Chapter 8 Unwelcome Surprises

• A Normal Day… or so She thought
• The morning started like any other. Rose woke up early, helped Ella get dressed, and took her downstairs for breakfast. The warm scent of fresh pancakes filled the kitchen, and Ella giggled as she carefully spread syrup on her plate, her tiny fingers gripping the spoon with determined concentration.
• Christian had already left for work, leaving the house feeling strangely quiet.
• Sean had also disappeared, much to Ella’s disappointment.
• “He promised he’d play hide and seek,” Ella pouted as Rose knelt to tie her shoes.
• “I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” Rose reassured her, smoothing down the little girl’s dress.
• Ella’s face brightened. “Maybe he’s planning a big surprise!”
• Rose wasn’t sure about that, but she smiled anyway.
• Everything seemed calm until she stepped outside and spotted the sleek black car parked at the gate.
• Her stomach twisted.
• Amy.
• The moment Rose saw the woman leaning against the car, she knew this wasn’t going to be pleasant.
• Amy looked as flawless as ever. Her dark sunglasses rested on her head, her chestnut-brown hair perfectly styled, and her crimson lips curled into a knowing smirk. Dressed in a tailored cream-colored coat and high heels, she looked as though she had stepped out of a fashion magazine rather than arrived unannounced at a house she no longer belonged to.
• “Oh, look at that,” Amy said smoothly, tilting her head as if inspecting something insignificant. “You’re still here.”
• Rose exhaled slowly, keeping her expression neutral. “I work here.”
• Amy hummed, tapping her manicured fingers against her arm. “For now.”
• Rose ignored the jab, straightening her posture. “Is there something you need?”
• Amy pushed out of the car and took a slow, deliberate step closer. The way she moved, the confidence in her posture, it wasn’t just arrogance. It was possession. She still believed she had a place here.
• “I just thought I would pay a visit.” Amy’s voice was light, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper. “See how things are running in Christian’s house.”
• Rose’s jaw clenched. “I’m sure Mr. Ashford would prefer if you called ahead.”
• Amy chuckled, shaking her head as if Rose had said something amusing. “Oh, sweet girl, you have no idea how things work, do you?”
• Rose folded her arms. “Why are you here?”
• Amy’s smirk widened. “I’m just curious. You see, Christian never lets just anyone into his life. And yet here you are.”
• Her gaze sharpened, assessing, like a predator sizing up its prey.
• Rose refused to flinch. “If you have questions about Ella’s care, you should ask Christian.”
• Amy let out a soft, almost pitying laugh. “Oh, trust me, I will.” She stepped even closer, so close Rose could catch the faintest scent of expensive perfume. “But you? You’re interesting.”
• A chill ran down Rose’s spine.
• “I’d be careful if I were you,” Amy continued, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. “Christian can be difficult. And trust me, when he’s done with someone, he doesn’t look back.”
• Rose kept her expression calm, but her fingers curled into her palms.
• Amy was trying to plant doubt in her mind, trying to make her second-guess herself.
• “If that’s supposed to scare me, it doesn’t,” Rose said evenly.
• Amy studied her, then let out a chuckle. “Oh, honey. It’s not a warning, It’s a fact.”
• With that, she slid her sunglasses back on, gave Rose one last unreadable glance, and stepped into her car.
• She started her car, and within seconds, she was gone.
• But the tension she left behind still lingers
• Rose stood motionless for a few moments, staring at the empty driveway.
• Amy wasn’t just here to cause trouble—she was here to destroy.
• The way she had spoken, the way she had examined Rose like a puzzle to solve, it hadn’t been casual curiosity. It had been a silent threat.
• But why?
• Rose was just the nanny.
• Wasn’t she?
• She let out a slow breath and turned back toward the house. As she walked inside, she noticed her hands were trembling slightly. She clenched them into fists, forcing herself to shake off the unease.
• She wasn’t going to let Amy get to her.
• She couldn’t.
• Still, as she replayed the conversation in her mind, a single thought wouldn’t leave her alone.
• What if Amy knew something she didn’t?
• The afternoon passed quietly.
• Ella, tired from an energetic morning of playing, had fallen asleep in her bed, her stuffed bunny held tightly against her chest. Rose tucked the blankets around her and stepped out of the room, exhaling softly.
• Silence filled the house.
• For the first time since Amy’s visit, Rose felt a brief moment of calm.
• She made her way to the living room, sat down on the couch, and pulled out her phone.
• A single notification flashed on the screen.
• One unread message.
• From an unknown number.
• Rose frowned and opened it.
• Unknown: Be careful where you stand. The ground beneath you isn’t as steady as you think.
• Her heart pounded.
• She read it again.
• And again.
• Who was this? And what did they mean?
• Was this connected to Amy? Or something else entirely?
• She swallowed, her fingers tightening around the phone. For a long moment, she debated whether she should tell Christian.
• Would he brush it off? Would he even care?
• No.
• She pushed that thought away.
• Christian had been nothing but professional with her, distant even, but she knew one thing, he was fiercely protective of Ella. If there was even the slightest chance that this message was a threat, she had to tell him.
• Decision made, she exhaled and locked her phone.
• She would wait until he got
• home.
• But until then, one thing was clear.
• Amy wasn’t the only problem.
• Someone else was watching.
• And they wanted her to know it.