Manuel

I had been taking care of Enzo for a month, and during that time, he became a real pain in the ass. He was always stuck to me like glue, having no one else to talk to, play with, or comfort him. He constantly sought my attention, and if he felt like I wasn't giving him enough, he got mad and started crying. To make him stop, I did anything he asked me to do.

I must have saved him from falling down the staircase a hundred times. There were no safety gates on the stairs, so I had to inform the butler to install one. Finally, they installed a safety gate, but Enzo still tried to climb up and jump over it. Dealing with Enzo all day was incredibly stressful, as he was a super annoyingly active kid. I couldn't even have a nap because he was always trying to climb bookshelves, doors, and windows in his playroom. One time, while he was playing in his playroom, which had bookshelves filled with his storybooks, I noticed Enzo just as he was about to slip and fall from one of the bookshelves. His legs had slipped, and he was teetering on the edge. I quickly jumped forward and caught him before he hit the ground. If he kept doing this, I was pretty sure I would die from a heart attack at a young age.

I never knew that taking care of a baby could be this hard.

It drove me crazy when he suddenly disappeared. You'd blink once, and he'd be gone. Then I had to look for him everywhere like a madman.

Maybe this was why Gerardo wanted someone with army training to be a nanny for his little brat. I don't think any ordinary human can deal with this rascal as I do, I thought, looking at the little monster running around me, saying something loud in his baby language.

The other annoying thing he did was sneak into my room every night, whether he was scared or not. My room was next to his, and I didn't lock any doors. The main reason I didn't lock Enzo's door was that when he tried to open it in the middle of the night and couldn't, he would scream his lungs out.

I wasn't allowed to let him sleep in my bed, and I was not allowed to sleep in his room when he got scared. When he snuck into my bed, I tried to put him back in his, but he started crying loudly and wiggling on the floor. Finally, I gave up and let him sleep on my bed until he fell asleep, and then I secretly put him back in his bed without waking him up.

But getting him to fall asleep was no easy task. He wanted me to tell him stories. He would climb onto me and jump on my body as if my body were his trampoline. He always bit me, and when I screamed in pain, he laughed. Sometimes, he kissed my face, calling me Papa, melting my cold heart. Finally, when he got sleepy, he cuddled up to me and fell asleep. And that's how every night went.

He missed his mom and sought her warmth in me, the only person close to him. But he couldn't find a mother's warmth in me. Poor boy, being just two years old and having lost his mother, had no idea that he would never feel her warmth again.

Sometimes, he cried in his sleep, softly calling for his mama. In those moments, I held him closer to my chest, and he stopped crying. I had spent a month in this house taking care of Enzo, but no one in the family visited Enzo's part of the house. It was only him and me.

It was truly heartbreaking to watch how Enzo's siblings ignored him. Sometimes, Enzo would try desperately to get their attention by touching them, hitting them or showing them his toys. He would approach them and talk in his baby language, but his siblings acted as if they couldn't hear or see him. Most of the time, Juana blamed Enzo if he came too close to her, as she didn't like him. Louis ignored Enzo as if he were invisible, making no effort to acknowledge his little brother's presence. Pedro was the only one who gave Enzo a little attention when Gerardo wasn't around.

Taking Enzo to the garden every day was part of my job. Enzo loved going to the garden, and I couldn't blame him. The garden was breathtaking, with its vast expanse of lush green grass, meticulously maintained flowerbeds showcasing a rainbow of colors, and towering trees providing ample shade. The garden's design harmonized nature and architecture, featuring winding pathways, charming benches, and a tranquil fountain. I also really enjoyed spending time there, as it was a peaceful escape from the chaos of the house. Enzo loved running around the entire garden, so I had to chase him everywhere.

Enzo seemed to get hurt every time we went out, despite my best efforts to keep him safe. He loved to run and jump, but most of the time, he fell and cried loudly. Sometimes, he would try to pluck beautiful roses and get stung by the thorns, resulting in more tears. The worst part was when he wanted to play hide and seek with me. Enzo's small size allowed him to hide easily in even the tiniest spaces, making him difficult to find. My heart would race when I couldn't locate him, and I would search for him everywhere like a madman until I finally located him. But the moment I found him, he would run away from me again, laughing. I never realized being a nanny would be this challenging. Maybe I don't want my kids. This little rascal is enough for a lifetime.

"Enzo, come here!" I yelled his name angrily, as no one was around. Of course, he never paid any attention to my frustration.

One afternoon, I was with Enzo in the garden, frantically searching for him everywhere. Enzo was good at finding hiding places. However, this time, the boy was nowhere to be seen. I checked behind the bushes, in the small shed, and even inside the hollow of a tree, but he was not there.

As I continued my search, I heard a splash coming from the direction of the lotus pond. My heart sank, realizing where Enzo might be. The pond was not that deep, but it was deep enough for a little kid like Enzo to drown. I rushed towards the pond.

Upon reaching the pond, I saw little Enzo struggling in the water. I quickly bent down and dragged him out of the pond. I saw the fear in his eyes, and it broke my heart. Enzo coughed and sputtered, but he was breathing. I hugged him, kissing his forehead repeatedly.

"Why did you do that, baby? You made me so scared," I said, hugging him tightly. I couldn't believe that the thought of Enzo getting hurt scared me for the first time. Enzo clung to me, his tiny hands gripping my shirt, still shaken from the frightening experience.

I lifted Enzo into my arms and carried him back to the house, his little body trembling against mine. As we entered his room, I gently put him on the bed and grabbed a towel from the nearby shelf. I carefully dried his hair and helped him change into warm, dry clothes while whispering comforting words. My heart was still beating fast, the adrenaline from the incident slowly subsiding.

"Don't scare Papa like that again, baby," I said to him, not knowing why I said it that way. I didn't even like it when he called me Papa, but right now, I felt he meant so much more to me than just my salary.

I realized that Enzo was putting all his energy into getting my attention and would get anxious if he couldn't find me. I guessed that was why he always wanted to stick with me. I felt sorry for the two-year-old boy, trying so hard to keep me close as no one paid attention to us. I let him feel like I cared about him, even though I knew I shouldn't get emotionally attached to the child, as per Gerardo's strict rules. Honestly, I cared about Enzo more than I thought, and there was a little affection growing inside of me for him.

One day, I played with Enzo outside in the area designated for the Perez kids to play. Enzo was the only one there, as all the others were over ten years old. With no one watching us, I let my guard down. Enzo called me Papa, laughing as he ran, and I chased after him. Whenever I caught him, I hugged and kissed his cheeks, sometimes cuddling him as he giggled and tried to wiggle free.

"Manuel," I heard Gerardo's gruff voice call me, and my heart sank. I had no idea when he had gotten there or how long he had been standing there, watching us with a menacing glare. I didn't know that Gerardo had suddenly come home.

"Boss," I said as I went to him, holding Enzo's hand, my voice trembling slightly.

Gerardo took a step closer, his imposing figure towering over me. "Looks like you've broken the rules by getting emotionally attached to my son," he snarled, his face contorted with anger. "You'd better pack your stuff and leave," he growled, his dark eyes burning with fury.

While living in the house, I observed Gerardo's behavior and interactions. The way he spoke, always in a harsh and commanding tone, and the ideas he expressed, often cold and unfeeling, led me to believe he was dangerous. The people he met with, usually in hushed conversations or behind closed doors, only added to my suspicions. His demeanor exuded an air of menace, making it clear that crossing him would be a grave mistake.

I went home with a heavy heart. At the same time, I felt relaxed to be back home. My girlfriend, Rachel, was happy to see me again. Rachel and I had met in high school and fallen in love. We both grew up in families that struggled to make ends meet, often living paycheck to paycheck, and Rachel's parents had wanted her to leave the house as soon as she turned 18. Having nowhere else to go and only each other to rely on Rachel and I decided to live together in the same house. Our love for each other helped us overcome the challenges we faced.

While working at the Perez mansion, I never mentioned the events occurring at the mansion during my daily phone calls with Rachel. I wasn't allowed to tell her anything that happened in the mansion. I didn't even tell her how old my boss was. I thought it might be better for her to know nothing about them. They weren't good people in the first place. I wanted my girlfriend to keep away from them.

"He fired me," I said to Rachel after I arrived home.

"Why?" she asked, surprised.

"I broke some rules," I said, thinking about Enzo.

"What kind of rules?" Rachel looked at me and asked with fear as if I might have done something wrong.

"Don't worry. It's not a big thing. Just a small mistake and my boss fired me," I said, smiling.

"It's okay, Manuel. You can find a normal job. Honestly, I was never fond of your bodyguard job. You couldn't even come here often, and it was risky," she said, gently running her fingers through my hair.

"Really?" I asked, surprised to hear that she didn't like my job. I thought she might have liked my job because I got a huge salary that was more than enough for us.

Although my job provided a good income, Rachel started working part-time as a cashier at a local grocery store because she was bored at home alone. Now that I was unemployed, we started looking for a new job for myself. At the same time, I worried that Gerardo might leak the secret from my past, a haunting memory from my time in the military that could ruin my life if it ever came to light. I had broken Gerardo's rules and made him angry, and now I feared the consequences.

To my surprise, Enzo didn't leave my mind the entire time. Honestly, I felt relieved when Gerardo fired me. I had been stressed and tired with the job, mainly because of the weird atmosphere in that environment. Gerardo and his children were rude. They had bizarre rules that I couldn't understand. But my heart ached, remembering that Enzo, whom I had cared for over the past three months, was alone again. Although I hadn't been that close to him, he had grown close to me. I felt guilty for leaving him.

"What are you thinking about? You look sad," Rachel asked, noticing that I had been deep in thought all day.

"I was thinking about finding a new job," I lied.

"Don't get anxious about that. You can relax for a few days," Rachel said, trying to make me feel comfortable. But I couldn't relax. What if Enzo was crying, looking for me?

In the days that followed, Rachel and I spent most of our time together, enjoying each other's company and supporting one another as I searched for a new job. We would wake up early, share a simple breakfast, and scour online job listings and local newspapers for suitable opportunities. In the afternoons, we would take walks in the nearby park, holding hands and discussing our hopes and dreams for the future. I found comfort in Rachel's presence. Her unwavering love and support helped ease my anxiety about the uncertain path ahead.

Four days later, I received a call from a familiar number.

"Hello, Mr. Garcia," I answered the phone, recognizing Gerardo's private secretary's number.

"Mr. Manuel, Mr. Perez asked you to return to work. You know you can't refuse. Pack your things and come back immediately. It's a serious problem. Don't waste a second. If something happens to him because of you, you'll have to pay for that."

Because of me? To whom? Whatever happened, how was it my fault? Gerardo had fired me. I hadn't fired myself. But then it hit me—as long as they knew my secret, I was nothing more than a pawn in their game, forever at their mercy.

"Can I know why?" I asked.

"Yes. After you arrive, you'll find out," Mr. Garcia said and hung up.

"I have to go back," I said to Rachel as soon as I ended the call. Deep down, I felt relieved that I could return because, during these days, I had been feeling guilty.

"Why?" she asked, confused.

"They asked me to return to work," I said, heading upstairs to get ready.

"So, tell them no," she said firmly. Rachel cherished our time together, especially since I only got three days of vacation every three months. Moreover, being a bodyguard meant my life was constantly at risk, and she worried about my safety.

"I can't," I replied, packing my belongings.

"Why? Why can't you say no?" she asked, her voice filled with anger. I didn't respond. How could I tell her the truth? She didn't know that Gerardo was aware of my secret, one that even she wasn't privy to.

"I'm sorry. I have no choice. I signed the papers. I must go," I lied.

I left the house despite my girlfriend's displeasure with my decision.