BILLIONAIRE'S MUTE NANNY

Lena paced anxiously around the luxury lounge of Mr. Alex King's mansion, her fingers gripping the hem of her worn-out sweater.

"Keep calm, keep calm."

She told herself.

The large, fancy room was nothing like what she was used to in all her years. It was an entirely strange world from hers.

She had only been encouraged to apply for this nanny job by Mr. Harris, Alex King's manager. That was the only reason she dared to step into this luxurious side of the world.

The elderly man had taken pity on her miserable appearance after she returned his lost cash wallet, which she had picked up from the streets as a garbage collector.

Now, she's here, waiting to see if she could get a job as a nanny for the famous billionaire and legendary actor, Alexander King.

Thanks to Mr. Harris.

However, even the thought of it made her heart pound heavily.

Would she really get this nanny job? Would Mr. King even consider someone like her?

Worse, she still couldn't communicate verbally.

Lena sighed and opened the locker necklace around her neck, glancing at the family picture of herself, her husband, and their daughter.

With tear-filled eyes, she made a small prayer for luck.

Taking care of the kids might help her heal from her own pain. It could be the closure she needed.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching and quickly sat down, trying to look calm.

Alexander King walked into the waiting room of his lounge. He was younger than she had imagined, somewhere in his early thirties.

With a rare masculine beauty that had earned him the Prince Charming roles in his movies.

His cold icy blue eyes swept across the room until they landed on Lena.

He nearly stopped in his tracks, that instant. Something about her made his heart skip a beat. He hadn't expected to see auburn curls and a pale face covered in freckles.

It had been years since he'd seen features like that in his mansion.

They reminded him of someone he didn't wish to remember. So he waved off the thoughts and walked over to the other side with a cold expression on his face.

Lena stood up immediately out of respect, but King's manager, Mr. Harris, made her a polite sign to sit back down.

She nodded and did as she was directed.

"State your name, your work experience, and qualifications," King's hoarse voice demanded impatiently.

Lena adjusted on her seat.

Her throat felt a bit dry, and she glanced nervously at Mr. Harris, who was standing beside Mr. King. Silently asking for his help.

"Emmmm... sir... King..."

Mr. Harris spoke, breaking the silence.

Mr. King raised a thick brow.

"What is it, Harris? Is there a problem?" he asked, already irritated.

"She... emm... got a little difficulty with speaking."

Harris replied.

Mr. King lowered his eyelids in disbelief.

"You gotta be kidding me."

His eyes went back to Lena, his jaw clenched tightly in frustration.

Hiring a nanny was already a hassle... then hiring one who couldn't even speak? His kids were a handful on their own, autistic, prone to meltdowns, and very demanding in ways most adults couldn't handle.

How is a mute woman supposed to deal with them? She's just another applicant wasting his time. What on earth was Harris thinking?

"This is the nanny you selected?"

His voice snapped in disbelief.

Lena's heart pounded, but she kept her head down, praying silently for this to go well.

Mr. Harris cleared his throat nervously.

"Yes, sir. Her name is Lena Smith. She is the kind lady I mentioned last time. I know you had concerns, but I believe she's worth considering. She is very good... and-"

Mr. King's icy blue eyes darkened to a deep ocean color as he turned back to Harris, cutting him off.

"She's mute, Harris! How could you possibly think this is a good idea? A dumb woman?" he snapped with a frown.

That made Lena flinch slightly.

"I understand your frustration, sir, but she understands speech perfectly. She's not deaf and wasn't born mute. She's kind-hearted and also patient. I believe she will relate well to the twins."

"The twins don't need a liability," Mr. King interrupted coldly.

Then he noticed Lena's hand move. He paid attention and found her writing on her notepad, her hands slightly shaking.

Then she showed it to him.

Mr. King was not impressed, although he read it.

"Please give me a chance, sir. I won't let you down."

"This is ridiculous."

He muttered and let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temple as if the whole situation gave him a headache.

"And how exactly will she communicate with the twins if she can't even say a word?"

Harris replied, "She can write it out like she just did, and she also uses sign language, sir."

"So they will learn sign language to communicate with her, or what? Always reading whatever she has to say? So you think they would actually like that?"

Mr. Harris remained silent.

Mr. King raised his head slightly, and his sharp gaze flicked back to Lena.

She hadn't looked up once, but he could see the way her hands clenched, shaking slightly.

She was nervous.

"You do realize my children are not easy to handle, Ms. Smith?"

Lena blinked and nodded readily.

Thank goodness, he finally spoke to me, she thought hopefully.

"And if they refuse to listen to you?"

Mr. King asked again.

She wrote, "Children listen to those who understand them."

His brow lifted slightly.

Offended? Or intrigued? It was hard to tell.

Mr. Harris stepped in.

"Sir, a trial period wouldn't hurt."

Mr. King's eyes went back to Lena.

She still had her head lowered. He didn't want to keep her, but he couldn't ruin his reputation by turning her away just like that. The media will have something to talk about. He was done with scandals.

A trial will be a more polite way of saying no.

A trial he was sure she would fail woefully.

"Fine," he said at last, "We'll see how this goes. A trial will convince me."

Lena's widened green eyes lifted to his for the first time.

There was a burn in them that made Mr. King hate this whole idea.

She looked small, fragile, and vulnerable as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

She also looked too kind, like someone who has never raised her voice in anger.

Is she even fit for this?

He exhales sharply.

"Can you even discipline them if needed?"

She nodded immediately.

Then, after a brief pause, she pulled out her notepad and wrote quickly.

"Yes, sir. However, autistic children don't just need discipline. They need to be understood."

He arched his brow.

What's up with her and 'the understanding' she talks about all the time?

"And you think you can understand them?" he asked.

She hesitated, then wrote again.

"I can try."

His manager, Mr. Harris, whispered again.

"Sir, I think she's worth a chance. If it doesn't work out, we can always let her go, but she might surprise you."

Interrupting the moment, a maid entered with two kids, about nine years old, standing beside her.

"The twins, sir," she announced.

Lena's heart skipped a beat as soon as she saw them. She managed to wear a friendly smile.

She knew very well that her trial had begun.

She needed to earn the kids' trust and friendship as soon as possible.

Her mind raced with ideas of childish activities they might enjoy.

The first twin, a boy with dark hair and icy blue eyes, looked exactly like Mr. King if he were a child.

He stood stiffly, studying Lena as if she were an alien.

Beside him stood the second twin, a girl with long black hair and blue eyes, just like her brother's.

Unlike her brother, who was able to make eye contact, her gaze stayed down, and her hand clung to the maid's sleeve as if she were nervous.

To Lena, they were both beautiful and almost identical, but their behaviors and genders set them apart.

"This is Ms. Lena Smith, your new nanny, if she passes her final test," Mr. King introduced.

"Ms. Lena, these are my twin kids, Nathan and Natalie."

Lena opened her mouth to force out a word simple hello, but nothing came out.

"She doesn't talk? Speech problem?" Nathan asked with an irritated look.

Lena swallowed tightly.

She hadn't expected that at all. An ordinary person might simply assume she was nervous or too anxious to speak.

But this little genius had already figured her out.

Mr. King pressed the bridge of his nose, inwardly regretting even considering this mistake in the first place.

"Yes, she is mute, so she can't communicate verbally," he replied.

Natalie frowned.

"How will she then communicate with us?"

Lena lifted her notepad and wrote:

"I can write very good."

Then, with a small smile, she added:

"Or show you differently. Sign language, I can teach you."

Natalie's lips twitched, intrigued. She loved learning new things and could pick them up quickly and easily.

Nathan, however, wasn't impressed. He narrowed his eyes as his gaze swept Lena up and down.

Then, he turned to his father.

"Really, Dad? This idea defies all reason and logic. She needs help more than we do."

Mr. King exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, you are right. This is exactly why I said this is a bad idea. But Harris here thinks she's a good candidate for the position."

Harris shifted uncomfortably and stole a glance at Lena. He felt pity for her; he truly wanted to help her, but this part was in her hands.

Mr. King's voice came dryly.

"I guess that's it. The twins' reactions are obviously not welcoming, so..."

He paused as Natalie suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Lena's hand.

"Are you scared?"

Lena blinked, surprised, then shook her head with a smile.

But inwardly, she wondered if the girl was able to read her thoughts- just like her twin brother.

Natalie tilted her head and made eye contact with her.

"Then why do you look sad? Also, you seem like you live in constant pain and sorrow."

Lena froze.

How on earth was she able to get all that information from just eye contact?

Mr. King's eyes landed on her. He noticed she was uncomfortable with the question, then cleared his throat.

"Sweetheart, let's not make her uncomfortable with questions about her private issues, okay? Talk about yourselves- what you expect from her- her- and if she can't handle you two for the next hour, then she's failed, and we will need another applicant."

Lena stiffened.

An hour wasn't long, but she had no choice but to do her best.

So she nodded in agreement.

"What now?" Nathan asked no one in particular.

Lena smiled softly and pulled out her notepad.

"Let's start with, what do you like to do?" she wrote.

Nathan rolled his eyes, always in a foul mood.

"The typical question."

His sister, Natalie, slowly replied, "I like reading, I like maths and calculations, I like learning new things too."

Nathan scoffed.

"You like everything."

Natalie ignored him and turned to Lena.

"Can you say something with your hands? Like sign language?"

Lena smiled softly and nodded.

Natalie's eyes lit up.

Lena began forming gestures. Not quite sign language, but a simple form of storytelling with hand movements. She felt like it was a good start rather than going straight into the main sign language.

She would make a demonstration with her hand, and Natalie would try and guess what it was.

"Oh, that means drinking coffee. No? Then it's hot chocolate."

Mr. King watched in silence and with unusual interest.

For months, no nanny had been able to keep the twins' attention. They had driven away nannies, home teachers, therapists, and caretakers.

Yet here they were, watching her. Engaged. Impressed. They were hardly impressed by anything, so it was a new development.

"That's not even real sign language, it's just a normal demonstration." Nathan interrupted.

Lena paused after that statement.

Then she wrote with a soft smile.

"You are right, Nathan, that wasn't sign language. I really admire you for that. You're so smart."

Nathan's lips twitched, forming a smirk of satisfaction, but he quickly hid it.

"I know that, and everyone says that. What else do you have to say?" he replied.

Lena thought for a second before writing again.

"I know you and your sister get overwhelmed easily. You're misunderstood and labeled spoiled and rude sometimes."

Nathan stiffened, and Natalie shifted on her feet uncomfortably.

The two exchanged uneasy glances.

Lena continued writing.

"I know people don't always listen because you can be bluntly honest, and they become offended. I know that it makes you upset with yourself and frustrated, so you lose it and try to express yourself more, but that doesn't work either."

Mr. King turned to the maid.

"You may leave now."

The maid bowed and gave Lena a look before leaving. That wasn't a friendly, welcoming look at all.

As soon as she was gone, Natalie spoke slowly.

"You really do understand us?"

Lena nodded with a soft smile.

Then she wrote:

"I won't get mad if you're blunt with me. You two are very smart kids, and I would like to learn from you. We can share some cool knowledge and ideas. I love learning."

Natalie smiled, then looked back at her daddy and winked as if to say, Yep, she's the one.

Mr. King winked back at her.

They had a father-daughter special bond.

Meanwhile, Nathan arched his brows in annoyance. He hated being so exposed and vulnerable.

"I don't like you," Nathan replied.

"That's fine. I love you. It's enough for both of us." Lena replied with her note.

Nathan's cheeks burned, and he scoffed.

"Love is just a biochemical trick, an illusion of attachment for survival. Humans don't love others, they just love how others make them feel."

Lena blinked, confused for a minute at his level of intellect.

Then she wrote again.

"I hope to change your mind, Nathan. Give me a chance."

Nathan read it as his cheeks got redder.

"Who's blushing? Who's blushing?" his sister teased.

"Shut up, talking duck!" Nathan snapped back with a flushed face.

Harris gave Lena a proud smile, then looked at Mr. King to see his reaction.

Brooklyn, the maid who had accompanied the twins earlier, stormed into the kitchen with a frown.

"Guess who's new," she announced.

"Who?" Ruth, the cook, asked, pausing her kneading.

"A nanny," Brooklyn replied. "And guess what again. She can't even talk."

A scoff came from Zara, the laundry maid. She had been walking past the kitchen when she overheard Brooklyn's voice and decided to pay attention.

"Mute? You're joking," she whispered.

"I wish I were," Brooklyn replied with an eye roll.

"Well, she's not going to last a day. Why are you so worked up about her?" Ruth asked.

"You should see how she acts-like she's better than all of us. Acting all sweet and innocent, batting those pitiful green eyes like she's some kind of angel, pretending to understand those little demons better than the rest of us."

"No one understands those two," Ruth muttered. "Not even their own father."

Skye, the maid responsible for cleaning the twins' rooms, frowned.

"She just got here, and you're already calling her names? You don't even know her. Why the hate?"

Brooklyn shot her a sharp glare.

"You weren't there, Skye, so I'd appreciate it if you just shut the fuck up. That bitch was playing innocent, acting all sweet like some kind of angel fallen from heaven. It's cringy. I bet she's not even mute-she was pretending."

Zara snorted.

"She won't last a week."

"A day," Ruth corrected. "I give her a day."

The kitchen door creaked open, and the chief housekeeper, Mrs. Edith, entered the room, looking curious. Seeing all the staff gathered in one place could only mean gossip.

She was an older woman-the eldest among them, to be exact. The murmuring died down as her sharp eyes scanned their faces one after another.

"What's this fuss about?" Edith demanded.

Brooklyn folded her arms with a pout.

"It's about the new nanny."

Edith raised a brow.

"New nanny? I thought she was just having an interview. Has she been employed yet?"

Brooklyn shook her head, frowning.

"But she's got a high chance. I can tell."

"I mean, she can't speak," Zara added. "How is she supposed to handle children if she can't even tell them what to do and what not to do?"

Mrs. Edith smirked.

"Then that means she's as useless as the rest. She's a waste."

Brooklyn hesitated before countering,

"Well, not when she looks just like her."

Edith's brow arched.

"Just like who?"

"Madam Nadia," Brooklyn replied.

The whole room went silent that instant.

"Wait, you can't be serious," Ruth whispered.

"Ginger hair, freckles, same eye color. Do you still think she won't get the job?" Brooklyn replied.

"Now, that's an issue," Edith said slowly.

"You think? We all know why she's here-for Sir King, not the nanny job. Who knows if she's even a real ginger or just dyed her hair to entice Sir King and steal his lonely heart?"

"Brooklyn, I don't think he'd fall for that easily. Sir King is highly disciplined and a sadist. If anything, he'd hate her for reminding him of Madam Nadia," Ruth added.

"And what if Sir King is still secretly in love with Madam Nadia? Why do you think he refuses to move on and love another woman?" Zara pointed out.

Skye hesitated before mumbling,

"Guys, I think we're being unfair. What if she's just a natural redhead with freckles? She didn't create herself. Hating on her is just pure jealousy."

The others turned to her with a tight frown.

"Jealous of what? Her speech disability? Please," Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

"She'll show her true colors soon enough," Ruth muttered.

"And when she does," Brooklyn added, "she'll regret stepping foot in this house."

Skye shook her head and turned to walk out of the kitchen. Maybe they were right. Maybe they weren't.

Either way, one thing was clear: that mute nanny had just walked into a house filled with enemies.

Poor thing got to worry about the twins and the staff too, she thought.

"Where are you going, Skye? Oh, you want to be the snitch?" Brooklyn cut into her thoughts, hands on her waist.

Skye ignored her and continued walking until Mrs. Edith intervened.

"Brooklyn, we are discussing something important here."

Brooklyn sighed and turned to face her.

"I need to prepare the room for the kids' bedtime. It's 6 p.m. already."

The four others exchanged glances-silent communication passing between them.

"Fine. You can go, then," Mrs. Edith instructed.

Skye exited the kitchen.

"If the nanny gets this job, she's in so much trouble, and she can't even talk," she muttered to herself and sighed.