Amy
I sat nervously in the plush waiting room of RC Enterprises, feeling the weight of anticipation bearing down on me. My hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop fumbling with the files in my lap. The interviews hadn’t even started yet, and I was already sweating like a pig. I glanced around at the grandeur of the lobby, utterly awestruck. I had never seen anything so grand in my life.
The top floor was vast, easily the size of two football fields, and it seemed to contain only two offices at the far end corner. Everything else appeared to be meeting rooms or additional waiting areas. I was sitting in the waiting room on a sofa that was so comfortable that I could just slide down and sleep on it.
The decor of the whole floor was a soothing light beige, bathed in soft, inviting, and illuminating. It looked like something straight out of a magazine. I was so captivated by the surroundings that I didn’t even notice someone clearing their throat.
“The interviews will begin immediately. Miss. Melissa Smith, please proceed ahead,” a handsome man announced. I watched as a tall, striking blonde woman who could easily be mistaken for a model walked alongside him, her hips swaying confidently. Was she a model or a nanny? Everyone here exuded extreme professionalism, and I couldn’t help but wonder why nanny interviews were being held in an office rather than at home. But it wasn’t my place to question it.
In less than five minutes, Melissa, who had appeared to be the epitome of confidence before the interview, rushed back to the waiting area. Her face was flushed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Was she the same woman who had walked in like she owned the world? What in the Kraken’s name happened? She dashed to the elevator and flipped a bird at the attractive guy whose name I’d learned was Caine.
This was certainly not a promising sign. My nervousness grew with each passing moment as Caine called in the next candidate sitting right next to me. He returned in a far worse state than the model. I couldn’t help but keep wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans as I waited for my turn.
Then, to my surprise, the sofa next to me dipped, and an incredibly good-looking man sat down. “Hello there. You appear jittery.“ He remarked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
I managed a tight-lipped smile. “Am I that transparent? This waiting phase is not something I’m very adept at.”
He shrugged and chuckled, “Hmm. Maybe I can distract you from the wait.”
“And how, pray tell, would you accomplish this, Mister?” I asked, raising my left brow.
“Mark Donovan. Nice to meet you, Miss?” he asked in the same tone as I.
“Amy Castello, Mr. Donovan. Nice to meet you as well,” I added.
He winced slightly and continued, “Oh, Mr. Donovan is my father. Call me Mark. A beautiful young lady like you should not be so formal with me.”
I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his flirty words. “So how many women have that line worked on, Mark?” I teased, emphasizing his name.
He looked momentarily perplexed, but then chuckled and said, “Almost every one of them. You, my dear, are the first to refuse my charm.”
“I did not know being charming was a requirement for a nanny job,” I retorted. Of course, it occurred to me that he was here for the interview as well. All the people in this office looked like they were straight out of a magazine.
He chuckled and said, “Ah, I’m here for the interview, but not the end you are thinking.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“You will learn shortly,” he remarked with a wink.
He then approached Caine and whispered something to him before walking down the corridor. I was left feeling puzzled, but I didn’t have much time to dwell on it because Caine summoned me for my interview.
As I knocked on the glass door, I heard a faint sound from inside, and I entered with a smile on my face. My attention was immediately captured by the most stunning man I had ever seen. Wow, all the men in this office are smoking hot. But the gentleman in front of me was the embodiment of elegance. He radiated power and authority. It was evident by the way he sat on his chair that he had a commanding presence. His glasses made him look like a walking, wet dream.
I restrained my thoughts, chastising myself for thinking such things about a married man. He would potentially be my boss if I nail this interview. I need to get my hormones in check. “Mr. Crawford, good afternoon. My name is Amy Castello,” I introduced myself with a smile.
Mr. Crawford stared at me as if I were an alien, and for a moment, I wondered if something was wrong with my face. “Umm... Mr. Crawford?” I prompted.
He seemed to jolt awake from his reverie and cleared his throat. “Ms. Castello. Please have a seat.” Just as I was about to take a seat, the office door swung open, and Mark strolled in, wearing a mischievous grin as if he owned the place.
“Sorry for the delay. Let’s get back to the interview,” Mark said, addressing Mr. Crawford. Oh damn, he is at the other end of the interview table.
“Mark, what are you doing here?” Mr. Crawford asked, his tone somewhat irritated.
“How can I leave such a significant decision on your shoulders alone? Liam is my godson,” he smirked. “Hello. Amy, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” he added, winking in my direction.
“Mr. Donovan,” I said politely. This is an interview, and I should act accordingly.
“Come on Amy,” he chuckled, “I told you to call me Mark, and...”
“Are you done?” Mr. Crawford snapped. “I need to conduct interviews so that my son can have a nanny. If you can’t help yourself, get out.” He pointed towards the door, clearly annoyed by the distraction. Rude! Mark, on the other hand, simply chuckled and zipped his lips.
Mr. Crawford sighed and gazed at me with his stunning chocolate eyes. Damn! I need to keep my cool. “So, Ms. Castello. Is this what you wear to an interview?”
While I was somewhat offended, I understood what he was trying to attempt. Because children lack filters, they will say and do things that irritate us, so I controlled my emotions and responded, “Sir, I work with children and must dress for their comfort. Tight skirts and high heels will make it difficult to run around with a child, wouldn’t it?” I couldn’t help adding a dash of sarcasm to my reply. Why can’t I keep my mouth in control?
“Hmm... What was your last job? Why did you leave your previous job?” he inquired.
I felt a knot form in my throat as I recalled the circumstances of my departure. “I was an elementary school teacher. I did not leave, sir. They had to let me go due to district budget restrictions. You can find the letter as well as the principal’s recommendation,” I explained, providing context to my situation.
He nodded and inquired, “What are the ages of the children you’ve cared for?”
“I worked with children aged 4 to 11 as a teacher and as a part-time babysitter during my studies,” I elaborated, offering a glimpse into my experience.
“What about the age of the men you worked with?” Mark mused, wriggling his brows.
“Do you mean a child trapped in the body of an adult? Please pardon me; it is not my department.” I sassed. I instantly regretted it when I saw Mark’s startled eyes. Suddenly, he began to laugh, and I relaxed. I thought I saw Mr. Crawford’s lip curve, but he quickly returned to his stoic self. Did I just dream that?
“I like you,” Mark laughed.
“Mark,” Mr. Crawford growled at him, reminding us both of the formal settings.
“Why do you believe you are qualified for the post, Ms. Castello?” he inquired.
“Since I’ve been both a teacher and a nanny, I believe I’ve gained the essential experience of being a reliable person for the position,” I explained confidently. “I know what to expect. My education included a minor in child psychology, which enables me to support the growth of a child better. I still take child development classes now and then,” I added.
Mark gave a soft damn. “As you know, this position comprises not just nanny duties, but also tutoring, so how would you approach discipline with my child?” Mr. Crawford inquired.
“The first step in disciplining a child is to become acquainted with him or her. I don’t want to make any assumptions or take any actions that could hinder their development. Setting expectations and recognizing the positive is what I believe in.” I replied. Okay, I think I have nailed that one! I didn’t even take a breather.
“Hmm...” he said, displaying his stoic tone once more. This man is incomprehensible to me. Nevertheless, I continued to respond as needed, occasionally with examples and, at other times, with direct answers.
“Okay. I got what I needed. My office will contact you regarding the position,” Mr. Crawford said.
With a polite nod and a thank you, I exited the office, feeling a mixture of relief and hope. However, I need to wait again. Ah! I need to relax. I had given it my all during the interview and believed that I had made a positive impression.
“Amy,” Mark’s voice called out to me, stopping me in my tracks.
“Yes?” I asked, confused.
He grinned and said, “It’s nice to meet you,” and walked away.
Weird! I hope it isn’t regular for him. I scrunch up my nose, thinking. Anyway, I walked to my car and drove home, hoping to get an answer as soon as possible. Ugh! I am so bad at waiting.
Hi everyone, They finally meet. Not the earth-shattering beginning you thought but a simple one. I believe it is important to display all kinds of situations and people in my stories. If you like the story so far give it a thumbs up and share your precious gems. Thank you for reading. Lots of Love❤️
RyanI reviewed Amy’s resume again. It was quite impressive. She had a degree in child development and, as she said, she minored in child psychology. The confidence in her voice and the way she answered were both excellent. I may have pushed a few buttons, but I do not want to risk anything about the future of my child.“So, who do we like? I think we can agree that Amy is the one.” Mark barged into my office before I could delve deeper in my thoughts.“Are you following her like a puppy dog now?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.He smirked, “Well, no, I was just getting acquainted with Liam’s future nanny.”“Who said that she was Liam’s nanny? Nothing is final yet,” I replied, trying to maintain a professional tone.“Oh please, if you did not prefer her as Liam’s nanny, you would throw her out of the interview like the previous one. And you know you are a little impressed with that spitfire. You cannot lie to me,” he replied.I squinted my eyes at him, giving him a warning, “Mark, don’t t
AmyI sighed as I plopped down on my bed after returning to my small apartment from the interview. I found the experience to be somewhat strange. Nannying was never part of my career plan, but when Mara approached me about it two weeks ago, I couldn’t help but feel perplexed. I probed her for more information, wondering how she even got wind of this opportunity. It appeared like the kind of position that required exclusive connections. To enter the building for the interview, I had to provide a mysterious coded message that Mara had given me. It all felt rather clandestine.I knew I should be grateful for the opportunity, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Mara was keeping something from me. I mulled over the job offer, and there was no denying that I desperately needed it. My attempts at landing a teaching job elsewhere had been futile, as the entire district was grappling with severe budget cuts, resulting in countless layoffs. With a sigh, I reluctantly agreed to the interview, a
RyanThe hot water soothed my sore muscles. I was so engrossed in exercising today it had completely slipped my mind that I had asked Liam’s new babysitter to report at 9 am. I squirted some body wash into my hands and rubbed it all over my body. It is said that the Himalayan salt in the body wash would ease any muscle fatigue.As I lathered up, my phone chimed with an incoming call. Fink, my home voice assistant, informed me that it was Jim calling. I reluctantly answered, knowing that this interruption meant I had to wrap up my shower quickly.Jim informed me that Miss Castello had arrived at the gate, and I granted her entry before rushing to finish my shower. With the hot water and stress momentarily forgotten, I dried off and wrapped a towel around my waist. I vigorously rubbed my hair with another towel to dry it before checking my phone for any important notifications.As I was about to reach for my phone, I sensed someone’s gaze fixed upon me. Raising my eyes, I found Miss Cast
AmyI quickly exited Mr. Crawford’s room, my heart pounding from the awkward encounter. I couldn’t help but berate myself for my blunder. I’m such a fool, I thought as I sank onto the living room sofa, absently toying with the straps of my bag. The question looming large in my mind: Was this going to cost me my job on my very first day? My nerves were getting the best of me, and I struggled to calm my racing heart.Amid my spiraling thoughts, I suddenly realized something crucial. Where was Liam? Panic surged within me. I had been so preoccupied with the earlier incident that I’d lost track of the little boy. I was about to launch into a search when a handsome man approached.“You must be Miss Amy Castello, Liam’s new nanny,” he said, smiling politely.I blushed. “Hmm... I am. And you are?”“I am Jim Perry, Liam’s bodyguard,” he introduced himself.My mouth formed an ‘O’ of realization. So this is the man who was in the bathroom. And also a 5-year-old has a bodyguard. Well, not that I
LiamI huff and squeeze Mr. Snowbell to my chest. When Daddy told me about a new nanny, I was sure she would be the same as the others. I have not been able to sleep thinking about what happened today. Maybe Miss Amy is different. No!I cannot think like that. Miss Amy looked different from the other nannies, but deep down, I knew she’d turn out the same.The old nannies always put on a show when they saw Daddy, getting all giggly and excited. What did Jim call that... umm... flirting? They always flirt with daddy. I don’t like that. I scrunched my nose. I even saw one of them take something and sneak it into her purse. Daddy and Jim say stealing is bad.So I have to protect Daddy from those women. I make them run away. It was easy since all I had to do was pull up some prank, or little mischief, or just I had to act out a little. And they would run away, leaving me and Daddy alone.But today had been different. Miss Amy hadn’t acted like the others. When I tried to run away from her a
AmyI bit my lip, trying to hold back my emotions as I looked around my tiny apartment. This had been my home for the last few years, and it held memories of both joy and sorrow. I squealed like a crazy school girl when I landed my teaching job in the kitchen. I cried on the floor when the doctor told me that my mother would need to go away to a hospice or hospital situation, as she needed constant care. This is the place where I have cried and smiled and picked myself up more than I like to admit.Currently, as I placed the last of my essentials into my bag, I couldn’t deny the emotional weight of leaving this place behind. I was almost fully packed, ready to move into Mr. Crawford’s home. My salary would cover the rent here as well as my mother’s medical bills, so I decided to keep this apartment as a safe haven.However, I still needed to pay this month’s rent, and I was short on funds. So, I made my way to Mr. Howard’s condo, my landlord. I tapped his door knocker. Mr. Howard, my l
Ryan“Yeah, I will be there in ten minutes,” I murmured into my phone and ended the call. The final meeting for our new project was scheduled for today, and I needed to check on the preparations.I quickly wrapped a towel around my waist and glanced around my room, making sure the coast was clear. Ever since the incident with Ms. Amy walking into my room unannounced, I’d become more cautious. I rolled my eyes at the memory but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips when I thought about her flushed face.That woman is something else. “Why am I even thinking about her?” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.I grabbed my charcoal grey suit and a black tie, then picked out one of my favorite silver-tone Rolex watches to wear. After a quick hairstyle adjustment, parting it to the side, and a spritz of aftershave, I was ready to go.Before leaving, I contacted Caine to ensure everything was in order with some documents I needed. Once that was sorted, I grabbed my laptop bag. I
AmyURGH! That man is so infuriating! I only asked him about using the kitchen to confirm that it was okay before going into his personal space because many people do not like that.Just like my Abuela. She despised it when someone dared to enter her kitchen. Before her passing when I was just six, I vividly remembered her sternly cautioning even my Mama to be careful and not disrupt her kitchen. And my Mama, her only child, was practically flawless when it came to kitchen prowess.Mr. Crawford seems like a person who would be very anal about HIS things, so I asked before I could do something in the kitchen. There was something intimate about entering someone’s bedroom or kitchen, and I didn’t want to overstep my bounds.“Everything okay, dear?” Mrs. Veil asked, breaking me out of my reverie as I realized I had already made my way to the kitchen.“Hmm... yes, everything’s fine,” I replied, with a reassuring smile, hoping she didn’t misconstrue my request as an attempt to avoid her cook