JINHAI'S POV.
What were the chances of the woman you've been wanting walking in on you in the shower and staring, no less? Fate? I didn't believe in such things. As soon as she left, I turned off the water, grabbed a robe, and threw it on before stepping out.
By the time I made it to the hallway, standing on the balcony upstairs, I saw her take Feifei to her bedroom. Moments later, she dashed out of the mansion like she couldn't leave fast enough.
"Mr. Liu?" Xiao's voice called, pulling my attention toward him. Perfect. He was exactly the person to explain why a top model was casually wandering around my home at midnight.
"Who was that?" I asked, tilting my head toward the entrance door where she had disappeared.
"Oh, Miss Jeneta? Your sister hired her to take care of Feifei," he replied nonchalantly.
"My sister?" I echoed, frowning.
"Yes, Miss Biluo. She hired her the day before she left for London. Is there a problem? Do you not like her?" Xiao asked, his tone cautious.
I scoffed. Like her? What an understatement. I wanted her so badly it felt like needing air to breathe, like I'd suffocate if I didn't have her.
"I want every detail you can find on her by tomorrow," I said, clearing my throat and adjusting my robe. "Now, Liu Motors..."
The next morning, I canceled all my meetings. Xiao had told me exactly what time Jeneta would be arriving to take Feifei. I sat at the breakfast table, something I rarely did.
Feifei stared at me, her big eyes wide with curiosity. It wasn't often she saw her uncle sitting down for breakfast, practically never, actually. But it wasn't entirely my fault. Work consumed me meetings, projects, endless business trips. And that was precisely why I didn't want children, at least not now.
"Do you like it?" I asked softly, watching as she poked at the toast I'd made with a little frown.
She nodded, her tiny lips pressing into a line. "It's... not bad," she said, sighing dramatically. "When will Jenny get here?"
I smiled, amused. "I'm wondering the same thing myself," I teased. "You seem to like her. Jenny? I thought your aunt was your favorite?"
Feifei sighed again, this time heavier, her small shoulders slumping as she glanced at the door. "Nobody wants to stay with me. Not Mommy or Daddy. Aunt Biluo said she had important things to do in London. She was my favorite. Not anymore. No one is."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I scratched the back of my head, unsure how to handle this. Comforting an eight-year-old? Not exactly my specialty. In fact, it wasn't even in my skill set.
I cleared my throat, stealing a glance at the kitchen where the cooks bustled about. "You know—" I began, but Feifei's face lit up as Jeneta stepped through the door.
"Jenny!" Feifei squealed, leaping from her chair and rushing to hug her. "I thought you wouldn't come!"
She laughed. Goodness, a sound that woke every nerve in me. She stepped through the door and the light catching on her curves like an artist's brushstroke.
Her outfit was simple but effortlessly captivating. An off-white sleeveless top that hugged her figure just right, paired with fitted denim shorts that framed her long, toned legs. A tiny tattoo peeked out near her ankle.
Her hair fell in soft, shiny waves, brushing her shoulders with every step.
The curve of her hips was mesmerizing, moving in perfect rhythm with her walk, each subtle sway demanding attention. Her skin glowed, and her lips curved in a smile that could ignite a room. And that laugh, light and melodic had every nerve in me on edge, strung so tightly I felt like I might snap.
At that moment, she was like a force of nature, a distraction I didn't ask for but one I wasn't sure I could live without.
"It's the weekend, of course I'm here," she said, crouching to Feifei's level with ease. "Did you miss me? I thought you didn't like me," she teased, her smile soft and inviting.
Feifei flushed, lowering her head as she stepped closer, wrapping her small arms around Jeneta's neck. I cleared my throat, looking away, feeling oddly out of place.
"I didn't say I didn't like you," Feifei mumbled, her pout evident in her voice.
Jeneta chuckled again. "Oh, come on. Guess what I planned for today? Why don't we go to the amusement park? We can get candies... and so much more," she said, her tone playful.
Feifei gasped, her face lighting up like a sparkler. "Really? Yes! I need to get my bag and shoes!" She bolted upstairs, her excitement contagious.
As soon as her door slammed shut, I cleared my throat again, louder this time, and shifted my gaze to Jeneta. She stayed crouched for a moment, avoiding my eyes, her hands fidgeting as she tucked loose strands of hair behind her ears.
"Mr. Zhang," she said softly, her voice almost shaky as her body shifted nervously.
I raised an eyebrow. "Zhang?" I repeated, puzzled. Did she think I was Feifei's father?
"Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered, looking everywhere but at me. "Miss Liu didn't give me much information about you. I didn't... about yesterday—"
I tilted my head, studying her. There was something endearing about the way she avoided my gaze, the way her hands gestured nervously as she spoke. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, and my eyes trailed down to the delicate curve of her neck, then lower to the undone button of her shirt... I snapped my gaze back to her face, catching her wide-eyed expression.
"I'm utterly sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to walk in on you. I was looking for Feifei's room and got lost. I... I couldn't find—"
"It's fine," I interrupted, smirking. "I don't mind at all. But you seemed to like the view, didn't you? Considering how you couldn't look away." My tone was teasing, and as expected, she choked on her words, her cheeks burning as she dropped her gaze to the floor.
The door burst open, and Feifei charged down the stairs. "Careful, peach!" I called.
"I know, Uncle!" she yelled back, throwing me a small frown before turning her brightest smile on Jeneta.
Jeneta's eyes darted between Feifei and me, her expression shifting as realization dawned. "Uncle?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. The shock was written all over her face, her wide eyes filled with questions. But Feifei didn't seem to notice or care.
"Can we go now?" Feifei asked eagerly, tugging at Jeneta's hand.
Jeneta hesitated, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. "Sure, of course," she said finally, her voice steady, though her eyes betrayed her confusion. She followed Feifei out, leaving behind a silence so heavy it felt suffocating.
Ten minutes later, Xiao walked in, holding a file. "Mr. Liu, I have the information on Miss Agu... would you like to see it?"
I opened the file, scanning its contents. "This doesn't explain why she's working as a nanny," I said dryly. "If she's worth two million, why is she here?"
After studying the file in silence, I slowly raised my gaze to Xiao. My voice came out cold. "This doesn't explain why she's working as a nanny. If she's worth two million, why is she here?" I questioned dryly. Couldn't be that she enjoyed taking care of children?
Xiao cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Jeneta lives in a small condo, sir, with her older brother, Akachukwu Agu, and her mother, Ifeoma Agu. Her father, Ikenna Agu, passed away in a brutal car accident. She was the only one to survive it. Since then, she's been the sole provider for her family. Her brother and mother depend entirely on her financial support. They don't work at all. It seems she's spent nearly all her savings, just trying to make ends meet for them."
I leaned back slightly, my fingers tapping the edge of the table. "Xiao..."
He nodded grimly. "She needs money to extend her family's visa to remain in China. It's around ten thousand dollars. On top of that, her agency doesn't seem to care much for her anymore. Apparently, she broke their trust last year when she worked exclusively for Asher's fashion show. Do you remember it? She wasn't supposed to be there, but Asher insisted on having her, and she went behind their backs to accept his offer."
I frowned. "And why can't she leave the agency if they're treating her like this?"
Xiao sighed, his tone turning somber. "That would be a breach of contract, sir. If she tries to leave, she'll have to pay a penalty of one million dollars. Her contract still has five years left on it. She seems to have hidden this part of her life well. Even her best friend, Faye Yang, doesn't know about it."
"Faye Yang?" I asked, my brow lifting in interest. "As in the Yang family?"
"Yes, Sir," Xiao said with a slight nod.
I leaned forward, staring at Jeneta's photo in the file, my mind swirling with thoughts. Her face stared back at me, those striking eyes holding a story unraveled.
What a coincidence.