Hailey heaved a sigh as she pressed the doorbell by the huge black gate with sharp spikes. She had no idea who owned the house except that her friend had somehow managed to get her an interview as a nanny.
It wasn't her ideal job but she could start with something small before she can work her way back into her newspaper office or another office.“Who is it?” a robotic voice asked over the monitor underneath the doorbell.Hailey peered at the monitor and smiled. “Hailey Parker. I'm here for the nanny interview.”The gate swung open immediately and Hailey gasped as she took in the interior of the house.The house had an ice sculpture of a swan in the waterfall. The walls were all tiled and the floor of the house was smoothed with bricks.The mansion stood tall and proud as she looked around for the person who had opened the gate but she found none.She glanced at the car park and sucked in a deep breath at the number of expensive cars which were parked there.She risked a glance at the compound once more and shuddered. What if she was in a kidnapper’s house? She wondered as she approached the front door after crossing the foyer.She raised her hands to knock but the door was pulled open to reveal a tall man in his mid-fifties staring at her with mild dislike.He was dressed in a white shirt and black khaki trousers. He had an apron on so Hailey didn't know if he was a staff or her boss.“Good morning, Sir,” she greeted politely.The man raised a brow at her and she noticed his grey eyes flickered in surprise. She also noticed that the slight dislike in his eyes has softened.Yeah, she's gonna crush this interview, she mused happily.“Thank you. Do come in,” he replied immediately as he composed himself.She smiled and entered the sitting room. Her jaw hit the ground as she took in the beautiful structure of the sitting room.The fireplace and mantle were a lovely design that was built in a way that you could place your legs on makeshift sand from the beach.The house was warm and cozy and the sofas were too soft and milky. The chandelier gave the house a warm glow.“Take a seat, Miss. Parker.”Hailey dropped down on one of the sofas and sighed in contention without making it so obvious.“I didn't know the agency would send someone so quickly. I just put up the ad yesterday,” he stated.She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why did you think so?”The man glared at her. “Don’t pretend I'm sure you're only here for her dad and not the kid. Normally they usually arrive for the interview at midday after taking their time to look good for her father.”Hailey nodded. She finally understood why he had exhibited a hint of dislike towards her. It was a mutual affection he had shared with other previous nannies.Her journalist instincts turned and she figured out how she could turn the situation around without revealing that she wasn't from any agency.“I’m sorry if you feel that's why I'm here but I can assure you that I'm here only for the little girl. I am a new trainee in the nanny agency so when my boss hinted to me of the job I took it upon myself to arrive earlier because I love kids,” she replied politely.The man swooned again she could tell as she stared at his dazed look.“So, you've not taken care of any child before? You don't have any experience?”She flashed him a bright smile. “No, Sir but I believe I have more experience with kids than those previous nannies. Plus I don't know her dad so he shouldn't distract me.”The man considered her for a second and nodded his head. “You’re polite and you look sincere. I suppose I could give you a trial. If you mess up, I’ll throw you out on your ass!”A smile blossomed on her face and she took her acting skills to the next level by kneeling to appreciate his generosity.“Thank you so much for this opportunity, Sir. I promise you're not gonna regret it.”The man blushed in embarrassment as he helped her stand up.“There’s no need for such formalities. Please stand and call me Leo, I'm the family's butler.”Hailey grinned. “Nice to meet you, Leo.”He nodded at her and gave her a tight-lipped smile.“Here’s the contract and your application approval letter for the job.”Hailey glanced at the document and her heart skipped a bit when she came across her payment.“Is this my salary?” she quizzed, shocked and not bothering to mask it.Leo nodded. “The boss can be generous to his workers. That's why it pisses me off when I see other previous nannies throw themselves at him.”Hailey nodded as she glanced at the number of zeros there again. She signed the contract and handed it back to Leo.“Thank you so much,” she said this time with sincerity.He nodded. “I think it's time to give you a tour of the house and also inform you that I sent the chauffeur to get your bags from your house address.”Hailey raised a brow at him. “My clothes?”“Yes, you'll be staying in the mansion with Dawn till after the wedding,” he replied.“Wedding?” she raised a questioning brow at him.He gave her a suspicious look. “I thought you came from an agency?”Oh shit! She was about to blow this shit up now!!“Yes,” she replied in a neutral tone.“Then why didn't your boss tell you all the information required?” he quizzed his brows still furrowed in suspicion.She shrugged. “My boss didn't deem it necessary to tell me about a wedding.”“It was marked as a requirement. Any nanny coming in is supposed to know that the boss is getting married and the mansion will be busy,” he eyed her curiously.A furious scream was heard by the stairs and that saved her from answering the question she had no answer to.She glanced up and saw a little girl six years old running down the stairs, screaming her lungs out.“No, you can't hire her until I've finished my investigation as to whether she's a daddy stealer, Leo!” she yelled.Hailey rolled her eyes. No one told her she would be taking care of a highly intelligent and annoying child.Well, she wasn't quitting anytime soon not with the number of zeros in her salary.Chase Denver ran a hand through his dark spiky hair tousling it for the fifth time today. He was restless and he knew the reason for his anger. He wasn't prepared for the responsibility his grandfather handed over to him.He knew he promised them he would do anything to save the family business but then…His thoughts were interrupted by a shrieking female. She strutted into his office, her green eyes blazing with fire, her lips pouted in a frown.Her red hair fluttered around her waist and she glared at him ready to breathe fire and brimstone.“Before you say anything, I was just about to call you,” he lied smoothly.“Bullshit!” she snapped, “I called you four hours ago!!”He nodded. “I've been in a meeting since then.”She rolled her eyes. “Save your lies to someone who doesn't know you.”He raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, you got me. I didn't feel like returning your calls, happy now?”She smirked. “I will be after I tell my grandfather that you want our union to fall apart.”
Chase Denver glared at the woman smiling sheepishly before him. He patted the back of his head where she had bumped him on and groaned.He hadn't just gotten a nanny but a stalker too! “I want her out of this house!”Leo stared at him like he was crazy.“But sir, she's the best nanny we’ve gotten so far who doesn't know you,” he cried.Chase hurried up the stairs and headed to his room. He didn't want to have this conversation before her, especially when his head was banging.“My room, Leo!” he snapped.Leo followed him closely and kept muttering how he had a good feeling about the girl who just whacked him over his head with a frying pan in his own house!Finally, they got to his room and he slammed the door before turning to vent his anger on Leo.“How dare you say nice things about her when she's a psycho sent to murder me?!”Leo gave him a weird look. “I know you're upset but you've got to calm down.”Chase glared at him. “You want me to calm down?! I had to hide in the office so
Hailey's expression held her shock, just as Chase stared at her in surprise. She didn't mean it. It was just a reflex action. An automatic response to a kiss she wasn't expecting, wasn't even prepared for, and worst of all, from her boss who believed all the women he'd hired, had come to have sex with him.She was different. Heck, she didn't even know him until today. He was attractive, no doubt. But he was rude, and quite off. Her shock expression had turned to fear, and then remorse when she met Chase's blazing gaze."I...I didn't mean it," she squeaked, stepping back in shock.Gosh Hailey, what have you done?!Why did she slap him? There were many ways to react to an unwanted kiss aside from slapping.Maybe she could have kicked him where the sun never shines.Worst, Hailey.Oh God! She was doomed.Fired Hailey, you're fired! She thought dejectedly."How dare you?" His voice was low, but the anger amplified it. His eyes shot hate lasers, and Hailey was beginning to melt."I'm sorry
By the time Hailey left the manor, it was quite late. She got home tired, and drained by the day's events, and not once did she not repeat the happenings in her head. She could not stop thinking about what Chase said and did.She boarded a taxi down to her apartment, and was still in thoughts till the car had come to a halt before her little apartment. Once she was inside the safety of her house, she undressed, took a quick shower and then microwaved some macaroni and cheese. She ate with a glass of milk, while she tried to catch up with the news.That was the only little distraction she had before her mind returned to thinking of Chase, his sassy daughter, Dawn and then the nice butler, Leo. Given, that house was a little drama of three different personalities in a blend. She had created quite the impression.Speaking of impressions, she had created a really bad impression on her first day. Considering Dawn was being a bit difficult, and her father, Chase had to be an asshole. And, sh
"Dawn!" Hailey called out, placing the ice cream plates on the bench, she went in search of Dawn. At first, she believed the girl was probably playing hide and seek somewhere. Maybe she was beginning to warm up to me, she thought.So she began combing through the park, searching for a certain dark haired six year old with emerald coloured eyes, dressed in a blue floral dress.For thirty good minutes, Hailey combed the entire park, alternating the sides and positions searching for Dawn. She bent, scrunched, and even crawled, moving amongst the playing kids hoping to see Dawn somewhere amongst the crowd of kids, yet the little girl was nowhere to be found.Alarmed by the turn of events, she began to ask the other kids, and adults who sat around if they'd seen a certain dark haired, Emerald green eyed six year old, dressed in a blue floral dress.Firstly, she walked towards a blonde lady who was struggling with fixing the shoelaces of her giggling son, who seemed happy with stressing his
Where the park was situated was a good distance from Denver's Headquarters in New York City. And since, Chase took his daughter almost everywhere; for walks, drives and several outings, the six year old was quite conversant with some parts of the city.Dawn had watched Hailey stroll away to get the ice cream, she'd waited for just the right opportunity to make Hailey look bad, so her father would have every cause to fire her.To her, Hailey was nothing but a Daddy stealer, just like Natalie, and every other nanny that they had hired. Hailey was happy when she requested chocolate flavour, and had gone to get the ice cream. Only that Dawn's favourite was actually mint, and the unsuspecting girl had left Dawn to carry out her mission.Quickly, she'd left the bench and ran all the way out of the park, and had headed straight to her father's office. By the time she got to the Office, she was breathless and her little legs shook at the strenuous exercise she had undergone.The security g
Hailey felt like dying.She was sure Chase would arrest her for not taking proper care of his daughter. They had searched all over the park again, and outside the streets, asking if anyone saw Dawn. But, it looks like the six year old just disappeared into thin air.No trace of her or anything."Shouldn't we go to the police station?" Ciara asked her friend at some point."And turn myself in?" Hailey questioned with tears filled eyes."What do you mean by turning yourself in? You're not a criminal," Ciara started in confusion."No, I'm not. But, it was my carelessness that caused her disappearance. If only I had stayed at home with her, then I would not be in this situation," She lamented.Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Hailey was a brave girl, and her friend could notice how she struggled to maintain her brave front."Hailey, it's not your fault Dawn went missing. You were only trying to be nice. If she had stayed put, then we wouldn't have been searching for her for close t
Hailey had spent a few more minutes to collect herself properly, before deciding to return to the mansion. Ciara had hailed a taxi, but just when she was about to enter, Hailey stopped her."Go home, Cee. You have done more than enough for me today," She said, touching her shoulder lightly."You can't just go alone. I would be there for moral support," Ciara reasoned."My boss will be more pissed if I brought you along. I think I should handle this on my own." Hailey said with some sort of resolve."But--are you sure?" Ciara pressed doubtfully "I could wait outside the building. I don't want you breaking down before your boss," her voice held concern, and Hailey's heart melted.Pulling her friend closer, she hugged her tightly. Ciara returned the hug patting her back reassuringly."I'm going to be fine. Now, you just go home, take a shower, eat and rest those legs," Hailey said with a small smile.Ciara nodded, fixing a little smile as Hailey detached from her then slid into the wait