A Nanny For The Billionaire

The early summer sun filtered through the blinds, casting warm streaks of light across the room. Outside, birds chirped in a chorus, blending with the distant hum of cars and buses. The city was alive with people rushing to their jobs-well, most people. Anne McCole wasn't among them. Still tangled in her sheets, she lay daydreaming about her office crush when her alarm blared, jolting her back to reality.

"Rinnnnnnggg!! Rinnnnnnggg!!"

With a speed that defied her sleepy state, Anne leaped out of bed.

"Holy crap! Mom, why didn't you wake me up? Oh my God, I'm so late!" she screamed, sprinting toward the bathroom.

"Damn girl you look so good." Anne said as she admired herself in the bathroom mirror, she giggled at herself. Anne was indeed a beautiful lady but hardly would anyone notice it because she doesn't dress in a way that people would see her beauty. She had a nice curvey shape that would suit any dress.

At 28, Anne was a whirlwind of energy, her life revolving around making ends meet and caring for her single mother. Since her father's tragic death in a fire, Anne had done everything possible to put a smile on her mom's face, often with the support of her best friend, Cynthia. But as hard as she worked, Anne couldn't shake the feeling that life had more to offer.

Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed and slightly more awake. Entering the kitchen, she found her mother at the stove, humming as she fried chips.

"Good morning, Mom," Anne greeted, planting a quick kiss on her mother's cheek and sneakily grabbing a chip from the plate.

"Good morning, dear. Looks like someone enjoyed her sleep so much she forgot she has a job," Mrs. McCole teased, shaking her head with a smile.

Anne groaned. "But Mom, why didn't you wake me up? I could have slept until noon if it were up to me."

Her mother chuckled. "Well, whose fault is that? I warned you girls about going out drinking last night. But no, my adult daughter wanted to 'enjoy her freedom,' as she called it."

"Mom!" Anne whined, pouting her lips dramatically.

"You know, you're adorable when you pout like that," her mom said, laughing softly as she watched her daughter-a grown woman who still had the stubbornness of her teenage years-munch on more chips.

Their lighthearted moment was interrupted by the door flying open. Cynthia, Anne's best friend since childhood, burst in, out of breath and frazzled.

"Where on earth is your phone? I've been calling you for ages, and we're already late! Hi, Mrs. McCole," she said in one rushed breath.

"Hi, Tia," Mrs. McCole responded warmly, using her nickname for Cynthia. "And why are you girls running late? Didn't I warn you both not to stay out so late? You're lucky I haven't made you both skip breakfast as punishment."

"Mom!" Anne exclaimed, but her protests were ignored as her mother ushered them out the door.

"Bye! Get going before you're even later!" Mrs. McCole called after them, her voice tinged with amusement.

As the girls made their way down the busy street, Cynthia caught her breath and shook her head. "I swear, Anne, I didn't think I was going to wake up at all. I was ready to hibernate until next week."

Anne laughed, her mood lifting. "Same here! Last night was fire! We should totally go out again tonight."

"No way," Cynthia retorted, grinning. "I'd love to, but after last night, I'm done. I don't want to wake up next time and find out we've slept through the weekend."

The day passed in a blur, as it usually did. Anne and Cynthia cleaned offices in a towering glass building downtown, each swipe of their rags and sprays of cleaner pulling them closer to the end of their shift. Cynthia left early for her singing practice, leaving Anne to walk home alone.

As Anne strolled through the city streets, she found herself drawn to a boutique window. Inside, a dress-a vision of silk and elegance-caught her eye. She pressed her face to the glass, her heart racing with excitement.

"Oh my God, what have I done" she whispered to herself, mesmerized by the intricate design. "I have to go in. Just to admire it... maybe even buy it, if it's affordable."

She stepped into the store, her eyes never leaving the dress. She imagined how stunning it would look on her, how heads would turn at any event she attended. But her excitement quickly vanished when she spotted the price tag.

"Sixty thousand dollars?!" she gasped. "For a dress? Is it made of gold?"

Anne's mind spun. That was more than three years of her salary. She shook her head, marveling at the absurdity of it. "Who in their right mind would pay this much? I can't even imagine wearing a dress like this... unless I become rich."

"This is so expensive, seriously. Well I only came to admire the dress and not to buy. Phew." Anne sighed in relief as she dropped the dress.

She turned to leave, but in her rush, she accidentally knocked over a small jewelry box. The sound of it hitting the floor echoed through the store, and before she could react, the box shattered, sending delicate jewels scattering across the polished floor.

"Oh no..." Anne whispered, her heart dropping into her stomach as the store attendant and several customers turned to stare.

"I'm so sorry!" she stammered. "I didn't mean to! It was an accident, I swear!"

The store attendant raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Sorry? Do you think your apology is going to pay for this?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "That jewelry was worth $150,000."

Anne's blood ran cold. "$150,000?! That's ridiculous! For a necklace?"

"Oh common, it's just a little necklace right. It shouldn't cost that much?"

"Either you pay, or I call the police," the woman said, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Anne's mind raced. She didn't have that kind of money. She didn't even have a fraction of it. And now, customers were beginning to murmur, casting suspicious glances her way.

"Do you think she came here to steal?" one woman whispered.

"She doesn't look like she could afford anything in this store," another said.

"You can never tell, they all look innocent. See how she's poorly dressed, I bet she's here to steal but has finally met her end." One of the store attendant said.

Panic welled up inside Anne as the store attendant called for security. "Please," she begged, "I can't afford this, but I can work for you! Let me work here for free until I've paid it off!"

But her pleas fell on deaf ears. The security guard blocked her path, and the attendant, unmoved, simply shook her head.

"Ma'am," the security guard said, "the police are on their way."

Anne's world tilted In one careless moment, her life had spun out of control. She was trapped, with no way out, and the weight of it all crashed down on her as the sirens blared in the distance.