Chapter 5 The House Is Way Too Big
I thought I was prepared.
I really did.
I packed my suitcase, double checked the email address, reread the job details, and told myself at least ten times that this was just a normal job.
Totally normal.
Except it was not normal.
Because normal jobs do not involve moving into a mansion owned by the richest CEO in the country.
My taxi stopped in front of the giant black gate and I stared at it for a second.
"Okay," I whispered to myself.
"You can do this."
The gate slowly opened after I pressed the intercom.
And just like that I was officially entering the most intimidating workplace of my life.
The taxi drove up the long stone path and stopped in front of the house.
Calling it a house still felt wrong.
It looked more like a futuristic billionaire headquarters.
Huge glass windows.
Black stone walls.
Clean sharp lines.
Everything about it screamed expensive.
The driver helped me take my suitcase out.
"Good luck," he said.
I laughed nervously.
"Thank you. I think I might need it."
When the taxi drove away I suddenly realized something.
I was standing alone in front of the house.
Which meant this was real.
This was my new home.
Before I could overthink it the door opened.
Mrs Miller stepped outside with her usual calm expression.
"Miss Carter."
"Hi," I said quickly.
She gave a polite nod.
"Welcome. Please come inside."
The moment I walked in my brain stopped functioning again.
The place was even bigger from the inside.
High ceilings.
Massive open spaces.
Marble floors that were so shiny I felt like I might slip.
And the windows.
There were huge windows everywhere letting in soft daylight.
It honestly looked like the kind of house that belonged in a design magazine.
"Your room has been prepared," Mrs Miller said.
"Thank you."
She picked up one side of my suitcase like it weighed nothing and led me through the house.
We walked down one hallway.
Then another hallway.
Then we turned another corner.
Then another hallway.
My brain slowly started realizing something.
This house was a maze.
"Just out of curiosity," I said.
"Yes?"
"How many rooms are in this house?"
She thought for a moment.
"Thirty two."
I stopped walking.
"Thirty two?"
"Approximately."
Oh my god.
If I got lost in here nobody would find me for weeks.
Mrs Miller led me upstairs and stopped in front of a door.
"This will be your room."
She opened it.
I blinked.
"This is bigger than my old apartment."
The room was beautiful.
Large bed.
Big window with a view of the garden.
A small sitting area.
And my own bathroom.
I turned around slowly.
"Are you sure this is the nanny room?"
Mrs Miller allowed herself a very small smile.
"Mr Blackwood believes employees should be comfortable."
That was unexpected.
"Thank you."
She nodded.
"You may unpack. Mr Blackwood is currently working."
Of course he was.
The man probably worked twenty four hours a day.
"I will introduce you to Noah shortly," she added before leaving.
The door closed.
I stood there for a moment.
Then I did the only reasonable thing.
I jumped onto the bed.
"This is amazing."
After unpacking a little I decided to explore the house.
Which turned out to be a mistake.
Because five minutes later I was completely lost.
I had tried to remember the turns.
But apparently the house had fifty identical hallways.
"Okay," I muttered.
"Do not panic."
I turned another corner.
Still unfamiliar.
Great.
Then I heard voices.
Male voices.
I followed the sound and reached a large living room.
Two men were sitting on the couch.
They looked up at the same time.
One of them had messy dark blond hair and an easy smile.
The other had darker hair and a calm expression.
Both of them looked slightly surprised.
The blond one spoke first.
"And who are you?"
I blinked.
"Oh. Hi. I am Amelia."
His grin widened.
"The nanny."
"Yes."
He stood up and walked over.
"Ryan Whitmore."
I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
He looked amused.
"You are much younger than I expected."
"Thank you?"
The other man stood up more slowly.
"Sebastian Cole."
His voice was calm and polite.
I shook his hand too.
"Nice to meet you."
Ryan crossed his arms and studied me.
"So you are the girl who survived Dominic's interview."
I laughed nervously.
"Is that a rare achievement?"
"Extremely."
Sebastian looked slightly amused.
Ryan continued.
"You must be very brave."
"I wore a dress with ruffles."
Ryan laughed.
"That explains everything."
Before I could respond a quiet movement behind me caught my attention.
I turned around.
Noah was standing near the hallway.
Watching.
Again.
Just like during the interview.
His grey eyes were focused on me.
I smiled gently.
"Hi Noah."
Ryan and Sebastian both looked surprised.
"He is actually standing there," Ryan whispered.
Sebastian nodded slightly.
Interesting.
Noah slowly walked into the room.
Then he stopped beside the wall.
Still watching me.
Ryan leaned closer to Sebastian.
"I think she is a magician."
Sebastian murmured back.
"Or Noah simply likes her."
At that moment another presence entered the room.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Dominic.
He walked in wearing a black suit, tall and serious as always.
His eyes moved across the room.
Ryan.
Sebastian.
Then me.
His expression tightened slightly.
Almost like he had just realized something inconvenient.
"You are here," he said.
"Yes," I replied.
Ryan looked between us with obvious amusement.
Dominic glanced at Noah.
The boy was still watching me.
Quiet.
Curious.
Dominic noticed that.
His expression became thoughtful.
Then slightly annoyed.
Almost like he was already questioning his decision.
Ryan smirked.
I suddenly had a feeling this job was going to be very interesting.