Chapter 1 Calm down

disapproving face that I couldn't understand. - Sorry, Mrs. Martina – Nicole said immediately, getting up from the armchair she was sitting in and placing Eloá on her feet on the foor. - You know I don't allow you to put my daughter on your lap! She is no longer a baby and should not be treated as such – she complained almost

shouting – Shouldn't you be doing some activity right now? – She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

looking quite upset. - I was just going over some things with Charlotte and I was going to let her give dinner.

to Eloá – Nicole explained. - Well, you can leave now – she said, pointing to the door. – I'll talk to the girl myself. Nicole nodded, lowering her head and leaving the room, without even saying goodbye to us. - Are you the girl recommended by the nuns? – she addressed me now, making a disgusted face. - Yes ma'am. - The

list with all the schedules is pasted on the board and I want you to follow everything exactly. No doing things.

off the cuff because you "think" it's the right thing to do – Martina spoke quite rudely, rolling her eyes in annoyance. - Okay. - No "Okay" with me, girl – she scolded me. – You just respond with "yes, ma'am". "Yes.

ma'am," I said nervously. There was no way I could lose that job and I listened carefully as she spoke to me, explaining what was on that schedule once again and reinforcing everything I had already heard from the housekeeper and the other nanny. Martina seemed to be a very strict and strict woman, even though she

didn't even look thirty years old, and I felt pressured by the way she spoke and her demands. While she spoke.

to me, little Eloá remained standing, silently waiting for her mother to fnish her explanations and when she did, she looked at her daughter and without even a kiss or any show of affection, she left the room. I sighed with relief and saw that Eloá did the same thing, which brought a smile to my lips, but I didn't comment. That work was very important and I would try to do everything as the owner of the house wanted it to be. I looked.

at the small watch on my wrist, a birthday present from the nuns, and realized it was Eloá's dinner time. I quickly took her to the kitchen, where she ate her meals, and I supervised her while she ate her meal in silence. We went back to her room and I changed her clothes for pajamas, put her on the bed and was about

to pick up one of the books that were on a shelf in the room, when she interrupted my gesture. - My mother.

doesn't want them to read to me. - Does she come read you a story before you go to sleep? "No," she said. – She says I should sleep alone, as she doesn't often have time to read to me. -But I can read it to you. – I got

ready. - My mother doesn't want you to read to me – she repeated, lying on her bed, looking quite sad. I also felt sad to see how such a small child, just six years old, seemed so resigned to that, remembering myself in

the orphanage, where it was not possible for us to always have someone to give us special attention, when there were so many children together. . But I couldn't understand how a child who was an only child was treated that way. I said nothing, however, after all, I shouldn't get upset with my boss in any way. I sat in the

armchair watching Eloá and thinking about it until Abigail, the housekeeper, appeared at the bedroom door.

her face serious, calling me to follow her. - Is everything okay with the child? - She asked. - Yes. - You can sleep, but you need to pay attention to the girl – she advised. – Tomorrow Nicole arrives at nine and you can

rest in her room. I did as she instructed and was already lying on a bed that was in a small room attached to Eloá's, more similar to a closet than anything else, when I heard movement and suddenly got up to check what

that could be. I got a huge shock when I saw a very handsome man in a suit, sitting in the armchair next to Eloá's bed and stroking her hair lovingly. - Good evening, sir – I said uncertainly, but I couldn't stay there

without knowing who it was. It was my role. -Oh! Hello – he said, seeming to be a very friendly person – You seem scared – he commented, as I was probably wide-eyed, so surprised to fnd someone treating me with

courtesy in that house. - I was scared by your presence, sir – I ended up confessing. - I apologize, then. He stroked Eloá's hair once again and stood up, approaching me. - Let me introduce myself – He extended his

hand, offering it in greeting – I'm Oliver Mackenzie, Eloá's father. I was even more surprised by the total difference in behavior that existed between Eloá's parents, but I just held his hand, accepting the greeting. -

And you must be Charlotte – he half stated, half asked, through my silence. - Sorry, Mr Mackenzie. I'm Charlotte, Eloá's new nanny. - It's a pleasure to meet you, Charlotte. It was highly recommended by nun

Catarina – He let go of my hand and returned to her place in the armchair. – How is Eloá today? - Calm down.

sir. - I would like you to tell me a little more than that - Despite it being a veiled order, he spoke delicately. –

Tell me a little more about how my daughter's day was. I was in meetings all day and couldn't pay attention to my little one. I complied with her request, but explained that I had only been with Eloá for a short time and wouldn't have much to say then. - And Nicole? Have you met her? – Although I found the way he asked about

Nicole a little strange, I couldn't explain exactly why. - She left as soon as Mrs. Martina arrived – she just said.

that. He looked at me analytically but said nothing. - I will stay with my daughter for a while, but you can feel free if she wants to retire. I understood that he would like to be alone with his daughter and I excused myself,

walking to the small room attached, but I was only able to fall asleep after I realized that Mr. Oliver had left.

Eloá's room. My frst night in a different place, after fourteen years living in the orphanage, was very strangeand I almost couldn't sleep, waking up several times and taking a long time to fall asleep, but that was my new.

life and it was much better than the previous one. uncertainty of the streets, I thought to feel better. 2. The

Reality Charlotte Eloá was a very calm child and it was not difcult to take care of her. While I lived at the orphanage, I used to help the nuns with the care of the younger