Chapter Three

Lana’s POV

I need to do something quick, otherwise I would be roaming the streets.

I reached my one-room apartment, and sat at the edge of my bed.

My boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend. I was jobless, broke, and about to be homeless. Tears fell from my eyes uncontrollably.

What had I done to deserve this?

The world felt like it was folding in on me, and I didn’t have the energy to fight back.

So I curled up on my bed, picked up my phone and decided to scroll through LinkedIn for job opportunities. Everything had a basic payment range of four hundred to five hundred dollars per day. There was another post that grabbed my attention.

'Live-in tutor to a billionaire's daughter.'

Payment is a thousand dollars per hour.

I hurried up and applied for the job, and some other jobs too.

Then I slept.

A knock at the door jolted me awake.

I sighed in annoyance, then I checked the time. 8:47 p.m.

I wasn’t expecting anyone. Definitely not my ex-best friend, Sandra, and God help me if it was Zane because I would cut his balls off and trade them for a good amount of money.

I padded to the door, tried to see the person from the peephole, but the place was dark outside, and then I cracked the door open.

It was him.

The man from the bar.

Even in the dim light, he looked good. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a jawline sculpted to perfection. His eyes locked with mine, they were unreadable, but strangely comforting. He was wearing a white buttoned-up shirt and black suit trousers, just like last night.

“How…” I swallowed.

“How did you find me?”

I didn't expect a one-night stand to stand in front of my house the next day.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he studied me for a moment, taking in my tired eyes, the messy apartment behind me.

“I told you we'd meet again. The thing is…” he said, finally looking into my eyes. “You’re mine.”

I stared at him. Then I burst out laughing.

He didn't laugh, instead he looked at me with a grin on his face.

“I don’t even know your name. For f*cks sake, I don't even know you,” I folded my arms.

He stepped closer, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, “That's not a problem. I know that you just lost your job, and you're about to be homeless. You applied for a job as my daughter's nanny. I came for the interview, and you're hired.”

I drew backwards, "So you go about giving jobs to every one-night stand? Besides, is this how you interview someone that is supposed to take care of your daughter?"

He handed me his business card, "The pay is a thousand dollars per hour, and you'll have your own room. You can think, accept it and get back to me before they evict you out of this place."

My eyes widened at the salary he was offering just to babysit his daughter.

He walked towards the Ferrari car parked in front of my yard, entered the driver's seat and drove off.

I closed the door, and sat down with my back resting on the door. I hadn't felt so confused about anything, just like I am right now, a lot of thoughts and questions popped up in my head.

I looked at the blue business card in my hands, Mr Lancaster, CEO of Lancaster cars and autos.

Impressive.

He's the billionaire bachelor that everyone has been talking about. I heard he's very private and introverted, so he has a daughter. I wonder how old she is.

I went online to search for him, but there wasn't really much to see. There was no picture of him, and he was wearing sunglasses and face masks for the others.

If I consider this job, I would be paid about fifty thousand f*cking dollars, and I would also be given a room, which will reduce my cost of living and increase my savings. I just need to work for three months, and that would be it. The money should be enough to relocate to another country and start a new life there. But on the other hand, it would be awkward staying there. What if the child's mum doesn't approve of me?

What next?

I woke up by 5am, not that I really slept at night. I picked up my phone and stared at the business card. I flipped it over and over again, then I decided to take the bold step.

He picked up the phone on the second ring.

"Hello Lana, good morning. I'm sure you've considered my offer." His voice was smooth and deep, as if he had just woken up some minutes ago.

"Good morning, I've decided to accept the job, but it's just for a few months."

I started biting the skin on my little finger, something I do only when I'm anxious or stressed about something.

"Okay. Some men will come and pick you up by seven this morning. Be ready by then." The line went off.

I wore a pink polo with blue jean trousers and white sneakers, then I started packing my little things. My parents left me at the orphanage when I was two. The only thing I had to remember was the silver necklace that I hardly wore. I stopped hoping that I would see them again when I was fifteen. If they really loved me, they wouldn't have left me in an orphanage, or maybe they would have come back to find me or visit, but they didn't.

I met Sandra in college, as my course mate. She was the cheerleader captain, and she had good grades. She had a soft yet defined oval face, framed by her blonde hair and hazel eyes, and her slim hour-glass figure, which made her the perfect girl that every guy wanted hanging around on his arm.

When I started dating Zane, she was upset, then she became cool with it. She would sneak out with Zane and anytime I asked what was going on, she would say that they were either planning a surprise for me or he was helping her work on a school project. I told Zane that I didn't like the way they hung out, but he assured me that nothing was going on.

I feel so stupid that I believe it.

She left the other guys who were chasing her, just to be with my boyfriend. Now I realize that it was just a facade, the friendship, the fake love she claimed to give me, every single thing she did was just to get Zane.

I hope they both rot in hell.

I rolled my eyes in disgust.

The knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. There were two men in black suits and dark shades standing in front of my door, two black Prado cars were parked by the roadside.

They bowed their heads, "Good morning, Miss Hubbard. King Lancaster sent us to pick you up," they said in unison.

"Good morning, my name is Lana. You can call me Lana. Let me get my things." I rushed inside to get my bags and my small box.

I took a deep breath, plastered a smile on my face, and carried my things outside.