Chapter 123
Sarah’s POV
I stood in front of the mansion, and the word mansion wasn’t even big enough.
It was huge, like something from a movie.
Big iron gates.
Long driveway.
Flowers everywhere are perfectly trimmed.
The house itself was made of white stone with big windows that probably cost more than my whole apartment.
My heart was pounding like really pounding. I could feel it in my throat, and my hands were sweaty, so I wiped them on my jeans.
I was just a nanny, well, about to be a nanny.
I took a deep breath.
You need this job, Sarah.
You need the money.
You can do this.
I walked up to the big front door.
There was a doorbell that looked like it cost more than my phone. I pressed it.
The door opened an older woman stood there. She was maybe fifty with kind eyes and grey hair pulled back in a neat bun.
“You must be Sarah,” she said. Her voice was warm. “The nanny, Mr. Marcus said, would be coming. Come in, dear, come in p>
I stepped inside.
“I’m Melinda,” the woman said, closing the door behind me. “I’m the housekeeper here. Have been for almost twenty years, let me look at you p>
She stepped back and looked me up and down, not in a mean way, just looking. Then she smiled again.
“My, you are beautiful,” she said. “Such pretty hair and those eyes. Marcus didn’t mention how lovely you are p>
I felt my face get hot. “Oh, um, thank you. That’s very kind p>
“Just being honest, dear,” she said. “Now come with me. We have a lot to go over. Marcus had to leave for a business trip this morning, so he said I should fill you in on the rules. He said I should show you everything and explain your job p>
She started walking, and I followed her down a long hallway.
The house was so quiet.
Too quiet.
Like a museum.
“First things first,” Melinda said as we walked. “You need to know the rules of the house. There are only a few, but they are important p>
She stopped and turned to face me. Her eyes were serious now.
“Stay out of Marcus’s room completely. You do not go in there for any reason. I clean it myself. No one else. Let me keep it short, stay out of his way… you’re here for his son and not him… he had trouble with the other Nannies, he wanted me to warn you p>
I nodded quickly. “Yes, of course. I understand p>
“Good,” she said, starting to walk again. “You are here to care for Ryan, as I said, that is your only job p>
Her voice was kind but firm.
“I understand,” I said again. “Just Ryan. Nothing else p>
We came to a small but pretty room. It had a bed, a desk, and a window looking out at the garden. It was simple but nice.
“This will be your room,” Melinda said. “Mr. Marcus said you need to move in. It’s a full-time job. You’ll be here most days and nights p>
Move in? I hadn’t expected that. A little alarm bell rang in my head, I mean living in a stranger’s house? With a strange man?
But what choice do I have?
“Okay,” I whispered.
Melinda nodded. “Now come, let me introduce you to Ryan p>
We walked up the stairs.
“Ryan?” she called gently. “May I come in? There’s someone I want you to meet p>
No answer, she opened the door anyway.
The room was big, like really big for a kid. It had a bed shaped like a race car, shelves full of toys, but it was all so… neat, too neat. Like, no one actually played here.
In the corner, sitting on the floor, was a little boy.
He was playing with something, but he wasn’t really playing. He was just… moving a toy car back and forth.
Back and forth.
Over and over.
His face had no expression.
He didn’t look up when we came in.
“Ryan,” Melinda said softly, walking closer. “This is Sarah, she’s your new nanny. She’s going to take care of you from now on p>
The boy stopped moving the car.
Slowly, he looked up. His eyes met mine. They were big and dark and… empty like a doll’s eyes.
It sent a little chill down my spine.
He stared at me for a long moment, then in a flat, quiet voice, he said, “I don’t like her p>
My heart dropped a little.
I tried to smile.
“That’s okay,” I said gently. “We don’t have to be friends right away. We can just get to know each other slowly p>
He didn’t answer; he just looked back down at his car and started moving it again.
Melinda sighed, softly touching my arm and motioning for me to follow her out.
We stepped into the hallway, and she closed the door partway.
“He’s… like that,” she said quietly. “With everyone at first. Don’t take it personally p>
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked, then immediately felt bad. “I mean… is he okay? He seems so… disconnected p>
Melinda’s face got a little sad. “Ryan is a special boy. He doesn’t talk much. He doesn’t play like other children… he’s just different p>
We walked down the hall, and Melinda pulled a piece of paper from her apron pocket.
“This is his schedule,” she said, handing it to me. “It is very important that you follow it exactly every day, at the same time. Breakfast at seven. Then, playtime in his room from seven-thirty to eight-thirty. Then outside time from eight-thirty to nine-fifteen. Then back inside for quiet time. Then lunch at noon. Then nap from twelve-thirty to two, then learning time. Then outside again. Then dinner at six. Then bath at seven. Then bed at eight. Every single day. The same p>
I looked at the paper.
It was so detailed.
So strict.
Breakfast at seven.
Not seven-oh-five.
Seven.
“This is… a lot,” I said slowly. “Doesn’t he get to just… play? Just be a kid? Do what he wants sometimes p>
Melinda shook her head. “No. That’s not how he works; he needs the schedule. If you deviate from it, even by a few minutes, Marcus won’t like that p>
I looked back at the closed door. The little boy inside, moving a car back and forth with empty eyes.
My heart hurt for him.
“Has he always been like this?” I asked.
“Since his mother Melinda stopped and looked at me. “Never mind. That’s not for me to say, and it’s not for you to ask… Remember what I told you, and you’ll address Marcus as Mr. Specter p>
My heart dropped at the mention of Specter.
Could it be?
No! Definitely not, I don’t remember Damon having a brother.