"Hi. I'm Jada Costa. The new nanny." I inform the security guard through a screen. I look around as I wait and I love their security. To have such security requires a small fortune. The footpath gate opens and I enter to find a 6'3 man with a buzz cut standing behind it.
He tells me to follow him and I do just that. A beautiful dark skinned middle age woman stands infront of a large door that is closed. Her hair is in a tight bun and she's in a tailored skirt with a coat. I could assume that she's the lady of the house but she seems too professional. And based on the files I have, Sarah Williams doesn't look like her. So she must be Leah Saint. Sarah's best friend and house manager. "Welcome to the Williams' mansion. I hope you are Jada Costa, Leonardo Williams' new nanny." "Pleased to meet you Mrs." I try placing a smile on my face but it seems hard and so I go with a straight face. I raise my hand for a greeting and she takes it into her warm ones. "I'm Leah Saint. I manage the Williams household." With that she turns and I follow her. She opens the large door and we get in. I look around impressed. I place an astonished face as I look around but in real sense I'm scanning the house. Leah guides me to a room and tells me to wait for Mrs Williams. She asks me if I need any drink but I decline. I sit and continue looking around. Five minutes later, I hear footsteps and I instinctively turn towards the sound. Another middle aged woman with brown hair and honey brown eyes dresses in an elegant yellow dress comes towards me and I immediately recognize her from the files. Sarah Williams. She's Leonardo's paternal grandmother. She owns her own clothing line called 'Pretty Ladies' and has had it for twenty five years. Her husband death was caused by a cardiac arrest ten years ago and since then she's only been seen with one man for almost a year but broke up a few months ago. "Mrs Williams. I am Jada Costa. Leonardo's new nanny." I introduce myself and raise my hand for a greeting but she only looks at it and moves to a seat studying me. I know my eyes and face seem cold and even emotionless because she looks at me unsure. "Leonardo's wake up time is at eight a.m. His breakfast is at nine a.m, he's homeschooled and so his teacher Mr Bullock, should be here as from ten a.m. Lunch is at noon, he resumes his classes at one p.m to three..." She raises an eyebrow and looks me. "You ought to be writing dear. I don't repeat myself twice and I don't tolerate tardiness or stupid mistakes." "I have a good memory ma'am. Don't expect otherwise from the best." I say and she looks at me for a minute. She so damn hard to read. Finally, she nods her head with a small smile which vanishes in two seconds. Wow! "Where was I again?" She asks and I know she's testing me. "He resumes his classes from one p.m to three." I say and she nods again. "He has an evening snack for thirty minutes then you will take him out for a walk for an hour. You shouldn't go further than ten miles from the house. He has his weekly visits to the doctor every Fridays from nine a.m and so he should be ready by eight sharp. His meals are made by the cook and so it's your duty to make sure he takes them in time. His medicine are on the top left cupboard, Leah will show you where and tell you their prescription. I believe you're aware of Leonardo's condition?" She asks and I reply positively. "Okay. Now that that is settled, Leah will show you to your room." She says then stands and leaves. Leah gets in a minute later and asks me to follow her through the gorgeous house. Everyone seems so professional in this house. I never imagined Sarah Williams would sound that way. She seems so cold. "This is Leonardo's room." Leah's voice interrupts my thoughts. She then moves two doors after Leonardo's and stops again. "And this is yours. Your bag and suitcase is already placed inside. Hope you find it to your liking." She gives me a small smile and leaves. I open the white door to find large room with cream walls. The queen sized bed is on one side of the wall. I see two doors on either sides of the bed. I assume one leads to the closet and another to the bathroom. I turn and look at the gigantic room. I've always been in small bedrooms and to be honest, I feel uncomfortable in this. I don't need this much space. I go to my suitcase and get out my laptop and set it up on a reading desk. I take out the tiny cameras and place them next to the laptop. I hear a knock. I quickly place the cameras in the suitcase as quietly as I can. "Mrs Saint. How can I help you?" I ask. "Call me Leah. We're going on a house tour. I don't think I'll find any other time to do this." Perfect. I step out shutting the door behind me. I follow her for about half an hour. The house is magnificent and large. The Williams are known around the state because of Jayden and Jacob's father, Raul. He was a renown automobile engineer. His first son, Jacob followed in his footsteps but became an aerobic engineer just like his wife. His second son Jayden, became one of the best basketball players in the country. There are talks of the youngest child, a daughter but no one seems to know the truth about it. I make sure I've mastered the perfect corners around the mansion to place my cameras. Just as we reach at the foot of the stairs, the front door opens revealing a cute nine year old. His hair is ash white just like in the photos. He got it from his dad and grandfather. He has his late mother's green eyes. "Leah! I'm back and look what uncle got me." He runs excitedly to Leah holding a basketball but suddenly stops when he sees me. "Leo. Say hi to your new nanny, Jada." I'm really not used to being called a nanny and I slightly cringe. Leonardo studies me with a scrutinizing stare. "Hmm. She'll do." He says and I look at the spot he was just in blankly. She'll do? Leah's laugh brings me back from my slight state of shock. "He likes you. Just go to his room. You'll meet his uncle later." I give her a curt nod and go towards Leonardo's room. I knock once and get into his room and find him trying to dribble the ball. "Uncle Jay said he'll teach me how to. But I'm getting better." He says looking embarrassed but I only smile. "I can also teach you some other day." I say and he grins. He places the ball on top of his shelve. "You're prettier than Alexis." I let out a laugh. "Who's Alexis?" "A model who works for grandma. She's obsessed with uncle Jay and grandma. Uncle says that she's just his friend but I think she loves him." I listen to what he says registering his words. "What made you come to that conclusion?" I ask and he answers. That's how the rest of our time together went on until it was his resting time. I go to my room. I remove my blonde wig and brown contact lenses leaving behind my natural look. I then undress leaving myself naked and open my bathroom door and get in but what I see shocks me."I'm nine, not four Jada. I don't understand why everyone keeps forcing me to eat these... " He makes a disgusting face. "... things." He lifts up a broccoli on his fork. I give out a short laugh. "Hey, I made you laugh." Leo says in disbelief, then turns to look at the chef. "Rita, I made Jada laugh. Isn't that just mind-blowing!" Rita and I laugh once again at his expression. "I know what you're doing. Eat your vegetables. You need them to fight all diseases." I say, and he frowns a little bit but starts eating but stops after two bites, then looks at me with a look saying 'see I ate'. "Let's make a bet then. You eat, then I'll sing a song before you sleep." Just as I finish talking, the fourth bite takes place, and I snicker. Just then, Sarah Williams comes into the dining room. Leo's eyes light up when he looks at her, and I raise my eyes to where she stands. I know my body has suddenly gone rigid, and my face impasive. It's a body instinct. That's how I react to anyone I don
"Hi Jada. Ryan want to talk to you. He's been sad since you left." Abby, one of the women at the children's home, tells me through the phone and my heart breaks. "Give him the phone. I'll talk to him." I tell her and she hums before I hear some shuffling on the other side. I look at the laptop screen and see Alexis talking to someone through the phone in hushed voices. Hmmm. "Jada!" Ryan's excited voice comes through the phone and I immediately smile. "Hey Ryan. How are you?" I ask. "I miss you and I don't want to go to school without seeing you. Where are you?" He is sad. I went to the home four years ago and found a two year old Ryan. Black hair and bottle green eyes. I felt an instant connection with him. Probably because I'd have a baby with the same age right now. I continue watching Alexis as she disconnects her call and turns to Jayden who just arrived. "Go to school and I'll talk to you when you come back. I'm at work and I really can't leave. I'll see you during the we
12.32 a.m. I better head off to bed. I yawn as I raise my hand to switch off my laptop screen showing different parts of the house but a movement makes me stop mid air depriving me off any traces of sleep. In a large white shirt is Alexis tip toeing out of her room as she looks around. Her eyes look at the camera and my breath hitches. It's like we're looking at each other. I stay immobile waiting for any movement. Her head turns before her body does the same and heads towards the hallway with my room in. At least she never saw the tiny camera. I turn the screen to the cameras showing my hallway. She tiptoes as she looks around. She looks almost confident. Like something she's used to doing it. She stops in front of Leonardo's room. Hmmm! I turn the cameras to Leo's room. Alexis stand at the foot of his bed looking at his sleeping form. She moves closer to his bed. I take the discarded wig that I placed next to the laptop and start fixing it into my hair as I stare intently at th
"We will be having guests today. Important guests and I expect the house to be sparkling clean. I don't expect any mistakes or negligence. You know what will happen if I see any." Sarah completes her short speech and I look around wondering why they called me. It's not like I'm needed here. "Jada. Follow me." Sarah says in her authoritative voice and I do as she says. We walk about a metre away. "Now, Leonardo has been talking about this place where he met some friends. Would you be kind enough to take him as everyone will prepare for today's guests?" "It's okay. Do I....""His chauffeur knows the place. He'll take you there." Hmm! Rude much? I bite my tongue. "It's okay ma'am." Sarah only nods and turns leaving me standing. 'I better go check on Leo.' I think as I walk towards his room. "Leo we're leaving in ten." I announce as I get into his room to find him talking to Jayden. Jayden gets up and only nods at me in greeting
"Do you think this is the right thing to do? Jayden proposing to Alexis? Alexis doesn't even seem to love his genuinely. She only seems to be interested in the cash." I hear Leah's voice through my laptop. 'So that's what this party is about.' I realize. Sarah seems to be deep in thought. "I know. But he has to show me that he's serious about his life. And besides Alexis is so good at this business, Jayden wouldn't want to inherit a clothing line. It's a win-win." She seeps from her cup and Leah shakes her head. "I have a bad feeling about this. About her." Leah says lowly. "Leave it." Sarah says and they both stay in silent. I must say they have a good relationship. My phone vibrates next to my laptop and I see Cole's name. "Costa." I respond. "Hey, Jada. I've just seen a photo of Armstrong with Leonardo's teacher, that Shawn guy. They were in the same club Ivy works at but they weren't together. I'll just send it to you." He says a
"I've been looking for you everywhere. You need to give me your phone number." Jayden says just as I pick up another mismatched pair of socks in Leo's room. "Just state what you want." I say curtly, and he raises an eyebrow, but I pay no mind and continue with what I'm doing. "Okay." He says dragging the 'a', but I offer no reaction. "I just got a letter. No return address. It only has my name on it. But it's printed." This makes me move towards him, and he hands me the small opened envelope. My eyes drift to his face, which now shows anger and frustration. I see a folded note inside, and I take it out. 48 hours. The boy or the micro-chip. We're watching your every step.The note says. My eyes drift to Jayden once again, trying to look for any emotion, but I find that he's already looking at me. Suspiciously. "What?" I ask when his gaze doesn't move. "You could be one of them. Playing a good game of someo
"Hey Abby, how are the kids doing?" I say as I hug her. It's finally Friday night, and I had planned to surprise Ryan since he's expecting me tomorrow. "They're doing great. Well, apart from Ryan. You know how he is when you leave." Abby says with a chuckle, and I slightly smile. "Yeah. That's why I came here sooner. Where are they?" I ask "Homework. You know nothing has changed here, Jada." She chuckles a bit, but I only nod, then excuse myself. I greet the other two women who stay here. Kaely Potts and Skylar Saturday. I didn't see Conner. He's probably out with his friends. These people are my family. When I came here, I was cold and emotionless at first when I escaped from the Italians, but they took me in. My walls were so high and unbreakable, but they still nursed me. They tolerated me and helped me get on my feet once again. I would always protect each one of them. I would give my life for theirs. I walk towards the last ro
"We should do this more often. Like we used to." I turn around and continue putting on my clothes. I should hit the shower as soon as I can. I'm disgustingly sweaty and sticky. "I have other things to do." With that, I stand and leave the room without looking back. I walk to my room across the hall and see Ryan sleeping peacefully. I walk towards him and watch him for about ten minutes, then go to shower. Thirty minutes later, I walk to my side of the bed and lie next to him. Sleep doesn't come for the next ten minutes, but my phone's vibration makes me alert. I take it and look at the bright screen only to see Jayden's name! Why would he call me at one a.m? "Jada speaking." I answer. "Where are you? You're supposed to be here." He shouts, and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "Jayd..." He cuts me off. "Leo... Leonardo is gone." I can tell he's panicked through his voice. I stand immediately and place the phone b