Sara was applying her night cream when her phone buzzed. She peeked at the screen—an unknown number. With a curious pout and cream still dotting her fingers, she picked up the call and pressed it to her ear.
"Hi, who is this?" she asked calmly.
"Hello, this is Jay. I'm Mr. Vladimir's secretary. Does Miss Sara have a moment to talk?" he asked in a formal tone.
Sara's face lit up at the mention of that name. She cleared her throat, trying to hide her sudden excitement.
"Yes, sure," she replied, the man's face flashing in her mind and making her feel a bit giddy.
"I apologize for calling this late—I just got free from work," Jay added politely.
"It's completely fine," Sara reassured.
"Your work starts tomorrow. I'm sure you already know that. There's nothing to worry about—it's just the first day. A car will pick you up from your provided address in the morning and take you to the work location."
"Okay, I understand," Sara nodded, her tone turning professional.
"Do you have any questions?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering—what level is the child at in swimming? And what's the goal? I need to plan her training accordingly," she asked curiously.
"She just turned five," Jay responded. "She'll be starting at the beginner level."
"Oh! A little girl?" Sara exclaimed softly. "Alright, I'll make sure to design a plan suited to her pace. I don't have any more questions."
"Great. Before you begin, I need to inform you of a few important rules," Jay said, his voice turning more serious. "One: you are not allowed to interfere in any personal matters of your client. Two: stay within your designated area—do not wander around the property. Three: anything you hear or see within the mansion is strictly confidential. Breaching this may lead to legal consequences. The contract will be signed officially tomorrow, but you're expected to follow these terms starting now. I hope that's clear."
Sara swallowed hard. The way he said it sent a strange chill down her spine. Something felt… off. But she kept her voice steady.
"Okay. Please send me the contract in advance so I can review it before the signing."
"It's already in your inbox," Jay replied. "Have a good night."
And with that, the call ended, leaving Sara staring at her screen—still holding the cream, now forgotten in her hand.
Sara shot up from the bed, rubbing the cream aggressively into her palms like she was trying to erase a bad decision. The phone call had shaken something loose in her, and now she couldn't sit still. She made a beeline for her wardrobe, yanking the doors open as if the perfect outfit might leap out at her.
Her eyes darted over the rows of clothes—casual dresses in soft pastels, outfits that screamed too much, and a few pieces that were far too clingy and flirtatious for a first day on the job. She sighed, hands on her hips.
What even is my style supposed to be tomorrow? she thought, groaning at the memory of what she wore earlier—layers upon layers like she was dressing for a blizzard. The memory of Vladimir's raised brow as he looked her over still made her want to slap herself across the face.
"Seriously, Sara… get it together," she muttered.
After much pacing and more sighs than she cared to count, she finally settled on a soft woolen co-ord set in a warm, cocoa brown. The fabric was fluffy and comforting—a slight oversized fit that still felt neat. A tiny embroidered bear sat on the front of the top, adding a playful charm. The matching trousers gave the outfit a polished, cozy vibe.
It wasn't just a cute outfit—it was a decision.
She wanted to look approachable, warm, and just relatable enough for a five-year-old to feel comfortable with her. She needed that bond to form easily. The bear detail might even be a conversation starter with the little girl.
And maybe… just maybe… it was a reminder to herself.
Vladimir was probably married. Rich. Out of reach. The kind of man who made you forget your job title if you weren't careful. So this outfit wasn't about impressing him. It was about doing her job—and doing it right.
She stared at the outfit laid across the bed and nodded firmly.
No swooning. No distractions. Just day one.
------------------------------------------------
Elijah signed the last sheet of paperwork with a flourish and glanced at his watch. 4:30 p.m. A pleasant surprise. Just a little more time to kill before his casual meetup with Sara.
Not a date, he reminded himself. Just coffee. A conversation. A run-in with the quirky woman who had pranked him so confidently it had left an impression. But even so, a quiet anticipation flickered in his chest.
He picked up his phone, typed a quick message, and hit send. He watched the single grey tick shift into two, and then—blue.
Seconds later, her reply came.
"YEAH I REMEMBER. I'm just about to get off work. Where do we meet? Can you send me the location?"
Elijah's lips curved into a grin. His fingers moved over the screen.
"HoneyComb Café? I like their iced latte."
"Perfect."Her reply was instant.
He couldn't help himself.
"Why won't the lady let me pick her up? 😉"
"Oh, you don't have to make such an effort. After all, I was the one who messed up your car."
That made him chuckle.
"I completely forgot about that," he typed, shaking his head.
he rose from his chair and grabbed his jacket, still smiling.
Just as he stepped into the hallway, Gustave almost bumped into him, Elijah distracted by his phone didn't quite notice him. "Boss! The file you asked for," he said, holding up the folder.
"Put it on my desk. I'll check it once I'm back," Elijah replied, his voice light. The buzz of Sara's texts hadn't quite left him yet.
The café wasn't far—just a block away—so he decided to walk,
"I'm already headed to the café," Elijah texted, attaching a quick photo of the street he was walking on."Hope I don't have to wait too long ;)" he added.
A minute later, Sara replied with a picture taken from her car window."Me too, on my way. Fingers crossed 🤞" she typed back.
Elijah grinned at the screen, shoved his hands in his pockets, and picked up his pace a little. This might turn out to be more fun than he expected.