THE NANNY'S SECRET

Ethan Hayes, the city's most sought after billionaire, sat in the backseat of his sleek, black limousine, his eyes fixed on the screen of his tablet, as the vehicle navigated through the busy streets of NewYork. Despite his usual calm demeanor, today was different. The pressures of running a multi billion dollar empire were weighing heavily on his shoulders, compounded by the latest in a long line of nannies walking out on his daughter, Sophia. Sophia's stubbornness was becoming too much for anyone to handle, and the thought of dealing with yet another interview made Ethan's head throb. He glanced at his watch, irritation flickered on his face. He was getting late for his meeting. “Sir, the traffic is getting worse.” his driver, Tom, informed him from the front seat. “We might not make it to the office on time.” Ethan sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose, “Just do your best, Tom,” he replied, his voice laced with frustration. He had a critical meeting in less than an hour, and being late was not an option. As the car came to a standstill in gridlock, Ethan’s phone buzzed with another small alert. His attention was fully absorbed in responding to the urgent matter, when suddenly, the door of his limo swung open. A young woman with wild, windblown hair, a determined expression, and a stack of papers clutched to her chest practically threw herself into the backseat, slamming the door behind her. Lena Roberts didn't realize she had just stepped into the billionaire's limousine. She had been running late, having just left another disappointing job interview, and was desperate to find a cab. In her haste, she mistook the limo for a taxi. After all, they were both black and shiny, right? “Drive, please. I’m already late.” she demanded, breathlessly. Her heart pounded in her chest, both from the sprint and the anxiety of yet another rejection. She was checking her phone, hoping for a reply to dozens of applications she had sent out. Ethan, momentarily stunned, turned his gaze from his tablet to the intruder beside him. His eyes were icy as he took in the sight of the disheveled woman, who had just barged into his car, without a second thought. “Excuse me.” Ethan said coldly, his tone laced with disbelief. “But this is not a taxi.” Lena glanced up from her phone, finally noticing the plush leather interior, and the clear expensive taste in decor. Her eyes locked in Ethan's for a split second. She was struck by how strikingly handsome he was. Sharp jawline, impeccably dressed in a well tailored suit. But the irritation in his voice snapped her back to reality. “Oh…… I…..I'm sorry, I thought…” she stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment. Before she could finish speaking, Ethan cut her off, his patience wearing thin. “Thought this was a cab? You really need to pay more attention,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Now, if you could kindly get out….” “Listen, Mr Fancy suit. Not everyone has time to be chauffeured around in a private limo.” Lena snapped back, her own frustration boiling over. She’d had a terrible day, and this man’s condescending tone was the last straw. “And not everyone can afford to sit around judging others, so excuse me if i made a mistake!” Tom, the driver, turned slightly on his seat, clearly unsure whether to intervene or stay out of it. But Ethan held up a hand to stop him, his gaze never leaving Lena’s. “You’re in my car, which you entered without permission. You’re the one judging here.” Ethan retorted, his voice calm, but an edge that showed he was not used to being spoken to, in such a manner, “Now, I suggest you find the nearest taxi that's available and leave.” Lena's eyes blazed with indignation, but she knew she had no choice. She couldn't exactly stay and argue on a stranger’s car, no matter how good it felt, to tell him off. With a huff, she opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement, but as she was about to slam it shut, she turned back to him, with a mischievous glint in her eye. “You know, a little humanity would do you some good. It might actually make you human.” With that, she slammed the door hard enough, to make the entire limo shake, then stormed off into the crowd. Ethan stared after her, incredulous. He wasn't used to people being rude to him. He was used to being treated with respect. People didn't just barge into his life and hurl insults at him. But there was something about her fiery spirit that interested him. Tom, trying to stifle a smirk, glanced at Ethan in the rear-view mirror. “Should I follow her sir? Or are we heading to the office?” Ethan shook his head, a faint smirk playing at the corner of her lips, “No, No, let her go. Just take me to the office.” As the Limo pulled away from the curb, Ethan tried to push the encounter out of his mind. But the lady’s word lingered, annoying him far more than they should have. …..🌵 Later that evening, back at his office, Ethan's day grew more stressful. His assistant, Grace, handed him a stack of resumés of potential candidates for Sophia's new nanny. Sophia was a tough one, and Ethan knew he had to be really careful in choosing a new nanny for his daughter. All the previous nannies had left because of Sophia’s stubbornness. Most of them had impressive qualifications, but no real connection to children. As he flipped through them, one resumé caught his eyes. “Lena Roberts.” he murmured, the name sounding vaguely familiar. It wasn't until he saw the photo attached to it, that Ethan's eyes widened in recognition. It was the same woman who had barged into his limo earlier that day. Ethan leaned back in his chair, a mix of surprise and amusement crossing his features. Ethan couldn't shake the image of Lena's disheveled but undeniable spirit, a spark in her eyes that few people dared to show him. “Grace”, Ethan called out, his voice echoing in the otherwise silent office. His assistant appeared almost instantly, her efficiency one of the reasons he relied on her so much, “Yes, Mr Hayes?” “Arrange an interview with Lena Roberts,” he said, sliding the resumé across the desk towards Grace. “Tomorrow.”