My Son's Nanny

RIVA'S POV I was wiping down a table in the restaurant when a woman's voice caught my attention. "Yes, it's true. We're very short-staffed right now. We have a large network, and many parents trust us with their children, but we don't have enough employees." I glanced toward the speaker. A woman in a black blazer and matching pants sat across from a man, discussing something. What was she talking about? I lingered nearby while pretending to clean another table. "If you know anyone looking for work, please let me know," the woman said as she stood up from her chair. My heart skipped. Should I ask her? Maybe this could be my chance to find a better job. Before I could change my mind, I hurried after her. "Excuse me!" I called. The noise of the restaurant drowned out my voice. She kept walking. "Ma'am!" A few customers turned to look at me, and heat rushed to my cheeks. The woman stopped and turned around. Embarrassed, I walked over to her. "Hi," I said nervously, offering my hand. She smiled and shook it. "Hello." "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You mentioned you were hiring. What kind of job is it?" "Oh." Her smile widened. "I work for a childcare agency. Parents leave their toddlers with us while they're at work, and we also provide nanny services.” "What would I have to do?" "Nothing too complicated. Play with the children, help feed them, and take care of them. If you're good with kids, it's a wonderful job." My eyes lit up. "I'd like to apply." "Really?" She looked genuinely pleased. Reaching into her purse, she handed me a business card. "Come to my office tomorrow at nine in the morning. We can talk more then." Her phone suddenly rang. "I have to take this. See you tomorrow." With a quick wave, she walked away. I looked down at the card in my hand. A smile slowly spread across my face. Maybe this was exactly what I needed. Rent was due next week, and working with children sounded a lot better than spending every day carrying plates and wiping tables. ⚡ After an hour, my shift finally ended. I changed out of my uniform and headed home. I didn't have any qualifications beyond a high school diploma. Getting a decent job wasn't easy. That's why the childcare position sounded so appealing. In my opinion, being a nanny was much better than spending my days carrying trays and dealing with rude customers. To save money, I walked home instead of taking the bus. By the time I reached my apartment building, my feet ached. I unlocked the door to my tiny rented apartment, but before I could step inside, my landlady appeared. "Riva, thank God you're finally here." The expression on her face made my stomach drop. "When are you going to pay your rent?" she demanded. "Just today, a woman came asking if this apartment was available. If you don't pay within three days, you'll have to move out." My heart sank. "Ma'am, please," I pleaded. "Just give me a little more time. I promise I'll pay within three days." Tears burned in my eyes. She sighed. "Don't cry. I'm giving you three days. After that, I want my money." Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away. I stood there for a moment, trying not to cry. Then I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. The apartment was small and worn down, but it was the only home I had. I headed straight for the bathroom. After stripping off my clothes, I stepped under the shower. Warm water cascaded over my body. I closed my eyes. Why is everything so hard? What if I don't get the job tomorrow? The money I earned at the restaurant barely covered my basic expenses. Every month felt like a battle I was losing. No. I clenched my fists. I have to get this job. No matter what. After my shower, I changed into my pajamas and made myself a simple dinner. The apartment was silent except for the ticking clock on the wall. Once I finished eating, I cleaned up and checked the time. I set my alarm for seven o'clock. Tomorrow could change everything. Holding onto that small hope, I climbed into bed and eventually drifted off to sleep. ⚡ The next morning, I woke to the shrill ringing of my alarm. Groaning, I reached over and switched it off. For a moment, I sat on the edge of my bed, stretching my stiff muscles and trying to wake up. Today was important. I couldn't afford to mess this up. Throwing aside the blanket, I made my bed before heading into the bathroom for my morning routine. A few minutes later, I stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed. A towel was wrapped around my body, and droplets of water clung to my skin. My damp hair hung down my back as I walked into the kitchen. I quickly prepared breakfast and ate while mentally going over what I would say during the interview. After finishing, I returned to my room and got dressed. I chose a simple pink top and a pair of light blue jeans. Comfortable white sneakers completed the outfit. By then, my hair had mostly dried. I carefully combed it before tying it into a neat ponytail. Standing in front of the mirror, I reached for the small silver pendant resting on my dresser. My fingers closed around it. It was the last thing I had from my parents. To anyone else, it was just a necklace. To me, it was priceless. I fastened it around my neck and took a deep breath. Everything will be okay. At least, I hoped so.. Grabbing my bag and water bottle, I locked the apartment door behind me and started walking. The journey felt much longer than usual. The closer I got, the more nervous I became. What if they didn't like me? What if I wasn't qualified enough? I pushed the thoughts aside and kept walking. Finally, after what felt like miles, I stopped in front of a modern office building. I pulled the business card from my pocket and checked the address one last time. This was it. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside the building and walked over to the reception desk. "Good morning," I said. The receptionist looked up from her computer and greeted me with a friendly smile. She seems nice. I pulled out the business card Miss Maria had given me and handed it to her. "My name is Riva. Miss Maria asked me to come here." The receptionist glanced at the card before nodding. "Of course. Please have a seat while I let her know you're here." Just as she was about to make the call, I spoke again. "You can tell her I'm the waitress from the restaurant last night." That would probably make it easier for her to remember me. "Sure." She picked up the phone and dialed a number while I sat down in one of the waiting chairs. My hands rested nervously in my lap. What if they don't hire me? The thought made my stomach twist. I looked around the office, trying to distract myself. The place was clean and professional, far nicer than anywhere I had ever worked before. Maybe this could really be a fresh start. A few minutes later, the receptionist hung up the phone and smiled at me. "Miss Maria will see you now." My heart immediately began pounding. I stood up, smoothed my shirt, and followed her down the hallway.