First Day At Work
1153 Words
The sun slipped quietly through the large bedroom windows, warming Nancy’s face and waking her gently. For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, wondering if everything that happened the day before was just a dream. The soft sheets, the silence… no cheap perfume, no loud neighbors, no bitter cold. This was real.
She sat up and pulled on a light robe that was laid neatly on the edge of her bed. The mansion still felt too big, too shiny, too perfect. But she was here, and she had a job to do. Nervous, but curious, she opened the door and walked slowly down the marble hallway, trying to remember where the dining room was.
The scent of fresh toast and brewed coffee guided her.
She finally found it.
At the head of a long glass table sat Marco, dressed sharp in a crisp white shirt. Next to him was little Alina, munching on pancakes with her legs swinging under the chair.
“Good morning,” Nancy greeted softly.
Alina's eyes lit up, her fork pausing mid-air. “Dad! She’s awake!” she announced with the excitement of someone spotting Santa.
Marco looked up from his coffee. “Good morning,” he said, his voice even but not cold. “Come join us.”
Nancy hesitated, then walked to the nearest seat and gently sat down.
“You read the rules I gave you?” Marco asked, without looking directly at her.
“Yes, I did.”
“Are you okay with them?” He finally met her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Good. That means you resume today officially,” he said, slicing into his toast. “You’re now her nanny.”
“Yay!” Alina clapped, her smile wide and genuine.
Marco continued, “You’ll work weekdays, go home on weekends. You’re not allowed to hit her, yell at her, or make her cry. Understood?”
Nancy nodded. “Understood.”
Before she could say another word, Lisa rushed into the room. “She’s here.”
Marco’s expression changed. “Who?”
“Monica.”
His grip on the coffee cup tightened. “Damn it. Throw her out.”
But it was too late. The clicking of heels on marble echoed through the hallway. Monica was already in the house.
Chaos unfolded like a storm.
“What is going on in this house?!” Monica’s voice rang out before she even saw them.
Nancy had no idea what to do. Then Alina froze, staring at the woman with wide, terrified eyes. Her lip trembled.
“Mama…” the little girl whispered, shrinking back in her chair. Then tears spilled down her cheeks.
Nancy’s heart twisted. Her instincts screamed at her to rush over and hold the child, but the rules… the rules.
“Do not touch me without washing your hands.”
Alina’s rule echoed in her head.
Nancy turned around, unsure where to go. She looked around helplessly until she spotted Lisa, who was already heading her way. Nancy followed her quickly to the kitchen, washed her hands like her life depended on it, and came back.
Alina was still crying, now hiding under the table.
Nancy crouched gently beside her. “Hey,” she whispered. “It’s okay. I washed my hands, see?” She held them up for Alina to see. “Can I hold you?”
Alina gave a small nod.
Nancy picked her up, softly humming as she held her. The child slowly relaxed, her head falling to Nancy’s shoulder, tears drying on her cheeks. Within minutes, she fell asleep.
Monica was still shouting at Marco in the hallway, but Nancy stayed still, focused only on the little girl in her arms.
Then the shouting stopped.
Nancy looked up and saw Marco standing by the door, arms folded, eyes locked on them.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice almost cracking. “She was scared. Who was that woman?”
Marco stepped forward, his voice calm but heavy. “Her name is Monica. My ex-wife. Alina’s mother.”
Nancy looked down at the sleeping child. “She cried the moment she saw her.”
He nodded. “She always does.”
They were both quiet for a moment. Then Marco said, “Let’s take her to bed.”
He led the way, and Nancy followed, still holding Alina close.
When they entered the child’s bedroom, Nancy stopped in her tracks. It was the most beautiful room she’d ever seen. Soft lavender walls, twinkling fairy lights across the ceiling, a round canopy bed with silver stars hanging from above. It looked like something out of a fairytale.
She paused, her eyes wide.
“Everything okay?” Marco asked from the side.
“Sorry,” she said quickly, stepping forward and gently laying Alina on the bed.
They both adjusted the blanket around her, careful not to wake her.
Suddenly, the blanket slipped off her feet.
They both bent down to fix it—and knocked foreheads.
“Ow—” Nancy winced, backing up.
Marco chuckled softly, rubbing his head. Then their eyes met.
There was a pause. An emotional, tense, fragile moment.
Neither of them said anything. But something was exchanged in that silence.
“Check on her every fifteen minutes,” Marco said finally, breaking the moment.
Nancy nodded. “Of course.”
Marco left the room quietly.
Nancy walked back to the kitchen and found Lisa wiping the counter, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Nancy said.
Lisa shook her head. “You did good. She likes you already.”
Nancy gave a tired smile. “You really think so?”
Lisa looked at her. “I’ve seen many nannies come and go. Most of them only care about Marco. None of them noticed what Alina really needs. You washed your hands first. That meant something.”
Nancy sat down. “She’s a sweet girl. She deserves better.”
Lisa hesitated, then said, “You know… I grew up with Marco. He’s like a brother to me. He’s been through a lot. He’s not easy, but he’s not heartless.”
Nancy looked down. “I don’t really know what I’m doing, Lisa.”
Lisa smirked. “Neither do the rest of us.”
They both laughed lightly.
A little while later, Nancy got up to go check on Alina again.
Lisa watched her go, her face thoughtful. “She’s different,” she whispered to herself.
When Nancy returned, she stood by the doorway for a moment, then walked over to Lisa again.
“Miss Lisa?”
“Yes?”
“Do all the workers here really get paid a million a month?”
Lisa dropped the spoon she was holding.
“A million?” she repeated, turning slowly to face her.
Nancy blinked. “Yes. That’s what I was told.”
Lisa stared at her in stunned silence.
- Writer
