Lana’s POV
The address the woman had sent to Lana was in an upscale neighborhood she had only ever seen in passing. As she turned onto a tree-lined avenue, her eyes widened at the sight of the mansion.
It was the biggest house she had ever seen with an imposing structure of white stone with grand columns and an expansive, perfectly manicured lawn.
She pulled Rusty to a stop at the entrance, feeling out of place as she glanced around at the other luxury cars parked in the driveway.
Damn, these people had to be filthy millionaires.
Taking a deep breath, she got out of her car and approached the massive front door. Before she could knock, it swung open, revealing a stern-looking butler dressed in a crisp black suit.
"You are the babysitter, I presume?" he asked, his voice formal.
"Yes, that's me," Lana replied, trying to match his tone with a small goofy smile playing on her lips.
"Please, follow me," the man said, stepping aside to let her in.
Lana stepped into the foyer and immediately felt overwhelmed by the opulence of the place. The floors were marble, the ceilings high and adorned with crystal chandeliers. The butler led her down a hallway, and Lana’s eyes admired numerous paintings and sculptures that lined the walls as they walked past.
"There are a few house rules you must follow," the butler said as they walked. "First, please remove your shoes and place them on the rack here." He gestured to a polished wooden rack by the door.
Lana quickly complied, slipping off her old, worn out sneakers and lining them up neatly.
"Next, you must wash your hands before entering any common areas," he continued, leading her to a nearby bathroom. "It is a requirement of the household."
Lana nodded, washing her hands thoroughly. She dried them on a plush towel and rejoined the butler, who was waiting patiently.
"Lastly, please be mindful of your surroundings and avoid touching any valuables or personal items. The children are in the playroom, and Miss Evelyn will meet you shortly."
Lana followed the butler through more hallways until they reached a set of double doors. He opened them to reveal a spacious, brightly lit playroom filled with toys, books, and comfortable seating. But instead of quietly playing, the two children, a boy and a girl who seemed to be not more than eight years old each, were running around wildly, their laughter and shouts echoing off the walls.
"Max, Lily, please settle down," one of the house helps called out, looking frazzled as she tried to corral them.
Lana stepped into the room, her presence going unnoticed by the children who continued their playful chaos. She couldn't help but smile, despite the chaos.
The doors opened again, and a young woman entered the room with an air of elegance and authority, her demeanor calm and composed although there was a cold, almost detached quality to her demeanor.
The woman surveyed the room with a critical eye, her gaze briefly landing on Lana before shifting to the children.
"Max, Lily," she called out to the children, her voice calm yet commanding. "Come here, please."
The children ran to her, their faces lighting up. They hugged her around the waist, but the woman’s smile was strained, and Lana noticed a flicker of irritation cross her features as she gently but firmly disentangled herself from their grasp.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Lana," The woman said to Lana, turning her attention back to her and Lana immediately figured that she was the same woman who had given her a call for the babysitting job. Evelyn.
However, Lana did not fail to capture the subtle but unmistakable hint of condescension in her tone, as if she regarded Lana as a commoner who had just stepped into a different world. As if Lana was insignificant and meant nothing.
Lana’s chest pierced painfully at this but she managed a small smile regardless. This wasn’t the first time she was being looked down on by others.
"It's no problem," Lana replied, feeling the weight of Evelyn's scrutiny. "Your home is beautiful."
"Thank you," Evelyn said, her eyes still assessing Lana with a cool detachment. "Max and Lily can be quite a handful, as you can see. I trust you will be able to manage them."
"I will," Lana nodded, mustering her confidence. "I have a lot of experience with kids."
"Good," Evelyn replied. "I'm going out on a dinner date with the children's father, and we should be back by midnight. The house helps and the butler will provide you with the important details about what the kids will eat, the show they'll watch, and their bedtime routine."
As soon as Evelyn finished speaking, Lana’s attention was caught by the sound of footsteps descending the grand staircase. She turned her head to see a man entering the room, and her breath caught in her throat instantly.
He was tall, with striking features and an air of effortless charm. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his suit fit him impeccably. He looked unbelievably handsome, almost like a model straight out of the runway. Or like a hot Hollywood star.
But why did he look familiar, though? Had she seen him anywhere before?
As she continued to check him out, their eyes met briefly for a second, his emerald eyes almost as if they were piercing into her soul. Lana immediately looked away again.
"Evelyn, are we ready to go?" the man asked, his voice coming out smooth and warm.
Ugh, how can someone be so perfect?!
"Yes, we're just finishing up here, Nikolai. " Evelyn replied with a small smile crossing her face that was hardened and cold just a couple of seconds ago. Her tone also softened as she addressed him.
"We'll see you later, Lana. Have a good evening." Evelyn sent a smile to Lana that didn’t seem genuine as she took Nikolai’s arm.
With that, they left the room, leaving Lana standing there, with the kids. She took a deep breath and turned back to Max and Lily, who were now eyeing her curiously.
"Alright,” she said, smiling at them with her tone raised positively. “Let’s have some fun,"