*THE ACCIDENTAL FAMILY*

__EPISODE 2:__ "The Boss"

__EPISODE 2:__ "The Boss"

7:03 AM.

I was late.

The gates to 14 Hale Estate were black. Tall. The kind of gates that said _stay out_.

My backpack felt too heavy. One change of clothes. My sketchbook. $43.22 in my wallet.

My heart was hammering.

_No attachment. Don’t speak unless spoken to._

The intercom crackled when I pressed it.

"Yes?"

That voice again. Cold. Tired.

"Um. Aria Carter. For the nanny position?"

Silence. Then a buzz. The gates opened.

The house was worse.

All glass and stone and nothing warm. No plants. No lights on.

It looked like a museum no one lived in.

The front door opened before I could knock.

And there he was.

Mr. Hale.

29.

But he looked older.

Dark circles under his eyes. Black suit at 7AM. Hair messy like he’d run his hands through it all night.

He wasn’t handsome. He was... sharp. Like broken glass.

His eyes flicked over me. Once.

Paint on my jeans. Cheap sneakers. Hair in a messy bun.

I saw the judgment.

"You’re late."

"Traffic. I’m sorry."

"Don’t be late again."

He stepped aside. I walked in.

The house smelled like nothing. No food. No baby powder. No life.

Just expensive air and silence.

"Rules," he said. No preamble.

I dropped my bag.

"Rule one: The twins come first. Always."

"Okay."

"Rule two: Don’t speak to me unless it’s about them."

My throat went dry. "Okay."

"Rule three: No attachment. You are staff. Not family."

I nodded. Even though my chest hurt.

"Rule four: Don’t ask about my wife."

That one hit.

He turned and started walking.

"Follow me."

We went up a huge staircase. Past empty hallways. Past closed doors.

Finally, we stopped at double doors.

He pushed them open.

Noise hit me first.

Crying. Two different cries.

Then the smell. Baby powder and milk and something sweet.

The nursery.

It was big. Too big. Crib on one side. Crib on the other.

Toys on the floor no one played with.

And in the middle of it all...

Two babies.

One boy. Red face. Screaming.

One girl. Smaller. Whimpering in her crib.

They had his eyes.

Dark. Tired.

Leo and Luna.

Mr. Hale didn’t go to them.

He stood in the doorway. Like the room burned.

"The nanny quit 3 days ago," he said flatly. "I haven’t slept."

I took a step forward. "I can—"

"Don’t touch them yet. Watch first."

So I watched.

Leo screamed louder. Luna started hiccuping.

My hands itched to pick them up.

But his rule.

60 seconds passed.

90 seconds.

The crying got worse.

Something in me snapped.

I moved.

I picked up Luna first. She was light. Too light.

She immediately stopped crying and buried her face in my neck.

Then Leo. He was still screaming. I rocked them both.

"Rule three," Mr. Hale said behind me.

"I know," I whispered to the babies. "Shh. I’ve got you. I’ve got you."

I started humming.

Something my mom used to sing.

Something soft and broken.

Leo quieted.

Luna’s breathing evened out.

The room went silent. Except for two babies breathing against me.

I turned around.

Mr. Hale was staring.

Not at the babies.

At me.

His jaw was tight. His hands in his pockets like he was holding himself back.

For a second, I thought I saw something c***k in his face.

Then it was gone.

"They like you," he said. It wasn’t a compliment. It was a problem.

"They were hungry," I said quietly. "And tired."

"Don’t get attached."

"I won’t."

Lie.

He checked his watch.

"I leave for work in 10. Housekeeper comes at 9. She’ll show you the kitchen. Don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency."

"Okay."

"And Aria?"

I looked up.

"Thank you."

Two words. Said like they hurt.

He walked out.

And I was left standing in a silent nursery,

Holding two babies that weren’t mine,

Working for a man who didn’t want to feel anything.

Rule three was already broken.

Because the second Luna sighed in my arms,

I was attached.

God help me.

---

*END OF EPISODE 2*