will do anything. I need you to marry me,” he said in despair, making me huff sadly as I rubbed his back, trying to make him feel better.

“Cole, I don’t think you are the person you used to be, but I still don’t want to marry you, and I am never going to say yes. If you need my help with Bella, I am here for you. But I can’t do anything more than that. Also, my name is Nicola,” I told him as I sat next to him, not knowing how to help a widower.

“I didn’t want a child, but I loved Courtney, and she really wanted children, so I agreed because why wouldn’t I love something that’s half her? But I told her I didn’t know how to raise a child, and she told me she would take care of everything. She was around for Arabella for barely a year before she passed away in an accident. Now I love Arabella more than life itself, but I don’t know how to raise her. She is always so unhappy. I don’t know what to do,” he said, his voice turning hoarse, making my heart clench.

This is so sad.

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. “Cole, I can see you’re trying your best. And I can help with advice and guidance, but marriage isn’t the answer here.”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and hope. “If it wasn’t for Arabella, I wouldn’t really have a reason to live you know.”

“Then start by spending more time with her. Show her that she matters to you. Let her see that she’s your priority,” I said gently. “You don’t need to be perfect, Cole. You just need to be there.”

He nodded, absorbing my words. “You’re right, and I need you to tell me where I go wrong. Please marry me.”

“Okay, you’ve gone insane,” I said with a huff, smacking his arm hard in anger.

“Nicola.” My heart stopped as I stared into his green eyes. “I am sorry for everything I ever did to you, and I will do anything to make up for it.” Electricity coursed through my veins as I felt him envelop my small hand in his big one on my lap.

The heat of his hand seeped into my thigh, making it hard to breathe. “Please take me home,” I said, my voice deep as I tried to shake off the lightheadedness I felt.

“Will you consider my offer?” he asked, and for some reason, I couldn’t say no.

I nodded, a huge grin spreading across his face. He stood up from the bed and pulled me up swiftly. His touch was firm yet gentle, sending shivers down my spine.

“Come on, I’ll drop you home,” he said, his hand resting on the small of my back, leading me out.

The drive home was filled with an electric silence. I could feel the tension between us, thick and undeniable. His hand occasionally brushed against mine, sending jolts of electricity through my body each time.

When we reached my place, he turned off the engine and looked at me. “Thank you for today. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said softly, his eyes locking with mine.

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. “Goodnight, Cole,” I said, opening the door to step out.

“Goodnight, Nicola,” he replied, his voice a deep, husky whisper that sent another shiver down my spine.

As I walked to my front door, I could feel his eyes on me, the tension still palpable even with the distance between us. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to steady my racing heart.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Nicola Taylor

As I wrapped up my last class, I started packing up after the assistant teacher took the students out for drop-off. A knock on my classroom door made me look up to see James, one of my fellow teachers, standing there.

“Oh, hello! What are you doing here?” I greeted him happily as he entered the room.

“Wow, Nicola, you look nice. What's the occasion?” he asked, making me blush at the compliment.

“Just felt like it,” I answered shyly, remembering how I stopped dressing up two years ago after my last and final breakup. I had dated a man for seven years, supporting him through medical school on my kindergarten teacher’s salary, only for him to leave me once he got placed.

But even though I wasn’t going to marry Cole, I did feel the urge to get back out there. For the first time in years, I felt like dressing up and looking nice, and it did pay off.

James noticed.

I wore a long black bodycon dress with my winter boots, and I had done my makeup too. I let my hair down for the first time in years, even blow-dried it. I loved the way I looked today.

It made me happy.

“Whatever you’re doing, it suits you,” James complimented me, making my cheeks heat up.

“You’re so sweet!” I replied. “So, did you need anything?” I asked, curious because he rarely visited me. We exchanged glances and smiles, but we hardly ever spoke.

James hesitated for a moment, then took a step closer. “Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to grab—”

“Nicola!” My eyes widened as I saw Cole entering the room with Arabella. He looked confused as he saw what I was wearing but his eyes shamelessly traveled down my body before he met my gaze.

“Mr. Harrington, what are you doing here?” I asked, glaring at him, almost sure of what he was up to.

“I came here to pick up my daughter,” he said as Arabella jumped happily.

“Don’t you have work?” I asked, and he shrugged.

“I thought I should surprise Bella today,” he replied, his eyes finally falling on James. “Sir, would you mind excusing us? I need to talk to Ms. Taylor about something concerning my daughter.” James shot me a look that said ‘talk to you later’ before obliging.

“Ms. Taylor, will you come to lunch with us?” Bella asked happily, making my heart melt.

Stay strong, Nicola.

“No, baby. I already have plans,” I told her, and her face fell.

“Honey, go play on the playground while I convince Ms. Taylor,” Cole said, making me glare at him again.

"Thank you, Daddy. You are the best," Arabella squealed happily before rushing out.

"Okay, what is the matter with you?" I asked angrily as soon as Bella hopped out of the class.

Cole took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You look beautiful. Is it for James? God, are you dating him?"

"You can’t just show up unannounced and disrupt my day like this, Cole. It’s not fair to me. Go away," I snapped, trying hard not to blush at the compliment, but I failed.

He took another step closer, his voice low and sincere. "I know I’ve been pushy, and I’m sorry. But I am doing this for a noble reason."

"Noble reason? She already likes you a lot more. Just continue what you are doing," I answered, ignoring how close he was right now and wishing he couldn’t hear my heart pounding.

"Are you dating him?" he asked, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

I swallowed hard, trying to stay strong. "Yes."

"Nope, he would have never agreed to leave you here alone with me if you were his. I know how possessive men can get. I was one of them," he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

I hated to admit it, but I was curious. I wondered how his wife felt being loved by a man like him.

My resolve wavered as the tension between us became tangible. "Why are you asking questions if you already know the answer?" I murmured, more to myself than to him.

"Look at me," he ordered, making my eyes snap up to his. "How about I take you out for dinner? Just the two of us, and we can discuss how things would proceed after we get married. I will answer any questions you have. If you are not happy, I won’t ask again." His hand brushed against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

I pulled back, trying to regain my composure. "Cole, I know you. You never stand by your words."

"Alright, I’ll come to your house at 7 today and I will make dinner," he said, stepping back to give me space. "I’ll see you in a few hours."

"Harrington, I am seconds away from beating you up with this duster," I told him, making him laugh as I tried not to swoon over his ridiculously attractive face.

Why does God make bad people so beautiful?

He chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "I’ll take my chances," he said with a smirk before walking out, leaving me standing there, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

As I watched him leave, I couldn't help but feel the magnetic pull he had on me.

What was I supposed to do? The way he knows he's wearing me down is unnerving.

I can't deny that I'm less opposed to his proposal than I was 12 hours ago, and the rollercoaster of emotions is overwhelming. At thirty, my ex wasted seven years of my life, leaving me cautious about any new relationship. Cole's offer feels like a tempting safety net.

If I don’t take it and end up dating a man for love, what are the chances of me ending up wasting more precious years until I turn forty without a husband?

Despite not yearning for children, I do long for a partner. The prospect of dinner at my place with Cole tonight is nerve-wracking, and I'm starting to feel dangerously swayed towards accepting his marriage proposal.