The Billionaire’s Nanny

Chapter Five

Angel’s POV.

The alarm clock buzzed earlier than usual, and I jolted awake with a racing heart. For a moment, I just lay there staring at the cracked ceiling of my tiny bedroom,, trying to steady my breathing. Today wasn’t just another day. Today was the day I started working for Dean Knight.

The memory of yesterday’s interview lingered fresh in my mind, the sharp cut of his voice, the way he looked at me like I was some puzzle he didn’t trust enough to solve. Cold, unyielding, and intimidating, Dean Knight wasn’t the kind of man who gave second chances. He had made that painfully clear.

And yet, I had one month. One month to prove I could do this, that I could be the person Liam needed.

I swung my legs out of bed, shivering when my bare feet touched the wooden floor. Mom was already up, humming quietly in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee drifted down the hallway, a reminder of her unshakable strength. She’d been working herself ragged at the diner to help with the mountain of debt Dad left behind. The guilt weighed heavily on me, but so did determination. This job was the chance we needed, the light at the end of our tunnel.

I dressed carefully, pulling on a soft blouse and pressed slacks, both secondhand but neat. I tied my hair back into a tidy ponytail, wanting to look professional but not overdone. Dean didn’t seem like the type of man impressed by appearances anyway.

Mom poked her head into my room as I slipped my shoes on. “You’re up early.”

“I don’t want to be late,” I said, forcing a smile.

She stepped inside, her eyes softening as she smoothed a wrinkle from my sleeve. “You’re going to do great, mija. That little boy already loves you. His father will see that too, eventually.”

I wanted to believe her, but Dean Knight didn’t strike me as the kind of man who softened easily. Still, I hugged her tightly before leaving, whispering a silent prayer as I made my way to the bus stop.

By the time I arrived at the Knight estate, my nerves had tripled. The mansion loomed like something out of a movie, white stucco walls gleaming under the Miami sun, tall palm trees swaying in the warm breeze. The gates opened slowly, and I stepped through, clutching my small bag tightly.

Marlene, Dean’s assistant, greeted me at the door with her usual brisk efficiency. “You’re on time. Good. Come in.”

I followed her through the expansive foyer, my eyes catching on marble floors, sparkling chandeliers, and artwork that probably cost more than my entire college tuition. It felt surreal to stand here, like I didn’t belong in this world of quiet luxury.

“Mr. Knight is in his office,” Marlene said, leading me down a hallway. “But you’ll be spending most of your time with Liam today. He’s upstairs in the playroom.”

I nodded quickly. “Thank you.”

Before I could head up, however, Dean appeared at the top of the staircase. He descended with the kind of presence that filled the room, his tailored suit sharp, his expression unreadable. His gaze landed on me, and for a second, the world seemed to narrow to just those piercing eyes.

“You’re here,” he said flatly.

“Yes, sir,” I answered, my voice smaller than I intended.

He studied me for a long moment, then gave a curt nod. “Liam is waiting. Don’t keep him waiting.”

Dismissed already. I forced myself to breathe and hurried upstairs.

The playroom was a different world entirely, bright, colorful, and filled with toys, books, and sunlight streaming through wide windows. And there, in the center of it all, sat Liam.

He looked up from his toy car the moment I entered, his face breaking into a grin that melted every ounce of tension in me. “Angel!” he shouted, scrambling to his feet.

My heart swelled as he rushed over, his small arms wrapping around my waist.. I crouched down, hugging him back tightly. “Hey, buddy. I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he said, his silver-gray eyes, the exact copy of his father’s, shining with excitement. “Come play with me!”

Just like that, the weight on my shoulders eased. With Liam, everything felt simple, natural. I followed him to the floor, listening intently as he explained the rules of his imaginary racetrack game. He chattered endlessly, his voice bubbling with joy, and I couldn’t help but laugh with him.

Hours passed quickly than I expected. We built towers of blocks, raced toy cars, and read picture books. At snack time, I sliced fruit in the kitchen while he perched on the counter, swinging his legs and asking me a million questions.

It was the easiest part of the day.

The hardest came later, when I caught Dean standing quietly in the doorway of the playroom. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, his expression guarded. Watching. Judging.

Liam looked up and beamed. “Daddy! Look what Angel built!”

Dean’s eyes flicked from his son’s excitement to the lopsided tower of blocks, then back to me. “Impressive,” he said dryly.

I flushed, unsure if it was sarcasm or genuine. “He did most of the work,” I said quickly.

Liam tugged at his father’s sleeve. “Can Angel stay forever?”

The words punched the air out of me. I froze, glancing at Dean, who stiffened immediately. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes, pain, maybe, or fear. Then it was gone, replaced by that cold mask again.

“We’ll see,” he said shortly, patting Liam’s head before walking away.

My chest tightened. I didn’t miss the unspoken warning in his tone. Don’t get too comfortable.

That night, after Liam was tucked into bed, I lingered in the quiet of the playroom, tidying up the toys. The house was silent except for the faint hum of the ocean beyond the estate walls. I should’ve been relieved that my first day was over without disaster. Instead, I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me.

This job wasn’t just about me. It was about Mom, about the bills piling up on our kitchen table, about clawing my way out of the hole my father had dug for us. Failure wasn’t an option.

I stacked the last set of blocks back into their bin, whispering to myself, “One month. Just one month. You can do this.”

But deep down, I knew the truth: surviving Dean Knight’s icy glares and impossible standards would be the real challenge.

And the more time I spent with Liam, the more my heart ached at the thought of what might happen if I failed him.