The Nanny by zoee

PROLOGUE Pulling her big pink box down the stairs wasn't how Jaylani Rivers wanted to start her day. Standing at the front of her now former apartment, she was on the brink of tears. It is funny how life can go from good to bad in a matter of days. Jaylani had lost everything. Her dream job. Her beautiful apartment. Her cosy little workspace just because of a mistake. Trust. Now, she had to start from scratch. From rock bottom, as if she did not do that years ago. Working brick by brick only to be trampled upon. Such is life. She had sold more than half of what she owned. Designer clothes,jewellery, furnitures and was able to gather enough to book a flight to another state and start afresh. This was probably what she was good at, running away once everything goes into smokes. CHAPTER 1 Jaylani moved through the busy bustling streets. Her face, a mask of frustration, her eyes scanning frantically for a clue of an opening of a job. It's been a year, and it seems like she's been stuck in a never-ending loop of suffering. From working at a restaurant to being a delivery lady and now looking for any kind of job that will keep her light on and her water running. Anything at all. As she walked, her eyes caught sight of the billboard. It was Tiana and Damon, walking hand in hand, their face radiant, smiles polished in the high society fashion. the headline shook her to the core. Tiana and Damon engaged. Jaylani stood dead in her tracks. Pedestrians swerved around her petite frame, tossing looks of annoyance or mumbling. But she was deaf to that. A tear came, and another and then it all came rushing down, her frustration, her sadness, her anger. Every single thing. "May the peace of God never find you," she cursed under her breath. She had always been the one to run. Run away from her problems. She hadn't fought. Packed half of her things, sold the rest, and took the next flight back to her hometown. Staring back at the billboard, which has now shifted to the display of vibrant summer collection. Jaylani wiped her face and adjusted the strap of her bag on her left shoulder, and forced herself to move. In as much as she was hurt, crying wasn't going to help her rebuild her empire. There was one thing she had learnt in the past one year, the good are always trampled and the bad? More often than not, they triumphed. Her trail of thoughts was broken by the rumbling of her stomach. She was hungry. She looked around and saw a cafe, small but alright, with an open front and big patio umbrellas as shade. It was perfect. Blue bells Cafe Jaylani walked into the cafe, which dinged as she entered and ordered a smoothie and a small sandwich. With the emergency cash she had left. She flipped through i********: and saw everyone either getting married, getting their dream jobs, or having kids. And none of it belonged to her. Turning the phone upside down, Jaylani placed it on the table. Heaved out a loud sigh and looked into the streets. Life really doesn't go the way we plan now? Does it She murmured to herself. Today was an epic fail. No job found, nothing at all. Just the wholesome news of Tiana and Damon engaged, getting their happily ever after. She stayed out for a whole hour before deciding to head home, as fate was not on her side. ****** ****** ***** ***** "For the love of all thing holy, Ziva, please stop crying," an exhausted man pleaded, patting the baby on the back. The baby seemed to not even listen to his pleas. She seemed utterly restless, clad in a pink onesie and a bow that had gone lopsided. Ziva wailed, her tiny face flushing a deep red shade. "What else should I do? " he cried. Picking up his phone, that lay on his desk with one hand and cradled the baby in the other as she cried continuously. He called his aunt. She picked almost immediately. "What's going on, i can hear her cries," She inquired. "I dont know, ma," he replied. His voice was tired and distraught. "She's been going like this for hours. " "You've fed her? " Aunt Annie asked. "Yes, I've fed her, burped her, bathed, and even changed her,"he said. "But nothing seems to work. She keeps on crying and crying," "Put the phone on loudspeaker," she ordered. And immediately, he did as he was told. Auntie Annie began to sing a heartfelt lullaby, the miracle happened, Ziva's screams softened into soft whimpers, and then finally, she drifted into sleep. Luca held his breath as he placed her in her cradle. He watched her for a long moment. Covering her slightly with the light blanket. Closing the door slightly and turning on the warm light. "Thanks so much, ma," he appreciated. "You've helped me a lot." "You are welcome, anytime." she replied. "I wish I could be with you right now to assist with the baby," "It's okay, you just take care of Uncle," He replied. "You sound so tired, my son. Have you had anything to eat? " He almost forgot about his meal in his efforts to put baby Ziva to sleep. "Not yet, I will soon. " he replied. Not wanting to worry her. "You need to employ a new nanny. You can't keep doing this to yourself. " Annie said. "You're grieving and working. This is all too new for you. " He thought hard about what she said. He wanted to be the one to take care of baby Ziva. He promised he'd do so. But he can't do that on his own. He can't even seem to get himself right. It's been months, but he's still weighed down by the loss. "Yes, ma. " he replied. "I will. Thank you so much once again. You've helped me a lot with Ziva. " "You are welcome. Now go and rest up. I will see if i can find a nanny to help you, i seem to know one or two people back at home," She added. Her voice laced with worry and pity. She pitied him. The arrival of Ziva in his life has turned everything into a different show. "Goodnight ma, thank you. " he replied. "My regards to uncle and call me if you need anything. " "Will do, son, goodnight. " And the call ended. Placing the phone on the nightstand. He stared out at the city. Broken. I wish everything could go back to the way it was months ago.