Elena’s POV

The little girl has a mischievous glint in her eyes as she comes out from her father’s legs, looking

around. Some of the applicants hold their arms out wide, their eyes twinkling, whispering for her

to come to them.

I watch the scene, my bottom lip out in a pout. I shouldn’t have bothered coming here at all. The

chances of my getting this job have reduced to zero, so there is no need to try.

So, I look around the living area instead, going on with my initial observation. In this part of the

building, there are no pictures hanging on the wall. Pictures of people in the Crowe family.

Instead, the pictures of classic authors line the walls. I see Geoffrey Chaucer, Jane Austen,

Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and even Mark Twain. An easy smile graces my lips

when I come across Leonardo da Vinci’s dupe of The Last Supper sitting in the middle of the

ensemble.

And there is Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

Before my eyes can wander any further, I hear a tiny voice right in front of me saying. “What is

so funny, Miss?”

My eyes jerk towards her, and for a split second, she scares me, just like her father. But her

inquisitive eyes stay directly on mine. And then she narrows her eyes.

God! I have never met such an expressive child.

I get down until I am at eye level with her, before pointing to the starry night. “I was 10 when I

first saw it.”

“The Starry Night?” she asks, her voice eager.

“Yes,” I answer, nodding. A giggle escapes my lips when she pushes closer to me. “I remember

desperately wanting to be in that village that only existed in Vincent’s mind. I wanted to see

those stars for myself, watch the stars, and the crescent moon while the village sleeps all around

me.” Her eyes widen with so much awe. “Daddy said it is not real.”

“Well, daddy is right.” I push back a strand of curl from her face. “And the picture was painted

from an asylum. Do you know what that is?”

She nods. “A home for mad people.”

“You are such a smart kid.”

I feel eyes all around me, and I get on my feet at once. Sure enough, everyone in the room is

watching me, although with varying expressions. While the other applicants have death glares in

their eyes, Mr. Crowe doesn’t.

The thing, though, is that there is no word to describe the expression on his face.

He blinks, then looks from Sophia to me.

“Honey,” he calls, his eyes still on me. It feels strange, like I am under scrutiny, but I don’t mind

if it never ends. Sophia rushes over to him, and when his gaze is off me, I release a breath I had

no idea I was holding.

My heart thuds hard against my chest. I find it so hard to breathe.

“Have you made your choice?” he asks his daughter. She nods eagerly and looks up at me. “I

want her.”

My heart skips a beat.

“Erm…Sophia, are you sure about that? Miss Mandy isn’t like…”

“Daddy, I promise I will be a good girl,” she wails, looking up at him. “I am not going to chase

her away. I will do my homework and not give her any trouble.”

“It’s not about that, baby.” His tone goes soft when he speaks to her. “Miss Mandy is….”

“I want her to be my nanny, Daddy,” she whines, jutting her bottom lip out in a pout just like I

do.

Mr. Crowe looks back at me, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “Okay, Ladies,” he murmurs. “My

daughter has decided. The rest of you will be seen out by my butler.” As if on cue, the man who walked me in earlier appears in the living room, leading the ladies out.

I remain standing, uncertain what I need to do.

“Sit,” he instructs, taking the empty seat next to me. Sophia scurries over, climbing onto my

thighs. Mr. Crowe arches a brow, but doesn’t say anything about it.

“The NDA is in your bedroom upstairs, waiting. My driver will escort you home to get your

things and bring you back here tonight. You are expected to care for Sophia like you would your

child. She is to be within your line of vision round the clock, unless she is asleep.”

“In the past, Sophia has not had a nanny that lasted more than two months because…erm…let’s

just say she is a very peculiar kid. I don’t expect you to last that long either, but while you are

here, ensure she is fully looked after.”

I ignore the jab in his tone because I have a much bigger problem.

“She is home-schooled,” he continues. “So that means you stay in the same room with her when

her teachers come in. There are two guards who have been appointed to her protection as well.

They will be on the grounds of my home. Be kind to them.”

Kind. That sounds like a world far from Mr. Crowe, but then again, I need this job, so who am I

to complain?

He sighs and rises to his seat. Sophia doesn’t even budge, lying on my chest and playing with my

hair.

“I am going to inform your brother about you getting the position, so you don’t have to go

through that trouble.”

“About that,” I mutter, before I can stop myself. “There is something I have to tell you.”

He angles his head.

I bite my bottom lip and take a deep breath. His eyes darken mysteriously, and his gaze follows

my actions.

“I am not Mandy.”

He doesn’t move. “What did you say?”

I get on my feet, with Sophia in my arms. “My name is Elena. I only… Mandy is my best

friend.”

He exhales. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I can explain,” I say in one breath. “I really needed the job, and Mandy was not interested in

being a nanny. She was only going to come here to fulfil all righteousness after all the stress her

brother went through to get her this position. I didn’t mean to fool you, I promise.”

His eyes turn cold as he says in a low tone. “Drop my daughter and get the hell out of my

house.”