Billionaire's Naughty Babysitter

Caden's POV

I woke up to the noise coming from downstairs. Another day, another mess involving my kids.

With a groan, I dragged myself out of bed and headed downstairs. It was the weekend, which meant no office, but plenty of chaos at home.

"What happened now, Erica? Emily?" I called out as I descended the stairs.

The sight that greeted me made my jaw tighten: food scattered all over the floor, and the nanny crouched down, trying to clean it up.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, frustration bubbling up. "I'm getting tired of this," I muttered under my breath. The situation was becoming routine-changing nannies every week. If the girls didn't scare them away, the nannies quit out of sheer exhaustion. Erica and Emily were as stubborn as they came.

"I don't want her, Dad!" Erica's voice was firm, crossing her arms in defiance.

"Why not?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"We don't want a nanny!" Emily chimed in. "We want a mommy. We want our mommy!"

The words hit a nerve, and I clenched my fists. My voice was sharp when I responded. "I don't ever want to hear that word-mommy-in this house again. Do you hear me?"

Their faces fell, but I couldn't let their wishes dig up the past I worked so hard to bury.

The room fell silent after my outburst. The nanny glanced at me nervously, as if debating whether to stay or bolt. Erica and Emily just stared, their big brown eyes filled with confusion and defiance.

"Dad," Erica started, her voice smaller now, "why can't we have a mommy? Everyone else at school has one."

I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't have the energy for this conversation-not again. "Go to your room. Both of you."

"But-" Emily began.

"Now," I snapped, cutting her off.

They huffed in unison but turned and stomped up the stairs. Their small feet banged loudly on each step, making sure I knew how annoyed they were.

I looked at the nanny, who was still crouched over the mess on the floor. "I'll clean this up," I said, trying to keep my tone level.

She hesitated, then stood, clutching the rag in her hands. "Sir, I think... maybe I should go."

Here we go again. "You don't have to leave. They're just kids."

She shook her head, a weak smile on her lips. "They're not just kids. They're... determined. I've never met children like them. I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwell, but I don't think I'm the right fit for this job."

And just like that, another nanny was gone.

After she left, I sat on the couch, rubbing my temples. Erica and Emily's voices echoed in my head. We want our mommy.

I stared at the framed photo on the mantel. It was turned face down, as it always was. But I didn't need to see it to remember. I never forgot.

"Mia," I muttered to myself. Her name felt like a ghost on my tongue, haunting and heavy.

I swore to never let her back into our lives. Yet, no matter how far I tried to run from the memories, she lingered-especially in the defiant stares of our daughters.

I sat there for a long while, staring at nothing, trying to gather my thoughts. The house was too quiet now, the kind of quiet that made you think too much. I hated it.

Finally, I forced myself to get up and started cleaning the mess on the floor. The nanny had left her rag behind, so I picked it up, scrubbing the sticky stains with a kind of mechanical detachment. It wasn't the first time I'd cleaned up after my kids, and it wouldn't be the last.

By the time I was done, my back ached, and my patience was wearing thin. I poured myself a cup of coffee and stood at the kitchen counter, staring out the window. The sunlight was too cheerful for how I felt inside.

The sound of footsteps broke my thoughts. I turned to see Erica standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. Behind her, Emily peeked out, her expression unsure.

"What is it now?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

"We're sorry," Erica said, though the defiance in her voice told me she wasn't completely genuine.

I raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For the mess," Emily chimed in, stepping forward. She hesitated, then added, "And for yelling about... her."

The mention of her made something tighten in my chest. I placed the coffee cup down, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Look," I said, crouching to their level, "I know it's hard. I know you miss... things being different. But we don't always get what we want in life. You understand that, don't you?"

Emily nodded slowly, but Erica's jaw tightened. "But it's not fair," she muttered.

"It's not," I agreed, my voice softening despite myself. "But we have each other. That has to be enough, okay?"

They didn't look convinced, but they nodded. I pulled them both into a hug, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.

As I held them, I made a silent promise: I'd figure this out. Somehow, I'd give them the life they deserved. Even if it meant facing the one person I'd vowed to keep out of my life forever.

I'll find someone else to take care of you, but if you make her leave again, I promise I'll send you both to Granny," I said, my voice cold and firm.

They need to learn to accept how things are. I've had enough of this nonsense.

The two of them exchanged glances before storming off angrily.

I have no idea where they picked up this attitude. Neither of them is gentle, but Erica is the worst of the two. They really hate the ideas of nanny, and I know why but they can't get what they want.

Honestly, I wonder if I'll ever find another nanny willing to put up with them.

Melody pov

I wonder when my life will finally turn around. All I want is to be rich-filthy rich-without lifting a finger. But of course, that's not possible, not with the family I come from. Poor as dirt.

Why couldn't I have been born into a billionaire family? Seriously, it would've made life so much easier.

I sighed, sinking deeper into my bed, letting my imagination take over. If I can't be rich in real life, at least I can be rich in my head.

I was happily living my fantasy when the door slammed open. In came my annoying sister, Milly, ruining everything.

"Do you ever knock?" I snapped, glaring at her.

She just stared at me, unimpressed.

"What do you want, Milly?" I asked, still sprawled on the bed.

"You're still sleeping at this hour? Your life is truly pathetic," she said, her words hitting me like nails on a chalkboard.

I frowned. She really knows how to ruin a good day before it even starts.

"Here, take this," she said, tossing a flyer onto my bed. "Not like you'll actually do anything about it, but at least pretend to be responsible for once. Stop sleeping all day and find something to do with your life."

"What is this?" I asked, squinting at the flyer.

"Read it and find out," she retorted before walking out, leaving me fuming.

"I swear, I'll be the one to kill her someday," I muttered under my breath, picking up the flyer.

It was a job vacancy. Babysitting.

"A babysitter?" I scoffed. "More like a nanny."

Still, it didn't sound too bad. Just watching over some kids, right? How hard could it be?

"Well, Melody! it's time to make some money," I told myself as I rolled out of bed. If I ever want to become a billionaire, I have to start somewhere.

I shuffled into the bathroom, brushing my teeth as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. "What's the point of having a gorgeous face if I'm broke?" I muttered, rolling my eyes.

After my bath, I dried off, applied lotion, and slipped into some comfortable clothes. My hair? Packed into a quick ponytail. I didn't have time to waste.

"This is it, Melody. Your journey to greatness starts now," I said dramatically as I walked out of my room, clutching the flyer like it held the key to my destiny.

I saw my mom in the kitchen, busy with something, while my sister Milly stood beside her, helping out.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked, her face showing clear surprise.

I didn't blame her. Waking up early to do anything wasn't exactly my style.

"I'm coming," I said quickly, avoiding her gaze as I slipped past and headed out the door.

Outside, I flagged down a cab, feeling confident-until it hit me. I didn't have any money for the fare. My excitement deflated instantly.

There was no way I could walk all the way to the address on the flyer, but I hated the idea of going back inside to ask Mom for money. As I stood there, stuck and frustrated, Milly came strolling toward me with a smug look on her face.

"I knew it," she said, crossing her arms. "You're out here pretending you have money, aren't you?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off.

"Here," she said, shoving some cash into my hand. "But don't think you're getting this for free. If you get the job, I'm taking it back-every last penny."

She turned and walked away before I could respond.

"Thank you!" I yelled after her, loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear.

She waved a hand dismissively without turning around. Milly could be annoying, sure, but sometimes she was downright helpful.

With a grin, I stopped the cab again and handed the flyer to the driver, showing him the address. He nodded, and I climbed in.

The ride felt longer than it should have, probably because I spent the entire time rehearsing what I'd say during the interview. "Hi, I'm Melody. I'm great with kids, super responsible..." I winced. That last part was debatable, but I'd cross that bridge when I got to it.

The cab pulled up to a large house in a quiet, upscale neighborhood. I hesitated for a moment, staring at the place. This is where I'm supposed to work? I gasped as I stared at the Mansion infront of me.

There was no doubt about it-these people were filthy rich. The size of the mansion alone screamed money.

The cab driver honked, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Oh, sorry, sir," I said quickly, handing him the cash before stepping out and walking toward the gate.

I knocked, waiting for someone to open it, but there was no response. No security guard in sight.

"Well, okay then," I muttered, deciding to let myself in. I pushed the gate open and stepped inside.

The moment I entered the compound, I froze. A large dog stood just a few feet away, its sharp eyes locked on me.

Oh no.

I stood rooted to the spot, praying it wouldn't come any closer. But, of course, it did.

The dog started trotting toward me, and panic shot through my veins.

"Nice doggy. Stay right there," I whispered, backing away slowly.

Then it barked, and I bolted.

I ran around the mansion like a lunatic, the dog hot on my heels. "I don't want to die! Not like this!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the massive yard.

I rounded a corner and saw a man stepping out of a sleek car. Without thinking, I sprinted toward him and jumped onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck in pure desperation.

"Help me!" I shrieked.

But instead of helping, he shoved me off, and I landed on the ground with a painful thud.

"Are you crazy?" I yelled, glaring up at him from where I sat, rubbing my sore backside.

Caden's pov

Crazy wasn't a word I tossed around lightly, but the girl sprawled on the ground in front of me? Yeah, that was pure insanity wrapped in a ponytail and bad decision-making.

I glanced at my watch, irritation bubbling up. My flight had just landed, and I wasn't in the mood for theatrics. Yet, here I was, dealing with some stranger who thought I was her personal lifeline.

The dog, a massive German Shepherd named Max, had stopped barking and now sat obediently by my side, wagging his tail like nothing happened. Traitor.

I folded my arms and looked down at her. "Who are you, and why are you trespassing on private property?"

She glared at me, her eyes practically shooting lasers. "Your killer dog chased me! What was I supposed to do, huh? Just stand there and let it eat me?" Unbelievable, why would you keep a long like this in a place where people are.

Max barked once, almost like he was laughing at her. I sighed. "Max wouldn't hurt a fly unless it deserved it. Maybe don't sneak into people's homes next time."

She shot to her feet, brushing dirt off her pants with exaggerated annoyance. "Sneak in? I knocked, okay? No one answered, and I have an appointment here!"

"Appointment?" I raised an eyebrow, studying her more closely. She was wearing casual clothes-too casual, honestly, for someone who wanted to make a decent first impression. But then again, there was something oddly confident about her stance, even as she fumbled to explain herself.

"Yes, an appointment!" she huffed, thrusting a crumpled flyer in my direction. "For the babysitting job. Are you going to interrogate me, or can I go inside now?"

Babysitting job? I thought, that was when it was down on me that no one is capable of this flyer except for my sister, Mia.

I have warned her not to do the flyer when she bought up the suggestion.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly. "You're here for the babysitting position?"

"Duh," she said, rolling her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Max barked again, and I gave him a warning glance before turning back to her. "First of all, it's not my job to hire you. Second, if you want anyone to take you seriously, maybe don't scream like a maniac and throw yourself at people.

Her cheeks flushed, and for a second, I thought she might actually apologize. But then she crossed her arms and glared at me again. "Listen, mister... whoever-you-are, I didn't ask for your opinion, okay? I'm just here to do a job, make some money, and leave. So can you move aside and let me get this over with?"

I opened my mouth to fire back when a familiar voice rang out from the front door.

"Caden, what's taking so long? Who's causing all this racket?"

Mia. Of course. She appeared at the top of the steps, dressed in a silk robe and sipping what I could only assume was her third mimosa of the day. She squinted down at us, her perfectly plucked eyebrows rising in curiosity.

"Who's the girl?" she asked, pointing her glass at the would-be babysitter.

"Your new hire, apparently," I said dryly.

Mia's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together. "Oh, wonderful! I was starting to think no one would show up. Come in, dear!"

The girl-what was her name again?-shot me a smug look before marching toward the door like she'd just won a battle.

I checked the time again to ensure I wouldn't miss my flight. I still had a little time, so I decided to follow them. There was no way I could let Mia hire a lunatic to watch over my kids.

"You can go. I'll hire her," Mia said, taking a seat, completely unbothered. The young woman stood before her, looking both defiant and unpolished.

"I can't allow you to hire someone like her for my kids. She's not professional enough," I said, crossing my arms.

The girl's eyes narrowed as she shot back, "You just said you're not the one hiring me. So what gives you the audacity to say I'm not professional enough?"

Her retort left me speechless for a moment. Regaining my composure, I snapped, "Get out of my house before I call security. I don't have time for this. I've got a flight to catch."

"Why should I get out?" she challenged, folding her arms defiantly.

"Because I said so! And just because I'm not hiring you doesn't mean I don't have a say in this decision," I retorted, exasperated.

Mia, of course, was just sitting there, thoroughly entertained by the chaos.

"Mia, don't hire her," I said firmly before walking out.

The girl ran after me, yelling all sorts of things, but I didn't stop until I reached the car park.

"Okay! Let's make a deal," she said, breathless.

"I don't make deals with people," I said curtly, trying to open the car door.

But she held onto the door. "Give me a week," she pleaded.

"A week? For what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Give me a week to prove I'm capable of babysitting your kids," she said, her tone determined.

I sighed, glancing at my watch. I didn't have time for this. "Fine," I said reluctantly, but as I tried to close the door, she held it again.

"What now?" I asked, my irritation growing.

"If I prove myself to you-that I'm professional-you'll give me a second job in your office. Two jobs," she said, a sly smile on her face.

I smirked. She thought babysitting my kids would be easy? Let's see how long she'd last. "Fine. A week. But only on a contract," I said, stepping into the car.

"Mia, she's hired for a week-but put it in writing," I called back before driving off, amused by the chaos I was about to unleash. There was no way she'd last long with Erica and Emily.