CHAPTER THREE

"I'm sorry, but you don't have the qualifications we're searching for currently, ma'am.” I don't bother waiting for her to say anything else before grabbing my file and heading to the door. This was the fifth rejection of the day and I had already willed myself to be numb each time I was rejected. I looked at the file in my hand and counted the number of C.V’s I had left. Three. I had three more copies before I'd have to print more copies and I couldn't afford that right now.

I stepped outside into the afternoon heat, checking my phone for time. It was 3:26p.m already and my next appointment was scheduled for 4p.m.

I had barely turned the corner leading to the courthouse when I bumped into someone or something, I wasn't sure, my file slipping from my hands.

“Oh, I'm sorry.” The papers that were in my file filled the pavement. I looked up and saw a little girl, staring at me and at the papers with wide eyes. She looked frightened.

Crouching in front of me, she finally spoke. “I didn't mean to,I'm sorry. Please don't tell my dad.”

“It's fine, honestly, I won't.” Gathering my papers, I straighten them out against my knees. Looking up again, I found her staring at someone behind me, with some sort of relief in her eyes.

“Lily!” a voice said from behind me. As though on instinct, the little girl, Lily, holds on to my hand. I look at her and where she was holding my hands and then behind me to find the source of the voice.

I turn, seeing a man walking in our direction. Just like his voice, he exuded a kind of aura and presence I couldn't quite understand, like he was used to controlling everywhere he entered. He was tall, and dressed up in a dark suit that looked like it was made just for him, the afternoon heat looked like it wasn't a bother to him at all, and his face bore a cold, blank look. He stops when he gets to where we were standing, his eyes immediately locating Lily.

“Lily, come here.” His voice sounded calm, too calm. Lily immediately lets go of my hand and walks towards him.

“Where did you go off to? You were supposed to be with Sasha”, the man said, sounding concerned.

“I'm sorry dad, I was only looking for Liam, I couldn't find him.”

“Where is he? Did you find him?”

“I don't know dad, you went into the courthouse and he said he was going to come meet you.”

Turning back, he stares intently at the woman who has just arrived.

“Sasha.” The sound of his voice was enough to send chills down my spine.

“I'm sorry Mr. Vaughn. I only took my eyes off them for a moment.”

“A moment was enough for them to slip from your control.”

“I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean—”

“I don't care. Find Liam”.

Hurrying, Sasha walks hurriedly into the next building. I stood there awkwardly, wondering if I could leave.

The man,Mr Vaughn, looks at me again. “You can go.” Nodding quickly, I turn and start walking out.

“Wait.” I stopped, wondering what I had done wrong. Turning, I come face to face with him.

“Were the papers yours?”. I nod, unable to form any words. Looking at me for another second, he waves me off, signalling me to leave.

Nodding again, I hurried away, not bothering to turn back. I was halfway down the street when I hear Lily's voice again, screaming.

“Laim!” I turn around to see Sasha walking hurrying towards the entrance of the courthouse, with Lily and Mr Vaughn behind her. I stood there for a few seconds as I watched things unfold. I really needed to leave, I had an interview to get to. Instead I turn and enter through the same door Lily had passed.

I quickly find Lily sitting at the foot of the stairs.

“Where's your brother, Lily?” Looking up at me, she answers, holding back tears.

“I don't know. He said he was going to find daddy.”

“Did you see the direction he went?”, she shakes her head in response. Standing straight, I find her dad speaking to someone at the front desk, looking like he was running out of whatever patience he had left.

“Come on, let's check upstairs.” I hold on to her hand and climb the stairs. The hallway looked empty when we got there, so we started checking all the offices and rooms on that floor. We had gotten close to the end of the hallway when we heard little sobs coming from the last room to our left. Lily lets go of my hand and rushes towards the room.

On getting there, I find her squatting besides a boy who was the splitting image of their father.

Crouching beside him, I ask “What happened?”

“I fell, and I think I broke my leg,” he said. I took a look and discovered that he had only sprained it.

“Does it hurt badly?”, he nods.

“Can you try to move or stand up?” He tries standing, but falls back releasing a sharp cry of pain. Lily leaves us and I'm guessing she went to get her father.

“What's your name, champ?”

“Liam,” he answers.

“Well, it's nice to meet you Liam. I'm Claire.”

“Are you a doctor, Claire?”

“No, I'm not. But I know it's not good to move around when you're injured.”

Just then, their dad arrives. I sense him even before he enters.

“Daddy!” Bending to his level, Mr Vaughn picks him up. As if finally aware of my presence in the room, he turns to look at me.

“Did you find him?” I nod.

“Thank you. I'm sorry you got caught up in this.”

“It's not a problem, sir.”

Picking up my files, I make my way out behind them.

“Seems like you are heading for a job interview. I'll drop you off. See it as my form of saying thank you.”

I pause, looking at his back as he continued walking. Just then a notification pops up on my phone. I had missed my appointment.

“I guess there'd be no need for that sir. My appointment just got cancelled.”

Stopping, he turns to face me.

“Do you need a job?”, he asks.

“Yes sir,” I say without hesitation. At this point I was ready to do anything as long as I wasn't kicked out.

“Then you've got yourself one. My children need a nanny, a live-in nanny. If you're up for the job then it's yours.”

I had never thought of becoming a nanny, and I don't think taking care of Daniel was enough to make me one. But I don't voice that out.

Pulling out a card, he places it on top of my file, “ My address is on that card. If you want the job, be there tomorrow at 10a.m”

And with that he walks away.