Episode 5

I arrived at the House of Kings, a literal name that I missed on my first two days, at eight fifty-five. And the journey from the main gate of this mansion to the main door was torturous for my poor stubbed toe.

The white sneakers I paired with my outfit were the only comfortable part of this whole fiasco.

The day was sunny, sun as bright as a diamond was starting to get warm as the minutes were ticking by.

I lightly knocked on the door for uncertain reasons scared I would be scolded if I knocked too loudly.

The door opened with a squeak and I saw Mr. King standing there with a poker face. I almost decided to run away when he narrowed his eyes at me and looked down at his wristwatch.

"You are three minutes early." He commented with his ridiculously deep voice.

"Isn't it a good thing?"

I thought employers would want their employees to come early to work, this dude was going to kill me with his rare conflicts.

"It depends on the situation." He said curtly.

I stopped the urge to roll my eyes at his weird talking. "And what kind of situation is that?"

But he couldn't answer my question as Alex came running from the second floor, most probably just woke up from his slumber with heavy thumps.

"Dada!" He yelled excitedly as he saw his father standing there with his hands in his pockets and looks that could put any sane woman or man to their death bed.

"Good morning little man, did you sleep well?" He asked smiling fondly at his son who was trying to climb up his mountain of a figure.

"I did, now pick up, Dada!" Alex whined and Mr. King chuckled but obliged to his son's demands and picked him up.

"Ms. Morgan, this situation is suitable for early comings, make sure you don't confuse your boss for their worker though."

-

Needless to say, I was pissed after that but that asshole of a man that I called my boss was already at work and I couldn't stay mad when Alex was trying to convince me to make him some food.

I lowered the intensity of the flames while Alex was sitting on the kitchen counter watching me intently.

"Who are you?" A feminine voice asked. I gasped in surprise as I thought Alex and I were alone in the house and turned sideways to find an old woman with spectacle in the rip of her nose.

She was looking at me with purpose and I had to take a swallow to remind myself if she ended up attacking me I would win.

Her grizzled hair was tightly pulled into a bun and her wrinkled face had a resting bitchy face.

She was wearing a round-necked shirt with blue and white prints all over it, pairing it with bold blue color pajamas.

"Fu-." I cursed at the sudden intrusion but them remembered that Alex was also in the same room. I looked at Alex who was still watching the food intently. "-dge. I am Skylar Morgan, Alex's new nanny."

I just hoped that this was all the introduction she needed. And as her warm brown eyes lit up recognition I had never felt relief.

"Ah yes, that stupid boy has chosen a good one huh?" I didn't answer her question as it seemed she was talking to herself.

"Stupid boy?" I asked in puzzlement.

"Arthur, Alex's dad, your boss. This building's official owner." She sassed me.

I cracked her a smile. "Does he know you call him that?" Even though I hated that man with a passion, I still had to say he was no boy, he was a man with ripped muscles, defining jaw, and a beard all around his lower face with eyes as deep as the sea.

"Yes and he can't do shit about it."

I laughed at that. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am, I am Skylar Morgan."

"It's pleasure to meet you too but don't call me ma'am, it's Adelaide." She smiled at me and I was mesmerized for a second by the beauty that she still possessed with her age.

"The food is ready!" Alex screamed in enthusiasm.

♚

Adelaide was a trusted member of Mr. King's trusted staff. I doubted she was considered as a staff the way she was sauntering around the house like it was her, calling her boss a 'stupid boy'.

And Adelaide had a fire in her. She was bold, bolder than any woman I had met, even Ria. She was never the one to shy away from a good banter or hide in this beautiful mansion.

That was why I was confused why she was missing yesterday but I didn't dare to ask her that, for one it could be intrusive, and for two, she scared the living shit out of me.

But another thing Adelaide was that she was a chatterbox.

"I had to visit my son yesterday, I am now a grandmother." She said with pride lacing her voice.

"That's wonderful, congratulations." I smiled at her brightly, ignoring the soft pang that I could feel in my heart.

Smile tight, make sure all your teeth are showing, no, not that much it's now a grimace.

"Thank you," she responded if she noticed my fake smile she didn't comment on it. "Anyways, now let me tell you your daily schedule in here."

Alex was playing on the floor, well on the rug but the rug really couldn't be classified as one anymore.

The TV was on with some product advertisements going on.

"You are supposed to be here by nine in the morning and prepare the breakfast for Alex, I believe you have got the email of what you should make for Alex."

I did. A more hundred words email without a greeting or a goodbye. I got that email the minute I got the job apparently.

I just timidly nodded my head.

"Wonderful," she smiled at me. "Now onto what Alex likes and dislikes-"

"Sorry to interrupt, I think I have an idea of that," I said politely. "He likes his plush bear. He likes sweets but the muffin is his favorite and he has an obsession with the wooden spoon in his room."

I have only spent time with him for one day but even a blind man could see his obsession with that withered wooden spoon.

Adelaide looked impressed with me. At least I hoped that was what her look conveyed.

"You got this all in one day?"

Hard not to notice when I had watched him like a hawk for the entire day.

But of course, I didn't say that. I just smiled and nodded.

She smiled at me with content. "He really has chosen a good one this time."

But I didn't have the time to react.

"Skyyyyyyyyy, I want that!" Alex shrieked in excitement. He pointed at a toy car that was getting advertised on Cartoon Network.

The car was bright red, it looked spacious enough to accommodate Alex. A mini car for a four-year-old. What a privilege.

I squinted my eyes to see the price. Four hundred dollars, holy shit.

I looked at Alex who was still looking at me pleadingly. I didn't have extra cash on me to spend, and I wasn't given any extra cash or permission to fulfill his demands.

I sighed and looked at Adelaide who was inquisitively staring back at me.

"But you have already so many toys," I told him gesturing to the toys scattered around the room. He looked at them, almost seeming confused about what I was saying.

"No," he pouted, and I had to stop myself from cooing at his adorable face. "I want that car, it's pretty."

I got up from the cream-colored sofa and kneeled in front of him to get on his eye level.

"But what about the old toys?"

"They are old though." He grumbled. I smiled at him before ruffling his hair which just irritated him more.

"Look at Adelaide." I pointed towards her, Adelaide looked like a proud Mama for some reason. "She is old too, but will you change her?"

"No." He whined, dragging out the 'o'. "She is sweet and funny."

"And?" I urged him.

"And she will get hurt if I change her."

"Just like these toys will be hurt if you change them." Just to be more dramatic I picked up one plushie of Goofy and placed it in front of my face, covering my mouth.

"Yes, Alex! Please don't replace us, or we will cry."

I tried to let out the manliest voice I possibly could muster.

Alex laughed at my poor attempt to change my voice and I laughed with him too. At least he forgot about that God damn car.

"You still want that car?" I asked him hoping he would say no.

He shook his head before taking the plushie from me and continuing his play with the toys. "No, the car was also red and I am a boy."

I just smiled at him before nodding my head in agreement.

I got up from my kneeling position, happy and satisfied that I got out of this situation without any mess.

Adelaide was right behind me, she even reached out to help me, bless this woman.

"Come have some tea," she said as she gestured towards the kitchen.

"Oh no, I am fine, Adelaide." I refused politely.

"I wasn't asking, Skylar."