Chapter One_The Interview

 Serena was late.

Unfortunately for her , the universe did not seem to care.

“Please hold on!” she cried out breathlessly as the elevator doors began to close.

A man inside pressed the button without looking at her once.

“Thanks,” Serena murmured, stepping in quickly while trying to catch her breath.

Rainwater clung to the sleeves of her coat. Her curls were slightly wet, and the cheap heels she had borrowed from Pamela were already beginning to hurt her feet so much. 

Exactly how someone should look while going to an interview at a big place. The elevator was quiet except for the soft hum of movement and droplets from her hair. Serena fixed her attention on the glowing numbers above the door and tried not to think about the message her landlord had sent her that morning.

"PAY BEFORE FRIDAY OR LEAVE".

It was really bad. She needed this job.Not because she dreamed of working in some luxurious place. Not because rich people fascinated her. But because Mira needed school supplies. Because food prices had gone up again and it's hard. Because pretending everything was okay was getting harder every single day.

“You nervous?”

The deep voice beside her pulled her from her thoughts. Serena turned slightly.

The man standing near her was tall, dressed in a black coat, his hands tucked into his pockets casually. He looked relaxed .

“A little,” she admitted.

“ your first nanny job?”

She laughed softly. “Does it show?”

“A bit.”

His lips twitched slightly, almost smiling.

Serena felt herself relax a little .

“I’ve worked with children before,” she explained. “Just not in places that look like they belong in magazines.”

The man glanced at her again,his eyes were intriguing. He looked stressed out a bit.

“Maybe they care more about how you treat the child than how expensive your shoes are.”

Serena looked down automatically at the heel that was threatening to break.

Sooo Embarrassing. 

When she looked back up, the elevator had stopped. The doors opened directly into an enormous lobby.

Serena’s mouth almost dropped.

The floors practically shined. The walls were decorated with modern artwork she was too poor to understand. Everything looked and smelled clean,expensive, and it was all looking good.

She stepped out slowly.

Then paused.

The man beside her walked past the reception desk without stopping.

One of the workers immediately straightened.

“Good morning, Mr. Vale.”

Serena froze .

Mr. Vale?

The man she had been casually talking to turned slightly toward her. And suddenly it dawned on her that he was the boss, Kael Vale.

Oh my God.

Heat rushed into Serena’s face so quickly she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

“I—”

But Kael simply looked amused now.

Very slightly.

“Third floor,” he said calmly. “Mrs. Rowan will meet you there.”

Then he walked away.

Serena stood there blinking like an idiot while the receptionist tried very hard not to smile.

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

---

Five minutes later, Serena stood outside a pair of large office doors trying to recover from humiliation.

Mrs. Rowan gave her a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry. Mr. Vale intimidates everyone.”

That somehow made Serena feel worse.

Mrs. Rowan knocked softly before opening the door.

“Sir, Miss Hart is here.” Kael was standing near the window now, phone in hand.

The city stretched behind him through the glass walls, covered in rain and gray skies. He turned at the sound of their footsteps. And somehow he looked even more intimidating in his own office.

“Sit,” he said.

Serena sat carefully across from his desk.

Kael remained standing for a moment before finally taking the chair opposite her. He studied her quietly which made her feel tense.

“You’ve worked as a nanny before?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Three years.”

“You left your last job?”

“They moved to California.”

“And your references?”

“I brought them.” Serena quickly handed over the folder in her bag.

Kael opened it briefly before setting it down again.

“You live with your sister.”

Serena blinked. “That was in my application?”

“I read thoroughly before hiring people.”

Right.

Of course he did.

“She’s sixteen,” Serena explained softly. “I take care of her.”

Something unreadable crossed his face before disappearing again.

“Why here?

Because her landlord was about to throw them out. Because life was expensive. Because she had exactly forty-three dollars left in her account. Instead she answered politely.

“I’m good with children.”

Kael leaned back slightly.

“My daughter doesn’t speak much to strangers.”

Serena frowned a little. “How old is she?”

“Six.”

“That’s still very young.”

“She wasn’t like this before.”

After saying that something shifted in the room; Serena noticed the way his jaw tightened slightly. She could sense pain hidden carefully beneath control. Before she could respond, the office door opened suddenly. A little girl peeked inside with the same eyes and dark curls as the man sitting in front of her. She just stood there while holding the door. 

Kael’s expression softened instantly. Just a little.

“Lia.”

The child ignored him completely.

Her gaze stayed on Serena instead.

Serena smiled gently. “Hi.”

Lia stared at her for a few seconds before stepping inside slowly.

Mrs. Rowan looked surprised from beside the door. Apparently this was unusual. Lia held a stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest as she walked closer. Then she stopped directly beside Serena’s chair.

Serena looked at the toy. “What’s her name?”

Lia answered so quietly Serena almost missed it.

“Moon.”

“That’s cute.”

“She doesn’t like people.”

Serena smiled faintly. “Neither do I sometimes.”

That finally made Lia look at her properly.

Then—unexpectedly— the little girl giggled a little.

Mrs. Rowan covered her mouth immediately. Kael was shocked. The entire room changed in that moment. Serena looked up slowly. Kael was staring at his daughter like he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

Then his eyes lifted to Serena.And the look in them almost made her stop breathing. He had this warm but heavy look. Like she had just touched a part of him nobody had been able to reach in a very long time.

Lia quietly placed the stuffed rabbit in Serena’s lap. A gesture of trust.

Serena’s heart melted instantly.

“She likes you,” Mrs. Rowan whispered emotionally.

Kael stood slowly from his chair.

“You can start tomorrow.”

Serena blinked. “Tomorrow?”

“If you want the job.”

Did she want it? Hell she did

Looking at Lia now curled against her side quietly.

“Yes,” Serena answered softly.

Kael nodded once.

The interview was over. But strangely...

the tension in the room only seemed to grow stronger. Serena stood carefully, handing the rabbit back to Lia.

“Bye, Moon,” she whispered.

Lia smiled again.

And it didn't go unnoticed to kael.

He noticed every single thing.

As Serena reached the office door, his voice stopped her.

“Miss Hart.”

She turned.

Kael was already watching her. That same unreadable expression on his face again. Only this time it felt more personal somehow.

“My daughter hasn’t laughed around anyone since her mother died.”

The honesty in his voice caught her off guard.

For one second, she saw a man happy to see his darling daughter smile again after so long . Something painful

pulled inside her chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said gently.

Kael held her gaze for a long moment.

Then quietly—

“So am I.”