Chapter 1 A Life In Wreck

• Rose sat on her bed, staring at the crumpled eviction notice clenched in her trembling hands. The small apartment she had called home for the past two and a half years was no longer hers. The landlady had given her until the end of the day to leave.
• No money. No options. No home.
• A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down. She had learned a long time ago that crying solved nothing.
• Her mother had passed away years ago, and her father, Dave Brunette, had destroyed what was left of their lives with his gambling addiction. He had vanished without a trace, leaving her to shoulder debts she never asked for. For years, she had convinced herself he was dead. It was easier than believing he had abandoned her.
• Rose inhaled sharply, forcing herself to hold back the tears. She wouldn’t break—not now. She needed a plan.
• At Evelyn’s Apartment
• With a single bag slung over her shoulder and a heart full of uncertainty, Rose stood outside Evelyn’s apartment.
• She barely had time to knock before the door flew open.
• Evelyn’s eyes widened the moment she saw her. “Damn, you look like a wreck.”
• “Good to see you too,” Rose muttered, forcing a weak smile.
• Evelyn grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind her. “Let me guess—the landlady finally kicked you out?”
• Rose sighed and dropped her bag onto the floor. “Yeah. I have nowhere to go.”
• Evelyn scoffed. “Well, you do now. You’re staying here—no arguments.”
• A wave of relief washed over Rose. Evelyn had always been her anchor, the one person who never left. Sassy, bold, and fiercely loyal, she had a way of making even the worst situations bearable.
• “Thanks, Eve. I promise I won’t be a burden.”
• Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Please. You? A burden?” She snorted. “I should be charging you for the entertainment you bring into my life.”
• Despite everything, Rose laughed. For the first time that day, she felt a little less lost.
• The Next Morning
• Rose sat cross-legged on Evelyn’s sofa, scrolling through endless job listings. Each one was worse than the last.
• “Anything promising?” Evelyn asked, sipping her coffee.
• Rose sighed. “Mostly retail jobs that barely pay minimum wage. I need something stable.”
• Evelyn snapped her fingers. “Oh! I heard about this billionaire looking for a nanny.”
• Rose blinked. “A nanny?”
• “Yeah. Some big-shot CEO. Single dad. His daughter’s four. I think the last nanny quit.”
• Rose hesitated. A billionaire? That sounded way out of her league. But she had always been good with kids. More importantly—she needed a job.
• “Where do I apply?”
• Evelyn grinned, already pulling up the listing on her phone. “Right here. Christian Ashford. CEO. Cold as ice. But hey, the pay is insane.”
• Rose stared at the name. Christian Ashford. She had never heard of him before, but if this was her chance to rebuild her life—she’d take it.
• She clicked “Apply.”
• Hours Later
• Her phone rang. An unknown number. Her pulse spiked.
• She answered hesitantly. “Hello?”
• A deep, commanding voice responded, sending an odd chill down her spine.
• “This is Christian Ashford’s assistant. We’d like to schedule an interview.”
• Her grip tightened around the phone. This was happening.
• “Of course,” she managed, her voice steadier than she felt.
• “Be at the Ashford estate tomorrow morning at eight sharp.”
• The call ended.
• Rose turned to Evelyn, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think I just got an interview with a billionaire.”
• Evelyn smirked. “Welcome to the big league, girl.