2

"Young Master Skylar and Shawn are going through their teenage years," Elise said nervously, obviously panicking. "I hope you're not taking this to heart, Rachel. They're terrific kids; it's just that..."

Her sentence hung in the air, unfinished.

"Elise, lunch is ready for the children!" called Mia from the kitchen and hallway doorway.

There were two maids in this house—Mia and Ava—with Elise as the head housekeeper. Elise had worked here since Shawn was five years old, while Ava and Mia had only been here six months. Even the nanny before me lasted only two weeks.

Because in this house, no nanny or servant ever lasted long with Skylar or Shawn.

Elise rose from her seat and gave me a slight nod, signaling that it was time to leave the kitchen.

We walked to the second floor, and Elise gently knocked on a door to the closed bedroom. I figured it must be Shawn's room, Dawson and Quinn's ten-year-old son. I hadn't met the boy earlier because Elise had taken me straight to the kitchen.

There was no answer, even after Elise knocked several times. She was about to leave, but I opened the door myself. Elise's face was instantly shocked, and she shook her head in alarm.

Who exactly lived in this room—a monster?

Looking inside, I saw a blond ten-year-old boy, the spitting image of Quinn, completely absorbed in a game on a high-end gaming PC. His head was covered with a headset—there was no way he'd ever hear Elise's gentle knocking.

I approached him, spread my arms, and wordlessly removed his headset.

"Shit!!!" Shawn swore out loud.

He immediately turned and stared at me, confused. "Who are you?"

"I'm your nanny. Rachel."

"I don't need a nanny. I can take care of myself." He huffed. "We're too old to be taken care of like babies. Elise and the others are enough."

I walked over to his PC and calmly unplugged the power cord. The screen went black.

"Fuck!!! What the hell are you doing?!" Shawn jumped up, glaring at me in anger. "I swear you're going to regret this, Nanny! I'm telling my dad!"

"Be my guest." I crossed my arms and met his eyes coldly. "But out there, you'll regret ever talking to me like that. Not even your father can save you."

"Are you threatening me?"

I stepped closer. Shawn backed away. "I'm warning you."

Shawn swallowed hard and looked at Elise. But Elise remained silent, clearly stunned by how firm I was.

"Go downstairs and eat lunch. Now," I ordered.

"Okay..." Shawn took a long breath.

I handed the headset back to him with a polite smile. "You know the saying, 'If you treat me right, I'll treat you best'?"

Shawn nodded. "But it also says, 'If you treat me bad, I'll treat you good.'"

"Not with me, Shawn." I gave him a sharp look. "If you treat me bad, I'll give you hell."

I walked calmly out of Shawn's room, Elise walking nervously beside me. She looked at me with big, worried eyes.

"He's just a kid," Elise squealed. "You didn't have to be so hard on him, Rachel."

"A child who swears at adults and doesn't feel a bit guilty?" I shook my head. "No, Elise. I can't let that go."

"Well... you're right. But still, don't be too harsh."

"I'll handle it."

We climbed another set of stairs, and Skylar had chosen the farthest room on the top floor. I could already guess why—so he could do whatever he wanted without supervision.

I felt a terrible pain inside knowing that my own son had grown up to be such a poorly raised child. What had Dawson and Quinn done with Skylar? And to their other son, Shawn?

Outside the bedroom door, I could hear muffled laughter and shouting from inside. Elise and I exchanged glances.

"If Master Skylar doesn't answer, don't force it, okay? Just leave him alone," Elise advised.

I just shrugged and knocked.

Once. Twice. Three times. No answer.

I casually opened the door. Elise immediately grabbed my arm and shook her head.

"I told you not to open it! If he doesn't want to—"

"I opened it because Skylar didn't answer. That's not a refusal, is it?" I cut her off, coolly.

"But..."

Too late.

Everyone in the room froze the moment they saw me in the doorway. Five kids, about 12 or 13 years old, all in private school uniforms, were sitting in a circle on the carpet. There were bottles of alcohol, a shot glass, and even an ashtray full of cigarette butts. The room was thick with smoke.

"Oh my God," I muttered.

Skylar stood with his hands on his hips and his eyes glowing. Why? I'm your mother; why are you looking at me like you hate me?

"Who the hell are you? You can't just barge into my room!" he snapped, turning to Elise. "Why did you let her in? Who is this woman, Elise?!"

I ignored Skylar's tantrum, even though it hurt. Calmly, I walked to the window and opened it wide to let in some fresh air.

I turned to Skylar. "Does your dad know you're drinking in the middle of the day?"

He didn't answer; he just watched me carefully.

"Do you think it's cool to drink alcohol at your age?"

His answer was to throw a pack of cigarettes at me. I caught it with one hand.

"Thanks," I nodded.

I opened the pack and froze. There wasn't just tobacco inside. There were other kinds of cigarettes—illegal ones.

I stared at Skylar. I picked up the lighter on the carpet and lit one of the cigarettes.

Soon, the smoke curled around me.

I casually kicked the alcohol bottle, spilling its contents all over the carpet. Then I lit the lighter again and threw it on the wet carpet.

Within seconds, flames erupted, and heat blasted through the room.

Screams of panic filled the air like a swarm of bees. I just stood there and watched Skylar and his friends scream in terror.

You're only twelve years old; how did you ever get your hands on illegal substances, kid? Why?

Suddenly, an alarm sounded, and water sprayed from the ceiling. The fire quickly died, leaving the room with thin gray smoke and a nasty burnt smell.

"You! Are you crazy?!" Skylar's hoarse voice cracked. "Who the hell are you, wacko?!"

"I'm your nanny."

I walked out of the room, clutching the pack of cigarettes. I'm not going to let Skylar fall into the darkness. And I won't let Dawson and Quinn off the hook for allowing their children to fall into this.

*

I sat with Shawn as he ate lunch, and not long after, Skylar appeared in the dining room with fresh clothes and wet hair. He gave me a sharp, judgmental look but didn't say a word.

I figured his little friends had gone home without being told - probably freaked out. And now all I had to deal with was Elise's wrath and Skylar's bedroom, which was no doubt flooded by now.

I saw Elise poke her head through the door and gestured for me to come out. I got out of my seat and walked over to her.

Without warning, Elise grabbed my arm and pulled me out of earshot of the boys.

"What on earth were you thinking?" Elise was pale as the moon.

"Have Skylar's friends left yet?" I tried to change the subject.

"Yes, their drivers picked them up," Elise said, crossing her arms tightly. "But that's not the point, Rachel. What you did was totally out of line!"

"Then we have two choices," I said, looking her straight in the eye. "We can tell Mr. Dawson everything and brand Skylar a criminal for life. Or, we can keep this between us—and I'll make sure he changes before it's too late."

"You leave me no choice, Rachel!"

"No, Elise—I'm giving you a chance."

Elise let out a heavy sigh and nodded reluctantly. "I'll have Mia and Ava clean up Young Master Skylar's room. My God, I've never seen anything like this in all my years working here."

"I'm sorry, Elise. And about the carpet—I'll replace it with my money or… anyway, don't worry about it."

"The carpet wasn't cheap, Rachel."

"I'll replace it," I repeated calmly.

When I returned to the dining room, I saw the boys still silently eating. I pulled up a chair beside Skylar and gave him a stern look. He looked at me, still full of contempt, and scoffed.

"What do you want now? I'm eating, aren't I?" Skylar grumbled.

"Where's the rest of it? Did you hide some in your room?" My hands clenched at my sides, holding back the rage that was boiling inside of me. "Answer me, Skylar."

Skylar glared at me. "What do you mean?"

"What are you two talking about?" Shawn looked between us, confused.

Skylar pointed at his brother. "Shut the fuck up!"

"What? I'm just asking!" Shawn's eyes widened.

"Whoa... What's with all the yelling?"

A deep voice at the door made all three of us jump.

I turned to see a tall man walk in. He had pale skin, wavy brown hair, a chiseled jaw, and some stubble. He wore glasses, and his messy hair was tied back. He was wearing a casual black T-shirt and muscular arms.

Who was this handsome, intellectual-looking man?

I didn't recognize him at all.

"Nothing, Uncle Theo!" Skylar quickly said, shaking his head.

Theo?

A memory from twelve years ago flashed through my mind: a chubby fifteen-year-old with acne and a pouty face chewing on a sandwich at my wedding reception. Was that Theo?

"And you are...?" he asked me with a polite smile.

I stood up quickly and gave him a respectful nod. "Rachel Sparks. The new nanny."

His eyes widened in shock. "Rachel?"

"Yes," I nodded again.

"I'm Theodore Hewitt, but just call me Theo," he said, holding his hand. "Dawson's younger brother."

Theo? Does he also live in this mansion?

That could be a big problem if he did!