Chapter 9
Maya
The dark green entrance door with its elegant ornaments is intimidatingly large. And the brass door knocker seems to be the only way I can get anyone's attention. I reach for it but quickly let my hand fall. The urge to turn back overwhelms me.
I can't do this.
They will immediately see that I'm a failure. Just like with any other job.
I scan my surroundings. If my new employers live in a house like this, they must have money to spare. No wonder they can afford to pay their nanny four thousand euros a month. The white facade of the villa doesn't have a single flaw, and I hardly dare to touch the wrought-iron stair railing.
Everything is so clean. So... perfect.
Even the chirping of the birds sounds melodic, and the scent of flowers accentuates the opulence of the estate like an exquisite perfume.
I can't help but look down at myself. The hem of my light blue skirt is frayed, and I probably should have removed the loose threads from my flip-flops. Compared to my other head coverings, the black hat with the purple flower is in perfect condition. But in this setting, it still looks like I found it in a dumpster.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter how I look. If I don't want to be late on the first day, I should knock. And I should do it now. I take one final deep breath, which turns into a prolonged yawn. Then I lift my arm. The door knocker slips unintentionally quickly through my sweaty hands and crashes loudly against the door.
Well done.
Heart pounding, I wait for the door to start moving. An older, stocky woman with a short hairstyle and a face as round as the full moon into which I have been staring half the night appears. Her dark gray dress looks as if it has just come back from the dry cleaners.
Smile and the whole world will be yours , my father's voice reminds me in a tone that warms me from the inside out.
"Hello, I'm Maya," I say, extending my hand with a friendly expression, although I instantly feel scrutinized by the woman.
It's possible that she raises her chin slightly. "The nanny?" she asks in a tone I can't quite place.
Is this a test? It certainly feels like one. "That's right," I reply.
Her gaze briefly travels down my body, then her mouth curves upward. "I'm Jasmin, the housekeeper. Come inside, and I'll show you everything," she says, making a sweeping gesture to invite me into the villa.
Once I enter, she kindly takes my crocheted handbag from me. But I barely notice because I'm distracted by what I see.
This house is a palace. The entrance hall could accommodate everything a family of six needs to live. The checkered floor tiles dazzle me with their shine, and there is not just one staircase leading to the upper floor. No, two graceful staircases wind along walls painted in muted colors. The eerie silence sends a shiver down my spine.
Feeling embarrassed, I slip off my worn-out flip-flops since I definitely can't wear them here. Even my clothing doesn't fit in. Can they tell that I cut my own hair? Panic rises within me, yet I know there's no room for it. This job is important; I have to stay calm.
"Josh is still in a meeting," Jasmin explains as I follow her into a spacious living room.
The light leather sofa would look nice in our shared apartment. But only if we tear down all the walls to make enough space. Yet it looks almost lost here, standing on the Persian carpet whose dimensions resemble those of an oversized billboard.
I don't want to be distracted by all the opulence, so I get straight to the point. "Tamika mentioned that Josh is a pianist?"
"You're not familiar with his music?" Jasmin's surprised gaze meets mine. "Impossible," she mutters, smoothing her already wrinkle-free dress.
Oh no, did I unintentionally insult her with my response? "It's possible that I've heard of him before," I reply somewhat awkwardly. Her forehead furrows. A change of topic would do us both good. "Josh is going on tour this summer, right?" I ask even though I already know. That's why he needs a nanny. At least that's what his manager explained to me.
Instantly, a radiant smile spreads across Jasmin's face. She exudes maternal warmth from every pore. "Oh yes, we will. We'll be in all the major capitals of Europe and other selected destinations."
"Great, I'm looking forward to it," I say cheerfully, already regretting it the next moment. Because Jasmin's expression suddenly turns serious, and the lines on her forehead deepen.
"We're here to work, don't forget that." She takes a step closer to me, and suddenly, she's so near that I can subtly smell her floral perfume. "Be careful not to disturb Josh," she whispers conspiratorially. "He needs a lot of peace and quiet, understand? It's best if you stay out of his way as much as possible."
This Josh must be quite an unpleasant person. It's good that Jasmin is warning me about him.
"And don't yawn in his presence, miss. He can't stand that," she adds, wagging her index finger.
Embarrassed, I press my lips together because apparently neither Jasmin nor this Josh cares that I couldn't sleep last night.
"It will be fine, don't worry," the housekeeper says, a warm smile crossing her face before she turns around. "Next, I'll show you where you'll mainly be staying from now on. In Sophia's room." She strides back toward the hallway. "Hurry, hurry, I don't have all day."