Nanny for the Alien Lord by Tammy Walsh

Tauas

The poor girlwas shivering like a leaf, so delicate and fragile that she might blow away on the wind.

I led her toward the bar slowly for fear she might leave the moment my back was turned.

Avoiding that, for some reason, seemed like the most important thing I could do.

We reached the bar and I placed her hands on the glass tabletop.

The party resumed its pointless tenor as if it hadn’t almost been privy to a great travesty.

The girl appeared to take some comfort in that, perhaps because then it was easier to believe it hadn’t occurred at all.

“What would you like to drink?” I said.

“I’m not much of a drinker.”

“How about a cocktail?”

She looked at me uncertainly before nodding her head.

“A cocktail might be nice.”

I clicked my fingers and the robot bartender was there instantly.

He had to be—he was one of our most recent designs and, although rudimentary, was going to be one of the models that would replace all bartenders throughout the galaxy.

It was a brave new future, and one Choer Robotics would be proudly at the forefront of.

“Bartender,” I said, “we’ll have two of your finest cocktails, please.”

Half a dozen spider-like arms extended from the robot and gathered up the bottles, glasses, cubes of ice, and other items it needed to create the concoction.

He tossed the items up before snatching them out of the air and spilling the alcohol in the glasses on the bar.

Belle watched, enrapt, as the robot carried out the performance.

I couldn’t tell you the number of hours it took to program the bot bartender to get every toss and catch and arch perfectly right, but watching the amazement dawn on Belle’s face at the robot’s ability to snatch the bottles from the air at the last moment made it all worthwhile.

By the time the robot was done, Belle clapped her hands and beamed at the robot as it placed the completed cocktails on the bar before us.

And just like that, the memory of the terrible ordeal that’d almost befallen her was forgotten.

At least, it was by her.

I wasn’t so quick to forget and would ensure the seedy media tycoon was punished for what he’d attempted to do to her.

The media empire needed cutting-edge technology just as everyone else did.

I could leverage a considerable amount of leeway if I threatened to deny it if Uzik wasn’t dealt with adequately.

“Did you enjoy that?” I said.

“Yes,” Belle said. “Very much.”

Her mouth was big and wide and beamed joyfully.

Her hairstyle lay at a slight angle having been disturbed by her earlier run-in with Uzik.

Beneath that odd curl, I could see how she usually wore her hair—down, with a fringe that almost reached her brows.

Her eyes were bright vivid blue and shone brightly against her tanned skin—even in the semi-darkness of the ball.

She wasn’t tall—the top of her head struggled to reach my collarbone—but her back was as straight as a ruler.

She was small, fragile, and made me want to protect her.

By the way she didn’t double-take my horns, I took it to mean she’d been on Zev long enough to be comfortable around Yixx.

She was clearly human, and a very fine and lovely specimen she was.

Her eyes met mine and she shyly looked away before glancing at me again.

She reminded me of the way a nervous creature might peek out from behind a tree before seeing the coast was clear.

I sensed she carried that concern and awkwardness with her even now, and it made me wonder what made her so nervous in the face of someone who’d come to her aid.

She might be delicate, but I sensed a great strength in her.

I offered her my hand.

“Would you like to dance?” I said, surprising myself with my sudden question.

“Yes,” she said and seemed just as surprised at her response. “But what about our drinks?”

I turned to the bartender.

“Keep an eye on our drinks, will you?”

The robot slid them inside a slot that opened in his chest.

The front slid down and snapped shut.

None of the customers knew the robot bartender’s full capabilities as he hadn’t yet been released to the public.

I took Belle by the hand.

It felt so smooth and soft, I could have held onto it day and night and never noticed the time pass.

We weaved through the crowd.

Exposing myself to the public like this made me an easy target, and several approached to engage in conversation but I never stopped until we made it to the center of the dancefloor.

The music was fast and upbeat.

We hopped and jumped and grabbed each other’s arms, pulling each other to and fro, crashing into others as often as each other.

She took me by the hands and performed some kind of dance that had to be popular on Earth, and I did the same with her, introducing her to the Yixx battle formation.

I was a good dancer, just as she likely was too, but the differing styles put us at odds.

Those around us gawped uncertainly… and I could care less.

I pressed my hands to her waist and spun her around.

She squealed and it was covered up mostly by the music.

By God did it feel good to have my hands on her.

She was small and delicate like a bird and I feared I would crush her if I applied too much pressure.

When we finally tired, we headed back to the bar where the bot bartender was immediately on hand with our drinks.

“You’re a good dancer!” she exclaimed.

“Are you sure?” I said.

We laughed uproariously.

She’d calmed down a lot since I first saw her, which was a great relief.

“You seem to know a lot of people here,” Belle said.

I shrugged.

“I’ve been in business fifteen years but never did well until the past few. Funny how everyone only wants to do business with you when you’re successful.”

Belle shrugged as she sipped from her cocktail.

“I suppose they didn’t want to take the risk until you were a sure thing.”

I smiled at that.

It was pure and innocent and maybe she actually believed people were inherently good—hard to believe considering what almost happened to her less than an hour ago.

I liked the way she smiled at me.

I liked that she didn’t know how wealthy I was.

I liked how she didn’t expect or ask anything of me.

It was the first time in a long time that I was with someone who wanted to be with me and not my wealth or influence.

“Why did you hold out your elbow to me earlier?” she asked. “And why bow like that?”

“It’s how humans greet each other, isn’t it? At least, that’s what I remember from school. But it has been a while…”

“It’s been a while since we greeted each other like that too. You don’t need to bow or any of that other stuff. We only do it at really formal occasions.”

“I wish they told us that at school… Or maybe they did and I just forgot.”

She smiled over at me again and I returned it.

“So, how are you finding Zev?” I said.

“Challenging.”

“It’s hard to live here?”

“It can be when you never know if your contract will be renewed.”

“You’re up for renewal soon?”

“Monday.”

“What do you do?”

“I work at a kindergarten.”

She placed a hand on her stomach and her eyes took on a misty appearance.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Hm? Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking.”

“About…?”

Her eyes flicked up to mine and she focused on her hands.

“To be honest, I’m nervous about it. There are rumors of developments, ‘upgrading’ they called it.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a teacher.”

“What sort of upgrade is there for a teacher?”

Belle shrugged her narrow shoulders and almost burst into laughter.

“Maybe they expect us to all get PhDs or something.”

I shared her laugh and nudged her shoulder with my own.

“I’m sure you’ll get it. You don’t strike me as someone who accepts defeat easily.”

“Funny,” she said, “how you could assume that after only knowing me a few hours. And yet, I know so little about you. What do you do?”

“I’m in business,” I said, not meeting her eyes. “It’s not very interesting.”

“Business is always interesting,” she said. “It shapes the world around us, gives a calling to some, and bread money to many others. But my knowledge on the subject is thin at best.”

I doubted there was anything thin about this girl in the knowledge department.

She might not know about the intricacies of business or other subjects but hers was a keen mind, street smarts they called it, and it could be summoned on any given subject.

Belle was an interesting woman, of that, there was no doubt in my mind.

I took a card from my pocket and handed it to Belle.

“Here. If you don’t get the kind of offer you’re looking for, give me a call. Maybe I can find something for you.”

She shook her head.

“It’s all right. I’ll find something.”

All at once, I was taken by her beauty, her gentleness, and the desire to help her.

And it made me angry to think someone had thought to take advantage of her at this very ball I was hosting.

I was overcome with the need to punish the media tycoon that’d attempted to grope her earlier.

It made me fume to think such a disgusting creature might do something so heinous to such a warm and good person.

“Excuse me a moment,” I said. “I need to make a quick call.”

I drifted a few yards away, enough so I could still keep a close eye on Belle and make sure no other males would approach her, though I could see plenty taking notice of her.

“Freas?” I said into my communicator.

“Ngh?” my personal assistant said.

“You’re asleep already? It’s not even twelve. It’s New Year’s Eve! You should be staying up and partying!”

“What do you want?” Freas said groggily. “Don’t tell me you want to give me a New Year’s kiss over the phone like last year? I knew you would leave the party early…”

“I didn’t leave the party early. I’m still here.”

Freas was silent a moment as she listened to the background music of where I was.

Her bedsheets rustled as she bolted upright.

“You are?” she said. “Then who are you with? Is it a woman?”

I blinked in surprise.

“I… It’s none of your business!” I said, slightly flustered.

“You are with someone aren’t you?”

I could practically see her fist bump the air.

Someone grumbled on the other end of the line.

Freas did a poor job of covering the speaker—if she even bothered to cover it at all—and said:

“It’s Tauas! He’s got a date!”

Another grumble and her boyfriend rolled over and went back to sleep.

“So, what’s her name?” Freas said.

“Never mind that!” I said. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Send her flowers? Chocolates? Undying love?”

“No. I want you to cancel the order to Uzik.”

“Huh?”

“Will you just do it?”

“There’s going to be all sorts of legal ramifications…”

“Do it first thing in the morning.”

“Okay…” Freas said. “You’re the boss. And say hello to your new lady friend from me—”

I hung up and tucked the communicator back in my pocket.

I returned to my stool at the bar.

“All done?” Belle said.

“All done,” I said with a smile. “Now, what were we talking about—?”

My communicator rang.

I considered turning it off before I saw the gorgeous face of the little lady calling me.

“I have to take this,” I said. “I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine.”

She smiled warmly as if she really meant it.

Still, it wasn’t right for me to leave her alone again.

I turned the communicator around so she could see who was ringing.

“She’s my daughter,” I said.

I watched Belle’s reaction intently.

Her eyes widened and her lips pursed.

“She’s so cute!”

“She takes after her mother.”

I immediately wished I could take the words back.

“Daddy?” Elken called.

“Hey, sweetie,” I said. “I thought you were going to call me at midnight?”

“I can’t stay up late,” Elken said. “So, I calling happy new year now.”

I could hear the tiredness in her voice.

In the holo display, she rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Kiss kiss,” I said.

My heart ached for her and wished I could be with her right then rather than in this place.

Elken made a loud kissing noise without leaning forward or attempting to place them on my cheek.

“Good night,” I said.

She nodded and I caught sight of her nanny’s arms as she placed her to bed and turned the communicator off.

Although I hadn’t wanted to be at the party, I reminded myself why I was there:

For her.

For her future.

For what my wife and I had built together, the empire Elken would one day command unless she decided to do something else. Still, it would forever belong to her.

That was why I was here socializing with these people, why I needed to show my face, why I needed to go to all this effort.

“She’s beautiful,” Belle said. “How old is she?”

“Three.”

Belle nodded and I could see she was distracted.

“Your wife couldn’t make it to the party?”

“My wife…”

Even after all these years, I found it hard to say the word.

“She died,” I said. “Three years ago.”

Her hand leaped to cover her mouth.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

What else could I do?

It wasn’t like I could do anything to bring her back.

But by God, did I wish I could bring her back.

“It’s rare for a woman to die during childbirth in this day and age but it can still happen. It’s just one of those things.”

I’d made the same argument to myself a thousand times and still, I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.

I tried to pass it off as something that no longer affected me, but by God it did—every single day, every single moment.

Belle must have seen my pain and placed her hand on my arm.

She gently stroked it with her thumb.

It sent a tingle across my skin and made the hairs stand up on end and, for the first time in a long time… in over three years, to be exact, I wanted to be in a woman’s embrace.

A woman I didn’t even know!

From a species and planet I knew next to nothing about.

Her touch lasted longer than it should have and her eyes fastened on mine.

“It must have been hard raising a child on your own,” she said softly.

“I’m not really alone.”

“Oh?”

Her eyes flicked up to me once more.

I wished I would think before I said something that might make her doubt my intentions toward her.

“I didn’t see anyone after my wife passed,” I said. “I have a wonderful nanny who takes care of Elken. Without her… I’m not sure how I would have coped.”

Belle smiled at my honesty.

Or maybe it was at my vulnerability.

“I’m sure you would have coped just fine,” she said confidently.

Usually, I was desperate to return home when I had to attend one of these things, but tonight, being in Belle’s presence… I felt comfortable.

I knew I would see my darling girl the moment I got home.

I would kiss her goodnight and place her favorite stuffed toy in her arms so she wouldn’t be alone while she slept.

I was grateful she slept so soundly and wouldn’t see what awaited her in the darkness, waiting to bite and nip at her heels when she least suspected it.

I’d always been a sound sleeper until that hospital room.

I’d expected to see Lyssun’s tired but exultant expression from having birthed a tiny miracle.

Instead, the doctors wouldn’t allow me in the room, and all the light and excitement of the event was yanked out from under me.

What’d happened was written as clearly on their faces as ink.

She was gone and I was now a single father.

It took a long time for me to believe them.

Not until I saw her lifeless body with my own eyes.

They’d prepared me as best they could but words would never be enough.

I broke down and wept for days.

I never would have survived the ordeal if it wasn’t for Elken.

If I didn’t have her…

I didn’t like to think about what might have happened.

“Would you like to dance more?” Belle said.

“Sure.”

She was the one to take my hand this time, and led me back onto the dance floor, turning around so she shimmied backward and ushered me toward her with a curled finger.

We danced and hopped and leaped, building up a good sweat.

All I could see was her.

All I wanted was her.