CHAPTER ONE

Chapter One

The one thing I hadn't been expecting that morning was to get fired.

I sat stiffly in front of Mr. Kareem's desk, clenched fists in my lap as he tediously pushed through a stack of papers at the speed of a snail. The principal's office reeked of stale coffee and cheap air freshener, but nothing could disguise the thick tension hanging in the air.

And then, at last, he looked up, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Miss Rami, we appreciate the dedication that you've made to these children, but..."

I recognized what was coming.

"We can no longer maintain you as an employee."

The words were like a slap, but I held myself together.

Why?" I talked slowly, but inside me, I was crumbling. "I've done everything this school has ever asked of me. I've taken on extra shifts, worked weekends, even tutored children after school for nothing."

Mr. Kareem massaged his temples as if it was all so exhausting. "The school is having budget cuts. We have to ensure we retain the permanent staff first."

My gut twisted. "But I've been here three years.".

"As a contract teacher." His voice was firm, though his eyes were sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Miss Rami. We can't renew your contract."

Just like that, it was over.

I walked out of his office in a daze, holding the envelope with my final paycheck in it.

The corridor spun around me, everything grew hazy; the children's laughter, the scent of chalk and ink, all that had been in my world. It was all taken away from me.

……….

The house was much too still when I arrived.

I'd stopped to pick up my daughter, Lee, at school on my way home, and she sat on the floor with a pile of brightly colored blocks beside her, humming quietly.

I dropped my bag onto the couch and shook out my hair. The fatigue of the day hung over me, more heavy-handed than ever.

Lee looked up at me with big brown eyes, her curls bouncing when she tilted her head. "Mama, why are you sad?"

I attempted to smile. "I'm just sleepy, honey."

I sat beside her, watching as she methodically towered her blocks into a wobbly building.

"Mama, my teacher says when something falls down, you just rebuild it."

A lump had started to form in my throat. "Your teacher is very smart."

Lee smiled. "You can rebuild too, Mama."

From a baby!

Pulling her in, I kissed the top of her head and wrapped her in a brief hug. I had things to wrap my mind around here. I needed to pay my bills, pick up groceries, and care for a little girl with very little money.

Sitting my days away and pouting wasn't an option on my budget.

I picked up my phone and started scrolling through want ads. 

Teacher wanted… No. Too far out.

Administrative assistant… Requires five years' experience.

Customer service… Pays pennies.

Frustration was mounting when I saw a message from my friend, Aleeyah. She was a permanent staff member in school so she wasn't dropped.

"Hey, I just heard about a vacancy. A CEO is looking for someone to take care of his child. Pays well. Want me to send the details?"

I paused. A CEO?

Before I had time to overthink it, I typed again: "Send it."

……….

The next morning, I stood in front of a massive iron gate, my fists tight on the straps of my purse.

The estate behind the gate took my breath away, immaculate white walls, a sprawling garden, and windows so large they reflected the endless blue sky.

I had expected wealth. But this? This was something else entirely.

Taking a calming breath, I pressed the intercom button.

A crisp voice answered. "Yes?"

"Maya Rami. I'm here for the caretaker interview."

There was a moment's pause before the gates swung open.

I walked through, tension winding tighter with each step.

A man waited in the doorway, observing me as I walked towards him. Tall, his suit immaculate, his chiseled features expressionless. Adam Saif.

I'd seen his name in business journals before. One of the country's youngest billionaires, a tech whiz, and notoriously reclusive.

He didn't extend a hand when I reached his side.

"You're here about the job." His voice was distant, emotionless.

I nodded. "Yes."

His gaze swept over me briefly, then he turned and walked inside. "Follow me."

No hello. No chit chat. I hesitated, then trailed after him.

The living room was sleek, modern, and completely lifeless.

Adam gestured for me to sit down. "Do you have any experience with kids?"

I straightened up. "I was a teacher for three years. And I do have a daughter."

His eyes flickered briefly at that but remained expressionless. "How old?"

"Six."

He leaned back. "The child you'd be sitting for is five."

I hesitated before asking, "Does he have any medical conditions that I should be aware of?"

Something shifted in his face, but it was over too quickly for me to interpret. "No."

A LIE! I could sense it.

"What's his name?" I asked softly.

Adam's sigh was heavy. "Sami."

I waited, but he offered nothing further.

I took a breath. "Why do you need a caretaker? Surely a man as wealthy as you can afford the best private tutors, nannies…"

"I have tried all that." His tone was clipped, frustration seeping through. "It did not work."

I stared at him for a moment. "And what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Fix it."

The bluntness of his words left me breathless.

I had not had time to respond before Adam stood. "You have one week. If I don't see improvement, you're fired."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "That's it? That's the job offer?"

"Take it or leave it, Miss Rami."

I would have left but I remembered Lee, rent pending, the stress crushing my chest.

And then I remembered the little boy behind the closed doors of this mansion, the one every other professional had given up on.

I straightened my shoulders. "I'll do it."

Adam nodded. "You start tomorrow."

I took a breath. "One more thing."

He raised an eyebrow. I glared at him head-on.

"I need to meet Sami before I fully commit to this."

For the first time, his mask slipped a little.

Something dark flickered in his eyes, something I couldn't quite name.

And then he said, "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

My stomach tightened as I followed him out into the hallway.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

But somehow I had a feeling this was going to be nearly impossible.