Chapter 2. A Surprising Twist of Fate

Audrey, your teacher is here” A deep, but attractive voice came from the sitting room, and Valerie turned swiftly. Her jaw dropped in awe as soon as she set her eyes on him. It was the President, Ethan Davison, she had seen him a few times on the television, but he looked more handsome in real life.

“I thought today was going to be a free day? Why do I need a home-teacher?” Audrey, the little girl, pouted her mouth.

Valerie stared at the smart girl with a smile. Why does she feel so familiar with the little girl when she hasn't met her before? She couldn't even believe that the girl could be so outspoken.

“Audrey, stop! You have to behave, young lady” Her Father cautioned her, and she exhaled deeply, and bowed her head.

Valerie turned to the elderly woman, whose name tag showed her name was “Vero”.

“Ma'am… Vero! Isn't the little girl so adorable? She speaks fluently too?” Valerie smiled, and the old lady scoffed.

“You're not here to see whether she's outspoken or not” She shrugged, and Valerie nodded her head. Why was the old woman being so hostile?

“You're new here, right, lady?” Audrey walked to Valerie, and she nodded her head. “Um…yeah”

“I heard you'll be working as my nanny. I hope you can make rice cakes. They are my favorite, and I don't want a nanny who can't make those” Audrey fluttered her long lashes.

“Really? Do you like rice cakes? That's my favorite, too. You'd have nothing to worry about because I can make very delicious ones” Chatty Valerie smiled, and Audrey raised her brows attractively.

“Woah! By the way, your dress is somewhat old-fashioned. That's off” Audrey added with a smirk. Valerie stared at her with her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe her ears, did the little girl just say that to her? Valerie couldn't help but chuckle, Audrey's height could barely reach her waist.

Her chuckle attracted President Ethan's attention, and he turned his gaze to her. Valerie forced a smile at him, but he eyed her before turning his gaze away. He was probably surprised that she could make his little girl chuckle… that's a first.

“Who is she?” Ethan asked with his eyes fixed on the laptop in front of him.

“Oh… that's Valerie. She's here to get interviewed because she applied for a job as Miss Audrey's nanny. Lest I forget, she's really nice” Dan, Ethan's assistant replied.

“Audrey, upstairs now” Ethan ordered, and Audrey sniffed before heading to the stairs.

“I'm definitely not your daughter. I can't believe you…” She mumbled under her breath.

“What did you say, Audrey?” President Ethan raised his brow, and turned to Audrey, who paused before turning her gaze to him.

“I said I'm not your daughter. Maybe I'm the cleaner's daughter or probably the cook…” The little girl breathed hard, and Valerie almost laughed out loud, but she had to get a hold of herself.

“This little girl is such a drama queen”.

“What? You're my daughter, and I want the best for you, little one. Go ahead now, and behave yourself. I don't want the teacher complaining that you haven't been paying attention to her” Ethan snapped, and she shrugged.

“Yes daddy” She ran upstairs.

“Haven't you had enough of the drama? Do you think you're here to moop around? You came here for an interview, and here you are making yourself so comfortable” A saucy young lady walked to her. Valerie gulped hard as she walked away with the lady. She had thought it was the President who was going to interview her, but she was mistaken. He wouldn't waste his precious time on a mere nanny.

A few minutes later, Valerie was already in the kitchen with the saucy lady whose name she learned was Anastasia. 

Valerie was told to prepare a cup of milkshake, and then a dessert, which she did. Even though it didn't really match up perfectly to their tastes, it was manageable.

“Have you ever worked as a nanny before?” Old Lady Vero took off her glasses as she asked her.

“ERM… Actually, I haven't certainly worked as a nanny, but I love kids a lot. So, I get along with them each time I come in contact with any of them” Valerie simply replied.

“That is not enough. I thought you were sent by an agency. I can't believe you are just an ordinary…” Anastasia was saying, but Lady Vero cut her off.

“Anastasia, stop it! Okay, we will be placing you on a month's trial. If you fail to fit in, then I'm afraid we'll have to fire you” Old Lady Vero said, and Valerie forced a smile at her.

“Thank you, ma'am.” Valerie bowed slightly.

“I'll give you the full details of your work, you, and come back to the mansion tomorrow. By the way, meet Anastasia, she's the cook” Lady Vero walked out of the kitchen, and Valerie scoffed. “Anastasia is the cook? Why was she behaving like she's the President's wife ?” Valerie thought.

“Uhm… Barbara, what Lady Vero meant was that I'm the chef of this noble home” Anastasia gulped nervously.

“Correction! I'm Valerie, not Barbara, and a chef… you mean a cook? Of course, I understand” Valerie scoffed at her before walking out of the kitchen.

Valerie sighed the necessary documents, and she was also told when and how to deliver her duties. It was shift work, so she didn't need to be present all the time. For the first time, she felt very comfortable with her work.

Then she remembered her encounter with the little girl, Audrey Davison. Her lips curled to a smile. She was six years old.

Suddenly, she thought of her baby, who she had birthed when she was very young. Her child would be the same age as Audrey.

“How dumb of me! Why should I think of a child who I didn't even get to see?”

Even if she meets her child, she won't even recognize the child. She told herself to forget about the child.

The doctor's words to her that fateful day kept ringing in her ears, and she blinked her eyes rapidly to stop herself from crying. It was six years already, and she shouldn't think of it.