3

Milana

“I'm sorry I'm late. Got caught up in an accident.” Zoya gasps the moment I tell her and she stands to her feet as she begins to inspect my body.

“Are you hurt? Did you get hurt?” She asks worriedly, checking my body for any signs of injury. There are none. I did not get hurt, but my ego did. I've never been so embarrassed in my life. And to think that it was a handsome man who talked to me with so much disgust.

“Do I look disgusting, Zoya?” I ask in a low voice and I don't even know why I ask that.

“You don't. You're one of the most beautiful women that I know, Mila. It's just that…your um… marriage and the constant beatings you get from Maksim are making you look so worn out. Take care of yourself more.” She advises and my eyes water as I nervously bite down my lips.

Maksim takes all my money, I barely have savings for myself. Zoya just introduced a good-paying job to me, where I would be working as a nanny. It pays more than my old job and once I get accepted, I will quit the old one.

There's a slim chance of me getting accepted, because there are so many women here applying for the same job as me. They look much more pretty and compatible and I look…..me.

“Once I raise enough money, I'll divorce him.”

Zoya scoffs, “And we both know that's impossible. You don't have any savings, Mila. He takes everything. He’s going to kill you one day. You have—” Zoya's voice trails off and she looks at me with pain-filled eyes.

“Marks everywhere.” She mutters softly and I run my tongue over my lower lip. She is right. My body is full of marks from the constant beatings I get from Maksim. They never get a chance to heal as he beats me over and over again,

“Let's go in. I kept our seats in the front row.” She nudges my elbow and I slowly nod, walking towards the entrance that leads to a hall filled with different potential nannies. Just when we are about to go in, I hear my voice and Zoya and I instantly turn towards the direction the voice came from.

“Milana.” My eyes widen in surprise when I see a little girl waving excitedly at me. She’s not alone, she is with her rude and inconsiderate father and some tall and gruff-looking guards. It's Annika.

“Papa, I told you that it's her. Milana!” She calls again and her father holds a displeased look on his face as she begins to run towards me, dragging her father along.

“Hi, Annika.” I wave sheepishly, the moment she stands in front of me. Her father's words are still ringing in my head, and seeing him again makes me feel more mortified.

“Hey. What are you doing here? Papa, what is she doing here? Are you auditioning to be my nanny too?” There is an expectant look in her eyes as she waits for a reply and my eyes widen.

Her nanny? Is she— I gasp as realization dawns on me.

“W…well, yes,” I utter nervously, feeling a pair of grey eyes staring intently at me. There's a dangerous aura surrounding him, causing me to remind myself to stay away.

“That's great, Milana.” She giggles, turning to face her father and she asks, “Papa, can she be my nanny?”

Wait what? I share surprised glances with Zoya who looks shocked as hell.

“Anushka, what are you saying?” Her father does not hide the displeasure in his voice as he speaks and I can tell that he's pissed, but he does not show it to his daughter. I feel his anger when his eyes settle on me.

“I want her to be my nanny, papa. I like Milana.” she smiles so lovingly and I flash a warm smile at her.

“You just met her, Anushka. You can't like someone you just met.” He points out. Gosh, I'm not getting this job. This man hates me. If he's trying to dissuade his daughter from picking me, it only means that I don't have a chance here.

“But I like Milana. I want her to be my nanny. Please, papa.” Annika remains insistent and I soon begin to feel awkward. I don't mind being her nanny, really.

“Anushka” He calls softly, going down on one knee. “There are a lot of ladies in there. You've only met one. You will find another person that you like more.”

“No, papa.” She mutters and then she wraps her hands grudgingly around her chest. “I want Milana to be my nanny. If you don't pick her, then let's go home. I don't need another nanny and I'm not going to talk to you again.” Annika sounds so angry now and it feels so weird knowing that I'm the cause of it.

We just met today, but the little girl seems to like me so much already. And I like her as well, she's such a cutie. “Anushka.”

“Just say yes, papa. Boris, ask papa to say yes. I want Milana.” She turns to face the guard and Zoya leans toward me to whisper. “When did you meet her?”

“Today.” I whisper back. “I bumped into their car and we only had a little introduction.”

“I see. She likes you a lot. I think you will get the job.” I hope so. I really need the money and it's paying so well. The pay is five times bigger than the salary in my current workplace.

“Papa, please. Let Milana be my nanny.” She never stops being persistent and her father lets out a resigned sigh.

“Okay, Anushka. But I will interview her first. If she's good, I will employ her, if she's not, we will look elsewhere.” Annika bobs her head and she happily hugs her father.

“Thank you, papa.”

“Give her the card, Boris. Be at the address tomorrow. 8 am sharp. Boris, dismiss the other women. They can go.”