#advertising firms near me

[hillpr]

An Agile Tech PR and B2B Communications Agency Kite Hill PR works with leading companies in the B2B tech, media, entertainment and advertising industries. Our flexible approach to the future of work means that our team can work in a location that best suits their needs, whether in the office or at home.

[digiweb2u]

[poojalate]

Boost Your Business with Cutting-Edge Digital Marketing Techniques

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses must stay ahead of the curve to thrive. Partnering with a digital marketing agency that leverages cutting-edge techniques can make all the difference in driving growth and staying competitive. This opinion piece explores how innovative digital marketing strategies can boost your business and keep you at the forefront of your industry.

Embrace the Power of AI in Marketing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way businesses approach marketing. From predictive analytics to AI-driven content creation, incorporating AI into your marketing strategy can help you make data-driven decisions and personalize customer experiences at scale.

Why It Matters:

Efficiency: AI automates time-consuming tasks like data analysis and content generation, allowing your team to focus on strategy and creativity.

Personalization: AI enables hyper-personalization, delivering tailored content and recommendations that resonate with individual customers.

Leverage Video Marketing to Engage Audiences

Video continues to be one of the most engaging forms of content. Whether it’s through YouTube, social media, or live streaming, video marketing offers a dynamic way to connect with your audience and convey your brand message.

Why It Matters:

High Engagement: Video content is more likely to capture attention and drive interaction compared to text or images.

Versatility: Videos can be repurposed across multiple platforms and used for various purposes, from brand storytelling to product demonstrations.

Utilize Data-Driven Marketing for Precision Targeting

Data-driven marketing involves using customer data to tailor your campaigns to specific audiences. By analyzing customer behavior, preferences, and demographics, you can create more targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

Why It Matters:

Higher ROI: Precision targeting ensures your marketing efforts reach the right people, increasing the likelihood of conversions and improving ROI.

Customer Insights: Data-driven marketing provides valuable insights into customer preferences, helping you refine your strategies and offerings.

Harness the Potential of Social Commerce

Social commerce, the integration of e-commerce and social media, is rapidly gaining traction. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow businesses to sell products directly through social media, streamlining the purchasing process for customers.

Why It Matters:

Seamless Shopping Experience: Social commerce reduces friction in the buying process, making it easier for customers to purchase directly from their social feeds.

Increased Visibility: Leveraging social media platforms for commerce allows you to tap into their vast user base and reach a broader audience.

Implement an Omnichannel Marketing Strategy

Omnichannel marketing ensures a cohesive customer experience across all channels, whether it’s online, in-store, or on social media. This approach integrates all touchpoints, providing a seamless and consistent brand experience.

Why It Matters:

Consistency: A unified message across all channels strengthens brand recognition and trust.

Customer Satisfaction: Omnichannel strategies meet customers where they are, providing convenience and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Prioritize Content Marketing for Long-Term Success

Content marketing remains a cornerstone of digital marketing strategies. Creating valuable, relevant content that addresses your audience’s needs can help establish your brand as an authority and drive organic traffic to your site.

Why It Matters:

Authority Building: Consistent, high-quality content positions your brand as an expert in your industry.

SEO Benefits: Content marketing improves your search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic and leads over time.

Conclusion

Incorporating cutting-edge digital marketing techniques is essential for businesses looking to grow and stay competitive in today’s market. By embracing AI, video marketing, data-driven strategies, and more, you can elevate your brand and achieve sustained business success. Partnering with an innovative digital marketing agency can help you navigate these strategies effectively, ensuring your business reaches new heights.

[ganitsoni]

7 Reasons Why You Need a White Label Digital Marketing Agency

In today's competitive digital landscape, having a strategic digital marketing strategy is essential for businesses to thrive. One effective approach gaining popularity is partnering with a white label digital marketing agency. Here are seven compelling reasons why your business could benefit from such a partnership:

Expertise and Specialization:

White label digital marketing agencies specialize in digital marketing strategies and have a team of experts with diverse skills in SEO, PPC, social media marketing, content creation, and more. By partnering with them, you gain access to their specialized knowledge and experience.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Hiring and training an in-house digital marketing team can be costly and time-consuming. With a white label agency, you can leverage their expertise without the overhead costs associated with hiring full-time employees.

Scalability:

As your business grows, so do your marketing needs. A white label agency provides scalable solutions that can adjust to your business's growth trajectory. They can handle increased demands and adapt strategies accordingly, ensuring consistent and effective marketing efforts.

Focus on Core Competencies:

Outsourcing digital marketing allows your team to focus on core business activities and strengths. You can devote more time and resources to product development, customer service, and other critical areas while leaving the marketing complexities to professionals.

Access to Advanced Tools and Technologies:

White label agencies invest in cutting-edge tools and technologies to deliver superior marketing results. By partnering with them, you gain access to these resources without the upfront costs of purchasing and maintaining them yourself.

Quick Implementation:

Time is of the essence in digital marketing. A white label agency can quickly implement campaigns, optimizations, and strategies, ensuring timely responses to market changes and opportunities.

Measurable Results and Reporting:

Transparency and accountability are crucial in digital marketing. White label agencies provide detailed analytics and reports that track the performance of your campaigns. This data-driven approach allows you to measure ROI effectively and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

Partnering with a white label digital marketing agency offers numerous advantages that can significantly enhance your business's online presence and overall growth. Whether you're looking to streamline costs, access expert knowledge, or scale your marketing efforts, a white label agency can provide tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. Consider exploring this partnership to take your digital marketing strategy to the next level.

If you're seeking a reliable white label digital marketing agency, iconquerors offers comprehensive solutions tailored to your business goals. Their expertise in digital marketing can help you achieve measurable results and stay ahead in today's competitive market.

[digiwarepost]

Looking for a top digital marketing company in Hills Shire Council? Digiware provides complete digital solutions to improve the perception of your business. Our team of experts specializes in social media marketing, PPC, SEO,Google ads and other areas to make sure your company gets the most exposure and growth available online. Join teams with us .For more details visit : https://digiware.com.au/

[acadianamarketing]

Website : https://acadianamarketingsolutions.com/

Address : 113 Fairwood Dr, Broussard, LA 70518

Phone : +1 318-267-2496

We create brand identities, digital experiences, and print materials that communicate clearly to achieve marketing goals, and look fantastic. We can provide something that not many agencies can, full service marketing. Many agencies claim full service, but they lack one or two essential services. We offer them all under one roof. Many outsource, taking 2-3X longer to make a change to your projects. We do do it all in-house. Best in class experience. Tailor-made solutions for your brand.

Business Mail : sabrina@acadianamarketingsolutions.com

[topdigitalmarketingcompanyindia]

Looking for a Digital Agency and Website Designer in India

Digital Evolution in India: Marrying Marketing with Web Design

With the rapid digital transformation in India, two realms have seen monumental growth – digital marketing and website designing. While each has its distinct identity, they often intertwine, offering businesses a comprehensive digital solution. This intertwining relationship has seen the emergence of a specialized niche where 'Digital marketing company India' and 'Website design agency India' often come under the same umbrella. This blog post delves into the confluence of these domains and why it's essential for businesses in today's digital era.

Digital Marketing Company India: Beyond Traditional Boundaries

India's digital journey has been nothing short of spectacular. This evolution has propelled the need for businesses to tap into the digital audience, thereby bringing the 'digital marketing agency' into the limelight. The role of these agencies is no longer restricted to just online promotion; it extends to ensuring the brands they represent shine online in every aspect, including their digital real estate – their website.

The Significance of Website Designing in Digital Marketing

When a digital marketing strategy is crafted, the website often serves as the central hub. It’s where potential customers are directed, whether from search engines, social media, or digital advertising campaigns. Therefore, the importance of 'website designing' in the broader spectrum of digital marketing cannot be overstated.

Enter the 'Website design agency India'. Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between digital marketing and web design, many agencies now offer both services. The rationale is simple: A beautifully designed website can attract visitors, but without a sound digital marketing strategy, it might remain unseen.

Choosing the Right Website Design Company

Website design goes beyond aesthetics. A good 'website design company' ensures:

User Experience (UX): Easy navigation, logical flow, and smooth user experience are paramount.

Mobile Optimization: With a significant chunk of users accessing websites via mobile, responsiveness is crucial.

SEO-friendly Design: The structure of a website can impact its search engine rankings. A competent 'website design firm' ensures the design is SEO-friendly.

Localized Solutions: The 'Website Designers Near Me' Query

The digital realm might be global, but sometimes, local solutions are the best fit. Localized agencies understand local preferences, cultures, and business environments better. Hence, the rise in queries like 'website designers near me' is understandable. These local agencies often provide personalized touch, quicker face-to-face consultations, and are easy to access for follow-up and revisions.

Digital Advertising: The Bridge

Digital advertising serves as the bridge connecting potential customers to businesses. While the role of a 'digital marketing agency' is to ensure the brand's visibility, it's the 'website design agency' that ensures this traffic is greeted with an engaging and functional website.

Whether it's an ad leading a user to a landing page or an influencer redirecting their followers to a website, the integration of digital advertising with a well-designed site can make all the difference in conversion rates

The Holistic Approach: When Two Worlds Collide

For businesses looking to truly make a mark in the digital realm, a holistic approach that combines the expertise of a 'digital marketing company in India' with a 'website design agency India' can be a game-changer. Here's why:

Consistent Branding: Cohesive branding across all platforms – be it social media, the company's website, or digital ads.

Streamlined Strategy: With both domains under one roof, the strategies are often more aligned and streamlined, leading to better results.

Cost-Effective: Often, integrated services come with bundled pricing, which can be more cost-effective than hiring separate agencies.

Better Communication: With one team handling both aspects, communication bottlenecks are minimized.

Conclusion

India's digital landscape is evolving at a breakneck speed. To remain relevant and competitive, businesses need to adapt. Investing in a robust digital marketing strategy is crucial, but so is ensuring the heart of this strategy – the website – is impeccably designed.

In essence, the future of digital success lies in the seamless integration of digital marketing and website design. By recognizing this and making informed choices in agency partnerships, businesses can harness the full power of the digital realm. Whether it's a local 'website design firm' or a pan-India 'digital marketing company', the key is in the synergy.

[digitalmarketing1233]

Building Your Online Presence with Venus Digital Marketing

Venus Digital Marketing will help improve your Social Media Marketing, website messaging and business' ranking in search engine results. With our social media marketing expertise, we can increase your website's search ranking. Websites will rank higher in search results and convert more traffic into leads.

[usacontentmarketing]

Maximize Your Digital Impact With Content Marketing Services .

Content marketing has become a potent tactic for companies looking to engage, inform, and convert their target audiences in today's hyper-connected digital environment. The need for creative and successful Content Marketing Services is constantly increasing as the level of competition online rises. 

[digitalmarketingdigineety]

DigiNeety Marketing is a well-known digital marketing company based out of Vashi, Navi Mumbai. We have been a top digital marketing company with a team of experts since 2018. Our skillful professionals have delivered impressive results in website design and development, search engine optimization, social media marketing, graphic design, search engine marketing, and other areas. We have produced 100% positive outcomes for our customers. We are extremely client-centric in our approach and committed to supporting our diverse clients for their growth.

[strawberrymochin]

Springtime Fushiguros♪

Context-: exploring the memories of childhood of fushiguros, marking the spring time of you and satoru gojo.

Gojo's cooking skills-: gojo cooks for the fushiguros while you are away. (Disaster)

Gojo frowns not being able to locate a pan in the kitchen. Megumi sighs at the sense of foreboding, it's already been 20 mins gojo's rummaging through the kitchen, just to find a single pan to cook. He could simply ask Tsumiki or Megumi but the guy believes in self reliance, thus asking help from the kids would feel like a betrayal to himself.

He wants to make you proud, by cooking for the kids, serving them the utmost savoury finger licking heavenly food. (Without the help of anyone)

'Tshh,' says Tsumiki drawing her brother's attention, 'Don't you think we should help gojo Sensei?' she whispers, keeping her voice low. 'And do you think he would agree?' replies Megumi fretfully.

You are out for work today, a rare occasion in this household. You work partime in a marketing firm that advertises a buisness good or service making it reach its desired market sale.

It haven't been much long since you joined this company, before moving in with gojo satoru you used to work 9 to 5 but now that you have the kids to take care of, you convinced your boss to work half-day. He agreed since you were only a part time employee. You normally go to work after the kids go to school and return before their arrival.

However today is a bit different, the work load is enormous for a special deal whose ad is supposed to be out tomorrow, which resulted in your boss asking you to do overtime. You agreed instantly, since gojo wasn't going on any missions today and the kids were on a special holiday. Moreover your boss has been too kind to you to refuse.

Gojo has reassured you that he won't need any help, even though you insisted him to call if he faces any problem. He didn't wanted you to work while stressing about them. Even after that, you had given atleast 3 lectures on how to take care of the kids, where the cooking materials are and about their likes and dislikes.

'How about you sneak in the kitchen, take the pan out of the shelf while I keep him occupied on something else?' Megumi raises a brow at Tsumiki's idea. He thinks it's waste of energy but agress anyways.

Both go according to the plan, Tsumiki drags gojo outside lying someone was on the door, while Megumi sneaks in the kitchen getting the pan out from the shelf.

'There's no one 'miki! You sure you heard someone?' Megumi hurries trying to place the pan on the counter at the sound of gojo's approaching steps, 'yes! Sensei! I'm sure. Why don't you come and check again!!' Tsumiki pulls gojo's hand dragging him to the front door again, when 'Megumi, what are you doing?' gojo asks nonchalantly as Tsumiki's eyes widen.

Megumi quickly places the pan on the top of the counter shutting the shelf sneaking out of the kitchen, when gojo picks him up in his lap, a pissed expression in his face.

Gojo's was nowhere near the kitchen a few seconds ago. He was standing with Tsumiki in the living room. Now Tsumiki is standing alone in the living room creeped out.

He drags a shocked megumi to the living room and settles him on the couch. He goes for Tsumiki next, settling her beside Megumi.

'you guys think you can surpass me? Tsk tsk tsk, I'm the strongest—' Megumi interrupts before gojo could finish. 'Did you just—teleported from the living room?'

'yup.'

'wow. So you can teleport! Can you do that too Megumi-chan?' says Tsumiki fascinated as megumi stares at his Sensei.

'megumi can do that too one day, if he works hard to keep up with me....and you have to now that you promised.' gojo ruffles megumi's hair annoying him again.

'now, you two don't interfere when I'm cooking, I gotta make y/n proud and prove i can take care of you guys without any lectures.'

Gojo strolls back to rummaging the kitchen, as the kids watch, turning their heads from the couch.

'megumi can do that too one day' said gojo to Tsumiki. 'I will do that too.' thought Megumi, he might not like his Sensei much, he might strongly believe he's unserious and annoying but he can't ignore the fact that his Sensei is the strongest. And it's the only thing he truly admires. He promised gojo to work hard and keep up with him. He promises to work hard again but this time not to gojo, but to himself. He will work hard and become like his Sensei one day.

'Would you like pizza instead?' gojo said apologetically. He ended up burning the Ginger chicken rice and salad he was making. The kids were starving till the pizza arrived.

The kids accepted the their fate, desperately wishing you to comeback and never go back. Atleast that meant good healthy food that actually tastes good. Megumi made a mental note never to learn cooking from his Sensei.

When you arrived late in the house expecting the kids fast asleep, you were instead greeted by a whining megumi, who was having digestion problems.

That's it. You are never leaving the kids with him again.

'Atleast, I fed him on time!'

'Yeah, and you fed him pizza, which is the reason he's having stomach ache. You said you would make them something healthy.'

'I did.'

'Then—wait don't tell me you—' you rush into the kitchen to see a burnt cooking pan and a couple of dishes stacked in the basin.

'well, it wasn't burnt, just a bit overcooked—that it turned black.'

'yeah, into ashes.'

'But love, i atleast tried.'

'Aww honey! You're so sweet. Now go do the dishes. Without breaking anything.'

[vinomino]

Failed Kidnapping Attempt

A joke of a kidnapping leads a rather strange man into your life.

Featuring: Endo.Y x f!reader

Contents: NSFW MDNI, mean!endo(when is he not), slight yandere!endo, assault(?), pet names, light choking, cunnilingus, squirting, pussy slapping, creampie, enemies to ???, hate sex, not beta read

WC: 4.1k, please I bs’d this in 3 hours idek what this is either…

The metal chair creaks when you cross your legs, leaning back into the hard shell. The bob-cut man raises his eyes at the noise, slightly squinting them before returning to typing on his laptop. Besides the clacking of keys, a radio box is tuned to a random station, and the man in the device is going on and on about vitamin drinks. The sound cuts off every few minutes but then returns with a static crack. There’s an old retro TV installed in a corner and a thick layer of dust is settled on the screen, turning it gray. The digital clock on the wall reads; 1:21 AM. It’s been more than three hours since you left your workplace and more than two hours of being in this chair. The rusted stoppings under the legs scrap on the concrete floor when you nudge it backward. 

“Hey, stop that.” Bob-cut shoots you a glare. 

“Stop what?” 

“That– Moving around. It’s annoying.” 

You dramatically glance around, “And do what instead? Sit here until the sun comes up?” 

Without your phone, there was nothing to do but stare at the clock while listening to advertisements. The station was the odd kind that doesn’t play any music and if you had to listen to one more spiel about juice, you were going to smash it into pieces. “Well, I’m so sorry for annoying you– I mean, I’m just as annoyed as you!” The absurdity of the situation was starting to get to you. “Would anyone be happy in my situation? Please do tell me. I would love to know– because surely I’m not the first one.” He shakes his head at your sarcastic tone, not even bothering to think of a response. The lackey was stuck doing the underdog work of babysitting. 

You watch him pick up his phone and tap his fingers on the screen. “Listen, just be quiet for a few minutes.” He groans, fatigued just as much as you were.

“You said that an hour ago.” 

The cool-toned lighting wasn’t doing much to stave off your tiredness, you wondered if you should try your luck, fight the man, and book it. Every single second was testing your worn-thin limits, so you stand up and walk over to bob-cut and sit down in the chair across from him. He sighs and crosses his arms with no effort to stop you. The blue cushion on the office chair was dirtied, but it provided some comfort over the metal one. Your phone sits in front of him, turned off– silenced. 

“When can I go?” You ask again. 

“I don’t know that.” 

“Then I’m going to go now.” 

“You don’t even know where you are.” He’s blunt, with no firm emotion on his face. 

They didn’t blindfold you in the car, however, trying to remember an hour-long drive was impossible, but anywhere would be better than this crappy old rundown office building. You click your tongue, rubbing your neck, “Well, I’d rather be walking down the street than sit here for another hour.” You debate on the two outcomes; being killed, or getting sold off. The first made more sense because selling someone off in the 21st century had to be the dumbest idea. People in your everyday life would notice your absence, your friends would try to find you, and your family wouldn’t stop until they have found you. The GPS tag on your keys, which were currently in your bag, was another safeguard. Selling someone off without a trace could happen, but the people who were holding you right now were not anywhere near the power and wealth required to pull off such a feat. If it came down to kill or be killed, then that would just suck. 

Pushing that thought to the back of your mind, you would deal with it when it happens. 

“Can you play some music?” 

No response. 

“Hey, do you wanna see a funny dance?” 

Silence. 

“C’mon, at least tell me your name, because if I die I’ll be cursing you as ‘bob-cut guy’.” 

A hard stare. 

He runs his hands over his face, “Enough talk.” 

The entrance door hits the wall, “Obiki!” A burly man steps into the room. 

“Hashirao.” The bob-cut— Obiki, stands up to greet the new guy.  

“This is the girl?” Hashirao juts a thick finger out at you. 

“Hey~ sorry for taking so long.” A black-haired man strides in. “Got a little sidetracked.” He has tattoos covering every inch of skin you can see. “Alrighty, you guys can head out now.” The man laughs. 

Obiki glances over his shoulder at you before following Hashirao out. 

Now, you were alone with who you presumed to be the leader or someone with more information since those two listened to his word without any resistance. They also seemed too afraid to meet his gaze. The tatted man plops down in the chair next and swivels to face you, “You tired? It’s late.” He smiles and leans his arm on the table. “Aw, are you mad? What’s with that face, not feeling like chatting?” 

Maybe sticking with Obiki wasn’t so bad. 

“Can I leave now?” 

His eyes widen, a coral blue, “Hmm? Who knows.” Another shit-eating grin. 

“Are you going to kill me?” 

“Straight to the point~ but I don’t have any plans on killing you. It’s the truth.” 

So, he is the mastermind behind this. 

“Then why am I here?” 

He shifts and spreads his legs a bit to get comfortable, “Someone wants to see you and they’re paying a lot to make it happen.” His fingers rub together to portray cash. 

“Seriously?” 

“Seriously.” 

You stand up and snatch your phone off where Obiki put it. “Then, I’d like to leave.” The more he spoke, the more he infuriated you. Making a ruckus at your work to lure you out, forcing you to sit past midnight in a chair because someone wants to see you? It’s insanity and you already know who wants to see you. That dude you kept refusing to give your number to, who sits outside your work in a spit-cleaned car to try and pick you up. He had to be an idiot to resort to paying someone to deliver you to him. The tattooed man grabs your wrist, “Why so sudden, pretty thing?” 

You grimace, “That someone will be dumb enough to send you all the money with a little lying.” 

“Seems like you know the contractor.” He chuckles, not budging. His other hand comes up to rub at the infinity symbol on his neck. “So much oomph to you, huh?” His lips creep into a lop-sided grin. Then, he starts listing off your information, your name, birthday, age, height, address, and everything someone would find in a medical file. “That’s you right?” A cocky tone.

Leaning into him to the point where you can see his pores, “You’re not very smart, huh?” You whisper back with a lace of malice, at this distance, you can see his pupils contract and the swirls of his irises. You’d like to believe that he’s taken aback, but he immediately goes back to his aloof demeanor. Unfortunately, you miss the way his cheeks faintly reddened.   

“Is that supposed to scare me?” You scoff and pull away. 

“What makes you think that?” 

“Anyone can get that information on me.” A dull pain slowly builds at your wrist. 

Lowering your arm, you also bring him down as well, his hand is still wrapped around you. “Let go.” An amused expression is all he gives you. He tilts his head to the side, his black hair bunches out on his shoulder, and he lets out a hum. “You’re not going to do anything, so just let go.” You attempt to call his bluff. His eyes darken, and immediately he shoves you backwards into the wall, grabbing your other wrist to pin both over your head. Your phone thuds on the ground, slipping out of your grasp. You let out a squeak, your arms are raised high enough that your top lifts and exposes your navel. He presses his body against yours, you feel his abs through his thin tank top. His forehead is above yours, black hair tickling your eyes, and you smell mint. “There are other outcomes than being killed.” His breath invades yours. His face goes all creepy, giving you goosebumps. Your eyes shake as you force them open– to not shut them tightly closed. The pounding of your heart fills your ears. 

He releases you and takes a step back, “Alright, I’ll call this whole thing off.” Spinning around, he holds his arms apart. “I’m in a good mood.” 

Rubbing at your wrist, you suppress your trembling, and start deeply inhaling to stabilize your breathing. Little black spots appear in your vision, blinking them away, you watch him grab your bag. “I’ll take you home.” 

Your phone screen pops up color, it’s now half past two. The street was practically pitch dark, and you had a gripping voice in you to turn and make a run for it, to get as far away from this man as possible. In front, stood a motorcycle. Sleek, black, and definitely expensive. “I’m not getting on that.” You protest, you’d rather walk for miles than be pressed up against him again. “You got no other choice, sweet cheeks.” If you punch him hard enough in the nose, would he never smile again? The engine revs up, he situates himself on the bike, and then turns to you, gesturing with his head for you to get on. Giving in, you throw your leg over the seat, sitting a few inches away from him. “You’re gonna fall off if you sit like that.” 

“Shut up and go. You should already know where I live.” 

“That I do.” 

To your demise, you end up with your chest all up on his back, the air whips around you as he speeds down the highway. Shutting your eyes, you squeeze your arms tightly around him to the point where his ribs poke you. “You’re squeezing me to death here.” He loudly laughs. Annoyed, you dig your nails into his stomach and claw at him. “Easy now.” His hand squeezes yours. 

The two of you travel into a tunnel, fluorescent yellow stick lights make it bright enough to the point where your sight struggles to adjust. You sit back enough to move your head to see past his shoulder, the underpass seems to be endless. You’ve never ridden on a motorcycle through a tunnel before, the lights resemble an operating room. Unknowingly, your grip gets loose, and he clasps your hands tight into him, “Don’t let go.” 

It must be approaching four. Tired, you rest your head on his shoulder blade, listening to the sounds of the city and rumbling engine. When you come to it, he pulls into your street, stopping at your apartment. Wordlessly, you hop off and head towards the front door. 

“Hey,” he calls out to you on the motorcycle, “it’s Endo.” Endo raises his voice so you can hear, though he doesn’t know how conscious you are. “Endo Yamato! Don’t forget it!” You slowly blink at him and turn the lock. Stumbling inside, you slam the door shut behind you. 

“What do you mean I’m fired? I didn’t do anything– that mess wasn’t caused by me!” The first thing in the morning you did was return your boss’s calls. The unsavory news of being fired was not how you wanted it to go. You even went willingly went Obiki and the other men so they would stop causing a scene. 

“You sound alright so, yeah– you don’t need to return anything. Have a good day.” 

“Wait–” The call ends. 

You spent the rest of the day moping around on the couch. Squeaky clean and dressed in comfortable clothing, you run through the events that took place last night, the terrible kidnapping and Endo. You damn him to hell. You also damn that other douchebag to hell as well.

The doorbell dings and peeking out the peephole, you see Endo. What a bastard, you thought. Walking back to the couch planning to ignore him, he begins to bang on the door. “I know you’re in there, open up sweetheart!”

“How nice and cozy.” Endo swings his arm on the couch.

You give him a disgusted look. “Why are you here?”

“I missed you.” He giggles and claps his hands. 

“Get out.” 

“Aw, no way.” 

“Leave me alone.”

“Let’s watch a movie! Oh, you were halfway through this one, let’s watch it together. Sit down–” 

You snatch his collar, “I got fired because of you! Reimburse me!” 

His blue eyes widen and he purses his lip. “Okay, what’s your routing number?” 

“You happy now?” Endo grins, examining your face. You stare at the huge amount in your checking. Even if you worked every day for the next five years, you wouldn’t even come close to the number. 

“You’re not going to report me? Sue me or throw me in jail?” 

“Why would I do that?” He snickers at you flinching when he rubs the back of his finger along your cheek. 

Now, you’re watching the rest of some drama movie next to your kidnapper/whatever he was. The circumstance was baffling, but Endo had the happiest expression on his face. The credits roll, you don’t even remember what the movie was about. 

“What do you think about it?” 

You scrutinize him under your gaze. “How many people have you kidnapped? Do you do this every girl?” 

“That’s a secret.” He says with a hushed voice, blues twinkling.  

Endo left and you’re laying in your bed trying to process what his intentions are. You couldn’t get a read on him at all, everything he did made no sense. Why did he even bother to get his lackeys to fetch you? Why is he even doing work if he’s well off enough? Why does he continue to bother you? Your phone dings again. He’s a weirdo. After hours of racking your brain do you fall asleep. 

For the next month, he pops up out of nowhere and sticks himself to your side for hours. If you’re grocery shopping? He’ll spawn in next to you and ask if you’re getting scallions or leeks. You’re at the mall? He somehow finds you and tries to dress you up. At a bar? He’ll slide into the seat next to yours. Hiding in the library? He’ll find you. At a bus stop? He shows up on his bike. You debate sending all the money back, you haven’t touched it yet, and inform him to leave you alone. Even if you were with your friends, he’ll introduce himself and swiftly mingle in. It’s driving you mad. 

“Are you stalking me?” You cross your arms.

“What’s that?” Endo plays dumb. You groan. 

“Don’t you have anything better to do than annoy me?” 

“Nope.” He grins while eating his popsicle. 

Stopping in the doorway, “I’m going to go to sleep. Go home.” 

He hums, “What if I don’t wanna?” 

“Go away!” You shut the door shut in his face. 

The prick crashed your date. The man you were meeting became more interested in talking to Endo about his golfing hobby than even looking at you. You got all dolled up for the occasion and now your mood is in a dump. Cursing at him, you punch your pillow. What in the world is wrong with him? 

“Is this place alright?” 

The random guy from the bar scratches the back of his neck. You were standing outside of a love hotel, something you thought you’d grown out of, but here you are. “Yeah, it’s fine.” Smiling, you wrap yourself around his arm. Endo needs to stay out of your business. You haven’t seen him all day. To be honest, you thought he’d appear out of thin air the moment you stepped into a bar again. When you make it into the rented room, you won’t see him for the rest of the day. With his constant presence, no man ends up taking you home and they either get weirded out by him or end more interested in him. 

“I’ll pay for a room.” He goes to grab the door handle. 

“Pretty girl, what’re you doing here?” A pair of arms wrap around your shoulders and your blood pressure rises. 

The bar guy raises his brow, “Do– do you know him?” He points to the man behind you.

You cringe. 

“Well, I don’t know you. So…you either scram, or I break your nose.” Endo speaks with intent. 

He coughs at the look Endo gives him and scampers off while muttering something under his breath. 

“Hey.” You shake out his hold and shove at his chest. You’re about to right-hook Endo in the jaw, but instead you give him the meanest glare you can muster. “What’s your problem? Are you seriously stalking me? Are you obsessed with me or something? Stop–” 

Endo places his hand behind your head to push you into a kiss, easily sliding his tongue in since you gasped. His finger loops the belt hoop of your jeans and tugs your hips into him. To your horror, you moan and feel your knees buckle. Going celibate for over a month had worked you up enough. Stumbling back, you’re mortified, that one; you kissed Endo, and two; your panties feel damp. “What–” 

“You’re quite worked up? Don’t you agree?” His eyes are creased, overjoyed that you’ve fallen into the palm of his hand. 

The second you two were in that hotel room, he was all over you. Endo sucks on your bottom lip while his hand unbuttons your jeans. You tugged on his hair, pulling him in to deepen the kiss. He slides in hand into your pants, gripping at your ass before trailing his fingers right over your cunt. Endo smirks when he sees your debauched face, kiss-swollen lips, and hazy eyes. 

“This wet from kissing?” 

“Shut up.” You bark back, grabbing his shirt to continue making out. With enough movement from his hand, your jeans slip off your hips and pool on the floor around your ankles. He places a hand at the bottom of your ass, you get the memo and jump, wrapping your legs around his waist as he lifts you. Endo walks over to the bed and lays you down on it, mouths never breaking apart. He sprawls you over the sheets before leaning back, taking his tongue out your mouth to peel his top off. Fabric discarded somewhere on the floor, you’re finally able to see all the tattoos on his upper body. Black ink littered his skin. He bends down to kiss your stomach and pull your undies off, you bit your lip in anticipation. Your hormones override your thinking.

“Fu-Fuck–” You mewl when he slides another finger in as he sucks on your clit. If you weren’t so out of it, you’d be embarrassed by how loud the squelching was. But you couldn’t care less, not when you were receiving pleasure for the first time in months. Endo pins your hips down when you start trashing, nearing another orgasm. “Sh-fuck–I’m gonna–” Panting out. 

“C’mon, gimmie another angel.” 

Your legs quiver and your back arches off the bed as you gush on his face again. A high-pitched moan rips out of you as you squeeze your eyes shut. Endo beams at you, his eyes full of something you can’t describe. He lays a hand on your stomach and pushes up— pushing your top up and revealing your bra. In a swift tug, your shirt is on the floor and he clicks your bra open. He licks his lips at your bare form. A harsh pinch on your nipple has you whimpering, “Y-you asshole…” His hand comes down, a slap on your pussy makes you seize up. 

“That’s not my name.” 

“I don’t care–”

Another slap. Your pupils are blown wide open.

“Hmm?” 

“Bastard…” You mutter under your breath. 

Another slap. 

“I heard that. Try again.” 

Asshole. Prick. Piece of shit. You want to get up and leave. 

“E-Endo…” 

“That’s better, now, tell me what you want.” He rubs his hands along your folds. You’re starting to tear up. 

“Just– just do it.” 

“Do what?” 

Frustration fields your entire body, and you bite your tongue, swallowing up your pride and ego because if you don’t get dicked down today, you’ll lose it. “Fuck me.” 

“That wasn’t so hard was it, sweet cheeks?” Endo grins. “Say please.” 

“Please— please. Please fuck me, Endo….” Fat droplets roll down your face. 

He pulls both his pants and boxers down, you curl your toes already wanting him to be buried deep inside you. Without any notice, he flips you over, arm over your hips to have you on fours. You struggle to steady yourself, your breath getting stuck in your throat when you feel the tip of his cock sliding into your folds. Of course, he’s going to get as much satisfaction as he can. “Endo…I’m going to kill you.” You glare at him over your shoulder. He gives you an innocent look, “You remember my name? I wanna hear it.” That same shit-eating grin. 

You have no dignity left after squirting on his face, “Yamato– I swear, I’m going to kill y–” 

His cock slides in, stretching your walls out. Losing your balance, your face ends up on the mattress. Your jaw slacks open wide as he bullies his dick into your cunt, filling it up. Endo sighs when he bottoms out, “Damn– pussy feels s’good. You’re s’damn perfect…” 

The bed muffles your voice, “Yam–shit…mnh! Fuck– slow–slow down!” The grip he has on your hips helps him pull you back into him, matching his thrusts. You bite the sheets as they soak up your drool. His balls hit your clit and all you can hear is the sound of skin on skin. You can’t even hear what you’re saying. His cock was practically smashing your cervix in, making you choke on the air. Endo wraps a hand on your throat and yanks you up till your back is against his chest. You cry out. 

“Yeah? You– like that? Pretty girl can’t talk?” He mocks you. 

All you can do is cry on his cock as he fucks you into oblivion. You don’t even register him flipping you onto your back until your knees are by your head and his dick is hitting new places. Yamato Yamato Yamato. You’re only allowed to think about him and the pleasure in you. This was the best you’d ever had. An unknown pressure builds up in your tummy. You need it. You need it so bad. “Your gonna cum again? Fuck– your s’sloppy baby.” His voice is making your head spin even more. “Hmm? You agree?” 

It’s coming and you squeeze your eyes shut, pushing out tears. But then it abruptly ebbs away, “W-Why? Why? Please– I need it–! Please–” You see him laugh wildly, taking in the utmost delight you’re supplying him with. A feral gleam in his eyes. “Tell me who you belong me, okay? I’ll let you cum if you do.” 

“You–shit…you! Yamato!” You plead, vision unfocused and saliva coating your chin. 

“Pussy belongs to me, right? You’ll let me fuck it whenever I want, right?” 

“Yes–yes! Ple–ease!” Agreeing to everything he says, you don’t care at this moment. 

Finally, satisfied. Endo returns to his brutal pace, pounding into your gummy walls. Your eyes roll back into your head when you topple over. The orgasm rips throughout your body, crashing your nerves apart. Your nails dig deep into his shoulder as you breathlessly scream. He continues to fuck you through it, not giving you any rest. Overstimulated, you shake like a leaf, and the sheets below you feel wet. The pleasure sent you into another dimension. Endo now works towards his own peak. His brows furrow together in concentration, teeth grinding as he spills himself in you. Hot cum stuffing you full. You collect your bearings as Endo sucks on the skin of your breasts, leaving dark purple marks in his path. “Mmph…”

“What?”   

“Ngh…”

Ring Ring Ring.

The phone on the wall blares through your afterglow. Endo gets up and walks to pick it up. You can faintly make out what he’s saying. 

“Time……………........yeah…..can I add more time?..........thanks.”

He shortly returns to you, covering your body with his, shielding you from the cold. 

“Angel, you alright?” Endo pushes your sweaty hair out of your face, a smugness emits.

Clenching your jaw, you raise your arm to card your fingers through this hair and tug as hard as you can, kissing him again. Maybe he’s actually obsessed with you. Maybe you’d end up just as obsessed as him. You want to burn him inside out, get back at him. The drenched cotton under sticks to your skin as you inhale the floral scent from the air fresher on the table. The lights are slightly dimmed and all you can hear is Endo. Even he doesn’t know what this is, an indescribable lust that wrecks his mind and a fiery passion that should’ve never happened in the first place. 

[naturesapphic]

Hi! Would you be able to do a CEO!older!Natasha romanoff x Younger!fem!reader fic where reader is part of a startup advertising company while nat is the feared CEO of a well known advertising company and both met in a fancy wine bar only find out they’re business rivals in the advertising industry. Fluffy and some steamy smut please

Business rivals

CEO!older!natasha romanoff x young!fem!reader

Warnings: strict nat, fluff, smut

Word count: 1,002 :)

Walking into the bar, you were hit with the smell of alcohol and some type of fancy perfume. You walked up to the bar and sat down and ordered a strawberry martini. Feeling a presence behind you, you looked behind you to see a beautiful red head in a black suit and tie. “May I seat here?” She asks in a strict but kind voice. You gave her a smile and nodded your head. The red head smiled back and sat down next to you. “What are you having sweetheart?” The red head asked and you chuckled at the pet name she gave you. “A strawberry martini.” You replied and she shook her head. “Why don’t I buy you something stronger hm?” She suggested and you shook your head.

“No thank you. I need to stay as sober as I can. I have to go to work tomorrow.” You explained to her and she nodded in understanding. "I have work too but ! can just call out if I really need to." She smirked as she called over the bartender and ordered a bottle of vodka. Your eyes widen in surprise at her choice of alcohol and she just gave you a playful smirk and wink. The two of you talked for hours at the bar and learned so much about each other but what she was about to say now was something you weren’t expecting her to say. “I’m actually the CEO of stark advertising.” She confessed and you felt your whole face turn pale at her words. The redhead noticed how your whole demeanor change and she asked what was wrong.

“You work for stark advertising. You are Natalia Romanov, You are my rival!” You exclaimed with wide eyes and Natasha’s eyes widen themselves. “Shit…” she muttered under her breath while you sat there dumbfounded. “You are feared and an asshole..but getting to know you…the real you…I don’t see it…” you confessed to her and she looked into your eyes with a mix of mischievousness and softness in them. She got a little bit closer to you and carefully took one of your hands in hers, making you look up at her. “I really like you y/n. If you could just give me a chance…we can even go back to my place tonight if you want.” She suggested and you nodded, deciding to give her a chance.

~ at the house ~

You didn’t know how you were half naked on her bed with her on top of you but that’s what’s happening. Lips are connected and moving as you swiftly take off Natasha’s clothes. She was completely bare, her pale skin gleaming in the lamp light that was shining on the bedside table near the bed. Her short red hair that sits on her shoulders frames her face. You were in awe of her and she interrupted your admiration but leaning down and kissing your neck sloppily. You were a complete mess and she was barely doing anything to you. Natasha while kissing your neck and leaving hickies behind, was busy taking the rest of your clothes off, leaving you fully naked as well. Her bare body pressed up against your had you spiraling and not thinking straight.

Her gentle but yet firm touches and the smell of her hair, the softness of her body, the noises that come out of her mouth when you hit a certain spot, had both of you in a frenzy. Natasha was satisfied with your neck and started leaving kisses down to your breast. Your nipples harden by the coldness that filled the room and she took one of your pink buds between her lips, suckling softly. You bit your lip at the sensation and gently raised your hand to run your fingers through her red locks making her eyes snap up at you. She sucked on both of your nipples before kissing down to your stomach to your pelvis. She kisses all over your thighs until she got to your dripping cunt. Using her index and middle finger, she spread opened your lips, revealing your wetness and your throbbing hole.

Natasha smirked and licked her lips. “Is this all for me doll?” She said huskily that made your pussy clench. “Y-yes nat…all for you..” you whimper out, causing her to chuckle. She leaned down and attached her lips around your clit, sucking harshly. You let out a strangled breath and you shut your eyes tightly, feeling the pleasure all through your body, like a shock. She lapped at your pussy then went back to sucking on your clit, mixing the two together to get you to orgasm quickly. Which happened because not even a few minutes later you felt the tightness in your stomach and you let go. You came all in her mouth and Natasha greedily lapped it all up, not leaving a drop behind. You panted in the middle of the bed, recovering from the orgasm that nat just gave you.

“Fuck nat…” you breath out and Natasha let out a chuckle as she goes up and lays beside you, pulling your sweaty body to hers. “That was amazing.” You tell her as you roll over to face her, her arms still wrapped around your body. “I’m glad it was…” she said softly as she moves some of your sweaty strands of hair away from your face, causing your face to heat up. The two of you laid there admiring each other until y’all fell asleep in each others arms.

A/n: I haven’t been very good with endings but thank you @unlady-like-12-25-36 for the request! I hope you enjoyed it and that everyone else did too! Remember to stay hydrated and to rest! Take care of yourselves. I love y’all :) special thing coming up this week ;)

[ganitsoni]

Looking for the best White Label Digital Marketing Agency?

[inkbyajm]

of kindling sparks

masterlist: part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

tropes: fluff, slow-burn

warnings: 11 year age-gap (reader is 23, joel is 34)

word count: ~6000

author’s note: so this chapter as well as the next one basically serve as one long exposition before the main story (aka the prequel). i realise this is lengthy as hell but i needed to flesh out the relationship between joel and the reader for the upcoming chapters to hurt, you know?

(p.s. there's mention of joel carrying the reader. i know some people might be put off by this, but joel is quite buff. i mean the man works in construction, i promise he can handle carrying an adult for less than a minute)

————-　❈　————-

The air was getting chillier, the change of seasons not going unnoticed. (Y/N)'s focus was razor-sharp as she drove through the streets of Austin, making sure to take in the ever-changing leaves on the trees she passed by. As an exchange student, it wasn't cheap to be renting a car, and the money her parents were generously providing her could only last for so long. She desperately needed another source of income. Her prayers were answered the week prior when she stumbled upon an advertisement near the exit to her university. It was for a babysitting job with a decent pay and convenient working hours. She wrote an email to the address written on the poster:

Dear Mr. Miller, Is the babysitting job still available? I'm a student currently on an exchange program at the University of Texas. And while I haven't had prior experience in babysitting, I used to be an assistant teacher in a kindergarten. I'm very good with children and at keeping them alive (this is a joke, but I am pretty responsible, my mother can attest to this). If there is any need for it, I can also cook and clean up after each visit. Thank you for your consideration and I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely, (Y/N) (L/N)

To which, much to her surprise, she received an answer shortly after:

Dear Ms. (L/N), Yes, the babysitting job is still available. It's for my 12-year-old daughter Sarah. And while I appreciate all that you have to offer, there's nothing much to do but keep her alive, so your skill would be useful here. You can come by our house on 1411 Sullivan DR any day of the week after 5pm, we'll go over the details then. If you're still interested, you'll be able to start right away. See you soon!

Best regards, Joel Miller

After half-an-hour of driving, the house finally came into view. Just as she parked the car in the vacant driveway, and before she went to meet some stranger she hoped wouldn't turn out to be a creep, the girl gathered her wits and courage with a clasp of her hands, a deep breath, and a firm nod as if to say 'There's no going back now, and if I die, it is what it is'.

Her three knocks on the door were followed by a long pause which made her believe she had arrived either at the wrong time or the wrong house. But as she was about to turn around and flee in embarrassment, out came a middle-aged man with disheveled hair.

"Hello. Is this the Miller's house?"

"Yes, hi! I am so sorry I kept you waiting. (Y/N), right?" he said, wiping his hands on a rag.

"That's me."

"Great. I'd shake your hand, but mine are a bit dirty. Please, come in." he stepped out of the way to let her walk further into his home.

It was decently spacious and cozy, which temporarily put her at ease. They walked through the living room into the dimly lit kitchen. It smelled of spices and garlic.

He gestured around, "Welcome to our humble abode. Pardon the mess, I didn't exactly have time to tidy up," While it wasn't exactly messy, they could benefit from an extra set of hands. "You said you weren't from around here?"

"No, I'm quite a long way from home," (Y/N) said, taking a seat at the dining table. "I wanted to see other places, gain a bit of independence. Austin was one of the first to accept me, and since it seemed like a fine city to live in, I packed up my things and arrived at the beginning of summer."

"I'm Texas born and raised myself. Wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. How old are you exactly?"

"Twenty-three, sir."

He proceeded to rummage through the fridge that was almost full. "Alright. Would you like a beer, then? And please, call me Joel. You're making me feel old."

"Right, Joel. And sure, I'll have one if you do."

Joel handed her a cold bottle as he sat down across from her. She was familiar with the brand, they served it at the bar she worked at part-time on weekends. For the next hour-and-a-half, the two discussed (Y/N)'s life, her studies, Joel's job as a contractor, and Sarah. At some point, the attacks on 9/11 came up, unpacking the nation-wide terror they had brought. She recalled the panicked calls she received from her parents, begging her to come home. She had to explain that she was alright, that there was nothing to do about it now, and that she couldn't leave the city when she had already formed ties and taken on responsibilities.

Just as Joel was getting into another anecdote from Sarah's childhood, they heard keys jangling in the front door as it opened and shut.

"Speak of the devil. Done playing already?"

A soft voice rang through the house, "Yeah, I'm really tired." Then a pigtailed girl stopped abruptly at the entrance to the kitchen. She was wearing a soccer kit, carrying both a purple backpack as well as a blue duffel bag.

"Sarah, this is (Y/N). She's gonna be your nanny from now on."

The little girl hesitated at first, then gently approached the table and extended her small hand for her to shake. "Nice to meet you." she said with as much courage as she could muster, earning a smile in return.

Getting up from his seat, Joel kissed his daughter's head and told her food was ready, which prompted the child to run upstairs to her room. Feeling like it was her cue to leave, (Y/N) followed suit and slung her bag on her shoulder.

"Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm not much of a chef, but I have to admit I make a mean chili." said the man, pointing at the steaming pot on the stovetop.

The smell of a homemade meal was making her mouth water, but she hadn't known them for long enough to get comfortable. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I should really get going. I have some reading to finish before morning."

The two made their way back to the front door. "Alright, then. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, yeah?"

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Miller- Joel, sorry." she corrected herself, waving him goodbye as she swiftly got into her car and began the drive back to her apartment. She hadn't even begun the job, yet (Y/N) couldn't help but feel giddy about her small success.

————-　❈　————-

A couple of months had passed and (Y/N) was really enjoying her new gig. Sarah turned out to be the sweetest girl the young woman had ever had the pleasure of knowing. She wasn't fussy or troublesome, was very well-mannered, oh-so-friendly and kind, and a fan of using sarcasm here and there, which seemed to be something she picked up from her father. Joel, too, was accommodating to the new addition of their little family. (Y/N) could sense, however, that he was somewhat more reserved - closed, even. It was harder to get to know her employer, but she didn't mind, these things took time.

Leaning against her car, the young woman read her copy of 'Pride and Prejudice' for the 4th or 5th time. Something about it brought her great comfort, especially during the colder months. The festive season was quickly approaching and she wasn't sure if gifts would be appropriate so early-on in her employment. She had zoned out for so long, she didn't have time to register her name being called nor a pair of arms swiftly wrapping around her waist.

"Hey, kiddo." she laughed, hugging the curly-haired girl back.

She let go and stared up at her babysitter with her big round eyes. "Did daddy send you to pick me up?"

"No, I just finished classes and thought I'd swing by."

"What are you reading?"

(Y/N) turned the book to show the cover, "Pride and Prejudice. It's an old book."

"What's it about?"

"Uh- well, it's about a lot of things, but mainly it's the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy who have to overcome their differences to end up together. Hence the title."

"That sounds kind of interesting."

"Yeah, but it takes a lot of hatred and pettiness to get there."

The little girl shook her head in disapproval, "Adults. Why do they have to complicate things?"

"Alright, wise one. Get in before you get cold."

The car ride gave them more time to bond. They sang to Sarah's favourite songs and talked about whatever was on the little genius's mind. It was a unique experience for both of them, two feminine energies collided, something each of them longed for dearly.

At home, (Y/N) spent a significant amount of time helping Sarah with her homework: a bunch of English grammar exercises, essay writing, as well as some algebra. Following their arduous work, the girls decided they deserved some fun and made creamy pasta (one of Sarah's favourites) for dinner. Whilst waiting for the patriarch to come home, they got comfortable on the couch to watch 'Mrs. Doubtfire'.

Unsure if she should speak during the movie, Sarah poked her babysitter's arm. "Do you have siblings?"

"I don't, no. Why do you ask?"

"I don't have any either. Do you ever get lonely?"

(Y/N) wasn't sure where these questions were coming from, but she decided to entertain them anyway. "I used to, growing up. Though my parents did a very good job at making sure I felt loved at home. I miss them a lot, but I'm happy here too."

There was a long pause as Sarah was visibly deep in her thoughts. "I never knew my mom," It shouldn't have shocked the young woman, she assumed Joel and his wife had separated after noting the absence of a maternal presence in their home, but it still came as a surprise. "Daddy said she had her own reasons and that they both agreed for me to live with him."

"Adults always have their own reasons for things, even if it may seem dumb. I'm sure it was a very difficult decision to make for her and that she loves you very much."

"I don't think about her often anymore. My dad can be busy, but he does a good job. He comes to every game, takes me to fairs and carnivals, helps me with school projects. He's also extra cool on vacation."

Something about her remark pulled at (Y/N)'s heart. "I see. He seems like a really great dad." The girls went right back to watching Robin Williams dance around while doing chores, as if they hadn't just touched on a thought-provoking subject.

It was almost 11pm and Joel was nowhere to be seen. Instead of letting the girl pass out on the couch, (Y/N) let her hold onto her back as she carried the sleepy child all the way to her room. Making sure all was right, she put her to bed, closed the window, turned on the night-light, then made her way towards the door.

"You're really cool," Sarah said sleepily with her eyes closed. "I hope you stay for a long time."

No compliment in the world could compare to a kid's heartfelt approval. "I hope so too, sweetie. Good night and good dreams."

Walking back downstairs, the young woman took one look around the house and decided she could pass the time cleaning up here and there. She started by tidying up the living room: folding the throws, fluffing up the pillows, putting the board games back on the bookshelf. Then she moved onto the kitchen where she took the trash out, scrubbed the surfaces clean as silently as she could, put the leftover pasta away, and washed the dishes. Satisfied with her work, she went back up to Sarah's room to leave a glass of water by her bed in case she got thirsty in the middle of the night.

In a house that was dead silent, she heard heavy footsteps. In a short panic, she grabbed a pair of scissors that were lying on the desk and crept up closer to the door. The steps were agonisingly slow and calculated. The woman felt like she was in a slasher movie. Babysitters always die first. The only indication she had of the intruder's whereabouts was from the shadow that was created by the light from the kitchen. This is what you get for not turning on every single light in a house where you're all by yourself. One of the most important rules in horror movies, she thought. The shadow approached closer and closer to the door, and just when she hoped the distance was close enough, she leapt out of the room and went straight for the stranger. Unfortunately, her blow was blocked and her body pushed up against the wall. In a blink, she realised what had happened.

"What the hell, Joel?" she whisper-shouted.

"(Y/N)? What are you still doing here?"

"Doing my job. Couldn't let Sarah stay all by herself with no indication of when you'd be back. That would be irresponsible of me."

He let go of her arms, lazily rubbing his face. "You're right, I'm sorry. I got held up and my cellphone died. I'm so exhausted, I completely forgot you were here."

"It's all good, I didn't hear you arrive either," she paused, noticing the blood running down his left hand. "Oh my God, Joel, you're bleeding!"

He looked at the wound like he hadn't even felt it until then, "Oh, this is nothin'. I had worse accidents at work."

"Still, it could get infected. Please, take a seat in the kitchen, I'll be right back."

She went straight to the bathroom to fetch the first-aid kit. It was essential to know where it was, what it had and how to use everything as someone who had to watch a small human being. She went back downstairs to start working on Joel's injury.

"I'm so sorry. I was so caught up in my own mind, I thought you were an intruder, and it was the only weapon at hand-"

"Please don't apologise. It was my bad, really. I should have announced myself," he spoke as he watched her gently clean the cut with a saline cleansing wipe. "Can't blame you for doing your best to defend yourself. Takes courage."

(Y/N) realised that upon closer inspection, her employer was quite handsome. Dark messy hair, a somewhat upkept beard, broad build, crow's feet that indicated how often he smiled, as well as nose wrinkles that indicated how often he frowned. She carefully applied medical tape to close-off the wound and went to put the kit back where it belonged. On her way down, she noticed him looking around in slight confusion.

"Did you…clean the house?"

"Oh, you know, just lightly tidied up. I'm not a fan of leaving the places I stay at messy. Kind of a habit," she noted the silence and her hands instantly became cold. "God, I'm sorry. Again. I- I didn't even ask if you were okay with me touching your belongings, I got-"

"No, you're good. You're good. Don't sweat it. It's just that," Joel chuckled at her need to be so polite after months of working together. "You didn't have to do this. I can't ask you do to things that aren't part of your job description."

"I know. And I don't mind. Really. It's not like I'm playing Cinderella day and night," she said as they shared a laugh. "My job is to take care of a kid and the environment plays a big role."

(Y/N) picked up her bag, ready to leave for the night, "See you on Monday, Joel."

He reached out to touch her shoulder, then just as quickly removed his hand as if she had burned him. "Uh- do you- are you- um," She looked at him with furrowed brows, it's almost as if he was…flustered? "What are your plans for Christmas? Or, you know, holiday season? If you celebrate anything at all-"

"I won't be able to fly out to see my family this year, so I haven't made any other plans yet. Why do you ask?"

The man scratched his neck sheepishly, only then realising how long he had kept her standing on his porch when it wasn't exactly warm outside. "Would you like to celebrate with us? Sarah would be ecstatic to have you."

Warmth blossomed in her chest at the sudden invitation. So gifts are appropriate. Noted.

"I would love to celebrate the holidays with you guys. But only if you don't mind."

"I don't mind."

"Excellent, then I'll be here."

"Great."

"Good."

They stared at each other for way too long, the nanny realised, bearing the slightest of smiles. "Well, then. Good night, Mr. Miller."

He shook his head at her teasing tactic, "Drive safe, Ms. (L/N)."

There she was again, driving back to her apartment, giggling to herself like a maniac and for what? They invited her to celebrate a holiday. People did that all the time. Office workers, family members, casual friends, new and old lovers, it was truly nothing exceptional. But to her it felt different and she couldn't tell if it was because Sarah liked her enough to want her there or if it was because it came from him. Christmas was three weeks away. Three. Weeks. Away. Gifts. She needed gifts. What would she give them? What did they like? It came to her that she didn't know them that well, which meant she had some investigating to do in the little time she had left for shopping.

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When Christmas finally came, (Y/N) simply could not contain her excitement. She thought long and hard about the presents she would give the Millers, and while they may have appeared simple, she hoped that they would be appreciated. She personally wrapped them up in brown paper and decorated them with stamps, ribbons, and tags, firmly believing in the art of gift-wrapping. Austin had yet to see snow, she didn't think it would ever happen, yet the city was nevertheless bursting with festive spirit. Various lights decorated the trees and bushes in public parks. People hosted diverse markets in the streets where they sold artisanal goods and delicious foods. (Y/N) had gone ice-skating with the Millers a couple of weeks prior. Joel was as bad as she thought he would be; Sarah, however, was a natural. They enjoyed a lively Christmas parade that same day.

After parking in front of the house that was very tastefully decorated with her help, the young woman made her way towards the door, her homemade chocolate tarte in hand, and knocked, taking a second to register a male voice she did not recognise. The door swung open to reveal a man not much older than her, wearing a plaid shirt and dark blue jeans.

Looking her up and down, the stranger gave her a smirk, "And who might you be?"

"Hands off the babysitter, Tommy!" she heard Joel yell from deep inside the house.

"Ah, the famous babysitter!" he exclaimed, opening the door further. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

It smelled of oven-roasted turkey, of cigarette smoke, and of pine from the christmas tree. She found all of them moving about the kitchen: cutting vegetables, setting the table, washing the dishes. She felt like she'd arrived a tad too late.

"Can I help with anything?" she said, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room.

"Nah, everything's good to go," Joel replied as he scrubbed the remaining pots, "(Y/N), this is Tommy, my brother."

Said brother took her hand and placed a tender kiss on the back of it, "Very nice to meet you." Sarah couldn't hide her look of disgust if she tried.

"I didn't know Joel had a brother."

"You didn't tell her about me?" Tommy asked in exaggerated disbelief.

"Was I supposed to? Didn't know I was running a datin' agency."

"Thought that was part of the deal when we agreed to be each other's wingmen."

"Mm, don't recall us ever doing that."

"Well, we did. Spiritually. When we went to Buddy's Place? It was just around the time when Cat-" Tommy's monologue cut short with one sharp glare from Joel. (Y/N) could practically taste the tension emanating from him. Not a big fan of reminiscing the past, she noted.

"You know what, it's no problem. It's the perfect occasion to get to know each other, eh?" the younger brother flashed her a smile. They sure had impressive genes in this family.

Once the eldest Miller was done cleaning, all three adults cracked open a few cold ones to start off the evening. Tommy had the brilliant idea to teach Sarah a few card tricks, peaking their guest's interest.

"What are you teaching a 12-year-old cards for?" (Y/N) amusedly asked. Sarah seemed excited, she was one of those kids who loved to learn, it didn't matter what it was.

"First of all, every member of the Miller family knows how to play cards, we start young. And second, if not me, then who?" He made a good point. Tommy was, after all, the fun brother. "Wanna join in? I'm told I'm a great teacher."

She caught onto the subtle flirt and found herself wanting to return the energy. He was tall, he was dark, he was handsome. He smelled of cigarettes and beer with a hint of citrus notes. Not bad with kids but he wouldn't want any of his own anytime soon; very friendly, which for him also meant outgoing, ballsy, and prone to getting into trouble; charming to the point that he might seduce a few dozen women in one night; funny enough to make people like and maybe even trust him. She didn't mind flirting, but that was the extent of her intentions, and something told her Tommy Miller felt the same way.

They spent some time watching as Tommy performed the most outrageous tricks seen to man, to which his sole excuse was "I'm a bit rusty". He also tried to teach Sarah the art of cheating which, much to his disappointment and sorrow, his niece refused to take part in for moral reasons. (Y/N) noted the elder Miller's absence and excused herself from the oh-so-riveting demonstration of a disappearing card to go look for him. After searching the kitchen, his bedroom, as well as the garage, she stepped outside with a throw blanket and found him sitting on one of the patio chairs.

"What are you doing here? You'll get cold." he said, glancing at her from the side.

"I'm tougher than I look," she answered, nevermind the blanket tightly wrapped around her frame. "Came to keep you company."

"Who said I need any?" She sensed a hint of a playful tone.

"I don't know, you look awfully lonely sitting next to that empty chair." This earned her a light chuckle as she sat down. He didn't look very warm with one hand in his jacket pocket and his collar lifted up to his chin. She proceeded to awkwardly move her chair closer to his and slowly, as if dealing with a wild animal, reached out to wrap the throw around both of them, thankful that it was big enough for the job.

Sensing how still and tense he was, (Y/N) felt the need to talk to lighten the mood, "So, do you always sit outside all by yourself? In the dark? And in complete silence? Brooding-"

"I get the picture, and no," he took a sip from his bottle. "Sometimes I like to sit in my car."

He was capable of humour, which was a refreshing discovery after countless weeks of being formal. She understood wanting to define clear boundaries between employer and employee, but when she was essentially tasked to bond with his child and regularly invited to family activities, the lines naturally blurred, and her curiosity intensified.

"Who's Cat?"

Joel was silent for a second, then let out a reluctant sigh, "Cat was…a girl I knew way back when I was young."

"You're talking like you're in your 50s."

"I'm 34 to be precise, but fine, back when I was younger," he said grumpily. "We dated for a bit, then we didn't. That's how it went with most women I met."

"Oh, is this a Casanova situation?"

"No, more of a 'not ready to commit to a kid' situation," The silence that followed was loud, (Y/N) didn't want to make a sound, afraid he'd realise what he was doing and shut himself off. "I was 21 when Sarah was born. She's the joy of my life, I don't know what I'd do or where I'd be without her, truly. But...it was hard back then for a single dad with a newborn. Never went to college, had to take on side jobs to sustain both of us. My love life wasn't exactly a priority, and when the opportunity presented itself, they fled as soon as they heard the mention of a child."

The next question was risky, but she couldn't think of anything else, "So you haven't dated since your younger days? Not even the hot single moms in your area?"

This made Joel laugh heartily, a sound she loved to listen to, something she wanted to hear more often. "Not really. I mean I've flirted here and there, but Sarah and I are good the way we are now. She's my priority, and I want to make sure my partner's good to my kid too, you know?"

"If you don't mind my asking, what happened to Sarah's mom?" (Y/N) probed further, "Sarah told me-"

"Nothing happened. She left and that was that." The wall was back up. You pushed your luck.

Luckily for them, Sarah called for everyone to play cards. Which was then followed by board games. What they discovered that evening is that (Y/N) was either incredibly skilled at them or simply unbelievably lucky. She and Tommy got on well, making innocent physical contact here and there, high-fiving each other, sharing a lot of laughter, too much laughter for the man that sat across from them. Joel wasn't jealous, he was never jealous, but the sight didn't make him feel happy either.

After a while, the oven beeped, indicating that the turkey was ready. The four of them prepared the table with bowls of salads, bread slices, side-dishes, making space in the centre for the bird accompanied by roasted vegetables. (Y/N) joined in their prayer before they dug into their food. They shared all sorts of life stories: Tommy's time in the army, the most frustrating clients Joel had ever had, more embarrassing anecdotes from Sarah's childhood, funny and dramatic events that occurred while (Y/N) was on vacation. The young woman then brought out the tarte she'd made for the occasion, much to everyone's delight. It was as silky as she hoped it would be, tasting notes of coffee in her chocolate dessert covered in walnut crumbs. The ambience was relaxing, they sat under the dim light of the scented candles dispersed throughout the kitchen, bathing in the sounds of laughter and utensils scraping against the food on their plates.

When all was devoured, they moved the party back to the living room and Tommy decided it was time for presents. Sarah received hers first, which turned out to be a collection of CDs of her favourite musicians from Tommy and a skateboard she'd wanted for a long time from her dad. She hugged each of them very tightly, already excited to put both of her new belongings to use. Then it was Joel's turn to unwrap a brand new wallet gifted by his brother (apparently, he had complained about his old one he owned for more than a decade) and a second-hand guitar from Sarah that she acquired from a friend's cousin then paid for a cleaning by a professional with her own pocket-money (with a little help from uncle Tommy). Tommy received a steel lighter from Joel, who claimed the custom engraving – a hand-drawn cowboy hat on the front and T. Miller on the bottom – was Sarah’s touch. Just when everyone thought they were done, (Y/N) cleared her throat, calling for their attention, whilst dragging her bag closer to where she sat on the floor.

“I brought gifts of my own.” She declared and pulled out a box and gave it to Tommy, whom she'd met only hours ago. “I’m sorry, I took this just in case someone else would be here, but I wish I had gotten to know you sooner to customise the present to your taste- “

“Oh my sweet God,” he muttered, staring at the large crystal bottle of whiskey. “This is one of the fanciest kind around, it ain’t fuckin’ cheap either!”

“You’re lucky Tommy here is a whiskey connoisseur.” Joel said from his laid-back position on the couch.

The younger brother engulfed her in a warm hug soon after, “You got my taste just right, sweetheart, thank you.”

The room was silent as she extended a purple envelope to Sarah, who sat across from her. It didn’t seem all too exciting. The kid in question opened the envelope, eyeing her babysitter, who herself seemed a bit nervous. The silence in the room was suddenly broken as the 12-year-old squealed her hardest squeal, forcing both Millers to cover their ears.

“It’s two VIP tickets to the Halican Drops concert in Houston next year!” she exclaimed, launching herself at the now grinning woman. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“How’d you get those? I thought they were sold out.” her father asked, clearly having gone through the struggle of standing in long queues to make his daughter happy.

It was difficult to breathe with a prepubescent child sitting in your lap as she held you in a death-grip. “I have an old friend who happens to work at the venue.” she replied, accepting the kiss on the cheek from Sarah who sat back on the ground, practically buzzing as she stared at the pieces of paper in her hands.

Lastly, (Y/N) got up to stand in front of Joel as he looked up at the object she extended in complete surprise.

“You really didn’t have to- “

“Just open it.”

So he did. What he found inside was a Prussian blue knit scarf.

“I noticed you never wear one, and it’s pretty chilly out, so I figured I’d knit you one myself. Finished it just in time a couple of days ago. The color looks flattering on you.” she explained, blushing deeper and deeper with every word. She failed to notice that he, too, was heating up.

“Well, I’ll be damned. This woman can bake, she can knit, she’s smart, and she plays cards like a pro. I mean what can’t you do?” And while she knew Tommy was teasing, she couldn’t help but redden even more.

“I’m pretty proud of my mixing skills,” she added, making him pause with a face that read ‘no way’. “I’m a bartender on the weekends.”

She had barely finished her sentence when she yelped as Tommy scooped her up and over his shoulder. “That’s it! I’m taking this one with me. It was nice to see ya, big brother!”

(Y/N) squealed and wiggled around as much as she could to try to get him to let her down whilst Sarah did her best to save her friend by clinging to one of her uncle’s legs in protest. It was one chaotic scene unfolding in front of Joel, who had not moved from his seat, still staring at the scarf in his hands as he ran his thumb over the soft wool.

After all that excitement, the household members spent a few more hours watching ‘Home Alone 2’ and ‘Jingle All the Way’, DVDs Joel had bought earlier that week. During the viewing, he caught himself glancing at the woman curled up against the arm rest less than a few feet away from him. She remained completely oblivious, amused by the tomfoolery happening on-screen. He left the room for a moment to dispose of his empty bottle in the kitchen. On the short way there, he realised he was slightly tipsy. While he was rummaging through the drawers, he heard someone come up behind him.

“Looking for this?” he turned around to see (Y/N) holding up the bottle-opener. She walked up to the counter and opened the bottle in his hand, brushing her cold fingers against his warm ones in the process.

“You’re cold.” he commented bluntly.

“Yeah, my extremities get cold easily. That’s why I walk around in gloves and thick socks as soon as the temperature starts dropping.”

She threw away her own empty bottle and swiftly turned around to walk back into the living room, when she felt his hand wrap around her wrist ever so gently.

“I didn’t get to thank you back there. You know, for the present?” he spoke softly, giving her a rare smile. “It was real nice of you.”

She noticed the way his pupils were slightly wider than usual and his stance that seemed to swing back-and-forth ever so subtly. “Joel, are you…are you drunk?”

“It takes a lot more than a few bottles of IPA to get me there. I’m just fine.” he whispered, for what reason she wasn’t sure, then unexpectedly walked up the stairs to his bedroom. He didn’t leave her to contemplate her next actions for too long because he emerged not even a minute later, holding his right hand behind his back.

They found themselves standing closer than they should have, but neither of them seemed to care as Joel revealed the mystery object.

“Merry Christmas, (Y/N).”

It was the most beautiful edition of ‘Jane Eyre’ she had ever laid her eyes on. Red leather hardback with golden accents all over it, including the fore-edges, it looked like something out of a royal library.

“How did you know?” her question was vague, but she knew he knew what she meant.

“Sarah told me about the books that you like, said you haven’t read this one in a long time.”

Her warm embrace came to him as a surprise, but in the state of mind he was in, not only did he accept it, but it felt good, it felt right to hug her back.

“It happens to be one of my favourites, so thank you. Really. For all of the things you’ve done for me so far.”

The two held onto each other for longer than needed until Tommy’s call brought them back to reality. The other Miller eyed the returning pair suspiciously as they took their respective places on the couch and went back to watching the movie in comfortable silence. Only he noticed the red book in her possession and fought hard to stop himself from smiling.

Later that night, after all the dishes had been washed, the leftovers put away, and the only child put to bed, Tommy reluctantly sat in the back of the cab Joel had called for him. I am not fetching my brother from a jail cell on Christmas Day, he'd told him. When he walked back into his home, he saw a sleeping figure on the couch, covered by one of the throws.

He went into his bedroom and took no more than 10 minutes to replace all of his linen with fresh ones from the closet in the hallway. He wasn’t going to let his guest sleep on a couch, especially not under a row of windows or next to the entrance door. Carefully picking her up, and she was one deep sleeper, he made his way back to his bed to lay her down on the new sheets.

My extremities get cold easily.

He changed his usual blanket for a thicker one then grabbed a pillow and went to make his bed downstairs. He picked up the scarf lying on the coffee table once more and unfolded it entirely, only then noticing the tiny initials embroidered in grey into one of the ends – J.M. Upon an even closer inspection, he realised it smelled of vanilla and flowers.

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masterlist: part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6

tags: @elliaze @joeldjarin