The weekend finally arrived, and as I stepped through the front door of our small apartment, a deep sense of relief washed over me. The familiar scent of home greeted me, mixed with the faint aroma of whatever Daniel had been cooking earlier. A tired but genuine smile tugged at my lips. It had been a whole month since I started working at the Carter household, and though I was grateful for the job, I missed home.
"Look who finally decided to show up!"
I barely had time to react before Daniel wrapped me in a tight hug, nearly lifting me off my feet. His laughter echoed through the apartment, filling it with warmth.
"You're acting like I was gone for a year," I chuckled, pushing him off playfully.
"Well, it felt like a year." He grinned. "You're only here on weekends now. Stella comes to check up on you sometimes, but she's always disappointed when she realizes you're not around."
I raised a brow. "Stella?"
"Yeah, she drops by once in a while to see if you're back. I told her you only come home on weekends, though."
That warmed my heart. I hadn't had much time to reach out to Stella since I started the job, but knowing she made the effort to check in on me meant a lot.
Daniel flopped onto the couch while I set my bag down and stretched. My muscles ached from the long hours at work, but I still had responsibilities to take care of. Rent was due. As if on cue, my phone vibrated in my pocket. A new message notification popped up on the screen.
From: Landlord
Message: [Bank Account Number]
I sighed. He didn't even need to type a message. The account number alone told me everything I needed to know. Without hesitation, I transferred the rent money, making sure it was the full amount.
Not even a minute later, my phone rang. I answered it immediately.
"Hello, Mr. Grayson," I greeted.
"Ah, Rose! I just received the payment," the elderly man's voice came through. "Thank you. I was starting to worry."
"No need to worry anymore," I reassured him. "I have a stable job now, and Daniel's working too. You won't have to chase us down for rent anymore."
Mr. Grayson chuckled. "That's good to hear. I know times have been tough for you two, but I'm glad things are looking up."
"Yeah," I agreed, smiling. "Thanks for your patience."
We exchanged a few more words before ending the call. I leaned back against the couch, exhaling slowly. It felt good knowing I wouldn't have to stress about rent for a while.
Just as I was about to relax, the doorbell rang.
Daniel jumped up before I could move, practically rushing to the door. I watched him closely, my curiosity piqued. He opened the door, and the moment I saw his expression, I knew something was up. His entire face lit up, and a stupidly sweet smile stretched across his lips.
Then I saw her.
"Stella!" I exclaimed, my lips curling into a wide smile.
She grinned back at me, stepping inside with a relaxed confidence. She had her biker jacket slung over her shoulder, her dark jeans hugging her frame, and her short, wavy hair bouncing slightly as she walked in.
"I see you finally made it home," she teased, placing her hands on her hips.
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Some of us actually have jobs now."
"Excuse me, I have a job too," she retorted.
We both laughed, but my eyes flickered back to Daniel, who still seemed oddly happy. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"So… what's been going on while I've been gone?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Daniel cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, nothing much."
Stella smirked. "Really? Because I recall you saying something else last time."
Daniel shot her a warning look, but I was already grinning. Oh, this was interesting.
"Hmm," I hummed dramatically. "Do tell."
Stella chuckled. "Let's just say your little brother here is a very fun person to hang out with."
Daniel groaned. "Stella, stop."
I gasped, feigning shock. "Daniel! Do you have a crush?"
"No!" he denied a little too quickly.
Stella only smirked, and I could tell she was enjoying this. The way they interacted, the stolen glances, the slight awkwardness—I wasn't blind. Something was definitely brewing between them, and I made a mental note to investigate further.
For now, though, we just enjoyed each other's company. The three of us laughed, shared stories, and caught up. It was nice to just be with them, without the weight of work or responsibilities hanging over me.
Sunday Morning
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. Groggily, I reached for it, barely managing to read the caller ID. Vivienne Carter.
I answered, rubbing my eyes. "Hello?"
"I hate weekends," Vivienne's voice came through.
I blinked. "Good morning to you too."
"Why does time move so slow?" she groaned. "I want you to come back already."
I sat up, raising a brow. "That's selfish, you know."
"I don't care."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Well, I do care. I have a life outside of the Carter mansion, Vivienne. I have a brother and friends who only get to see me on weekends."
She huffed. "Fine. But Tuesday will be more fun anyway."
"Tuesday?" I questioned.
"Yes," she said, her tone lighter now. "My brother's coming to visit, and I'm totally telling him about you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You've mentioned him before."
"He's great," she said with excitement. "And he'll definitely be interested in meeting you."
Something about the way she said that made me pause. Was she hinting at something?
"Well, I'll be looking forward to it," I said with a smirk.
Vivienne giggled. "Good. See you soon, nanny."
She hung up, and I placed my phone down with a thoughtful expression.
Vivienne was an interesting kid. When I first met her, she was distant and uninterested. But now? She wanted me back at the house. She wanted to introduce me to her brother.
I didn't know what to expect, but one thing was clear.
Tuesday was going to be interesting.