"Annie I want you to tell daddy details of what happened okay", Anna sat quietly on the couch, her small hands trembling slightly as she wrote the words on her tablet. The room was silent except for the quiet scribbling sound as she wrote.
Peter sat by her, telling her to not be afraid and write it down. His heart was torn as he saw Anna in that moment—vulnerable, alone, and afraid to speak, yet determined to write the words she couldn't say aloud. His anger simmered beneath the surface, anger not just at what had happened to his daughter, but at himself—for not seeing the warning signs sooner.
Anna finally handed him the tablet. Peter's hands shook as he took it. He read the few lines that had been carefully written, each word like a stab to his heart:
The spellings were not very accurate but he slowly read how Elise slapped her for throwing up on both herself and Elise .
His breath hitched in his chest. The words were simple, but they carried the weight of all the pain Anna had silently endured. He felt a cold, sickening pit form in his stomach. How had he not known? How had he let this go on?
"Anna," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm so sorry. I should've seen it... I should've protected you."
But Anna didn't respond. She just stared at him with those wide, empty eyes, and Peter could feel the weight of her hurt. She didn't need to say anything else. The truth was out, and it was more than he could handle. Her siblings and the maids felt very sorry for Anna and promised to keep a closer watch on whoever was assigned to her.
Without another word, Peter turned and fled to his study. He slammed the door behind him, needing space to think, to breathe. He took his phone and tried reaching the Nanny but all he got was information on her attending to important family issues. He told Jay about it on call and Jay felt so devastated. He tried reaching out to her through the Agency that recommended her but she was nowhere to be found. She only realized her mistake after she had done it.
In his study, Peter stood by the window, his hands gripping the edge of the desk, his mind racing. There was only one person left who could really love Anna. She had always done it and Peter always ignored it.
The next day Peter sent his secretary to Ashley's house with an important proposal. A proposal to become an inhouse Nanny for Anna. The pay was also very good. But Anna didn't think she was cut out for it so she turned it down.
When the secretary returned with information, Peter was disappointed but he expected it either way and sent the secretary everyday again for the next five days.
Some days the secretary will stalk her on her way to work or after just to discuss it but she turned it down. So she decided the next day will be the last she tries before telling her boss she can't do it any more.
Late that evening Mamita got into an accident on her way back from plowing her field. Ashley's mother immediately rushed to the hospital but a surgery had to be carried out. She gave the family's last investment and they were back to square one again. Daniel had been together with Ashley for six years now even though he wasn't around her most of the time. They were always on and off and during that period they had broken up. Coincidentally he came to the hospital at that moment when Ashley was shattered and offered to help. But Ashley turned him down.
Ashley remembered the Nanny job and the amount of money being paid. "I mean I'll just take care of her and her siblings, what's the worst that could happen". And there was the secretary stalking Ashley for one last time.
"Speak of the devil and its correct timing." She told the secretary she was going to take the job. And she finally returned to her boss with the good news.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fumbled for it, his eyes scanning the screen. It was a message from the secretary. "She'll do it boss". He let out a slight smirk . "Yess!"
Meanwhile, Ashley stood at the hospital counter, her phone in hand, staring at the text from Daniel.
"Ashley, I need to talk to you. I don't like what's going on. We need to figure this out. Don't keep pushing me away."
She read it again and again, her chest tightening with every word. Daniel was angry. She could feel it through the text. And now, with everything going wrong in the house, she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was fine.
Before she could reply, her phone buzzed again. It was another message from Daniel.
"I know you're struggling right now and I'm always away, I'm so sorry let me make it up to you okay?"
Ashley's breath caught in her throat. She didn't want any help from Daniel. He had already done so much for her plus they were currently off.
She typed back quickly, "Okay Dan, I'll let you know." And she sent.
It was a bright morning, the teacher was homeschooling Anna as usual in her room upstairs and the maids and butler were preparing something downstairs.
Then someone walked in , she was slim and had an average girl's height. She had charming eyes with curly hair.
The butler flinched, he opened his mouth in amusement . And all the others looked at her in jealousy. "And you are?" Marie said in a low irritated tone. "Don't intimidate her" Thelma said while hitting Marie's shoulder with her arm.
"Hello my name's Ashley . My friends call me Ash and I'm Annie's new nanny. I'm in your care" she said, slightly bowing her head.
"Welcome pretty… I'll show you around the house."
"Annie? Like she's so used to her already huh. Also, the boss didn't tell us anything about this." Marie responded.
"Just shut your mouth" Thelma replied
"This way, James said, gesturing to her." As Ashley followed the path he gestured to.
"$50 she'll be gone in a month." James whispered.
"$100" Marie replied laughing. "$200 she'll last here" Thelma s
aid.
"Ouuuu that's $100 for James, $100 for me." Marie said.