Leila's POV

I looked at the man in front of me, looking like he'd just woken up from a nap. His brown hair was in complete disarray, clothes somewhat wrinkled, hands in his pocket. He was not too handsome, but he could turn a couple of heads. I extended my hand out to greet him.

"Good afternoon, Mr Carter. I'm here for the nanny job. Mr Dawson told me you are in need of one."

He just kept quiet, looking at me. His eyebrows were drawn, and now I was beginning to have second thoughts about coming here. James was the one who ended up talking.

"I'm sorry. He's just woken up and he doesn't like being woken up from his naps." He rolled his eyes dramatically, and I laughed lightly, but one look at Mr Carter made the laugh go away. Then, out of nowhere, he suddenly turned and walked towards a room.

"Follow me."

I turned to look at James, who encouraged me on with a small smile. I smiled back slightly, and followed Mr Carter to the room.

When I got in, I was shocked to see that it was actually a home office.

More like a man cave.

Most of the furniture was black, black wooden floor gray walls. There were files on his worktable with a frame of his wife and daughter by the beach, the woman kissing the cheek of her baby who was almost a year old. I smiled, touched by the beautiful and intimate memory engraved in the picture.

"Take a seat, Ms....."

"Ms Rollins, thank you."

After making myself comfortable, he looked down at me, pinning me to the chair with his grey eyes.

"So...... Have you ever done this before?"

I nodded in affirmation. I needed a job, and it had been so hard for me to even get an interview. Lord, help me.

"Why, yes, Mr Carter. I used to babysit the kids in my neighborhood. I'm pretty good at this."

He nodded, then asked me other questions, that I answered in an effortless fashion. After a little while, he told me that I was to start tomorrow, since the woman who was taking care of Emilia will be leaving then.

"Let me give you a tour of the house, while I'm telling you some of the conditions I have. Also, bring with you your personal information, like national identity card, information of your next of kin, your phone number, your next of kin's phone number as well."

Giving him the okay sign, I stood up and followed behind him. He told me about how he wanted me to take care of his daughter as if she were my own, and I vowed within myself that I was to do just that. He showed me all the rooms of the house, the outdoor yard then he led me to the kitchen, lastly.

We got in, and in there, was a woman who seemed to be in her late thirties preparing supper. She looked up, eyes widening when she saw me.

Why was everyone doing that?!?

"Linda, this is Leila Rollins, and she'll be taking over when you leave tomorrow."

She smiled at me and I smiled back. I guessed that meant that she approved of me taking care of Emilia. Mr Carter had told me that she saw Emilia as her own child, and she would be very picky when it came to who took care of the little one.

"I'll leave you here, Ms Rollins. I have pending matters to attend to."

"Okay, then, Mr Carter. Thank you again for the job." A smile playing on my lips, feeling really happy about it all.

He looked around the kitchen, at anything else but me, nodded, then left. I turned to look at the woman, to see a warm knowing smile on her face as she looked at his retreating figure. She then looked at me.

"Well then, let me show you all the there is to know."

She told me all I had to do, especially when it came to taking care of Emilia, what she liked, what she didn't, the best foods for her and all that. I was taking down notes in the notepad that she had given me, saying that I'd need it in the future. She was very efficient and I got why she'd been here for so long.

"Oh, and one thing..."

I looked up from the notes and into her hazel eyes.

"Take care of Mr Carter as well, for me. Please make sure that he's eaten something. He usually leaves the house without a meal in his belly and he spends awfully long hours in that office of his, eating only fast food. It's not healthy for a man in his profession."

But......... shouldn't the wife look into that? Dare I ask??

"Um.......do you mind me asking......."

Her brows drew together, making me almost change my mind. Almost.

"Where is Mrs Carter? I thought that I would've seen her by now. I've only seen her in pictures."

The sad emotions that rose within her were quite evident on her face, and I put my hand to my mouth, regretting having asked the question in the first place.

"She died five years ago. Car accident."

I lowered my head at being so direct. I was so embarrassed of myself.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

She shook her head, wiping a tear.

"It's okay. You had to know sooner or later. It's been rough for him. He still loves her, he hasn't let her go yet."

I somewhat understood him. He has lost the one he had vowed to spend his whole life with at such a young age. I hadn't lost any of my closest relatives, so I could not empathize with him down to his level. I only prayed that he could find peace within himself someday.

"I'll make sure that he gets his meals."

She smiled warmly at me, patted my shoulder, and went to look at the pots on the stove. I looked at the watch on the wall. Well off past 6.

"Ma'am, I have to go now. Mr Carter told me that I should bring my luggage here since I'll be living here."

She turned sharply, splattering some soup onto the stove, staining it.

"Won't you stay for dinner?"

"No, no. Don't worry. I have to go back home, because my friend would not be happy if I didn't get home and eat her food."

She laughed and waved me off. I took my purse that I had left on the couch and left.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

With one bag in my left hand, I closed the door with my right, then paid the uber a lot more money than usual.

Maybe it was because of my destination, and after seeing the mansion, he put an extra price on top.

I got to the gate, and there was a man there, drinking his mug of coffee, seemingly content with his place.

"Good morning. I'm here for the nanny's job."

The face that had contorted not a while ago became more hospitable, telling to go right ahead.

"The name's Pete, Ms Rollins, just so that it is not awkward when we meet later."

I nodded then smiled at him, before making my way towards the house. After two knocks, the door was opened by a girl who seemed to be in her early twenties, like me, wearing a maidservant's uniform. The smile turned into a grimace the moment she noticed the bag with me.

"Good morning. I'm here for-"

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

She just left me there, and I just let myself in. After setting the bag on the couch, I sat down and looked around. My stomach growled, and I cursed myself for not eating in the morning. I didn't want to be a nuisance to Tori.

"You must be hungry."

I looked to the left to see Linda coming towards me with a smile on her face.

"I sure am. Actually, I'm famished."

She laughed, then took my bag.

"Let's get you into your room, then we'll have breakfast."

We went up the stairs to the room I'd been shown yesterday. The room was very grand, it looked like a hotel room instead of a nanny's room. Everything was simply beyond gorgeous, and I couldn't help but wonder how my family was doing. I had to call Mom today.

As we got out, we came across Mr Carter who was wearing a three-piece grey suit that did wonders for his physique and eyes. He looked far much better than yesterday when he looked a mess.

"Good morning, Ms Rollins, Linda."

He walked by us and descended the stairs. We followed behind him going towards the eating room. When we got in, Emilia was already seated, wearing her uniform ready for school. The little ribbons in her hair made the whole outfit more adorable.

"Emilia, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

She turned and the look of sadness that had been on her face was wiped off and was replaced by a huge smile. She jumped out of her seat and ran towards me.

"Leila!!!"

She wrapped her hands around my waist and I smiled, hugging her back.

"That's Aunt Leila, for you."

She was confused for a second, before it suddenly dawned on her.

"She's the one who's going to stay here?"

Linda smiled and nodded at the little one, surprised as to why she was so excited.

"Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! Daddy, she's the woman I was talking about when I came back from the slumber party. Isn't she pretty?"

Mr Carter looked at me for a second then went towards Emilia and whispered something in her ear.

"Yes! That's very true, Dad."

"Why don't we sit and eat?"

He shook his head and went to the refrigerator, took orange juice and poured it in a glass cup. After drinking it all, he bade everyone a good day, kissed Emilia and left.

"See what I meant yesterday? He's a tough one."

I nodded in agreement, then went to my seat and had breakfast. Emilia's driver called out for her and she went to school, and Linda and I did the dishes while the maids were cleaning up the house before they left. Apparently, they came to clean up after every three days.

Taking Linda's bags, I walked with her to the car that was waiting outside. A man in his late forties was in there, patiently waiting for us to finish up our last minute talks.

"Don't forget what I told you. Take good care of them both, for me."

I nodded, smiling at the compassion this woman has for the family she'd stayed with for so long. Would it be the same for me when I left?

She got into the car and was driven away. I got into the house, and I saw the maids were running about with their cleaning, making me feel somewhat useless. The one who had opened the door for me was frowning as she was doing her job. I wondered what got her in a twist.

So.......what do I do now? Ah! Unpacking........

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Thanks for the support, people. A special shout-out to @angh0330 for the encouragement to keep on going. And also

Photo by <a>Ben Joossen</a> from <a>FreeImages</a>
;for providing the pic in the chapter

Untill next time, keep safe from the virus and God bless y'all💞