The Devil's Au Pair

Chapter One – The New Me

Julietta Castellanos, alias Julia Mitchell

Two Years Later

I stared at the eviction notice my landlord gave me on my way out today. It shattered me completely. Now, the only roof over my head was gone. It wasn’t a great place to live, but it was all I could afford after Alan’s death. Where would I go now?

The last two years have been a roller-coaster ride for me. I had to change my identity, uproot myself from my hometown of Tijuana, Mexico, and start anew in New York, the city of dreams. It wouldn’t have been possible without Alan and Rose’s help. They gave my life a new direction.

I was now Julia Mitchell, a marketing executive at the headquarters of Sylvester Financial Inc., a renowned multinational finance company based in New York.

It was solely because of Alan that I got this chance. Mr. Benson Sylvester, the CEO, was my former employer and appointed me immediately without checking my credentials. I was indebted to him for trusting me.

My life was on track for a year, but Rose suffered a cardiac arrest and died in her sleep. A month later, Alan suffered from a brain stroke and had to be admitted to a hospital. With no one to look after him, I paid his medical bills and took care of him when his only son, Daniel, didn’t.

They had been a heartbroken couple before. Daniel had confiscated their savings and disappeared a month before they met me. Alan couldn’t buy the house he had been saving for years. As such, I was the only breadwinner of the family, sharing their two-bedroom rental place in the heart of Brooklyn.

After Alan had to be admitted to a hospital, the medical expenses escalated. I had to move into an apartment, sharing the rent with four other inmates. Yet I couldn’t save anything and pay my share of rent for the last six months.

Now with Alan’s death, I was left with nothing but my job and lots of debt: rent and medical bills.

Thankfully, I had no information about my stepmother or Miguel. They had no idea of my whereabouts so far, and I intended to let it stay that way. Now, I was accustomed to being Julia Mitchell, a homeless orphan struggling to make ends meet in the heart of New York.

“Earth to Julia! Whose love letter are you swooning over, girl!” My colleague and friend, Daniella Pierce from the accounts department, came over to pick me up. We were heading to a resort in the heart of the Hudson Valley. It was the venue where my close friend and colleague, Brynne Emerson, was getting married to Benson Sylvester’s grandson and our new CEO, Lucien.

I instantly hid the notice in my handbag. “I wish it were a love letter. Guys, don’t bother these days. They’ve become so lazy, preferring cliché pickup lines instead.” We chuckled, remembering the dumb guys in our office who always hit on us. Well, on Daniella, mostly because she was the most gorgeous creature on earth.

Yet I loved her. Daniella might be a spoiled, rich woman who slept around for fun. Yet to me, she was the kindest friend I ever had. I knew she would shelter me in her apartment if needed, but I didn’t want to be a burden to her. Maybe I would have to when everything failed, and I was on the streets.

“I know, right? Drake just messaged me, but I haven’t checked yet.” We chuckled as we walked towards her car.

Drake Ashford was Benson Sylvester’s great-nephew and pursued Daniella everywhere. Her life usually centered on him these days. She was lucky to have found her match.

So was my other close friend, Brynne Emerson. The only black sheep in the office was me. With my plain looks and reserved nature, no one wanted me. Brynne was gorgeous, and so was Daniella, and I was glad they were settling down.

Daniella drove through the scenic highway until the majestic Ramapo Mountains came into view. It took our breath away.

“Wow! This place is so ethereal. I wish I could meet my Prince Charming here!” I couldn’t control myself anymore. All my life, I had dreamed of meeting a tall, dark, and handsome man who would sweep me off my feet. But that never happened. No one gave me a second glance. I watched the pristine 18-hole golf course nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley, far ahead. Brynne was so lucky to get married at such a dreamy destination.

Daniella smiled. “And what if you do?”

“I’ll treat you, girl!” It was all in jest, and she knew it.

“Done! I’ll pray for you then.” She sounded more excited than I.

I smiled, knowing I could never get involved in a relationship. My past, my identity, would haunt me forever. I wouldn’t want to endanger another person’s life.

The moment we reached the resort, an attendant led us to the most luxurious suite on the entire property and knocked. Another attendant opened the door to allow us inside. Brynne gasped to see us on her doorstep. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds while her cheeks glowed with excitement. My heart swelled with happiness for my best friend. She deserved to be happy.

“Dani, Juli? Weren’t you arriving at eight for the reception?” Brynne jumped off the bed to hug us.

“No, the others are. We’re here to get you ready for your big day,” informed Daniella, and they chatted about how Lucien Sylvester had sent his chauffeured car for us. It seemed we were the only guests from Brynne’s side. After her parents’ death, she was in the same boat as I was. But my situation was far worse than theirs.

After a few minutes, Drake arrived to whisk Daniella away while I excused myself to go to my room and get my outfit. If Daniella hadn’t bought it for me, I would have worn an old, borrowed gown instead.

I sighed, thinking of the beautiful dresses I had in my closet in Tijuana. But more than the dresses, I longed to get my parents’ photographs and belongings from the house.

The resort was luxurious, and I reached the elevator to go to the third-floor room I was sharing with Daniella. Lucien had already booked it for us, or I couldn’t stay the night at his expensive resort.

The elevator stopped before me, and a group of three men emerged, clad in business suits. But my gaze fell on the tallest among them. Dark brown wavy hair, square jaws, an arrogant nose, and smoky blue-gray eyes that matched the color of his suit drew me towards him. Apart from his broad shoulders and build, it was his sudden smile that took my breath away. I noticed the dimples on his right cheek - the biggest I had ever seen on a man.

“I hope I’m not late. I had to wrap up the Cornerstone deal and rush here.” His deep baritone voice made my stomach flutter, arousing the butterflies for the first time in my life.

Then his eyes fell on me. His smile vanished, and so did his dimple.

His expression instantly changed to a grim, calculating, and unapproachable one. The cold gray eyes swept over me for a fraction of a second before looking away. I watched him walk away, and my heart felt crushed. All my rose-tinted notions of meeting my Prince Charming crumbled to dust.

‘Come to your senses, Julietta. He’s way beyond your league,’ prodded my inner mind.

I went over to my room and pulled out the dress. It was a beautiful teal-blue, off-the-shoulder gown with an illusion, embellished neckline. I had Rose’s diamond studs to match my outfit. Fixing my waist-length chocolate brown hair in a messy bun, I walked out of the room. I had no makeup to enhance my look. Maybe I could borrow Brynne’s makeup kit later to fix my face.

“Damn!” I froze, knowing whose voice it was.

What was he doing in the room next to mine? Should I look? Taking baby steps, I reached his open door to peer inside through the crack.

To my immense horror, the door opened wide, and he strode out, only to collide with me!

“What the f*ck!” He sounded so angry, I panicked.

Hoisting the swirling skirt a little, I ran down the corridor as fast as my legs could carry me. My heart pounded in my chest with fear and something else. Would he seek me out to punish me?

Now I had changed my mind about staying the night.

I reached Brynne’s room just in time. The wedding ceremony was about to start, and our ex-boss, Benson Sylvester, came inside with a woman.

“This is Drake’s aunt, Vera Sylvester.”

I frowned at her. Why did she look familiar? Where had I seen her before? They escorted Brynne out of the room while I chewed my lips, trying to remember her.

We walked outside towards the white gazebo, elegantly positioned against the breathtaking backdrop of the towering mountains.

The place was so dreamy and ethereal, my body trembled with excitement. “Wow, so romantic!”

This time, even Daniella agreed. “I know, right?”

But I hardly heard her, my focus more on the man on the other side of the groom. Clad is a navy tuxedo, he stood taller than everyone around him. As if sensing my eyes on him, he looked my way, holding my gaze for an eternity.

“Earth to Julia!” whispered Brynne, bringing me back to reality.

“What? I’m very much here.” I knew my flushed cheeks gave me away.

My gaze fell on Vera Sylvester, who watched me with interest. I gasped with surprise, now realizing why she looked so familiar.

She resembled the tall stranger! In fact, she was a replica of him!