Temporary Nanny

“If you can’t live the life you dream of, create it.”

***

~ Alyssa ~

I walked back the few miles from the convenience store to my hostel, still unable to believe what had just transpired. 

 I had never considered myself a shy person, but I wasn’t confident either. But to be able to stand in front of that arrogant man and tender a request was way out of my comfort zone.

   I got home and walked straight to the kitchen, where I gathered my ingredients and prepared a quick vegetable sandwich and a glass of lemon tea. 

It was only when I began eating that I truly realized how empty the room felt without Cassandra. 

She was rarely home, but as a member of this hostel, her presence had always been deeply felt.

I could still hear the sound of her sonorous laughter in my head; her love for Justin Bieber was so obvious, given that the walls still had posters of him. Her caring nature had been the very first thing that drew me to her. And now, I wonder if it all was a pretext. A ploy to lure me in.

  I grabbed my phone and logged into my social account, and the first post on my feed was…

   I shut my eyes as an intense pain shot through me. I have always known heartbreak sucks. But I never realized that the pain could be this intense until now. It feels like my heart was being sliced by a thousand fiery knives.

It was a graduation picture of Cassandra and my boyfriend, no, my ex-boyfriend Mark. 

They looked very intimate and so in love in the picture. How could I have missed that? Mark had never stared at me with such eyes full of love and adoration. 

Though I hadn’t taken note of that, as I read more into his actions than other things. And that’s what’s important, right? Well… I was wrong.

If the picture had made my heart ache, the caption did worse. 

Together forever, CassMark. 

That was supposed to be me, me and Mark… Us.

I had been planning my graduation ceremony in my head for weeks, though I hadn’t said much about it. 

I had imagined Mark coming to the ceremony with a bouquet of red and white tulips, my favorite and a greeting card, which said, “Happy Graduation, Babe.”

  I had also imagined him staring at me with so much love and pride, I had imagined him wrapping his arms around me and sealing my lips with a passionate kiss in front of everyone.

I had also imagined us taking a thousand and one pictures together. 

I had kind of also expected him to show up with a ring and propose to me right there and then. Making it a perfect love story, one we’ll tell our kids and grandkids.

But well, none of that happened.

Rather, I was made to realize that I had been wasting my life loving a man who was only interested in using me. 

I wiped my tears, as I tapped the block button and blocked both Mark and Cassandra. 

Yes, they’d hurt me in a way that I still found difficult to believe. But I had a choice to protect myself from being reminded constantly of just how much they did. 

  I had just finished my dinner and was about to head to bed… when I remembered the card I was given, so I walked to my wardrobe and pulled it out from the jeans I had worn earlier. 

Austin Hook’s law firm.

The business card read. 

At first, I was wondering what I would do…. Until I saw the receptionist's number on the back of it, and put a call through. 

It was late, but I knew that some receptionists did night shifts, and I was right. As a lady picked up on the second ring…

“ Hello, Good evening. This is Kayla Marie, from Austin Hook’s law firm. ” She sounded so calm and professional in a way that made me smile. 

“Hello, Kayla. This is Alyssa Stewart….” The conversation went smoother than I thought it would. 

Maybe Cassandra and Mark had taught me to now expect the worst from people, but I was indeed surprised when she didn’t doubt my words but instead told me she’ll get back to me. 

And she did, an hour later. 

“You can come in tomorrow at 10 am for your appointment with Mr Hook.” 

“Okay, thank you,” I replied, only if she knew just how important this was for me. 

 Being a full-time nanny had never been part of my plan, but I needed a way out of this mess, if I truly wanted to achieve my dream of becoming an architect and making a name for myself in the industry.

That dream, once so close to my heart, now feels almost impossible.

But impossibility has no place in my diary.

….

“8 am,” my wall clock read, as I dressed carefully in front of the mirror.

  Austin Hook’s law firm is one of the biggest and prominent ones in New York, with over fifty employees. 

Though sometimes I wonder why a law firm requires so many staff. 

But rumors have it that Austin Hook took more cases than most attorneys do. Part of which was because he never lost a case. 

That’s why most preferred him as their defending attorney, despite how hard it was to book an appointment with him. 

Still, I found it difficult to believe that I had met and had a conversation with the infamous Austin Hook, despite how harsh his words were. And if all goes well, I would be his daughter’s Nanny… even though it was temporary.

It was an honor! One that I would always think of. 

Who wouldn’t stare at me twice if I told them I was once Keren Hook’s Nanny?

After dressing up in a dress shirt and suit pants. I applied a bit of foundation to my face and began my quick makeup routine. 

   I chose to go for a lip gloss instead of a lipstick… just because I felt it was more professional.

  I walked out of the hostel and was just about to call a cab, as I possibly couldn’t cover the distance in my heeled shoes. 

 When a car stopped in front of me, the sight of the passengers caused me to freeze.

What the fuck!

…

A/N: Who do you think are the passengers? I’d love to hear your thoughts.