One Son got me a Billionaire

The lady at the counter scrubbed the glasses, obviously annoyed by my disturbance. Her eyes shot daggers at me, as if I were only making her day harder than it already was. “But I saw the application notice just yesterday,” I said to her, my voice barely audible. A loud clank followed as she dropped the glass into the rack, her obviously annoyed gaze coming to rest on me again. “Well, someone applied that same yesterday and got the job. Maybe next time you won’t think twice,” she said with a forced smile. Then she frowned and went back to cleaning the counter. From her attitude, I knew she wouldn’t be of any help to me. Needing to use the restroom, I decided to ask her for directions. “Could you please direct me to the restroom?” But instead of replying, she simply pointed down the hallway on my left. The attitude. Making my way in that direction, I couldn’t decide which door to go into since there was no label indicating which one was the restroom. I randomly picked the second door on my left and walked in. “How may I help you?” a startling voice said. I had entered the wrong room. A lady seated across a marble desk, looking fashionable and sleek, asked the question. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in. I was looking for the restroom,” I said, as my eyes scanned the room. Right on top of her desk was a nameplate, Melissa Hathaway, Manager. My eyes lit up, and I approached her, which made her raise a brow. “Good morning,” I greeted. But she seemed more interested in sizing me up. I felt her eyes scan me from head to toe, from my worn-out jeans to my loose top. Subconsciously, my hands rose to adjust my clothes. “There are no vacancies,” she said, to my surprise. How did she know? Well, judging from my looks, I couldn’t possibly be a customer at this sort of restaurant. A silent sigh escaped my lips. Great. The lady suddenly paused what she was doing, her gaze lingering on me. “Would you work as a nanny?” That was totally unexpected. However, I immediately agreed, desperate. I didn’t even think twice before voicing out a “Yes. That would be appreciated.” “Very well then,” she replied and gave me her house address to report to the following Morning. I immediately thanked her before stepping outside. I prepared early the next day, wanting to make a good first impression. Every corner of the house screamed luxury. It took everything in me to keep myself from wowing out loud as a security led the way into the mansion. “Call you when I get there. I got Max a new nanny, let me quickly tell her what she’d be doing,” Melissa said into her phone before ending the call with a soft laugh. I had the urge to block my nostrils from her overwhelming perfume. “MAX!” she called out, her gaze fixed on the wide stairs that led upstairs. Shortly after, a small figure appeared, making his way down the stairs. A breathtaking little boy, about four years old, came down the polished stairs, holding onto the railings. He stopped midway. “She’s your new nanny. She’ll be helping you with your assignments and playing games with you,” Melissa sweet-talked him, but he just stood there, unresponsive. His gaze rested on me for a while before looking away. “Here.” She placed a bunch of keys into my hands. “His room is locked only at night. The housekeeper will show you around.” With that, she hurriedly left. The boy, dressed in white pajamas, strolled over to me and lifted his head. “What’s your name?” His question made me smile at his cuteness. Squatting to his level, I replied, “Riele.” “I haven’t had breakfast,” he said. It appeared he rarely spoke more than a few words. “Oh, right.” I immediately dropped my bag and scrambled to locate the kitchen. The halls were huge, I should have asked him. After several failed attempts at finding the kitchen, I retraced my steps to the living room to ask for directions, but he was gone. Where did he go? I scanned around to check if I was in the right place. I definitely was, judging from the chandelier. The house was enormous and unfamiliar. Not knowing which way to go, I decided to follow the stairs he had come down from. Okay, don’t tell me it was just one family living in this huge house. “MAX!” I called. No answer. I knocked on every door I came across. Still no reply. Was this kid being naughty? “Max, where are you?” My voice sounded strained with worry. “I do hope you have his bedroom keys. If not…” An elderly woman dressed in a pinafore appeared, holding a vacuum cleaner. She shook her head knowingly. “What does he do with it?” I paused, suddenly scared. “Does he try to swal…” My eyes widened, and the next moment I was racing down the stairs, rummaging through my handbag, even though I clearly remembered dropping the keys beside it. “Oh no.” I couldn't find it. “He won’t come out until the door is broken down,” the housekeeper said behind me as if it were something perfectly normal. “What?!” This kid actually had tricks up his sleeves. To say he was hungry just so I would leave, only for him to take the keys. I quickly racked my brain, trying to figure out how to get him out. This nanny job came with substantial pay. I couldn’t afford to lose it. “Why does he do that?” I asked, but the woman had already left. Wasn’t she bothered at all? After much hustling, I managed to find the kitchen and asked the cook to quickly prepare his favorite dish. He got to it quickly after I told him I needed it to get Max out. Once done, I carried the food to his room, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he shouted from inside, “I WANT DADDY!” Four hours passed as I stood outside begging a four-year-old kid to open the door to his room. The food was now cold. I was frantic at the thought that he truly wouldn’t open the door until it was broken down. “Um, sorry, but when will his dad return home?” I asked as the housekeeper made her way out for the day. “His father traveled close to a year ago, so he won’t be returning today. You could try the windows. Later, child,” she said before leaving without a care. Are they being serious right now? How was I supposed to climb this kid’s window? From how smart he was, he had probably locked it too. My eyes trailed to the digital clock. It was past five. His mother would be back any moment. How would I explain that her son had outsmarted me? He hadn’t even eaten breakfast or lunch. The sound of an engine roared outside, and my heart skipped a beat. I rushed up the stairs. “Your mo…” I paused, realizing that wouldn’t do the trick, and quickly corrected myself. “Your dad is back, Max!” My fingers curled nervously, hoping he would believe it. And just like I thought, telling him his father was back worked. A click sounded almost immediately. The door flew open, and he bumped into me as he dashed down the stairs, his little legs racing. I breathed out in relief. This kid was a handful. “Dad!” his cheerful voice filled the hallway. “Huh? Max, wait up. Don’t run, you could fall.” I rushed downstairs after him, expecting to find Max with Melissa, but instead, I found a tall man with smooth, dirty-blonde hair bent down, ruffling Max’s hair. A slight smile graced his striking features. He straightened, and his gaze trailed toward me. I almost looked away. “Good evening,” I greeted. Melissa appeared from behind, panting. “Xavier… you didn’t tell me you’d be back today. I could have picked you up from the airport,” she said to the man. “I’ve been a bother to you enough,” he replied simply, hands in his pockets. He wore an F.P. Journe watch, a highly limited piece that could only be purchased by the ultra-wealthy. “Oh, come on now. You don’t owe me anything. You must be tired from your journey. Why don’t you go upstairs and freshen up?” Melissa said, reaching for his designer coat, which he kindly refused. “Thanks for looking after Max all this while. I need to make it up to him, so we’ll be leaving.” My ears perked up. Leaving? Did that mean my job was over? I couldn’t help but wonder about the nature of their relationship after hearing him say that. Were they separated? A baby-mama situation? “Um, Miss Melissa, what’s the new address?” I carefully asked her after she transferred the day’s payment. She let out a tired sigh. “He singlehandedly picks everyone who works in his home. You can’t go with them,” she said, referring to Max’s father. So what did that mean? She said it so casually, like it was normal to be relieved after the first day. “That would mean I can’t continue working as Max’s nanny,” I said. But Melissa’s attention had already shifted elsewhere. Pressing further might anger her. While packing Max’s things into the trunk, I thought of ways to approach his father. The aura he exuded earlier made it hard for me or was that just how wealthy people were? With father and son settled into the car, the driver started the engine, prompting me to knock on the tinted glass after gathering enough courage. Two gentle knocks later, the window rolled down, and a fresh car scent wafted out. “Oh.” I fidgeted. Max’s father was the one sitting by the window, his side profile sharp and defined up close. I stepped back. “I just wanted to say goodbye to Max.” I waved, even though I couldn’t see him. “Bye, Max.” But no response came from him. “Sir, I’m really good at this job. I promise to take care of Max like he’s my own son. Please, could I continue being his nanny?” I rushed out before the window could roll up. After a moment of silence, he asked, his voice chilly, “How long have you worked here?” Hesitating briefly, I answered, “It’s been quite some time, Mr…” He didn’t bother filling it in. Addressing him as “Mr.” felt odd. He looked no older than his twenties, perhaps twenty-eight to thirty. “Resume once the weekend is over,” he said. I barely had time to express my appreciation before Max cut in. “Dad, did you find her?” His father’s brow creased. “You said you were leaving to get me a mom.”