Elena's POV
Ever since my parents died things have been different. I lost my job, my brother fled the country, and my husband left me. I needed money, he took everything from me. I'm a 23 year old college graduate who's now broke and alone.
I noticed an ad in the paper for a nanny position, I applied. They called this morning, I told them I'd be at the apartment by 7 this morning; it was already 6:30 when I was walking into the building.
I buzzed the buzzer to be let into the building. "Hi, I'm here to meet Mr. Salvatore." I told the doorman
"I'll let him know you're on your way up. You're the nanny right?" He asked
"Yes." I smiled getting in the elevator
I saw the doors open into the apartment. It was gorgeous...I was breathless…
"Miss. Gilbert?" A man with raven black hair and eyes bluer than the sea spoke to me
"That's me!" I smiled nervously
"Nice to meet you." He shook my hand
In the other hand he carried a baby monitor, just as he began to say something a cry erupted from it. "Excuse me a moment." He walked down a hallway and into a nursery somewhere
"This is Camille Maria Salvatore. She is 6 months old." He said smiling as he held his sweet daughter
"She's a beauty." I commented
"Thank you. She looks like her mother."
"She has your eyes and your hair though." I told him
"So, what drew you to become a nanny?"
"Honestly, I've always loved kids and wanted kids, but I am at a standstill in my life and I needed something new, something that means something." I told him, it wasn't a total lie; it was just the half truth
"Okay and you're available Monday through Friday all day correct?"
"I will be here when you need me."
"Do you have any bags or anything you'd like to keep here?" He asked me
"I don't have anything; I just recently lost my house in a fire." I told him "I was hoping to go purchase some things one I get paid...if that's alright." I said nervously
"Here." He handed me $300 "Call it a trial run, I have a meeting in an hour and really need to get some paperwork done, if you can take her and shop you can buy whatever you want. Her bag is packed and by the door. We can talk expectations once she is in bed tonight, if you can handle this task; I'll show you where you will stay."
I was blown away by this gesture. "Absolutely, car seat?" I asked
He handed me keys. "Take the mini-van; it's going to be your go to car when you're with her. It's the safest car on the market right now."
"Okay." I smiled "Come here Camille, while daddy works we are gonna go shop! Does that sound fun?" The girl cooed back at me "Say bye bye daddy!" I waved the girls hand as I grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
Damon's POV
I went to work on my paperwork, but found it impossible to focus, my thoughts drifted to Elena; she was the most gorgeous woman to ever grace my presence. I was the luckiest dad of all she was my daughter's nanny. There was something about her though; something mysterious. I liked it. She was alone in the world; I mean why else would you take a live in nanny position. I love my daughter more than anything, but I have to go back to work, if I don't we won't have anywhere to live. Things are getting harder to pay for. I almost didn't make rent this month, if it wasn't for Stefan, my brother, I wouldn't have my apartment still.
My phone alarm when off notifying me it was time for the meeting. I hurried out of my home office and into my car; the drive to the office was about 15 minutes. When I got there I noticed Stefan's car there as well. "Brother." I said walking in my office
"Long time no see." He teased me "Nice to see you back at the office, Damon."
"Nice to be back, but I have to be honest I miss Cami, so much." I told him
"How is the new nanny working out?" Stefan asked
"She just started today, at the moment they are at Macy's in the mall." I said using the nanny cam installed on her stroller
"You clearly trust her a lot." Stefan rolled his eyes at me
"Do you remember what Katherine did?"
"Damon, that's different." Stefan said
"It wasn't, she gave me full custody and then she tried to kidnap her." I told him
"Cami is her daughter." Stefan said
"I don't care, she abandoned her, I didn't even know about her until she left her at my door."
"Damon," Stefan started
"I know you love her brother, and that's fine, but this is my daughter we are talking about. She is my world, keep Kat away from us." I interrupted him
"Understood." He sighed
Back at the Apartment
I saw Elena quietly come out of Cami's room in her pajamas. She wore a tank top and a pair of shorter shorts. "You are great with her." I commented
"Oh," she gasped. I had startled her "Thank you." Her face flushed red
"So, you think you'd like the job?" I asked her
"I really would, thank you for the clothes today...it means a lot." She said grabbing a blanket from the chair across from me and sitting down
"I can start a fire if you'd like?" I offered
"No, no. I'm fine." She shivered
I got up and threw some wood in the fire place and started it. Once it was going I sat across from her. "So, my expectations are few, but I have some very important ones. Understand?" I asked. She nodded and sipped her tea "I don't mind you having the occasional drink, I myself do, but never when my daughter is in your care, I don't do the whole random strangers in my home, take it elsewhere if the situation arises. I need updates if you are to be taking Cami somewhere; I need to know if anything were to happen at any time or place. She will be starting a lot more solid foods soon I'd prefer it to be homemade, I will do this most likely but in a pinch I'll need you too; but my most important rule is if a woman named Katherine or Kat ever comes here she is not allowed in this house, the doorman knows very well not to let her up here, but on the off chance she does come up, she is not allowed anywhere near Cami, understood?"
"Am I allowed to ask, who is she?" Elena tentatively asked
"She's her mother." I told her
"Understood." She whispered
"Now, I want to learn about this person taking care of my child." I said to her
"Well there's not much to tell, my parents have passed away, my brother left me to go to Paris...My husband...well ex-husband stole my money and my house...I'm alone in the world." Words spilled from her mouth
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have…." She started to get up to leave the room
"Elena wait." I gently grabbed her arm "Where have you been living?" I asked her
"Here and there. Hotels, sometimes the occasional guy will take me to his place; they get to drunk to do anything so I just crash on their couch until morning then run." She admitted
"Was there no one to help you? "I asked her
"After my parents died there was no one…When my husband found out I inherited money from my parents he suggested I put in in our joint account, I told him I didn't want to do that I wanted to put it away for our kids college savings one day, and he got angry and…" she stopped "He got angry and that was it." she shivered
"Elena, did he hurt you?" I asked carefully
"He's gone now...that's what important." she said. The baby monitor attached to her hip started to make noise. "Cami's awake, I'll go put her down again." she said
"I can get her, you should go get settled, I'm sure you have clothes to put away." I told her gently taking the baby monitor from her hand
"Are you sure? This is why I'm here." She asked concerned
"Elena, relax. I miss my daughter." I smiled at her
"If you are sure, you can bring the monitor in before you go to bed if you want." she told me scurrying off to her room
Elena's POV
I had the room next to Camille's and I heard Damon inside. I didn't mean to be nosey, but there's something different about this man. I opened the door just an inch to hear them "There's my pretty girl." you could hear the smile in his voice "Daddy missed you so much today. I wish I could stay home with you always."
I heard him sit down in the rocking chair. "Do you like Elena?"
My breath hitched in my throat. She had shared too much with him this evening, when you look into those blue pearls...he makes you feel safe, like you can tell him anything and everything. "Goodnight Princess. Daddy loves you so much." I heard him kiss her and get up to leave the room. I scurried away from my door making myself look busy.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in." I whispered
"Cami is asleep, I'll keep her monitor, and she doesn't typically wake in the night. Goodnight Elena." the way my name rolled off his lips gave me chills
"Goodnight, Mr. Salvatore." I smiled
"It's Damon." he smirked as he shut my door
I fell backwards on my bed. This was defiantly going to be an interesting place to work.
The Next Morning
I awoke to the sun streaming through the crack in the curtains. The clock read 7 o'clock; I stood to my feet and opened the curtains wide. I threw my robe on and went to check on Cami. I quietly went into her room to see the sweetest sight. Mr. Salvatore was sitting with her in the rocking chair. "Sorry." I mouthed trying to sneak out
"Good morning, Elena." he smiled
"Good Morning, Mr...I mean Damon." I walked over
"This is my favorite thing about being a dad." he confided in me while staring at his daughter's delicate features "These times, in the quiet I can just sit and think about nothing except how I got lucky enough to have her."
"You are lucky. She an amazing baby;" I commented
"If you'd like to go get ready, I'll make breakfast for us." he said carefully laying Cami back in her crib
"I can do that." I told him
"I enjoy cooking, I don't mind." he smiled at me...he was irresistible when he smiled like that...
I felt my face flush, "Okay, I promise I'll be quick." I hurried off to get in the shower
He is your boss Elena! I thought to myself as I showered. Nothing can happen between you. They aren't your family. You don't have a family. You have to stay away from him.
I kept telling myself these things, yet somehow ended up in his kitchen, holding his daughter, helping him cook…
"What are your plans today, Damon?" I inquired
"I work until 4 today, and then I have a meeting with my lawyer."
"Can I ask you a personal question?" I asked him
"Of course." he said
"What happened to her mother? Why can't she see her?" I knew I was risking a lot asking that question
"The story of Katherine...that's one for dinner. Not breakfast." he smirked smugly like he'd won something
"Does this mean you're asking me to have dinner with you Mr. Salvatore? How inappropriate." I teased him
"How much more inappropriate can it get, I mean you already live here." he joined my playful banter
We talked and laughed before he said he needed to head off to work. "Bye daddy! Have a good day!"
He smiled at us as he walked out the door. "What do we do now baby girl?"
She gave a gummy smile.
This beautiful little girl and I had all day, heck years to spend together if he needs me that long. It's been less than 48 hours and I was in love with this little baby girl.
Damon's POV
I got home early in the evening, and began to cook dinner while Elena was putting Cami down. I heard the door open and Elena come down to the kitchen. "So...someone stopped by today." She casually said
Do you know who it was?" I asked nervous
"Your brother is very kind." Elena said "He dropped this off for you." She handed me a large wad of cash.
"Damon...that money you gave me...did you really have it to give?" She asked
"I borrowed money from Stefan to make rent this month...after Cami came into my life I had to take a lot of time off work...paying bills has gotten harder, I just wanted you to have what you needed to be here, and help me so I can get my life back together. I need help but can't afford it yet...He's just helping me."
"Damon, I'll return the clothes...I don't want to be the reason you lose your apartment, or heat, lights whatever it is." She said
"Elena, we are here to help each other. I told Stef that I gave you some money and he helped me out a little more this month."
We sat down to eat dinner and she spoke up again. "Is this the part where you tell me about Katherine?"
"A story not many know, but you being responsible for our daughter...you have a right to know." I sighed "Kat and I met junior year of college. I knew then that she was the love of my life. We got married within a year of meeting. We moved into a small house after we graduated, things were amazing, we were so happy and in love." I sighed "I started at my father's company with Stefan, Stefan asked our father for a day off and I decided to go over to his place and check in on him, and I needed a file he had taken home. I walked in and heard him in the bedroom with a woman, I tried to get out quickly, but before I could Katherine came running out in a robe. She was shocked to see me." I hung my head
"Damon...I'm so sorry." Elena placed her hand over mine
"Don't be…that's only the beginning." He sighed "I went home that night to our house alone. I was torn in two. I wondered what I did wrong. Why was he better than me? I threw things, I drank, and I cried…I was totally broken. After about six hours of this, she came home." Elena let out a small gasp "I was so angry with her…I almost worried for both our safety, yet I pulled it together enough to talk to her. She sat down with me after a pot or two of coffee."
I saw a small smile break across her face. "What?" I asked "My heart wrenching story is funny?"
"No. I just…I can see you drinking a full pot of coffee trying to sober up." She giggled. It was a beautiful sound.
"Anyway." I smiled at her "Katherine and I sat down and she told me that it was just one time, a moment of weakness…she begged me and begged me to forgive her…and I did." I shook my head "One of my greatest regrets…"
"Months when by and we began to get back to where we were, we even went to couples therapy. I was starting to believe this marriage would work and then…Tuesday, December 6th…I was served with Divorce papers…She told me in a letter that 'It's Stefan, it's always gonna be Stefan.'" I didn't realize I was crying until Elena took her thumb and gently wiped it away
"I'm sorry…" I cleared my throat and stood up walking to the sink looking out the window.
"Damon…" she put her hand on my lower back "Don't be. Why would she do that to you?" she wasn't really asking me "What about Cami?"
"8 Months after the divorce finalized Cami was on my doorstep with a note." I opened the drawer known as the 'junk drawer' I pulled out a letter and handed it to Elena
She looked horrified as she read it. "And attached were the custody papers?" she assumed
"Yes. And since then she's tried to kidnap her." He told me
"Damon…I am so sorry." She put her arms around me pulling me in for a hug. I melted into her; I inhaled her strawberry scented shampoo as I rested my head on hers
"Elena." I said keeping her in my arms
"Yes."
"If you ever want to talk about what happened…I'll be here for you." At this she pulled back
"Nothing…Nothing happened. No one can ever know." She said fearful and ran from the room
A/N: And… This has officially been the LONGEST chapter I have ever written. I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, if you would like me to continue PLEASE let me know.
Later y'all!