The morning sun streamed through Rose's window as she got up, determined to start her day. Today was the day she would visit the Carter Mansion, the place she had seen in the job listing for a nanny position. As she got ready, she took a deep breath. This was different from anything she had done before. A live-in job, working for a high-class family, taking care of a teenage girl—it was a major shift from her previous work at the club.
Dressed in a simple but neat outfit, Rose grabbed her bag and left the apartment. The Carter Mansion was located in one of the wealthiest areas in the city, a place she had only passed by but never entered. As she arrived at the grand gates, she couldn't help but feel a little out of place. The security guards confirmed her name on their list before allowing her inside.
The driveway leading up to the mansion was long and beautifully maintained, lined with trimmed hedges and fountains that looked expensive. The house itself was massive, almost like something out of a fairytale. Rose composed herself as a butler opened the door for her.
"Miss Rose, this way," he said with a formal nod, leading her through the elegant hallways.
She was taken to the study room, a spacious area filled with tall bookshelves, a large oak desk, and paintings that looked like they belonged in a museum. Rose was asked to wait.
Unbeknownst to her, she was already being tested.
---
In another room, the Carter family observed her through the security cameras. Flourish Carter, the lady of the house, sat with her husband, Maxwell Carter. Their teenage daughter, Vivienne Carter, sat beside them, uninterested at first but still watching. The family's trusted butler stood nearby, arms crossed.
"Let's see what she does," Maxwell said, his tone calm but analytical.
On the desk in the study room, a stack of cash had been left in plain sight. A deliberate trap.
Vivienne smirked, "I bet she'll take it."
But to their surprise, Rose ignored the money completely. She sat patiently, her hands resting on her lap. A newspaper that had been carelessly placed on the edge of the desk eventually fell, scattering pages onto the floor.
Rose instinctively stood up, picked up the papers, arranged them neatly, and placed them back on the desk. Then, she reached into her bag, pulled out a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and cleaned her hands.
Flourish raised an eyebrow. "She's neat."
The butler nodded approvingly. "And disciplined. Most people would have at least looked at the money or hesitated before picking up the newspaper."
Vivienne rolled her eyes, still unimpressed. "So what? That doesn't mean she can handle me."
Her father chuckled. "Let's find out."
---
After nearly an hour of waiting, the door to the study finally opened, and a graceful woman entered. She was in her early forties but had a youthful elegance. Her sharp eyes observed Rose as she walked toward her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rose," she said. "I'm Flourish Carter, the lady of this household."
Rose stood up respectfully. "Good afternoon, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Flourish gave a small smile. "I won't waste your time. I'm offering you the position of my daughter's nanny. The pay is good, the job is simple, but there are rules."
She handed Rose a small handbook. "This contains the rules of the house, as well as rules specifically written by my daughter, which I have approved. If you agree to them, then this job is yours."
Rose hesitated for a second before taking the book. "Thank you. I'll make sure to follow them."
"Good," Flourish said. "Go home, pack up what you need, and return tomorrow. Your job begins then."
Rose was almost in shock at how smoothly everything had gone. It felt surreal—getting a job this easily, in a place like this. But she knew things wouldn't stay easy for long.
As she left the mansion, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just walked into something much bigger than she expected.