Chapter 1 The Trap
"Jessica, please. I am begging you," Josephine’s voice came through the phone, sounding like she was about to cry.
Jessica rolled over in her bed, hugging her pillow. "No, Josie. I just finished my final exams two days ago. I haven't even slept for ten hours straight yet. I had plans to travel, to rest, to find myself before I start looking for a real job."
"You can find yourself in my house!" Josephine snapped, her tone changing from begging to bossy. "It’s a mansion, Jess. There is a pool, a gym, and the fridge is always full. I just need two months. My company is sending me to Paris for a huge deal. I can't take a four-month-old baby on a plane for ten hours, and I don't trust a random nanny with my son."
"Where is your billionaire husband?" Jessica asked, sitting up. "Can’t Matthew hire someone? Or, I don't know, stay home?"
"Matthew is Matthew," Josephine sighed. "He is running a huge company. He’s barely home. He leaves before the sun is up and comes back when everyone is asleep. Please, Jess. I’ll pay you."
"I don't want your money. I want my freedom," Jessica said firmly. "Hire a professional. I’m hanging up."
She tossed the phone aside, feeling proud of herself for standing her ground. But five minutes later, the phone rang again. This time, it wasn't her sister. It was their mother.
"Jessica Jakes," her mother’s voice boomed.
Jessica felt her heart sink. "Mum, hello."
"Don't 'Mum' me. Your sister is in a fix and you are talking about 'finding yourself'? What is there to find? Are you lost? You are going to that house tomorrow. Help your sister. She is family. If I hear another 'no' from your mouth, don't bother coming home for Christmas."
Jessica groaned, rubbing her face. "Fine. I’ll go."
The Greg mansion was located in the richest part of the city. When the gates opened, Jessica felt like she was entering a different world. The driveway was long, lined with perfectly cut trees, and the house itself looked like a giant glass palace.
Josephine was waiting at the front door, already dressed in a sharp power suit. Her suitcases were lined up by the door.
"You're a lifesaver!" Josephine said, pulling Jessica into a quick, perfume-heavy hug. She handed Jessica a crying baby boy. "Please take Ethan. He just ate, but he might need a diaper change soon. Everything is in the nursery upstairs."
"Wait, you're leaving now?" Jessica asked, balancing the baby on her hip.
"My flight is in two hours and the traffic is terrible," Josephine said, checking her watch. "The house is quiet. No live-in servants right now because Matthew likes his privacy, but a cleaning crew comes on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you need anything, call me, but remember the time difference!"
"What about Matthew?" Jessica asked, looking around the empty, silent hall.
"He’s in London for a meeting. He might be back in a few days, or a week. Honestly, you probably won't even see him. He lives in the east wing; your room is in the west wing. Stay out of his way and he’ll stay out of yours."
With a final wave and the click of high heels, Josephine was gone. The heavy front door shut, and the mansion fell into a deep, heavy silence, broken only by Ethan’s soft whimpers.
By the second night, Jessica was bored out of her mind. Ethan was a good baby... he slept a lot but the house was spooky. It was too big for one person.
The heat was also driving her crazy. The air conditioning in her room was making a weird noise, so she turned it off. After giving Ethan his late-night bottle and rocking him to sleep, she felt sticky and hot.
She took a long, cold shower. Standing in the steam, she felt the stress of the last few days wash away. She didn't want to put on her tight pajamas. Since she was completely alone in the house, she decided to be a little wild.
She stepped out of the bathroom completely naked. She loved the feeling of the cool air on her skin. She walked through her bedroom and out into the hallway. She needed a glass of cold water from the kitchen downstairs.
The house was dark, lit only by the faint moonlight coming through the huge windows. Jessica walked gracefully down the stairs, her bare feet making no sound on the marble. She felt free. She felt like the queen of the castle.
She turned the corner into the kitchen, reaching for the light switch. But she stopped.
Someone was already there.
A tall, broad-shouldered man was standing by the central island. He had discarded his jacket on a chair, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, his tie hanging loose. He was pouring amber liquid into a glass.
Jessica froze. Her breath hitched in her throat.
The man turned around. His face was sharp, handsome, and very tired. It was Matthew.
His eyes didn't just look at her; they hit her like a physical weight. He didn't look away. He didn't apologize. He slowly let his gaze travel from her messy hair, down her neck, over her breasts, and all the way down to her toes.
The silence in the kitchen was thick enough to taste. The only sound was the low hum of the refrigerator. Jessica wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead.
Matthew took a slow sip of his drink,
a small, dangerous smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I don't remember Josephine saying the new nanny was so... welcoming," he said, his voice deep and smooth.
Jessica’s face turned bright red, but she couldn't move. She was trapped in his stare.
