Weeks had gone by and Mark had slowly started to get over his depression by focusing on work, building himself and the company.
Mark would have loved to take care of his daughter or leave her in the care of his maids or his butler, who had recently returned home, but he needed someone who would specialize in caring for his daughter. Someone like a nanny.
He would rather not leave his daughter in the care of anyone, but this time, he had no choice. He had an important contract meeting overseas, and he couldn't disrupt his daughter's studies by asking her to go with him.
He wasn't just looking for anyone, he was looking for someone who understood how to relate with children.
“Daddy, do you have to go?” She asked with a sad frown on her face, “Are you going to leave me like mom?” Hearing Eunice words, Mark's face darkened.
“No, I would never do that… I'll make sure the meeting goes as fast as it can, so I can come back to my princess.” He placed her on his lap.
The sadness on her face was deeply affecting Mark's heart.
“You don't have to be sad, daddy, promise to come back on time.” He held her cheek and pulled it playfully.
“Will butler Tyler watch over me or aunty queen?” She had a cheerful look on her face.
“No, darling, I will call my secretary and make sure they pick out the best nanny for you.” His words caused her to frown her face even more.
“But daddy…” she tried to object.
“No buts, someone has to take care of my princess when I'm away.” He sounded serious.
Marked sighed after noticing how his words scared her, “I'm sorry, okay? I just want the best for you.” His tone had softened.
“Okay daddy.” She had started to feel comfortable with his suggestions.
“Great. That's my girl. You can go do your homework now. Daddy has some important business to attend to.” He pecked her on the cheeks before she ran off to her room.
So far, she was coping with her mother's absence, and she was becoming more independent. However, Mark didn't fail to note that every child needed a guardian, and he made sure he was there for her in the past few weeks.
Seeing that his daughter had run upstairs, he left the work on his table and pulled up his phone to place a call to his secretary.
“Good day, sir, how may I help you?” She had this professional tone to her voice.
“Good day, Clara, I require a little favor from you. As you know, I'll be travelling by next week for my contract meeting.” He paused to see if she was following.
“Yes, sir, that is correct.” She answered.
“And you know very well I have a daughter who needs someone to take care of her, right?” He asked.
“Yes sir.” Her reply was short.
“I want you to publicize this. I want a nanny for my kid, and the interview for the nanny is everything from whenever the news spreads until Saturday. The pay is massive.”
“Okay sir. What else would you like to be on the advert?” She asked as she noted down some things.
“Interview starts at 9am and ends at 3pm sharp.” His voice was earnest.
Mark was someone who loved keeping to time because for him, punctuality is the sole of business.
“Is that all, sir?”
“Yes, Clara, that would be all.” He responded with a serious tone.
“Where would the interview be taking place, sir?” She added just in time before he ended the car.
“Here at the house.” He replied and thereafter, ended the call.
He didn't feel like his daughter would be safe in the hands of a nanny, but if his daughter made a single complaint, that person would lose their job immediately.
He wouldn't have gone, but he had too, the company needed this contract badly. Besides, it just for a week and he would ask Victor to keep an eye on his daughter.
Satisfied with the thought and the calls he had just made, he returned to work on his computer.
Later that evening, after dinner, Mark had put his daughter to sleep and had now laid down to catch some rest when the buzzing of his phone caused him to open his eyes.
“Let me guess, it's either Victor or Taylor.” He picked up the phone and when he saw it was Victor, he smirked.
“Hey friend, what the heck, we just saw your advertisement. Are you seriously going to leave Eunice with a nanny?”
“I don't know if I want to, but I want to give it a try. I can't always be with her, you know, I've got work and places to be and…”
“I get it, you're preoccupied, but don't you think the pay is too much?” Mark wasn't anywhere close to Victor, but he couldn't imagine the expression on Victor's face.
“Nothing's too much for my daughter, I want her to get special care.” Mark's voice had become serious. He never spoiled his daughter, and he made sure to provide her with the best.
“Sure, we all know you love her so much, she's your life!” Victor exclaimed.
“Yeah…. You got that right.” Mark didn't deny the fact in any way.
“Victor, you know we've been friends for a long time, right?”
“Yeah, what's up.”
“I need a favor from you.” Mark paused for a little while, “When I go on my trip, could you please promise to help me watch my baby girl for me?” He continued.
“There's no need to ask that of me, she's my baby girl too.” Victor spoke but got a disapproving groan from him.
“Relax, man, she's your princess. I know you're going to have a long day tomorrow, good luck picking the right nanny.” Victor said before wishing Mark a good night.
Mark felt uneasy. He would rather not trust his daughter to a stranger. Maybe Victor was indeed right, perhaps his daughter was too precious to have a nanny.
His heavy eyes let the darkness take over and in a little while, Mark's snores could be heard.
He hadn't realized it yet, but he was over working to take up his time and making achievements to put the pain behind him.
It was morning already, and Mia asked Gideon to stay back at home. Even the school management called and asked that he fully recovered before coming back.
“Did you see that? That's a great job opportunity right there.” Gideon spoke while eating his cereal.
“What opportunity?” Mia ran out of the kitchen and her eyes gazed at the TV.
“That my friend. It's better than the job at the thrift store.” Jenny sounded, still looking at the TV!
“Yeah. Sis, why not give it a try?” Gideon suggested.
“Why? I'm sure many people will apply want to apply for that. But the money is really tempting.” Mia already felt discouraged.
“And so? Everyone is different, Mia and not everyone knows how to handle kids.” Jenny tried to give her courage.
“Yes, sis, you should. Who knows, you might be lucky enough.” Mia left the house every day to convince Jenny she went to her job at the thrift store, meanwhile she went to stay at Betty's place or roam around searching for vacancies.
“Okay then.” She replied.
All around the street, everyone talked or whispered about the job.
“Too bad they said only females, I would have given it a try.” A boy spoke to someone on the street.
“Do you think I will miss an opportunity to walk in that house, never!” Two girls talking about it and the red-headed seemed so desperate to work there.
“Hmm, see, I know everyone would be interested in it.” She sighed, holding tightly to her pouch as she moved on the street.
“Girl, did you see the ad on the TV? That pay is so big.” That was the first thing Betty talked about as soon as Mia entered the house.
“Yh, I'm not too interested.” Mia took the coffee handed to her by Betty before taking a seat in the dining room.
“Why, this might be the chance to finally get that dream, how long do you want to keep lying to Jenny and Gideon. Do this for them.” Betty's hands rested on her shoulder.
She had told Betty how she lied to Jenny, but she didn't tell her about the stripper job she took for a night.
“Look, Mia, you're a sweet and gentle soul. Who knows, maybe a miracle could happen, and you will get picked.” Betty smiled, putting on her best outfit.
“Is this supposed to be a joke, are you going there to catch somebody?” Mia joked.
“It's an interview, you have to look your best.” She smiled at Mia.
“I have to go.” She spread deodorant on her dress,
“Wish me luck…” she yelled, running out of the door. It was just eight, but as Mia said, you can never be too early for an interview.
“Good luck.” Mia replied before drifting into thought.