All Chapters of Belong with them: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

AmyKeys. CheckedWallet. Checked.Id card. Checked.Finally, the checklist is done. I walked out of my apartment and towards my car. Just as I was about to close the car door, I remembered something. Shit! I forgot about the assignments. I rushed back to my room, grabbed them, and then hurried back to my car. I took a careful seat to preserve the formal dress I was wearing today. Usually, I opt for semi-formal clothing, but today was an exception. I needed to look sharp.I arrived at my school room early. Organizing my classroom and making preparations for my students are some of my favorite tasks. I always ensured that my students received my best efforts. As I worked, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about how happy my fourth-graders would be when they saw the upcoming project.When the bell rang, I was just about to finish organizing the papers when I stepped outside the classroom to let my students in. Some of them squealed and yelled, ‘Good morning, miss!’ It was adorable!The

AmyI sat nervously in the plush waiting room of RC Enterprises, feeling the weight of anticipation bearing down on me. My hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop fumbling with the files in my lap. The interviews hadn’t even started yet, and I was already sweating like a pig. I glanced around at the grandeur of the lobby, utterly awestruck. I had never seen anything so grand in my life.The top floor was vast, easily the size of two football fields, and it seemed to contain only two offices at the far end corner. Everything else appeared to be meeting rooms or additional waiting areas. I was sitting in the waiting room on a sofa that was so comfortable that I could just slide down and sleep on it. The decor of the whole floor was a soothing light beige, bathed in soft, inviting, and illuminating. It looked like something straight out of a magazine. I was so captivated by the surroundings that I didn’t even notice someone clearing their throat.“The interviews will begin immediately. Mi

AmyI sighed as I plopped down on my bed after returning to my small apartment from the interview. I found the experience to be somewhat strange. Nannying was never part of my career plan, but when Mara approached me about it two weeks ago, I couldn’t help but feel perplexed. I probed her for more information, wondering how she even got wind of this opportunity. It appeared like the kind of position that required exclusive connections. To enter the building for the interview, I had to provide a mysterious coded message that Mara had given me. It all felt rather clandestine.I knew I should be grateful for the opportunity, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Mara was keeping something from me. I mulled over the job offer, and there was no denying that I desperately needed it. My attempts at landing a teaching job elsewhere had been futile, as the entire district was grappling with severe budget cuts, resulting in countless layoffs. With a sigh, I reluctantly agreed to the interview, a

AmyI quickly exited Mr. Crawford’s room, my heart pounding from the awkward encounter. I couldn’t help but berate myself for my blunder. I’m such a fool, I thought as I sank onto the living room sofa, absently toying with the straps of my bag. The question looming large in my mind: Was this going to cost me my job on my very first day? My nerves were getting the best of me, and I struggled to calm my racing heart.Amid my spiraling thoughts, I suddenly realized something crucial. Where was Liam? Panic surged within me. I had been so preoccupied with the earlier incident that I’d lost track of the little boy. I was about to launch into a search when a handsome man approached.“You must be Miss Amy Castello, Liam’s new nanny,” he said, smiling politely.I blushed. “Hmm... I am. And you are?”“I am Jim Perry, Liam’s bodyguard,” he introduced himself.My mouth formed an ‘O’ of realization. So this is the man who was in the bathroom. And also a 5-year-old has a bodyguard. Well, not that I

AmyI bit my lip, trying to hold back my emotions as I looked around my tiny apartment. This had been my home for the last few years, and it held memories of both joy and sorrow. I squealed like a crazy school girl when I landed my teaching job in the kitchen. I cried on the floor when the doctor told me that my mother would need to go away to a hospice or hospital situation, as she needed constant care. This is the place where I have cried and smiled and picked myself up more than I like to admit.Currently, as I placed the last of my essentials into my bag, I couldn’t deny the emotional weight of leaving this place behind. I was almost fully packed, ready to move into Mr. Crawford’s home. My salary would cover the rent here as well as my mother’s medical bills, so I decided to keep this apartment as a safe haven.However, I still needed to pay this month’s rent, and I was short on funds. So, I made my way to Mr. Howard’s condo, my landlord. I tapped his door knocker. Mr. Howard, my l