Aiden stood at the foot of the Blackwood mansion's gates, hands trembling inside his thin gloves. The building loomed like a castle carved out of glass and storm clouds—towering pillars, mirrored windows, trimmed hedges sharp enough to slice a fingertip.
It wasn't a house.
It was a statement.
A declaration of power.
Aiden swallowed.
Hard.
His heart thumped against the corset.
Not from the disguise.
Not from fear of being discovered.
Ethan Blackwood.
Aiden felt his stomach twist.
What were the odds?
How cursed could he possibly be?
Saara squeezed his hand. "Don't faint. Don't run. And for the love of God, don't pee again."
"I hate you," Aiden whispered.
"I know," she smiled. "Now go."
The steel gate opened with a low groan, and Ava stepped inside.
*********
The Mansion Breathes Power
The interior felt like stepping into another world—polished marble floors, chandeliers dripping crystal like frozen raindrops, tall paintings of ancestors watching with disdain.
A woman in a black uniform approached—stern posture, hair in a perfect bun, expression sharp.
"I am Clara," she said curtly. "Head maid."
Aiden forced a soft smile. "I—I'm Ava."
Clara's eyes traveled slowly down the length of Ava's figure—wig curls, pale dress, stockings, heels.
Her stare wasn't just suspicious.
It was dissecting.
Judging.
Perfect. Another person already hating him.
"Mrs. Helena informed me you were coming for a trial." Clara stepped back, her voice stiff. "But I must warn you—Mr. Blackwood rarely keeps nannies longer than a week. The last resigned within two days."
Aiden forced a shaky breath. "I'll do my best."
Clara didn't look convinced.
"Follow me. The child is in the playroom."
*********
Lily Blackwood sat on the floor among a sea of toys—wide green eyes, glossy black hair, tiny dress wrinkled like she'd been rolling around.
She looked like an angel.
Until she opened her mouth.
"NO!" Lily screamed, throwing a stuffed rabbit across the room as Clara tried to brush her hair. "I DON'T WANT IT! I DON'T WANT ANYBODY!"
Clara sighed heavily. "This is what you're dealing with."
Aiden blinked.
This was… intense.
He stepped forward cautiously. "Hi, Lily."
She glared at him.
A deep glare.
A glare filled with distrust and warning.
"Who are YOU?"
"I'm Ava."
"No you're not."
Aiden blinked again. "I… I am."
"You smell weird," Lily said.
Aiden froze.
Oh God.
Did she smell makeup? perfume? sweat? FEAR?
Before he could respond, Lily grabbed a toy cup and threw it straight at his forehead.
It bounced off, leaving a tiny sting.
"Lily!" Clara scolded.
"I don't want her!" Lily screamed. "I don't want ANYONE!"
Then came the tantrum—kicking toys, screaming at the top of her lungs, hair flying wildly.
Aiden stood there, frozen, sweating under the wig.
Was this child possessed?
Saara didn't prepare him for this.
He almost wanted to run.
But then Lily tripped over a toy block—about to fall face-first on the marble.
Without thinking, Aiden lunged forward.
He caught her just in time.
Lily blinked, stunned.
Clara's eyes widened.
Aiden held the little girl carefully, gently smoothing her hair. "Hey… it's okay."
For a second, Lily just stared at him—silent, confused.
But the silence didn't last long.
Instead, the temperature in the room dropped.
Someone else had arrived.
***********
A deep, chilling voice filled the doorway.
"What is going on here?"
Aiden froze.
Clara bowed instantly. "Sir!"
Lily stiffened in his arms.
And Aiden—Ava—turned.
Ethan Blackwood stood at the doorframe like a shadow made real.
Tall.
Broad.
Black suit tailored perfectly.
Gray eyes sharp, cold—cutting right through Ava.
Aiden forgot how to breathe.
The man from the airport.
The man who called him careless.
The man who dropped him after nearly kissing distance.
He was here.
He was the boss.
He owned the house.
this place belonged to him.
The gray-eyed devil from the airport.
And he looked angrier than he had in the restroom.
"What is this?" Ethan asked, voice flat.
Mrs. Helena entered behind him, face stern. "Your new nanny."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "No."
"No?" Helena snapped.
"I've seen her before," Ethan said without removing his cold eyes from Ava. "She's not appropriate. Not competent. Not trustworthy."
Aiden felt his blood turn to ice.
Lily clung to him suddenly—small arms around his waist, face buried in the fabric of his dress.
Ethan noticed.
His expression darkened.
"Hey !!!," Ethan said sharply, "put her down."
Aiden swallowed. "She—she's scared."
"That's not your decision."
Lily's tiny voice trembled. "Daddy… …"
Ethan took and hugged her tightly.
Helena stepped forward, face hard. "She saved Lily just now. Your daughter nearly cracked her skull."
Ethan paused.
Clara nodded. "She did, sir."
Ethan's eyes flicked to the toy block on the floor, then to Aiden's arms around Lily.
Something unreadable flashed in his gaze.
Not gratitude.
Not warmth.
But recognition.
That Ava wasn't useless.
Still—he hated her.
He narrowed his eyes. "She is not fit for this job."
"She is," Helena snapped back. "And if you don't hire her, I will take Lily with me."
Ethan stiffened. "No."
"Then accept my choice," Helena declared.
Aiden's breath caught.
Was he… really hired?
Ethan turned away, pinching the bridge of his nose, frustrated.
"Fine. But only for fifteen days."
Aiden blinked. "F–fifteen days?"
"If in fifteen days you fail," Ethan said, "you leave. Immediately. No excuses."
His eyes locked onto Aiden—gray, sharp, cold, remembering their bathroom disaster.
"And believe me, Ms. Ava…"
He took one powerful step closer—so close Aiden could feel his breath.
"You will fail."
Aiden swallowed hard.
His heart pounded painfully.
Hatred burned in Ethan's gaze.
Dislike.
Disgust.
Judgment.
And Aiden hated him right back.
But he also needed him.
Desperately.
"I won't fail," Aiden whispered.
Ethan's lips curled slightly.
Not a smile.
Something darker.
"We'll see."
********
Clara escorted Lily away for a moment, and Helena pretended to check her phone, giving Ethan and Ava a moment alone.
Aiden pretended not to be shaking.
Ethan stepped closer, lowering his voice.
Cold.
Threatening.
Dangerously soft.
"I don't know who you are," he said. "But I don't trust you."
Aiden kept his voice steady. "I'm here to work."
"Then work," Ethan said. "And stay out of my way."
He leaned in even closer.
Close enough that Aiden's heartbeat misfired.
"And don't ever—ever—step into places you shouldn't."
Aiden flushed
Ethan remembered it too.
He didn't hide .
"I'm sorry about the mistake at the airport," Aiden said.
Ethan smirked. "I know… and I won't tolerate it again," he said.
His eyes dropped briefly—almost involuntarily—to Ava's lips.
Heat shot through Aiden's stomach.
Ethan snapped his gaze away instantly.
"Fifteen days. That's all you get."
He walked away, footsteps sharp and echoing through the mansion, leaving the scent of expensive cologne behind him.
Aiden's knees nearly buckled.
He hated that man.
Truly hated him.
But he needed this job.
He needed the money.
He needed to save Mia.
If he had to face this cold, infuriating, devastatingly handsome man for fifteen days—
Then so be it.
Aiden lifted his chin.
"Ava will survive," he whispered.
And somewhere in the mansion, Ethan Blackwood paused for a heartbeat—
as if he felt the shift in the air.
As if he realized…
This girl wasn't going to break easily.
********************