Chapter 2

ISABEL

I felt heavy exhaustion after traveling such a long distance just to reach the mansion where I was applying for work. I looked again at the card given to me by a man I had unexpectedly met while searching for a job. He offered me to apply at this exact address.

I guess this must be the mansion?

I quickly rang the bell outside the gate and waited for a moment. Soon, a man wearing a black polo shirt and trousers walked toward me.

“Who are you?”

“Hello, sir. I am Isabel Ramirez. I am here to apply as a nanny. Does Mr.—”

“Come in. Enter,” the man replied right away as he opened the gate fully, tho I wasn’t even finished asking my question yet.

He walked ahead while I followed closely behind. We crossed the wide grounds, which had an elegant fountain right in the middle, until we reached the pool area.

Wow!

This place is beautiful!

“Have a seat here,” he said once we arrived. It really does look like a palace!

“Thank you,” I answered, then sat down on the soft, comfortable chair. While waiting, I kept checking the card in my hand to make sure I had come to the right place.

It was so unexpected..... after searching for so long, a job finally came looking for me!

After a few moments, I frowned when I heard a child’s voice shouting from inside.

“I hate you! Go away! I don’t like you! Leave me alone!”

Wait..... is that the voice of the child I am supposed to take care of?

Curious, I stood up and slowly peeked inside the mansion. I moved carefully so no one would catch me watching.

In one corner, I saw a little girl standing with her hands on her hips, speaking rudely to an older woman in her fifties.

“Kai, you cannot refuse to eat or study. Your father will scold me if he sees you—”

“Go away! I hate you! I don’t need you here! And don’t you dare touch me! Your hands are dirty!”

I noticed the nanny looked like she had run out of ways to calm the child down.

“I will tell your father about this,” she simply said before walking away, leaving the stubborn little girl alone in the huge living room.

Suddenly, I felt nervous. I had no experience taking care of children, so I wasn’t sure if I could really do this job properly.

But how could I say no? The salary they offered was five figures a month, so I accepted immediately.

“U-Uhh..... hi?” I spoke up, and the rude little girl turned to look at me right away. Maybe it was a mistake to say something?

“Who are you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow, then walked closer with her hands still on her hips. “Are you applying to be my nanny? Well, I don’t want you!”

I swallowed hard at how rude she was being.

“If you are the one I have to look after, I don’t want this either! But what can I do? The pay is really good. So you have no choice but to accept me as your new nanny,” I replied, matching her attitude. She looked shocked, as if she didn’t expect me to answer back.

“I will tell my Daddy not to hire you!” she shouted, then turned and ran deeper into the house. “Daddy! Daddy!.....”

I just smirked at her, but then I saw the older woman return, followed by a man in his forties.

Handsome.....

Strong and well-built...

And so charming.....

Is he going to be my boss?

“Daddy, I don’t like this new nanny! Please don’t hire her!”

Hearing the child complain made me panic, worried that I might lose this great opportunity. I quickly stepped forward to explain myself.

“Good morning, sir. Sorry for entering without waiting, but I just want to explain that I only spoke back to your daughter because she was being very rude. She needs to learn good manners, doesn’t she? I hope you won’t change your mind. I really, really need this job,” I said all in one breath. But he didn’t reply. Instead, he just stared blankly at my face.

I felt embarrassed. Did I have dirt on my face? Was it wrong of me to explain myself? Was I going to lose this chance?

“You’re hired.”

His words stopped all my worrying thoughts.

“P-Pardon?”

“What?”

“Sir?”

The little girl and the former nanny asked at the same time, both surprised.

“But we haven’t even had an interview yet—”

“I said, you’re hired,” my boss repeated, his voice serious and cold. I didn’t know whether to feel happy or confused first.

But I was so grateful. Finally, I had a job!

“T-Thank you very much, sir!” I answered with a wide smile.

“No! I don’t like her! No, Daddy!” the little girl protested, then ran quickly upstairs. Meanwhile, I hesitated to follow her because my boss was still staring straight at me.

“U-Uhh..... w-what should I do next, sir?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

“E-Emily....”

I frowned in confusion as I looked at him. He pulled a wallet-sized photograph from his pocket, glanced at it briefly, then back at me.

“My name is Isabel. Isabel Ramirez,” I introduced myself. My name wasn’t Emily. Who was this Emily anyway?

Ah, maybe that was the child’s name?

I had no idea if he was going to say anything else, because he kept switching his gaze between my face and the picture he held.

“Sir?” I called out again. That was when he finally snapped back to reality.

“Show her everything and take her around the whole mansion,” he instructed the older woman.

“Right away. Come along, Isabel,” the woman invited me, and we left my boss standing there.

After walking a few steps, I heard him whisper softly from behind.

“Is that you, Emily.... my love?”