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"Let me show you around the penthouse," Leo offers, sensing my unease. I look questioningly at Gina, and she nods, immediately stepping toward the table so she can sit down next to Carmen. I nod gratefully at Leo and get up to follow him on the tour.
"Wow," I whisper as we enter the open living area where floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of Central Park. The modern furnishings are sleek, with black and brass accents gleaming in the sunlight. It's stunning but also so expensive that it makes my stomach twist with unease.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?" Leo asks gently, a knowing smile on his face. I nod, feeling almost guilty for being in such a luxurious space.
"Roland is quite the enigma," I muse, returning to last night's events. "He seems... nice." More like a grumpy guy with money who is perpetually stressed but has a serious sweet spot for his daughter.
"Once you get past his tough exterior, he's got a good heart," Leo reassures me. "It'll take some time, but I think you'll see it too."
I hope he's right because as much as Roland unnerves me, I can't afford to lose this job. My dreams of opening a yoga studio and providing a better life for my brother depend on it.
"Come on, let me show you the rest of this place," Leo says as he leads me through a hallway adorned with carefully selected modern art pieces. We pass by several doors until we reach an open one.
"This is Carmen's bedroom," he explains with a smile. I get the impression that he's a real gentle giant.
"Wow," I say and do a mental comparison with my apartment. I live in a parcelled-off living room; we have a minuscule kitchen, and Damien has a tiny bedroom. This room is big and spacious, and while the walls are white, they are covered with handpainted forest motifs. One corner has a teepee strung with fairy lights, and another corner has a soft mattress covering it and a lot of big pillows. I can see myself building forts with Carmen there already!
"It's nice," Leo says simply and then takes me a few doors farther down.
"Here's a spare bedroom you can use for extended work hours," he explains, gesturing to the luxurious space. The room is massive, easily the size of my entire Lower East Side apartment. A plush king-sized four-poster bed dominates the center, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer another spectacular view of the city. The walls are green, while the white ceiling has intricate plasterwork. There's a nice armchair in one corner, and by one of the windows, there's a mahogany desk.
"Wow, this is incredible," I murmur, still trying to process the opulence around me. I feel like Cinderella stepping into the Prince’s castle.
"Roland wants everyone who works here to feel comfortable and taken care of," Leo says with a warm smile.
I almost snort at the idea of Roland being a caring person but manage to stop myself from doing so.
"Thank you, but I should mention that I have a child, well, my younger brother," I tell him, feeling the need to be upfront about my situation. "I can only stay if he comes with me or I get a babysitter."
"Of course," Leo nods understandingly. "I can't see it being a problem to bring your brother over, but he'd need to meet Roland first. Otherwise, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to arrange for a babysitter. Just know that even when you have a break, you can come in here and relax. We want you to feel like this is your home too."
"Thank you, Leo. That means a lot," I say, genuinely touched by his kindness. I seriously doubt his employer feels the same way, but at least I have someone on my side.
As we step back into the hallway, Leo nods to some stairs at the end. "Those are the stairs leading up to Roland's bedroom and library. Once you get up there, another staircase takes you to the rooftop garden. We don't tend to spend time up there unless meeting with Roland or take Carmen to the garden. Just remember to always close the stair gate to prevent Carmen from attempting to climb the stairs. We can look at the garden later when you bring Carmen up."
I nod. "Thanks."
"If you have any questions or need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We're all here to support you."
"Thank you, Leo," I smile, appreciating his efforts to make me feel welcome. "I think I'm going to like it here."
We walk back into the kitchen, also a masterpiece of architecture and design, with long granite work benches and white cupboards. Interestingly, it's not the kind of stainless steel kitchen I'd imagine Roland would choose.
"New nanny!" Carmen exclaims, her brown eyes wide with excitement as she eats her pancakes. I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"Yep," I reply, gently patting her head. "My name is Maddie. Can you say that?"
"Madda," Carmen says, and I smile.
"That's it."
"Paint. Carmen paint a nice painting."
Gina smiles indulgently at Carmen. "She loves to draw and paint. Let me give her some crayons, and then we can go through your schedule. In fact, let me show you where the arts and crafts supplies are. You wait there, Carmen and we will be right back. Erin will keep an eye on you."
Erin, who has been leaning against one of the countertops and eating an apple, walks over to Carmen. "Sure thing. Hey, Carmen, how about we sing something?"
"Sing!" Carmen shouts, and I smile. Talk about being an enthusiastic little thing!
