The world was indeed a small place.
And I have just confirmed that.
Out of all the people who could have been Sam's father, why did it have to be this rude man?
Why did our paths have to cross again?
"It is a small world," The smirk on Big Shot's face disappeared, and was replaced with a scowl, " What are you doing here?"
Rude, as always.
"I brought your daughter Mr Acerman, in case you're too blind to see that." I gave him a frown of my own.
"You were the babysitter I spoke with over the phone? Mandy?" He sounded displeased.
"Maddison. Maddison Reeves." I corrected, feeling slightly offended by how his eyes moved over my body.
The suit-clad man hummed.
I expected him to say something else, a rude remark, or try to insult me but instead, he said,
"Thank you."
I was caught off-guard as our eyes met again.
Did he just thank me? I must have heard wrong. He couldn't possibly have—
"Thank you for your help," He repeated. "I don't think I can thank you enough for what you did for my daughter today." The frown was still on his face but his features had softened as he mentioned his daughter.
One could see the love in his eyes as he stared at her and I, well I took the opportunity to stare at him too.
To say he was handsome was an understatement.
The man before me was drop-dead gorgeous. The dark-haired man seemed to be in his early forties but age seemed to have nothing on him.
Tall, well-built with striking green eyes which were now pinned on me.
I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I realized he had caught me checking him out.
"I'll be sure to repay you someday." His gaze lingered on me a little bit longer before he turned to leave. He had barely taken a step when Sam broke free from his grip and hugged me instead.
"I don't want to go, Daddy!" She cried, tightening her grip around me, "I want to stay with Maddy."
Mr Acerman and I exchanged looks.
"Sam, what are you doing?" He tried to pull her away from me but she refused, "Darling, we need to go home."
"No!" She shook her head, "I don't want to go home. I don't want to go anywhere, I want to stay here with Maddy."
"But she's leaving too. She has to return to her home too." He tried explaining but the little one would have none of it. Her tear-filled eyes stared up at me.
"Daddy, I don't want Maddy to leave. I want her as my babysitter."
Wait what?
My eyes widened slightly. Did she just say she wanted me as her babysitter?
"Babysitter?" The man frowned, "You want this woman as your babysitter?"
Surprise was written all over his face as Sam nodded.
"You always threw a tantrum when I brought babysitters home." The surprise was replaced with a grown. "I brought home the best babysitters, you refused to accept any of them yet here you are telling me you want a woman you've met a few hours ago to be your babysitter?"
Sam nodded.
"No."
Both Sam's and I's heads snapped up to look at him.
"I will not allow some strange woman to babysit my daughter. Women like her cannot be trusted."
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"You jumped in front of my car." He said bluntly, "I cannot have a dangerous woman like you around my precious child- or any other child."
"I did not jump in front of your car." I gritted and clutched my fists.
When did I ever say I was interested in babysitting this rude man's child?
I opened my mouth to talk again but Sam beat me to it.
"I want Maddy as my babysitter!" She cried and her tantrums continued. All his attempts to calm her down failed and I finally decided to step in.
"Sam, you're a good girl, aren't you?" I cupped her face, " Good girls obey their elders so listen to your dad and go with him, dear."
Her dad took her from me.
"Please don't go, don't leave me, Maddy." My chest twisted at the sight of Sam crying and I wondered why.
I barely knew her but I've gotten attached to her in such a little time. She was such a lovely child, her mother must be so lucky.
"I'm sorry, I have to get back to work."
"But you don't have any work. You were fired."
"Fired?" It was her father who spoke.
"Yes, Daddy. The evil woman at the daycare fired Maddy because she protected and saved me from those bullies."
His face hardened, "You lost your job?"
It was more of a statement than a question.
"It's nothing." I shrugged, "I was going to quit anyway.
"No, you weren't. You even cried—"
"No I did not," I chuckled nervously. "I'll have to leave now—"
"Wait." His husky voice made me pause. I turned to lock eyes with a pair of green ones.
"Mindy is it?"
"Maddison." I corrected through gritted teeth, He smirked. He was doing it intentionally.
"Well congratulations Miss Maddison, You're hired."
And just like that, I found myself boarding a plane alongside Sam and her father.
We landed in Stredland hours later and the moment we exited the airport, a black limousine was waiting for us.
Everything was happening so fast. One minute I was thinking of how to survive and the next, I was riding in one of the most expensive cars ever.
I was the babysitter of one of the richest men in Stredland.
Ramsey Acerman.
I still couldn't believe it!
I did my little research while on the plane and my jaw dropped when Big Shot's face appeared on my screen.
He was a multibillionaire, the owner of the largest conglomerate in all of Strickland. No wonder he was so rude and full of himself.
My jaw dropped as the limo pulled to a stop in front of the most luxurious villa I've ever seen and I got out.
Mr Acerman walked in front while I followed behind, carrying Sam who was fast asleep.
We stepped into the house and my jaw dropped even further. I had never seen so many expensive things in my life.
The entire mansion felt like a different planet as Mr Acerman led me to his daughter's room.
"You can tuck her in," He said once we were in the confinement of a grand bedroom.
The room I was in, painted in pink, was twice the size of my former apartment. And it was just the room of a child?
I tucked Sam in and took her shoes off before stepping out of the room with Mr Acerman. We walked further down the hallway before he paused in front of a room.
"First, you appear in front of me, and then you appear in my daughter's life. What are you playing at?"
I frowned, "I don't understand—"
"It couldn't just be a coincidence, could it?" He raised a brow at me, "Who are you?"
I almost scoffed, "Are you saying I planned to come here?"
"That's another way to put it." His eyes were fixed on me, "I will not spare you if I find out you planned everything from the start."
I tightened my fists. Was he seriously threatening me?
"You do not have to worry, Mr Acerman. I assure you I did nothing of that sort."
"I only hired you because Sam wanted it. I'll do anything for my little princess. Even if it meant having to put up with you."
I could see the disapproval in his eyes but I wouldn't let that bother me.
I just landed a dream job, I wouldn't let what happened with Mrs Foyer repeat itself.
"This will be your room from today," He continued. "You will stay close to my daughter, take care of her, and provide her with every single thing she needs."
I nodded.
Not only would I take care of Sam, I was going to love her like my own but I couldn't tell him that.
I wanted to ask about her mother but decided against it and listened as he listed the dos and don'ts in his house and every other thing he saw necessary to tell me.
I had to nod my head at intervals, as I listened or should I say pretend to listen because I lost him after the fifteenth one.
"The workers will brief you on the rest." He finally said and I almost sighed in relief.
"Can I go now?" I asked eager to rest my head somewhere. I was exhausted.
"Sure. Goodnight Mandy Reed." I heard him say as I walked past.
"It's Maddison," I almost cried, "Maddison Reev—" The rest of the words caught in my throat as I stumbled.
I almost lost my footing but strong hands caught me just in time for our lips to brush past each other.
A cold wave of electricity ran through my body as my blue eyes locked on his and I felt the world around us come to a stop.
Up close, Mr Acerman looked even more handsome and— what?
My eyes widened in horror as my senses returned to me, I pulled away from him immediately.
"I'm- I'm sorry," My face turned beet red, "G-Goodnight, Mr Acerman."
I didn't wait for his reply as I dashed into the room and locked the door behind me. My heart pounded in my ears as I slid down the door.
Why… Why was my heart beating so fast?
I swallowed thickly and stood up, only to hear a knock on the door.