Chapter 1: Charlotte's POV
(A 5-year-old little girl's perspective)
Tchu-tchu! The train game rolls around my room as I giggle with excitement.
I clap my hands and call out, "It's so cool! Daddy, come and see! My
new train is amazing!"
My father, Galen, steps into the room with a warm smile.
He's tall, with dark hair and deep brown eyes that always look kind. Dressed in
his usual crisp suit, he looks like a serious businessman, but right now, he's
just my dad, the one who spoils me with gifts.
"I see you love your new toy, little princess Charlotte,"
he says, kneeling beside me.
I nod eagerly. "A lot, Daddy! A lot! Thanks!" Then, while
arranging my dolls on the floor, I ask, "Can we go play outside
tomorrow?"
His smile softens, but there's something in his eyes that makes me pause. Uh-oh.
That's his 'I have bad news' face.
"Baby, tomorrow won't be possible, and not for the next few days
either," he says gently. "I have a very big business
proposition, and I need to fly to Avania for three days."
I stop playing. My hands freeze mid-air, my mind racing. "Avania?
Three days?" I repeat, blinking up at him. "That's 1,700 km
from Lordavia, Daddy! And it's December—it must be at least -2°C there!"
Daddy chuckles, shaking his head. "I know, Charlotte. Don't worry,
I'll take care of myself."
I cross my arms, frowning. "And what about me? Even Tante Evan isn't
here now!" Tante Evan is my father's older sister. She sometimes
watches me when he's away, but she's traveling too.
Daddy reassures me, "Yes, I know. That's why I called a very popular
nanny—her name is Leilani Alvins. She'll come tomorrow morning before I leave.
She'll be your nanny from now on."
I don't like this. How does he even know if she's good? My
eyebrows scrunch together as I stare at him suspiciously. "How do you
know she's the right one?"
Daddy kneels down on the floor beside me, playing with a strand of my golden
curls. "I did my research," he says softly. "I would
never leave my daughter with someone irresponsible. And besides, I'm lucky to
have a cute, genius little girl like you. If anything feels wrong, or if you
need me, just call, okay? It's only two days, Charlotte. I promise I'll be back
soon."
I pout, folding my arms. Two days feels like forever. But
then I sigh and throw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Okay,
Daddy… but take care of yourself!"
He hugs me back, laughing. "Sure, princess. Don't worry."
"Okay…" I mumble, then look up at him. "Can we eat
dinner now?"
"Of course. Let's go."
And just like that, my peaceful little life is about to change forever.
Next Chapters Tease:
The next morning, Charlotte meets Leilani Alvins, her new
nanny. But something about her feels… off. Why does a simple nanny
have such sharp reflexes? And why does she watch everything so closely? Like she is searching for something!
Charlotte is about to find out that this is no ordinary babysitter…