THE NANNY & The WIDOWER DAD

THE INTERVIEW

_DAY 1. MONDAY. 7:30 AM. MANHATTAN, NEW YORK._

RAIN.

Christine's heels made a splashing sound in the water.

Her CV was wet in her hand.

Wallet: 4 dollars and 37 cents.

Bank notice: RENT DUE IN 3 DAYS

She looked up.

COLE TOWER. 67 floors.

Glass. Steel. And 2 guards at the door.

"This is it." She took a breath.

"Last interview. After this, I go home."

---

_7:45 AM - THE LOBBY_

The lobby was marble.

So cold her feet froze.

Receptionist: "Name?"

Christine: "Christine Hayes.

Interview for nanny position.

For Mr. Nicholas Cole."

The girl looked up.

"65th floor. Elevator is there."

Christine got in.

Mirror.

She fixed her hair.

Cheap dress. But clean.

"I can do this." She told herself.

DING

65th floor.

---

_7:50 AM - THE FIRST GLIMPSE_

The door opened.

And in front of her...

It wasn't an office.

It was a home.

A big hall.

Glass wall.

Rain falling over New York.

And standing there was him.

Nicholas Cole.

Tall.

Black suit.

No tie.

Wet hair.

Like he just came out of the shower.

But his eyes.

His eyes were completely empty.

He looked at Christine.

From head to toe.

1 second.

Then looked away.

"Nanny?" His voice was deep. Cold.

Christine: "Yes.

Christine Hayes."

Nicholas: "You're late."

Christine checked her watch. 7:52.

"I'm 2 minutes early, sir."

The corner of Nicholas's lips moved.

Like he wanted to smile. But forgot how.

He came closer to her.

So close Christine could smell his perfume.

Expensive. Like wood.

"Rules." Nicholas said.

"1. No lies to the kids."

"2. No entering my room without permission."

"3. No noise after 10 PM."

"4. And..."

He paused.

Looked straight into Christine's eyes.

"Don't trust me."

Christine's heart went thud thud

"Why sir?"

Nicholas turned his back.

"Because I don't trust anyone."

Silence.

Only the sound of rain.

Then a voice came from upstairs.

"UNCLE NICK. IS THERE A NEW AUNTY?"

4 kids came running down the stairs.

The oldest boy 12 years old.

Second one 10 years old.

Third girl 7 years old.

The youngest 4 years old. Holding a teddy.

All of them looked at Christine.

The youngest ran straight to her.

"Hi. I'm Noah."

Christine sat down.

"Hi Noah. I'm Christine."

Noah held her hand.

"You're pretty."

Christine smiled.

"Thank you."

Nicholas watched.

No expression on his face.

But he didn't pull Noah's hand away from Christine.

"Enough." Nicholas said.

"Kids, go upstairs."

The oldest: "Dad, is the interview over?"

Nicholas: "Yes."

All of them went up.

Noah waved again as he left.

"Bye Christine aunty."

The door closed.

Then it was just the two of them.

Nicholas placed the contract on the table.

"3 months.

4000 dollars per month.

Room and food here."

"Condition: Make the kids happy."

"Don't interfere in my life."

Christine picked up the pen.

Her hand was shaking.

4000 dollars.

Rent would be covered.

Brother's medicine.

She signed it.

Nicholas took the paper.

"Start tomorrow."

Christine: "Not today?"

Nicholas: "You're tired today."

He opened the door.

"The guard will drop you downstairs."

Christine went out.

In the elevator.

Her heart felt strange.

That man was ice.

But in his eyes.

For one moment.

There was pain.

---

_FLASHBACK - 6 MONTHS AGO_

_DAY -180. NEW YORK HOSPITAL._

WHITE ROOM.

Christine was sitting beside the bed.

In front of her, her mom.

Cancer. Last stage.

Mom's hand: "Beta."

Christine: "I'm here, Mom."

Mom: "You're strong.

Take care of people."

Then she closed her eyes.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Christine didn't scream.

She just squeezed her hand tighter.

After that.

Funeral.

Debts.

Brother in college.

Lost her job.

3 months.

No work.

Rent on her head.

At night she would think:

"Mom said be strong."

"But being strong is so hard."

---

_FLASHBACK END. BACK TO PRESENT_

_DAY 1. 6:00 PM. COLE PENTHOUSE._

Christine came back.

With her bag.

Nicholas was on the sofa.

Laptop.

Kids around him.

Noah ran to her.

"Aunty is here."

He took Christine's bag.

"It's heavy."

Christine: "It's clothes."

Noah: "Show me."

Nicholas looked up.

"Noah."

The boy stopped.

"Sorry Dad."

Nicholas stood up.

"My office.

Now."

Both of them went inside.

The office was big.

On the wall, 1 painting.

Of a woman.

Smiling.

Christine looked at it.

Nicholas immediately put a curtain over it.

"Talk." Nicholas said.

Christine: "Sir, what's the kids' routine?"

Nicholas gave her a file.

"School at 8.

Back at 4.

Homework.

Dinner at 7.

Sleep at 9."

Christine: "And you?"

Nicholas: "Me.

I work."

He stopped her.

"I need to tell you one thing."

Christine: "Yes?"

Nicholas: "That painting.

Don't ask about it."

Christine: "Okay."

Nicholas looked at her.

Took a deep breath.

"Christine."

"Yes?"

"You seem good."

"For them."

Then he turned away.

Christine came out.

Heart racing.

"I seem good?"

She told herself.

"No.

Just as a nanny."

---

_DAY 1. 9:00 PM - THE FIRST NIGHT_

The kids were asleep.

Christine looked at her room.

Guest room.

Small. Clean.

New York lights coming through the window.

Knock.

Nicholas.

Holding a glass of milk.

"For Noah.

He gets scared at night."

Christine took it.

"I'll give it to him."

Nicholas: "Thank you."

He was about to leave.

Then he stopped.

"Christine."

"Yes?"

"Don't tell anyone

that you're here."

Christine: "Why?"

Nicholas: "Because."

He left the sentence incomplete.

"Good night."

He left.

Christine placed the glass down.

Looked out the window.

The rain had stopped.

She took out her phone.

Messaged her brother: Got the job.

4000 dollars.

Don't worry.

Reply came: Congratulations.

Take care.

She lay on the bed looking at the ceiling.

"New York.

New job.

4 kids.

And 1 man

with an ocean in his eyes."

She couldn't sleep.

6 AM alarm.

New day.

New beginning.

And outside the door

Noah's voice:

"Christine aunty.

Will you make breakfast?"

Christine smiled.

"Coming, baby."

The moment she opened the door.

Nicholas was standing there.

Without a shirt.

A scar on his arm.

Water dripping from his hair.

Their eyes met.

For 1 second.

Then Nicholas took a towel.

"You're up early."

Christine: "For the kids."

Nicholas nodded.

"Thank you."

And he walked away.

Christine took a deep breath.

"These 3 months.

Won't be easy."

But she had made a promise.

To make the kids happy.

No matter what her heart said.