To Have and To Hold
Okay so I swear to you That I will finish this story no matter what. Now this story will be changing P.O.Vs. Hope you like chapter one and the intro. Everyone has a love story waiting to be written you just have to find the right pen.-Cici
Prologue
"I Do" He said looking at me with his beautiful smile as he held on to my hands..
"And do you Keala take this man to have and to hold?" The preacher asked closing his little black bible. I paused looking up at the preacher then at my groom.
"No" I said dropping his hands. Gasp and sad cry rippled through the crowd and everything around me faded to the blackness. Then like always I woke just moments before my alarm would rip and tear through the silence of my studio apartment. Five. That was the fifth time this month that I had the dream, and each time I never saw my grooms eyes. It bothered me. I guess that's why I continued to say no. I got out of bed and showered quickly then dressed. I glanced in the mirror at my outfit. A strapless dress with red pink and orange flowers on it. Matched with brown wedge heels and a white cardigan that I had scrunched up to above my elbows. I did a quick check to make sure I had forgotten nothing. Grabbed my bag and purse then was out the door.
"Bye Keala" Austin said as I hurried down the stairs and out the door.
"Bye Austin. Be good" I said over my shoulder. He was a fourth grader. Each morning he would wait for his Sister to walk him to the bus. On occasion I would watch him but not often. It wasn't a far walk to the office. I worked as an assistant to a magazine editor. I'm sure you've heard the expression the devil wears Prada? Well imagine Hitler was a woman who had a love affair with Chanel. Add a sprinkle of fire and hormones. Then you would have Adrianna. I was always at the office before her. Today she was early because I had just started on my cup of daily tea. The elevator dinged and in she walked. She stopped and looked my outfit over like she always did.
"What? Do you not listen to me? I've told you about your shoes and what's with this beige cardigan?" She said shaking her head then continued to her office "Wear that again and consider your ass fired" She said. I sighed she hadn't even been in the office 10 minutes and already I was being threatened. I turned to Aiden he was the office secretary.
"Doc made her quit caffeine." He said answering my question. I typically got at least 5 or 6 threats a day but not right when she walked in.
"Well I'll go see if I can soothe the savage beast" I said taking a sip of my apple ginger tea. I walked in to her office "Would you like a cup of tea?" I asked. I offered her tea every day and she normally said no but I figured she would want some natural caffeine. She nodded and told me to come here. She looked down at the phone on her desk as it rang.
"What." There was a pause then a change in expression on her face "I thought it wouldn't be until later today. With children. Ok" She said then put the phone back on the receiver. "Make that two." She said then sent me away. I fixed the two cups and then brought them back setting them down on her desk,
"Keala the owner will be up in a few minutes. With his kids. You will be watching them as well going to the photo shoot. Bring me prints of everything" She said taking the things out of her bag. I glanced around then raised a brow
"Babysit? Is that all?" I asked
"Of course not" She said with a laugh and shook her head. We both turned hearing the ding of the elevator.
"How can I help you." Aiden said putting a call on hold
"I'm here to see Ms.Adrianna Hartley"
"Yea Adrianna" A small voice said reaching small sticky hands on to the counter as to see the person it was speaking to. Aiden turned up his lip gently pushing away the little hands with the end of a pen.
"Do you have an appointment?" Aiden asked
"Yes! Yes he does" Adrianna said stepping quickly and gracefully out of her office as she walked towards Aiden's desk. She held out her hand
"I'm Adrianna. Nice to see you again" She said with a smile
"I'm Elijah"
"I'm Embery" the two little voices said
"Yes nice to meet you again" The man said. I had never met the owner. He was young and gorgeous
"Keala" I heard Adrianna's voice but it seemed far away and distant
"Yeah?"I asked not moving from my spot in her doorway.
"Well come here" She said. I nodded and walked over.
"Mr.Bragin this is my assistant Keala. She'll be watching your sons?" Adrianna said. Wait a minute hold the phone! Was that worry I detected in her voice? Wow was all I could think of. I glanced at Aiden who had a 'I know something' smirk plastered on his face. So he noticed it too.
"That's fine." Mr.Bragin said with a small smile at his boys "Behave" He said to them simply before going into Adrianna's office. Geez were they that bad? I hoped not and what kind of parent doesn't tell their child they love them every single chance they get?
"I'll be sure to text you what else is to be done." Adrianna said then tapped Aiden's desk. "Be sure to cancel all of my appointments." She said then gracefully walked back to her office.
"So you're our new Nanny?" The older one said. I looked down at him and raised a brow new nanny? What happened to the old one. Maybe these two kids were little demon children who I was stuck with for the next 8 hours of my day.
"No. More like a baby sitter" Aiden said spraying the stop where their hands had touched and wiping it clean.
"Oh" the younger one said looking down at his shoes. I needled down at looked at them both.
"My Name is Keala. Don't call me miss or Nanny. Okay?" I asked then holding out my hand palm side down. "What's your names?" I asked
"Embrey" The younger one said putting his hand on top of my hand
"Elijah" The older one said putting his hand on top of Embery's. They both smiled at me. Well they seem well-behaved for the moment anyway. I stood back up and asked Aiden for my purse.
"Good luck" He said to me holding on to a pen. His phone then rang and he answered it "Hello? Oh hey Maybelle. No I'm not busy" He said in to the headset turning around his swivel chair "Bye sweetness" He said pausing from his conversation to say bye to me.
I held my hand out for one of the boys and off we went.
Chapter 1
"Did we do everything Embrey and Elijah?" I asked sipping on my glass of Strawberry lemonade. We had decided on lunch and Adrianna was having me write a review for a sidewalk cafe called Parking lot. We were waiting for my card to come back before going back to the office. I had a list of what needed to be done and they held on to it. Made them feel useful I guess.
"Photo shoot" Embery said
"Meeting with the car tare"Elijah
"It says caterer Elijah" I said with a smile as they slowly read the rest of the list. I nodded confirming everything on the list to be done. The waiter brought back my card and I placed it in my wallet. "Sounds like we finished everything. Ready to get back to your dad?" I asked them. I stood and placed my purse on to my shoulder and the boys hopped down from their seats.
"Yep" They said in unison. They both held my hands and we started on the one block walk back to the office.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Once we made it back to the office I put the boys in my cubicle so that they could take a nap. I let them have my blanket and they curled up and feel asleep quickly. I noticed Adrianna's office was dark. I wonder where she was Aiden would know.
"Aiden. Where's Adrianna?" I asked him leaning on his desk. He looked up at me.
Out to a late lunch and dinner with dessert and breakfast" He said
"And Mr.Bragin?" I asked. He gave me a look that made it all click. I knitted my brow and then shook my head in disbelief. I grabbed my cell phone then called Adrianna. It rang and rang in my ear for what seemed like years.
"Hello?"
"Adrianna. You've left?" I said
"Oh yeah well about that I'll be going on a little business trip. She's lying I mouthed to Aiden. I could tell because her voice was calm and collected rather than strung high and anxious.
"Okay and Mr.Bragin?" I said "You do know I'm not responsible for his sons." I said
"Oh yeah. He wants you to watch them until we come back." She said I dropped my jaw. Did she really just say I had to watch two boys without extra pay?! I live in a studio apartment that is room enough for one maybe two. I hadn't even gone grocery shopping I had no food to feed them. I had no means of taking care of Elijah and Embery. "Aiden has everything you need. I'll also E-Mail you for what I need done by the end of the day tomorrow. Bye" Click.
"Oh my gosh that bitch!" I said looking at my phone then turned to Aiden "Seriously? Babysitting with no overtime pay. What the hell Adrianna?" I said to him. He gave me a shrug of his shoulders
"I'm quite envious of you. I mean you'll be staying in a four-story apartment with all new clothes." He said shaking his head. I nodded yeah right new clothes as if!
"How am I supposed to get to this four-story apartment?" I asked waving my hands as if the answer was going to walk through the door.
"Well." He said shifting through papers on his desk "I don't know" He said looking up at me with a disheartened face. As if on cue the elevator dinged and out walked two men. One dressed in a black suit. The other wore crisp white Levi skinny jeans, a black and white flannel shirt and white aviator sunglasses. I had never seen anything like them They were amazing within them self. The one in the suit looked around 50 or so and the one with the amazing sunglasses was younger maybe around my age. I'm 22 if that gives you any idea of what I mean.
"Can we help you?" Aiden asked. We? It was his job to help people not mine. The older man cleared his throat and nodded
"Yes were looking for Elijah and Embery Bragin. As well as their new Nanny" He said. His voice was strong and had enough base to share with any one who would need it our want it. Here we go again with the 'NEW' Nanny thing. What happened to the old one?
"She doesn't like to be called Nanny. Bing" Elijah said walking from my cubicle rubbing his eyes. Embery followed behind sleepily. Elijah rubbed his eyes bit longer than a smile tore across his face and he lit up with pure excitement.
"UNCLE J" Elijah screamed and ran over to the ma with the sunglasses. He clung to his leg. The younger man smiled and picked him up. I looked down and saw Embrey leaning on me. He then rubbed his eyes once again then walked over to the older man.
"Ahh well I was not informed of you name. I am Leonard the butler. You are?" He asked holding out a hand for me to shake
"Keala" I said grasping his hand and shaking it. He took his hand back.
"Are you done for the day or do you still have work to finish up?" Leonard asked me.
"No. I mean let my grab my things." I said shaking my head and heading to my cubicle. I folded my blanket and turned off my desktop. I grabbed my laptop then returned to the boys.
"Have fun tonight" Aiden said with a smile "Well I think I'll be leaving soon seeing as no one else is here" He said biting his lip. I smiled and gave him a small hug.
"Okay I'm ready" I said with a smile. Leonard stood. I could see that he was holding Embery he had not gone back to sleep but was quite. We entered the elevator and I then turned to Leonard again remembering I didn't have clothes.
"I don't have any clothes with me" I said
"Quite alright. Marcus has made sure you have everything you need" He said watching the numbers as it went to the parking garage.
"Marcus?"
"Mr.Bragin as you would know him better." He said as the elevator dinged. I nodded and followed the out the elevator.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Either I was tired or the ride was long, but no matter I woke to a gentle nudge from little cold hands.
"Keala. Were home" I heard Elijah say. He was the older of the two. I blinked looking around the car. Everyone was gone did they leave me to sleep for a bit? I closed my eyes for another moment then nodded at Elijah and unbuckled my safety belt and left the car.
"This way" He said holding my hand guiding me to the elevator. He reached up and pushed the button we then stepped in and e pushed another button. I wonder where Leonard was as well as Embery.
"They're inside" Elijah said. Did I ask that out loud probably I was still waking up. The elevator stopped and the doors opened up to a crisp white and mirrored hallway. We walked to the end where a black door was standing out in the midst of all the white. He knocked and the door opened. Amazing was my first thought and Aiden had right to be envious was my second. Leonard held the door open and smiled at me.
"So nice to see you among the living" He said jokingly. I gave a slight smile that clearly showed my confusion. Was I really sleeping that hard? Oh! What if I snored or worse talked in my sleep or even drooped.
"Are you hungry?" Leonard asked breaking my thoughts. I glanced at my watch it was old but my mother had given it to me. It read 8:30. Wow it was that late already? My god! how time flies.
"Just a little."
"What would you like?" He asked clasping his hands together. I paused thinking for a moment. I was on a no beef regime, and I had chicken for lunch.
"Well can I have sushi?" I asked. I rarely got to eat and when I did it was soo delicious. Leonard was quite for a moment.
"I will order some. What kind would you like"
"King Kong roll" I said with an excited grin.
"It will be a little after nine for it to get here" I nodded in the mean time I would put the boys to bed assuming they had eaten already. Leonard confirmed my thoughts with telling me where their room was and their bathroom.
"I Do" He said looking at me with his beautiful smile as he held on to my hands..
"And do you Keala take this man to have and to hold?" The preacher asked closing his little black bible. I paused looking up at the preacher then at my groom.
"No" I said dropping his hands. Gasp and sad cry rippled through the crowd and everything around me faded to the blackness. Then like always I woke just moments before my alarm would rip and tear through the silence of my studio apartment. Five. That was the fifth time this month that I had the dream, and each time I never saw my grooms eyes. It bothered me. I guess that's why I continued to say no. I got out of bed and showered quickly then dressed. I glanced in the mirror at my outfit. A strapless dress with red pink and orange flowers on it. Matched with brown wedge heels and a white cardigan that I had scrunched up to above my elbows. I did a quick check to make sure I had forgotten nothing. Grabbed my bag and purse then was out the door.
"Bye Keala" Austin said as I hurried down the stairs and out the door.
"Bye Austin. Be good" I said over my shoulder. He was a fourth grader. Each morning he would wait for his Sister to walk him to the bus. On occasion I would watch him but not often. It wasn't a far walk to the office. I worked as an assistant to a magazine editor. I'm sure you've heard the expression the devil wears Prada? Well imagine Hitler was a woman who had a love affair with Chanel. Add a sprinkle of fire and hormones. Then you would have Adrianna. I was always at the office before her. Today she was early because I had just started on my cup of daily tea. The elevator dinged and in she walked. She stopped and looked my outfit over like she always did.
"What? Do you not listen to me? I've told you about your shoes and what's with this beige cardigan?" She said shaking her head then continued to her office "Wear that again and consider your ass fired" She said. I sighed she hadn't even been in the office 10 minutes and already I was being threatened. I turned to Aiden he was the office secretary.
"Doc made her quit caffeine." He said answering my question. I typically got at least 5 or 6 threats a day but not right when she walked in.
"Well I'll go see if I can soothe the savage beast" I said taking a sip of my apple ginger tea. I walked in to her office "Would you like a cup of tea?" I asked. I offered her tea every day and she normally said no but I figured she would want some natural caffeine. She nodded and told me to come here. She looked down at the phone on her desk as it rang.
"What." There was a pause then a change in expression on her face "I thought it wouldn't be until later today. With children. Ok" She said then put the phone back on the receiver. "Make that two." She said then sent me away. I fixed the two cups and then brought them back setting them down on her desk,
"Keala the owner will be up in a few minutes. With his kids. You will be watching them as well going to the photo shoot. Bring me prints of everything" She said taking the things out of her bag. I glanced around then raised a brow
"Babysit? Is that all?" I asked
"Of course not" She said with a laugh and shook her head. We both turned hearing the ding of the elevator.
"How can I help you." Aiden said putting a call on hold
"I'm here to see Ms.Adrianna Hartley"
"Yea Adrianna" A small voice said reaching small sticky hands on to the counter as to see the person it was speaking to. Aiden turned up his lip gently pushing away the little hands with the end of a pen.
"Do you have an appointment?" Aiden asked
"Yes! Yes he does" Adrianna said stepping quickly and gracefully out of her office as she walked towards Aiden's desk. She held out her hand
"I'm Adrianna. Nice to see you again" She said with a smile
"I'm Elijah"
"I'm Embery" the two little voices said
"Yes nice to meet you again" The man said. I had never met the owner. He was young and gorgeous
"Keala" I heard Adrianna's voice but it seemed far away and distant
"Yeah?"I asked not moving from my spot in her doorway.
"Well come here" She said. I nodded and walked over.
"Mr.Bragin this is my assistant Keala. She'll be watching your sons?" Adrianna said. Wait a minute hold the phone! Was that worry I detected in her voice? Wow was all I could think of. I glanced at Aiden who had a 'I know something' smirk plastered on his face. So he noticed it too.
"That's fine." Mr.Bragin said with a small smile at his boys "Behave" He said to them simply before going into Adrianna's office. Geez were they that bad? I hoped not and what kind of parent doesn't tell their child they love them every single chance they get?
"I'll be sure to text you what else is to be done." Adrianna said then tapped Aiden's desk. "Be sure to cancel all of my appointments." She said then gracefully walked back to her office.
"So you're our new Nanny?" The older one said. I looked down at him and raised a brow new nanny? What happened to the old one. Maybe these two kids were little demon children who I was stuck with for the next 8 hours of my day.
"No. More like a baby sitter" Aiden said spraying the stop where their hands had touched and wiping it clean.
"Oh" the younger one said looking down at his shoes. I needled down at looked at them both.
"My Name is Keala. Don't call me miss or Nanny. Okay?" I asked then holding out my hand palm side down. "What's your names?" I asked
"Embrey" The younger one said putting his hand on top of my hand
"Elijah" The older one said putting his hand on top of Embery's. They both smiled at me. Well they seem well-behaved for the moment anyway. I stood back up and asked Aiden for my purse.
"Good luck" He said to me holding on to a pen. His phone then rang and he answered it "Hello? Oh hey Maybelle. No I'm not busy" He said in to the headset turning around his swivel chair "Bye sweetness" He said pausing from his conversation to say bye to me.
I held my hand out for one of the boys and off we went.
Chapter 1
"Did we do everything Embrey and Elijah?" I asked sipping on my glass of Strawberry lemonade. We had decided on lunch and Adrianna was having me write a review for a sidewalk cafe called Parking lot. We were waiting for my card to come back before going back to the office. I had a list of what needed to be done and they held on to it. Made them feel useful I guess.
"Photo shoot" Embery said
"Meeting with the car tare"Elijah
"It says caterer Elijah" I said with a smile as they slowly read the rest of the list. I nodded confirming everything on the list to be done. The waiter brought back my card and I placed it in my wallet. "Sounds like we finished everything. Ready to get back to your dad?" I asked them. I stood and placed my purse on to my shoulder and the boys hopped down from their seats.
"Yep" They said in unison. They both held my hands and we started on the one block walk back to the office.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Once we made it back to the office I put the boys in my cubicle so that they could take a nap. I let them have my blanket and they curled up and feel asleep quickly. I noticed Adrianna's office was dark. I wonder where she was Aiden would know.
"Aiden. Where's Adrianna?" I asked him leaning on his desk. He looked up at me.
Out to a late lunch and dinner with dessert and breakfast" He said
"And Mr.Bragin?" I asked. He gave me a look that made it all click. I knitted my brow and then shook my head in disbelief. I grabbed my cell phone then called Adrianna. It rang and rang in my ear for what seemed like years.
"Hello?"
"Adrianna. You've left?" I said
"Oh yeah well about that I'll be going on a little business trip. She's lying I mouthed to Aiden. I could tell because her voice was calm and collected rather than strung high and anxious.
"Okay and Mr.Bragin?" I said "You do know I'm not responsible for his sons." I said
"Oh yeah. He wants you to watch them until we come back." She said I dropped my jaw. Did she really just say I had to watch two boys without extra pay?! I live in a studio apartment that is room enough for one maybe two. I hadn't even gone grocery shopping I had no food to feed them. I had no means of taking care of Elijah and Embery. "Aiden has everything you need. I'll also E-Mail you for what I need done by the end of the day tomorrow. Bye" Click.
"Oh my gosh that bitch!" I said looking at my phone then turned to Aiden "Seriously? Babysitting with no overtime pay. What the hell Adrianna?" I said to him. He gave me a shrug of his shoulders
"I'm quite envious of you. I mean you'll be staying in a four-story apartment with all new clothes." He said shaking his head. I nodded yeah right new clothes as if!
"How am I supposed to get to this four-story apartment?" I asked waving my hands as if the answer was going to walk through the door.
"Well." He said shifting through papers on his desk "I don't know" He said looking up at me with a disheartened face. As if on cue the elevator dinged and out walked two men. One dressed in a black suit. The other wore crisp white Levi skinny jeans, a black and white flannel shirt and white aviator sunglasses. I had never seen anything like them They were amazing within them self. The one in the suit looked around 50 or so and the one with the amazing sunglasses was younger maybe around my age. I'm 22 if that gives you any idea of what I mean.
"Can we help you?" Aiden asked. We? It was his job to help people not mine. The older man cleared his throat and nodded
"Yes were looking for Elijah and Embery Bragin. As well as their new Nanny" He said. His voice was strong and had enough base to share with any one who would need it our want it. Here we go again with the 'NEW' Nanny thing. What happened to the old one?
"She doesn't like to be called Nanny. Bing" Elijah said walking from my cubicle rubbing his eyes. Embery followed behind sleepily. Elijah rubbed his eyes bit longer than a smile tore across his face and he lit up with pure excitement.
"UNCLE J" Elijah screamed and ran over to the ma with the sunglasses. He clung to his leg. The younger man smiled and picked him up. I looked down and saw Embrey leaning on me. He then rubbed his eyes once again then walked over to the older man.
"Ahh well I was not informed of you name. I am Leonard the butler. You are?" He asked holding out a hand for me to shake
"Keala" I said grasping his hand and shaking it. He took his hand back.
"Are you done for the day or do you still have work to finish up?" Leonard asked me.
"No. I mean let my grab my things." I said shaking my head and heading to my cubicle. I folded my blanket and turned off my desktop. I grabbed my laptop then returned to the boys.
"Have fun tonight" Aiden said with a smile "Well I think I'll be leaving soon seeing as no one else is here" He said biting his lip. I smiled and gave him a small hug.
"Okay I'm ready" I said with a smile. Leonard stood. I could see that he was holding Embery he had not gone back to sleep but was quite. We entered the elevator and I then turned to Leonard again remembering I didn't have clothes.
"I don't have any clothes with me" I said
"Quite alright. Marcus has made sure you have everything you need" He said watching the numbers as it went to the parking garage.
"Marcus?"
"Mr.Bragin as you would know him better." He said as the elevator dinged. I nodded and followed the out the elevator.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Either I was tired or the ride was long, but no matter I woke to a gentle nudge from little cold hands.
"Keala. Were home" I heard Elijah say. He was the older of the two. I blinked looking around the car. Everyone was gone did they leave me to sleep for a bit? I closed my eyes for another moment then nodded at Elijah and unbuckled my safety belt and left the car.
"This way" He said holding my hand guiding me to the elevator. He reached up and pushed the button we then stepped in and e pushed another button. I wonder where Leonard was as well as Embery.
"They're inside" Elijah said. Did I ask that out loud probably I was still waking up. The elevator stopped and the doors opened up to a crisp white and mirrored hallway. We walked to the end where a black door was standing out in the midst of all the white. He knocked and the door opened. Amazing was my first thought and Aiden had right to be envious was my second. Leonard held the door open and smiled at me.
"So nice to see you among the living" He said jokingly. I gave a slight smile that clearly showed my confusion. Was I really sleeping that hard? Oh! What if I snored or worse talked in my sleep or even drooped.
"Are you hungry?" Leonard asked breaking my thoughts. I glanced at my watch it was old but my mother had given it to me. It read 8:30. Wow it was that late already? My god! how time flies.
"Just a little."
"What would you like?" He asked clasping his hands together. I paused thinking for a moment. I was on a no beef regime, and I had chicken for lunch.
"Well can I have sushi?" I asked. I rarely got to eat and when I did it was soo delicious. Leonard was quite for a moment.
"I will order some. What kind would you like"
"King Kong roll" I said with an excited grin.
"It will be a little after nine for it to get here" I nodded in the mean time I would put the boys to bed assuming they had eaten already. Leonard confirmed my thoughts with telling me where their room was and their bathroom.
Post Comment
