Chapter 2 Needs Never End

"Mr. Rochefort, something disgraceful is going on here... but let's go, it's not worth it. Pardon us."The woman kept her disdainful eyes on Elise, who, unable to defend herself, could only lower her head, cheeks burning with humiliation in front of the man.Lucien Rochefort. The imposing president of Rochefort Industries.

As he did every afternoon, he stopped by Sam's supermarket to grab a coffee. Always the same ritual, always the same demeanor: an impassive face, eyes cold and devoid of any emotion.But for some reason, this time his eyes paused on Elise. Just for a second-but it was enough.

Behind that façade of indifference, something inside him stirred. The woman, cradling her baby, radiated fragility. She wasn't just beautiful; there was something in that scene-the desperation, the vulnerability-that struck a chord Lucien hadn't even known was there.Not fully understanding why, he quickened his pace, as if putting distance between them might extinguish that sudden unease."Good afternoon, Sam.

Forgive my secretary-she has this habit of meddling in things that are none of her business.""No problem, young man!" Sam replied with a forgiving smile, while Clara's face remained rigid, as if the taste of defeat was unbearable. "Come on, Clara. Let me take care of this."

Clara and Lucien walked out of the supermarket. They were already late for their meeting, but Lucien's mind was no longer on his schedule. His secretary's words still echoed in his head, and before he could stop himself, he broke the silence, eyes fixed on the road."What the hell happened in there? Why did you take so long?"

"You won't believe it, boss," Clara said with a huff. "That woman with the kid... she was stealing! I caught her myself, but of course, she started crying like she was the victim. Sam-soft as always-felt sorry for her and instead of calling the police, decided to give her food. And you know what else?""What? Just say it already," Lucien snapped, though in truth, her words were of little interest to him. His mind was elsewhere, circling a far more pressing problem: his son's nanny had quit, and knowing how wild Phillippe was, finding a replacement wouldn't be easy.

"Well, turns out Sam offered to help her find a job instead of throwing her out. Can you believe it? Who would hire a thief? That woman can't be trusted.""You're right," Lucien muttered, eyes still on the road, as if the conversation didn't concern him. His thoughts remained on the same troubling loop: what was he going to do about his son? He didn't trust anyone, and every attempt to find a caregiver had ended in failure.

Phillippe, only six years old, still hadn't adjusted to losing his mother. His rebellion was a silent scream of pain, a constant challenge that scared away every nanny in a matter of days. None of them seemed capable of handling his wild nature.Since the sudden death of his wife, Lucien had built his life around two pillars: his company and his son. And though he tried hard to be a present father, work consumed most of his time, leaving him with a bitter sense of inadequacy.The last nanny, Teresa, had come with great references and a remarkable amount of patience... until she met Phillippe.

"Get out of here! I don't want you-I want my mommy!" the boy shouted, arms crossed with the fierce stubbornness of someone who refused to give in."But you have to eat, sweetheart. If not, you'll get sick," Teresa pleaded, trying to stay calm."I don't want to! I won't eat!"And without a second thought, he flung his plate of food at her, staining her spotless dress.

Teresa stood frozen, caught between shock and helplessness.But it didn't stop there. Phillippe started throwing everything he could get his hands on-toys, cushions, anything that could help him make his point."That's enough, Phillippe! Please..." Teresa's anguished voice echoed through the house, reaching the first floor.

Alerted by the screams, Lucien stormed up the stairs, frown tight, his patience hanging by a thread.

But what's going on here?His son's chaos didn't truly surprise him.

"I don't want this nanny, Daddy. I want my mommy."

"We've talked about this, little one. Your mommy is in heaven. It's hard for her to come back."Lucien hugged him tightly. Even though he knew his son's behavior wasn't the best, he understood him. Just like himself, the boy missed the woman who had left them.

"Your son is a spoiled brat, sir! I quit!"Teresa stormed out. She was the third nanny to give up in just a week.

Despite being a millionaire who could afford to pay anyone to raise and care for his son, Lucien hadn't found the right person - someone who could not only do the job but also give the boy the love that every small child needs.

Meanwhile, Elise had returned to Sam's grocery store in search of work.

"Good afternoon, sir. Do you remember me?"

"Of course I do. How are you? You look much better. And the little one, how's he doing?"

"He's doing great, growing fast - and so is his appetite. I wanted to ask if you've heard of any job openings. I really need to find something soon. Maybe here at your store?"He interrupted her gently.

"Well, young lady, I haven't heard anything lately. And here, unfortunately, we only sell enough for my wife and me. It's a small place, just the two of us. But fill out your résumé. I might be able to pass it along to some neighbors. I've heard they're looking for housekeepers."

"Thank you so much, sir. Of course."She sat down to fill it out, breathing life into her hope once again. But as if fate were playing games, the store door opened - it was Lucien's coffee hour. This time, he came alone.

"Good afternoon, Sam. The usual."He walked in without even noticing Elise's presence.

"Hello, Mr. Rochefort, right away."Sam headed straight to the espresso machine. Lucien stood right next to Elise, completely unaware of her. She, on the other hand, recognized him immediately - by his scent, and above all, by his presence. Who could forget a man as striking as him?

Lucien felt her gaze, and though his face remained expressionless, he felt uneasy. Still, he ignored it, pulled out a bill, and handed it to Sam.

"Here you go."Lucien's face betrayed his stress. His blood boiled with frustration at not having found anyone to take care of his son. Sam noticed.

"Lucien, are you okay?" he asked.

"No, Sam. Do you know of any woman qualified to take care of Philippe? I haven't been able to find anyone suitable, and I just don't have the time to be with him full-time."

"It's a tough ask, sir. It's hard to recommend someone for a responsibility like that. But if I hear of someone who's prepared for the task, I'll let you know immediately."

Upon hearing the mention of a job, Elise didn't hesitate to interrupt their conversation. Maybe these kinds of coincidences meant something. Maybe destiny had put them all in that place for a reason.

"I could do it, sir. I could be your son's nanny."At the sound of her voice, Lucien turned to look beside him - and there she was, the petite woman. He didn't recognize her immediately, but the baby in her arms and the features of her face made it clear: she was the woman from before.

"You?" he asked, eyeing her from head to toe.

"Yes, me, sir. I don't have a formal education, but I know a lot about household work, and most of all, I know how to care for a child."She was lying - she had only raised her own son and was just beginning to learn. But she spoke with confidence.

Lucien suddenly remembered his secretary's words:Who would trust a thief?

Still, out of prudence, he didn't call her that - not yet. He simply dismissed her.

"No, miss. Thank you for the offer, but I'm looking for someone more qualified."His gaze was sharp, almost wounding.

She lowered her head, feeling the sting of his rejection. But at least she had tried.

Lucien walked out once again. Though she had somehow captivated him once more, she wasn't an option. He didn't even really know who she was.

"What an arrogant man," she said to Sam.

"No, girl. He's not like that. His kid has behavioral problems. Besides, he's a widower, just like you - a single parent. Trust doesn't come easy for him. And his secretary is the one who caught you stealing from me the other day, so I doubt he'd think you're someone he can trust."

"I know," she sighed, disheartened.It could have been a good opportunity.