CHAPTER FIVE - CLAIRE

I stared at the house in front of me and then back at the address printed at the back of the card I was given yesterday. There were tall, black gates that could very well be the same height as my apartment building, a perfectly trimmed lawn lay behind the gates and the house has more windows than I could count. The house looked magnificent from the outside, leaving me wondering what the inside would look like. Looking down at my choice of outfit, a simple cream blouse and a pair of trousers, with a pair of flat shoes on my feet. I run my hands through my clothes, trying to straighten them out.

I look at the gates again, taking a deep breath before heading in.

Just before I could knock, a woman opens the door.

“Claire, right?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Oh, I'm no ma'am. I'm Margaret, the house manager,” she says, offering a warm smile. That somehow reduces the tension in my mind.

“Mr. Vaughn is in his office and is waiting for you. This way please.” I follow her as she leads me through the living room, to a long hallway. I try my best to avoid staring, but the interior of the house was too beautiful to ignore. Everything looked beautiful and equally expensive. Just when I was getting my fill of the house, Margaret came to a stop in front of a large wooden door. Margaret knocks quietly on the door.

“Come in.” I quickly recognized the powerful voice from yesterday, my stomach twisting in realization. I contemplate turning back at this point, but remind myself that I needed this job, if not for myself but for Daniel.

Stepping inside, I find Mr Vaughn sitting behind a huge mahogany desk, exuding the same aura he has yesterday. Cold, composed and untouchable.

His eyes move over me quickly, before returning his attention back to the file in front of him.

“You're late.”

“I'm sorry sir. It took me quite some time to locate this place.”

“All I hear is excuses.” I freeze.

“Sit down,” he says motioning to the chair directly opposite him.

Closing the file, he finally looks up at me. “You're Claire Williams.” He wasn't asking, rather he was stating who I was. He was powerful.

I nod, unable to form any sentence.

“From what I can see here, you have no childcare experience nor a degree. So why should I hire you?”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. He had offered me the job yesterday, but now it seemed like I was going through an interrogation rather than an interview.

Swallowing, I answered him, “No sir. But I have unofficial experience in childcare.”

“Unofficial experience? How?”

“ I lost my parents at a really young age and had to take care of my younger brother. I also gathered experience from taking care of my neighbor's kids over the years.”

“But that doesn't mean you are qualified to take care of my kids, so why should I hire you?” I bend down and stare at my hands, thinking of what to say.

“I know I don't have the experience you're looking for, but I really need this job sir. I promise you won't regret hiring me,” I say, hoping to God that I am able to convince him.

“Why did you help my daughter and my son yesterday?”

“Because I saw that they needed help and wanted to help.”

I look up and find him staring intently at me, like he was trying to figure something out.

“I'm going to hire you. But I also want you to know that there are certain strict requirements that come with taking care of my kids.” Then he goes ahead to lay down sets of rules and regulations that I was to adhere to. I listen, knowing fully well that I'd agree to whatever terms he was stating, just to get the job.

vAfter about thirty minutes, he finishes.

“Margaret will come in and show you around. You'll resume tomorrow and will be required to move in.”

Move in? I had completely forgotten about that. I stay quiet contemplating how I was going to broach the topic with him, I had only just gotten the job.

“Is there anything on your mind you'd like to say?”

Gathering every ounce of courage I possess, I speak up.

“Is it possible to come along with a family member?”

“

Do you have a kid?”

“No sir. But I have a younger sibling that lives with me and there's no where else he can stay. I promise he won't be any trouble.”

“That's a lot of promises coming from you, Ms. Williams. But he can stay. You'll sign the required paperwork tomorrow. Good luck, Ms. Williams.”

Saying that, he stands up and leaves. Margaret comes in and takes me on a tour round the house.

Once I was done for the day, I take my time walking towards the gate. I was more than excited about the fact that I had finally landed a job, with a roof over my head and a pay that was ten times what I was used to earning. Just as I was about texting Daniel to inform him of the good news, my phone buzzed with a new text notification. Seeing that it was from an unknown number, I chalked it down to Margaret as she had promised to text me. Opening it, I'm met with a strange message:

“You think getting a job at the infamous Vaughn mansion means good luck and makes you safe? Soon, you'll understand why they all end up leaving. Catch you later, number 9.”