The days passed in a blur for Lin Rose. Every moment seemed to stretch into the next, filled with endless studying, work, and the occasional moment of peace when she could simply close her eyes and forget about the world. But one thing always remained constant—her time at the Han penthouse.
It had been a week since she started babysitting for Zeke Han. Every day, her interactions with him were brief, cold, and filled with tension. Zeke didn't seem to care much for her presence, except when it came to checking in on his son. He would enter the room, nod curtly to her, and then turn his attention to Jasper, his young son. His indifference toward Rose was evident, and while it stung, she had learned to keep her distance.
But the coldness, the emotional walls Zeke had built around himself, intrigued her in a way she couldn't explain. There was something about him that didn't fit the image of a typical rich, aloof businessman's son. Beneath that exterior, she knew there was more, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Today, as Rose arrived for another round of babysitting, she felt the familiar weight of exhaustion on her shoulders. She had barely managed to finish a paper before rushing to the penthouse, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up the pace.
"Another day, another job," she muttered under her breath as she entered the building.
The receptionist greeted her with the usual polite smile and directed her to the elevator. Rose nodded politely, her thoughts elsewhere as she ascended to the top floor. She had gotten used to the grandness of the penthouse by now, though it still felt a little surreal to her.
When the elevator doors opened, she was greeted by the same sleek and sterile hallway that led to the rooms she had grown familiar with. As she approached the door to the playroom, she hesitated.
She had made it a point to stay out of Zeke's way. Their interactions were limited to polite nods or brief exchanges about Jasper's well-being. But today, something felt different. There was a sense of unease in the air that Rose couldn't shake off.
She knocked softly on the door. "Hello?" she called out, as she opened it slightly.
To her surprise, it wasn't Jasper who greeted her, but Zeke.
"Back again?" His voice was low, with a hint of sarcasm that didn't go unnoticed.
Rose blinked, trying to ignore the subtle annoyance that crept up on her. "I'm here to babysit," she replied, her tone neutral.
Zeke eyed her for a moment, his sharp gaze lingering before he stepped aside to allow her in. His face was set in its usual stoic expression, though there was something behind his eyes—something she couldn't read. It was unsettling.
"Jasper's in the playroom," Zeke muttered before turning to leave. "I won't be back until late, so don't get any ideas."
Rose frowned, her patience wearing thin. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice firm.
Zeke paused but didn't turn back to face her. "Just do your job," he said curtly before exiting the room, leaving her alone with his words and the strange tension they left behind.
Rose shook her head, trying to push the moment aside. She wasn't here to deal with Zeke's attitude—she was here to care for Jasper.
As she made her way into the playroom, she found the little boy sitting cross-legged on the floor, focused on a puzzle. His face lit up when he saw her, and he ran over, eager to show her what he had accomplished.
"Look, look! I finished it!" Jasper exclaimed, his voice filled with pride.
Rose smiled warmly, crouching down to his level. "Wow, that's amazing! You're getting so good at this."
Jasper beamed, clearly pleased with her praise. The innocence in his eyes and the pure joy he took in simple things never failed to brighten Rose's mood. She spent the next hour playing with him, reading him stories, and making sure he was well taken care of. For a moment, everything felt normal again, and the weight of her own worries faded.
But her peace didn't last long. The sound of the front door opening reached her ears, and with it came the unmistakable sound of Zeke's footsteps.
He was back earlier than expected.
Rose stood up, brushing off her jeans as she turned toward the door. Zeke appeared in the doorway, his gaze immediately fixing on her. He took a moment to observe her, as though trying to gauge her reaction.
"You're still here," he remarked, though there was no real surprise in his voice. It was as if he had expected her to leave the moment he wasn't around.
"Of course," Rose replied coolly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm here to look after Jasper. That's my job."
Zeke's lips curled into a brief smirk, but it was gone before Rose could make sense of it. "Is that so? I suppose I'll have to leave you two to it, then. Don't make a mess of my home."
Rose clenched her fists at her sides. She wasn't used to being spoken to like that, especially by someone who acted like they had everything handed to them. "I don't plan on it."
He gave a dismissive nod before turning to leave, but not without offering one last remark.
"Remember, I'm not paying you to entertain him all day. Just make sure he's out of trouble."
Rose stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure. The audacity of him, expecting her to just be some sort of nanny who did everything on his terms, grated on her nerves. But she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She had a job to do, and she wasn't about to let his attitude ruin it.
"Don't let him get to you, Rose," she muttered under her breath, looking down at Jasper, who had already gone back to his toys, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.