Chapter 1 A Nanny

Lena paced anxiously around the luxury lounge of Mr. Alex King's mansion, her fingers gripping the hem of her worn-out sweater. "Keep calm, keep calm." She told herself. The large, fancy room was nothing like what she was used to in all her years. It was an entirely strange world from hers. She had only been encouraged to apply for this nanny job by Mr. Harris, Alex King's manager. That was the only reason she dared to step into this luxurious side of the world. The elderly man had taken pity on her miserable appearance after she returned his lost cash wallet, which she had picked up from the streets as a garbage collector. Now, she's here, waiting to see if she could get a job as a nanny for the famous billionaire and legendary actor, Alexander King. Thanks to Mr. Harris. However, even the thought of it made her heart pound heavily. Would she really get this nanny job? Would Mr. King even consider someone like her? Worse, she still couldn't communicate verbally. Lena sighed and opened the locker necklace around her neck, glancing at the family picture of herself, her husband, and their daughter. With tear-filled eyes, she made a small prayer for luck. Taking care of the kids might help her heal from her own pain. It could be the closure she needed. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching and quickly sat down, trying to look calm. Alexander King walked into the waiting room of his lounge. He was younger than she had imagined, somewhere in his early thirties. With a rare masculine beauty that had earned him the Prince Charming roles in his movies. His cold icy blue eyes swept across the room until they landed on Lena. He nearly stopped in his tracks, that instant. Something about her made his heart skip a beat. He hadn't expected to see auburn curls and a pale face covered in freckles. It had been years since he'd seen features like that in his mansion. They reminded him of someone he didn't wish to remember. So he waved off the thoughts and walked over to the other side with a cold expression on his face. Lena stood up immediately out of respect, but King's manager, Mr. Harris, made her a polite sign to sit back down. She nodded and did as she was directed. "State your name, your work experience, and qualifications," King's hoarse voice demanded impatiently. Lena adjusted on her seat. Her throat felt a bit dry, and she glanced nervously at Mr. Harris, who was standing beside Mr. King. Silently asking for his help. "Emmmm... sir... King..." Mr. Harris spoke, breaking the silence. Mr. King raised a thick brow. "What is it, Harris? Is there a problem?" he asked, already irritated. "She... emm... got a little difficulty with speaking." Harris replied. Mr. King lowered his eyelids in disbelief. "You gotta be kidding me." His eyes went back to Lena, his jaw clenched tightly in frustration. Hiring a nanny was already a hassle... then hiring one who couldn't even speak? His kids were a handful on their own, autistic, prone to meltdowns, and very demanding in ways most adults couldn't handle. How is a mute woman supposed to deal with them? She's just another applicant wasting his time. What on earth was Harris thinking? "This is the nanny you selected?" His voice snapped in disbelief. Lena's heart pounded, but she kept her head down, praying silently for this to go well. Mr. Harris cleared his throat nervously. "Yes, sir. Her name is Lena Smith. She is the kind lady I mentioned last time. I know you had concerns, but I believe she's worth considering. She is very good... and-" Mr. King's icy blue eyes darkened to a deep ocean color as he turned back to Harris, cutting him off. "She's mute, Harris! How could you possibly think this is a good idea? A dumb woman?" he snapped with a frown. That made Lena flinch slightly. "I understand your frustration, sir, but she understands speech perfectly. She's not deaf and wasn't born mute. She's kind-hearted and also patient. I believe she will relate well to the twins." "The twins don't need a liability," Mr. King interrupted coldly. Then he noticed Lena's hand move. He paid attention and found her writing on her notepad, her hands slightly shaking. Then she showed it to him. Mr. King was not impressed, although he read it. "Please give me a chance, sir. I won't let you down." "This is ridiculous." He muttered and let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temple as if the whole situation gave him a headache. "And how exactly will she communicate with the twins if she can't even say a word?" Harris replied, "She can write it out like she just did, and she also uses sign language, sir." "So they will learn sign language to communicate with her, or what? Always reading whatever she has to say? So you think they would actually like that?" Mr. Harris remained silent. Mr. King raised his head slightly, and his sharp gaze flicked back to Lena. She hadn't looked up once, but he could see the way her hands clenched, shaking slightly. She was nervous. "You do realize my children are not easy to handle, Ms. Smith?" Lena blinked and nodded readily. Thank goodness, he finally spoke to me, she thought hopefully. "And if they refuse to listen to you?" Mr. King asked again. She wrote, "Children listen to those who understand them." His brow lifted slightly. Offended? Or intrigued? It was hard to tell. Mr. Harris stepped in. "Sir, a trial period wouldn't hurt." Mr. King's eyes went back to Lena. She still had her head lowered. He didn't want to keep her, but he couldn't ruin his reputation by turning her away just like that. The media will have something to talk about. He was done with scandals. A trial will be a more polite way of saying no. A trial he was sure she would fail woefully. "Fine," he said at last, "We'll see how this goes. A trial will convince me." Lena's widened green eyes lifted to his for the first time. There was a burn in them that made Mr. King hate this whole idea. She looked small, fragile, and vulnerable as if a gust of wind could knock her over. She also looked too kind, like someone who has never raised her voice in anger. Is she even fit for this? He exhales sharply. "Can you even discipline them if needed?" She nodded immediately. Then, after a brief pause, she pulled out her notepad and wrote quickly. "Yes, sir. However, autistic children don't just need discipline. They need to be understood." He arched his brow. What's up with her and 'the understanding' she talks about all the time? "And you think you can understand them?" he asked. She hesitated, then wrote again. "I can try." His manager, Mr. Harris, whispered again. "Sir, I think she's worth a chance. If it doesn't work out, we can always let her go, but she might surprise you."