CHAPTER 3 - THE LIVE-IN JOB
1250 Words
We arrived at the gate, a mansion two times bigger than my father's. When the solid gates flew open, memories from home filled my mind. But this was different, it was bigger, and quieter.
The compound was spacious and the house sat right at its heart. It was surrounded by a body of flowing water and to the side was a playground fully equipped and protected.
When we got down from the car, Ryan helped us move our luggage.
“Mummy it's so big and beautiful”. Bri pointed out in excitement.
“I told you you'd love it”. We both giggled and went into the house, escorted by Ryan.
We waited at the lobby for about 5 minutes before we spotted him seated on a wheelchair that moved silently towards us. His gaze was cold and his aura demeaning. His appearance was neat and organized but he looked unwelcoming.
Brielle gripped my pants and hid behind me peeking from behind. “Mummy he's scary”. I heard her say and I swallowed hard praying he didn't hear her, but she wasn't wrong this new boss of mine appeared to be a very tough one.
Who was he? I questioned myself, he looked like one of the elites of the elites but I never remembered meeting him at any event in the past and I prayed he didn't recognize me either.
As both our gazes lingered, three figures walked into the lobby from behind him. My eyes widened, kids! Ryan didn't mention he had kids.
“Do you have a problem with kids?”. I heard his cold masculine voice sound in my ear and I struggled to put on a smile.
“No sir. I have one myself”. I replied quickly.
“Good”. He spoke, his eyes still on me. “You'll be their nanny as well as my caretaker. You also have to cook and maintain the house during the week until the staff come to clean on weekends. Is that too much for you?” He finished.
“No sir”. I replied again looking at the kids.
They stared at Brielle and myself, as if trying to read us.
“I'll give you a tour around the house and give you my rules. They are never to be broken”. He spoke sternly especially when referring to the rules.
“Yes sir”. I could only give short answers because I hadn't gotten used to the place yet.
He remained quiet for a while and shifted his eyes to Brielle who still hid behind me slightly.
“What's her name?”. He asked bluntly.
“Brielle”. I spoke coyly.
“Full name.” His voice came again.
“Sorry sir. Brielle Lenovo”. I replied.
He narrowed his eyes. I hoped he hadn't picked up my father's name and I hoped he wouldn't ask.
“And your name?”. He asked.
“Lythia Lenovo”. I spoke softly.
He stayed quiet for a while before he asked. “Is she your daughter, or your sister?”
“She’s my daughter sir”. I felt my voice begin to tremble.
Then he asked again. “So you don't know who the father is?” He was so blunt and emotionless. He spoke without thinking about the fact that they were kids with us in the room.
My body trembled and I bit down on my tongue to stay strong, while he stared at me expecting an answer I couldn't give.
Lucky for me, Ryan came to my rescue. “Sir please if you don't mind can we take the tour first?”
He took his eyes off of me and stared at Ryan before turning his chair and speaking. “Come with me”.
Ryan still helped carry our luggage, while I carried Brielle in my arms. He showed us around the mansion and then our rooms.
“Your room is to the right, on the end of the corridor”. He spoke leading us there. “While your daughter's is next to Owens”. He finished.
I had just processed what he said, I wasn't ready to let Brielle sleep alone in a room by herself while I was there.
“Erm, sir please if you don't mind can Brielle stay with me in my room. She's just a child”. I pleaded with a really low voice hoping he would accept.
“She’s three years old. She's not a child”. He replied without meeting my eyes, the same blunt tone.
“Please sir. I'm not used to sleeping without her in my arms yet”. I pleaded again.
He turned to me, this time with a look that seemed to look calmer but was quickly masked. “Do whatever you want”. He spoke coldly and continued the tour.
“This is Owens, he's 6, this is Rowan's, he's 9, Noah's, he's 11 and mine”. He spoke pointing at every door we walked past.
All the rooms were lined up in the corridor on the first floor.
“Never come into my room except I ask you to”. He commanded and I listened, trying to take in every rule.
We took the elevator back to the bottom floor where he showed me the kitchen. “Breakfast must be ready before 7 am, the kids can't be late for school. Lunch at 12 noon, dinner by 7. My meals should never be delayed”.
“Yes sir”. I replied.
After the tour, I was exhausted. The rules guarding the house were more than those guarding the house of the president. I thought my father was a really strict man with rules but turned out my boss was even worse.
“That will be all. We already missed breakfast. So settle in and prepare lunch by noon. There's a roaster for every meal in the kitchen. Anything else you can ask when I return for lunch.” He spoke and turned his chair around leaving without even letting us speak.
Ryan hung around for a while before he finally left. I took Bri up to the room where we unpacked our stuff. While I unpacked, Bri sat beside me on the bed.
“Mummy. Does that uncle hate us?”. She asked innocently.
“No sweetheart, he doesn't, he's just a little tough”. I tried to make sure she doesn't have any negative thoughts about anyone in the house.
“Ok”. She replied not very convincingly.
We spoke a bit longer and laughed over topics as I unpacked, then I noticed the figure standing by the door, he seemed to have been there longer than I noticed.
“Hey, Rowan. Come in why are standing over there”. I spoke calmly with a smile on my face. All three of the kids were very adorable.
Apart from the fact that my boss seemed mean and cold he was also a good looking man so I wasn't surprised by the looks of his kids.
As the little boy walked in I felt so many emotions, the look in his eyes spoke a lot more words than he could voice. I began to grow sudden curiosity. What happened to their mother? I couldn't help but question in my head.
- Writer
