Maya's POV

I suddenly wished the earth could open and swallow me in, what on earth was I thinking taking up such a proposal? I knew there was no way I could bring her downstairs but I had a slight hope, a miracle could happen. It was that teeny bit of hope that gave me the morale to accept that proposal.

I knew I had to do something, all my life I've being shrinking and running from responsibilities , complications and problems but now was the time I had to take the risk.Even if I fail in this mission but I'll feel fulfilled knowing I tried and not chicken out from a problem.

When I came into Izzy's room, the first thing I noticed was darkness, the room wasn't lit up.

The only source of light was from the half opened window and I could make out a dim outline of someone's leg relaxing against the bar of the window but I didn't need any prophet to tell me that was izzy .

"Hi" I said but there was no response.Maybe she didn't hear me.So​​ I decided to call on her attention the second time but still didn't get any response and I knew at once the dear lord wasn't on my side cause I became conflicted whether to turn on the light or not.

It was obvious Izzy's a loner , so she probably values her privacy more than anything which I'm about to invade which, won't go down well but I had to do it anyway since I can't grab her attention in the dark.

I searched frantically for the switch on the wall and when I found it , thanked the lord I didn't stumble nor break anything on the way.

Once I turned on the light , I squinted my eyes from the sudden light which brought life to the once dark lifeless room .

"Hi" I coughed awkwardly when huge fierce burning amber pair of eyes focused on me making me wish there was an ejector seat that could throw me outta here.

Izzy lay on her bed , her legs crossed together as she listened to some music through her headphone while casting what I would interpret as what-the-hell look on me.

I couldn't read her emotion cause she put on this strict pokerface so , I couldn't tell if she was angry, irritated or whatever else she's feeling at the moment that I interrupted her quiet time .

"Hey, I know..I know this is weird but my name's Maya " I introduced when she removed her headphone from her ears which was a good sign that she's willing to listen to whatever I had to offer

"I know this might sound weird too but do I know you?" Izzy asked looking at me with a new kind of curiosity I couldn't exactly place as a good thing or bad thing.

"P-probably not" I chuckled nervously, knowing if she did know me, it would be she've witnessed me in the street crying from heartbreak or frustration .

That's just how pathetic my life is.

"I have an acute and active memory much better than the average human , you included , so I don't speak vainly " Izzy boosted as I scoffed inwardly , the arrogance of the girl.

Just when I was about to lecture her on the word called 'manner' a memory flashed in my mind and I gasped in disbelief

"Seeing your shocked expression" Izzy said climbing off her bed and moving towards me with a cocky smile on her lips "I'll assume you've regained your memory"

"You" I gasped once more thanking the universe for helping me out this time.I forgot our meeting so soon cause I never knew nor expected meeting her again.

I met Izzy in a convenience store where she was caught shoplifting but I saved her ungrateful butt by lieing that she was my niece and wasn't stealing but helping me shop for other stuffs I couldn't find.

By hiding them in her jacket?

Well , I made up a lot of blah blah blah excuses which got her freed and did I forget to add the numerous apology I made on her behalf which she didn't even thank me for.​​​​​​​​​​​

"So what are you doing in my place, specifically my room?"

"Ok, I might have gotten into some trouble which you have the absolute power to save me" I said beating around the bush hoping she'll get a hint of what I'm trying to say since she claims to be some Goddess of knowledge.

"I might be a genius but I need a little more details to solve this ridiculous puzzle of yours" The intellectual snob practically snorted at me and might I remind you that this snob of a being is a ten year old manner lacking girl who happens to be the daughter of Nik, the sexy god I was drooling over hours ago.

Could this night get any worse?

"well I um...I...you know...."

"I won't know anything if you won't spit it out already" She hiss-yelled at me.Well couldn't blame her on that one since I irritate people a lot with my procrastination.

"Well there's this bet, so if I can get you downstairs for the party I'll end up being your nanny but if I fail, I'll end up being your uncle's date for the night which won't go well with your father"

"Whoah , whoah ,whoah, w.t.h.What the heck!" Izzy screamed, out of shock or excitement? I couldn't tell.

"let me get things straight" She said squinting her eyes and going into thinking mode "You made a deal with the oldman to get me down for dinner in exchange you become my nanny while if you fail you become my uncle's date?"

I nodded positively

"Why the deal? Let me guess, it became competitive? "

I stared at her in horror "How did you know?You definitely know stuffs a ten year old shouldn't "

With her arms folded, Izzy circled me saying "I don't know whether I should take that as a compliment or a sarcasm but once you meet my cousin Annabelle, you'll be thankful for my existence"

Curious, I asked "You know Annabelle?"

"Yeah,I think so"

"You think so?" I asked horrified .I know I didn't have the best of a family but we were pretty close with our relations eventhough they preferred kim over me unlike here.

"Yeah, I've met her once but she was so noisy, chatty, controlling and annoying so I left before the party was over but I'm constantly told, reminded and fed that she's alive and not dead so quit giving me that judgemental look"

I didn't even realize I was giving her such judging look as she accused but I forced a smile on my face, I had to look friendly if I was still going to receive a favour from her .

"I still don't get it" Izzy said biting on her nails, a bad habit I guess she's trying to break since she withdrew her hands almost immediately. "What makes you think I'm going to let you drag me down to that hell of a party ?"

"Because you own me a thank you for saving your ass thanks to that shoplifting accident?" I mutter hoping this was going to work else I'm doomed for failure.

"Wait a minute, are you playing a quilt game here?" She scoffed irritably "Do you think just because you covered up for me in the shoplifting accident that'll be thankful and come downstairs as a favour to you "

I groaned inwardly and felt a little migraine make it's presence known in my head.

That is so lowly of me, I know but think about the cash Maya. It's twenty million dollars we're talking here! we could go shopping, pay overdue rents and still have change left.

My inner devil encouraged and I began to imagine what I would do with such a huge amount of money , that is if I succeed.

Clearly I underestimated Izzy but hell! she's too smart .Maybe I should start considering being a nanny for Annabelle, clearly she couldn't be so bad as Izzy described.

Moreover she wouldn't be a snob nor loner like Izzy but the lively, chatty and brave type of kids I prefer, only if she doesn't fire me on sight.

Great!

"F.y.I "Izzy continued "The reason I considered shoplifting that day was so I could get caught and bring shame and pain to my father but you clearly ruined it so don't you even think I owe you anything " Izzy confessed and I realized things were more complicated than I thought.

There was more things to this family than the eye could catch, they weren't just complicated and conflicted but they were hiding secrets, deadly secrets that's dividing and tearing them apart.

"Fine I'm going to leave" I gave up at last realizing there was nothing I could do to drag her down.

The little girl was on a suicide mission to ruin her father for reasons best known to her which I cannot do anything about.

I turned to leave but there was something urging me to say something, anything , so I decided to go with whatever rolls off my tongue

"Izzy" I called but she scarcely spared me a look "I know you're on some sort of vendetta or whatever, but sometimes its good to do something unexpected, just have some fun and slap off that smile on the faces of your haters"

"Yeah, blah blah . Good pep talk " She scorned rolling her eyes in boredom while I squeezed a smile and left, leaving the rest to fate.

Once downstairs I could feel all eyes on me and on my side, there was nobody by my side which definitely meant I failed, atleast I tried.I saw Nik, he was staring right at me with disappointment clearly written on his face.

I failed him, I disappointed him

I marched towards him and tried to narrate it all to him "I tried but....."

"I know" Nik said giving me an assuring smile that he was ok but I knew it was all fake, he wasn't happy at all.

I wanted to say something else, to tell him how destructive his daughter was going to turn out if left unguided when a voice interrupted me.

Eden

"I guess that leaves you as my date" He said and took my hand and was about placing a kiss on the back of my palm when a loud gasp was heard which turned out to be a surprise gasp.

Lo, when I turned I saw izzy in all her glory scolding a waiter for what the hell I don't care about. My heart skipped in joy , she took my advice but she sure know how to spring surprises.

Eden groaned but was forced to produce a smile when Izzy headed her way.

"I see you're enjoying the night uncle Eden but I don't seem to notice my dear cousin, Annabelle?" Izzy directed the question at Eden but I suspected she had ulterior motives behind that question, if anything I sensed it was a trick question but why?

"Ahh she's fine just spending some time in paris with close friends" Eden answered with a strict face, he was definitely done being nice

"So if I may ask" Eden said "Why the sudden appearance cause you made it clear you didn't want anything to do with this party?"

Izzy let out a chuckle "oh , you know me uncle , the centre of attention. I wanted to make an epic entrance and as well" She looked him straight in the eye

'Ruin your date"