Chapter 2

Feeling nervous, Jennie wander her eyes around the huge living room of the Manoban's. She was there for the interview as a nanny. One of her friends mentioned that her Auntie's boss was looking for a nanny. She grabbed at the offer because of the unusual salary of one million won a month. It's too high actually. And she wonder if there is something different with the job she was applying for. But still, she have to try because the salary would be a big help on their expenses.

She let out a deep sighed. The destiny surely had it's own course. She had never imagined she will be poor in an instant.

They learned from one of their father's employee the reason why he had a heart attack.

'"W-What do you mean, Uncle Yang?" she ask the man who is a close friend of Kim Dongwan (her father) and also the head chef of their line of restaurants.

"Your father invested all of his money on the business his college friend presented on him, it was a currency exchange business in Middle East. The projections was good at first. Your father's friend really know how to do sales talk and your father fell for it."

"W-What happened?"

"It turned out that everything was a scam. You father only finds out when a month has passed and his friend hasn't called him still. When he called him, the man can't be reached with the contact number he gave your father."

Feeling weak, Jennie rests her head on her hands. "Oh, my God! H-How much did he lost, Uncle?"

"I.... I really don't know, Jennie. All I remember is that your Daddy issued cheques twice for that person."

That made her groan again.

"W-Why didn't you try to stop him, Uncle?"

"I did. I was already skeptical the first time that man presented it. And I told Dongwan that I don't trust his friend. But he assured me that his friend was a good man and wouldn't betray him." Even Mr. Yang  sigh sadly. "There is one more thing that you don't know, Jennie."

Another bad news? When will the problems would end really? So the saying 'when it rains, it pours' was true.

"The business is not really doing good. Before your Daddy had an attack he already sold the two branch of your restaurants in Gwangju. The only remaining is the one from Daegu. But even that has a high probability to close. That maybe is the reason why Dongwan thought of investing on his friend's business."

"B-But h-how? W-Why?" she can't understand why their restaurant business is facing bankruptcy.

"We lost to our competitors. There are so many new and much better restaurants these days."

Jennie could only manage to bury her face on her hands. She felt so weak with all these revelations.

"Can we do anything to prevent the branch in Daegu from closing?"

"Maybe there is. But I doubt if it can help. It's been almost a year since that restaurant started having negative income. Personally, I think it's not feasible anymore to keep it operational." Mr. Yang paused. She felt him gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "I'm really sorry, Jennie. I'm sorry if I can't be of any more help to your family."

She nodded her head as she understand. Come to think of it, it's also a huge loss in his part if they would really end up closing down. But he stayed, nevertheless. With that she was really so grateful towards him.

"You've done more than enough, Uncle Yang. And I want to thank you for that. I just want to ask one more question."

"What is it, Jennie?"

"Does my mom know?"

He shook his head. "I think she has no idea about it. You know your daddy. If it's possible, he wouldn't want you two to know and worry."

If that's the case then her hunch is right. She and her mom were both clueless.

"Ahyu. Eotteohke, Appa!" She couldn't help but to broke in tears. She wanted to get mad at him for keeping it a secret but also felt pity towards him. He shouldn't have kept all the problems to himself. They were supposed to be a family and they should help each other whatever hardships came to their way. But her father sheltered them from anything bad. He took responsibility for everything. It's how much he loves his family.'

Jennie wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks. It still hurt so much to  find out that there was nothing left for her father but the house he manage to built, and a small amount on the bank that they used to pay for his hospital bills.

That was one of the things which made her sad. Eventhough her father recovered from the heart attack, the other side of his body got paralyzed and also the way he speak got affected. It's so hard to believe that the use to be active and jolly person like her father, is now confined to the wheelchair and like a vegetable.

"Miss Jennie Kim?"

She looked up to the woman walking down the stairs who was staring at her. She stood up and bowed as a sign of respect.

"Y-Yeh. That's me." she answered smartly. If she want to get this job, she has to forget her problem for the meantime.

The older woman walked regally. She was still slim and quite attractive for her age. And there was an obvious hint of seriousness and being strict written on her face.

"Sit down, Miss Kim."

She bowed again and sat down. The older woman sat on a single seater sofa which was infront of her.

"So, you're applying for the job?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

She grab the folder on the center table and flip open the pages. While she was reading her resumé Jennie felt the loud beating of her heart cause of nervousness. She also kept on praying. She needed this job. Now she has the responsibility of being the breadwinner in their family.

"Why do you think I should hire you to be the nanny of my granddaughter?"

"W-Well..." Jennie took a deep breath before speaking. "I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, SEN (Special Educational Needs), to be specific. I also took some special child care training courses in Kansas..."

"I know all about your credentials, Miss Kim. I read it all on your resumé. And to be honest, your educational attainments are pretty impressive. And I can see very well that you are an intelligent woman. But what I'd like to know is, what kind of a person are you to make me trust you for my granddaughter?"

She think for a moment. "I'm a responsible person. I don't give up easily and I like kids."

She saw her just raised one of her eyebrows. She stopped from talking. For a moment she brought her head down. She was wearing her best smile when she finally face her again.

"Ma'am, I actually don't have any idea what you want to hear from me. I can tell you all that's good about me and I'm sure that you wouldn't believe me. But we can never really gauge a person not until we try them, can we? All I can say is that, I'm just another jobless person looking for an honest job, another hopeful who will try her hardest to sound and look her best. And the way I see it, you're a good judge of character. You can read people. I guess, you just have to go to your instinct whether you'll hire me or not. And whatever your decision will be, I'll accept it."

Davika stared at the young woman infront of her. A smile started to curve on her lips when she heard what she said. She had guts! And the honesty she was looking for. Jennie was clever too! Among the applicants she had talked to she was the only one who dared to turn the subtle insult back to her without looking disrespectful. And she's the only one who never brag and almost beg her to hire her.

She know who Jennie is besides the information she read on her resumé. All of the applicants who applied for the job, she had them all have a background checked with a private investigator so she knew what kind of a family she came from. She also know why this young lady applied as a nanny instead of staying as a teacher on the Montessori school she was working. She was the right girl for the job. She could equal with Lisa's attitude.

"Jennie... Can I call you 'Jennie'?"

The young lady nodded her head continuously. "Y-Yes. You can call me that." she wanted to jump so bad. Is her hunch right?

"This is not a stroll in the park. I require you to look after my granddaughter at all times, if not for twenty-four hours seven times a week. You have to stay here in the mansion to do that. You'll be at her beck and call.  You will be her shadow. You'll be with her everywhere she goes. Do you think you can do that kind of job?"

Jennie hesitated for a moment. Does that mean she won't be able to see her family for a while? But maybe they would understand it. They needed the extra income for the daily needs and medicine of her daddy and also for his therapy.

"I can do it, Ma'am."

"Good! You're going to take care of my granddaughter Lalisa."

'Oh, okay.' She slightly nodded. Maybe her granddaughter is a special child that the older woman was very prospective in hiring a nanny for her granddaughter.

"Where is your grandchild by the way, Ma'am?"

"She's still in the hospital right now. She got into a fight and almost got herself stabbed by her enemy."

Hospital? Almost got stabbed? Was her granddaughter that war freak? She suddenly felt scared by the child she was going to take care of.

The widower must've noticed her confuse face.

"You don't have any idea who Lisa is, do you?"

She shook her head mindlessly. Honestly speaking, she knew that the Manoban's are a wealthy family. Almost every once in a while she could hear it on the news and read their names on magazines. But she doesn't knew much about the members of their family.

Mrs. Manoban stood up and took a picture frame on top of the grand piano.

"This." she said and handed her a close up picture of a woman. "..is my granddaughter, Lisa. And she's twenty four years old."

If she wasn't sitting down, she would've probably dropped the picture frame she was holding.

This is the 'child' she was going to take care of?

"M-Mrs. Manoban, a-are you joking with me?"

"Do I look like I'm joking, Miss Kim?"

"B-But... y-you're granddaughter is not a child anymore."

The older woman scowled.

"Yes, she's not a child anymore, but unfortunately, she's worst than a problem child with all the headaches she was giving me."

"Y-Your grandchild might not approve of this. I think it's much better if you get her a bodyguard instead. Or a personal assistant, perhaps?"

Much as she wanted this job and the astounding income, why she know now why it's that big, she's not sure if it's sane for her part to accept the job.

"I've done that a lot of times already, Jennie. But everytime I hire a person they would disappear in days after being with my grandchild. My suspicion is that Lisa payed them. You see, my granddaughter has a way of manipulating people. She know how to fool a person."

"I-I still don't understand, Ma'am! And how can you make sure your granddaughter won't make a fool out of me?"

"I see you as a sensible and smart woman, Jennie. But it's still up to you. For now I can only tell you that; Lisa can be so charming when she wants to. And she did master the craft of bribery just to spite me. She despises me!"

'I wonder why...'

"I'm telling you now that child can do sweet talking. She's wild as a stallion and she plays around with people's feelings. Everything is just a game to her. She doesn't know how to be serious. If you know what I mean." Mrs. Manoban continued.

She understand it very well. If Lisa won't bribe her, then that woman would seduce her, just to have her way. She looked at her picture again. She was obviously attractive even though she was not looking. Lisa has rights to play around just like what her grandmother just said. She had the looks and the means. And she was so sure that she had already a long list of girls she hurt and cried.

The girl despised her grandmother. Just like what Davika said a while ago. And she can't help but to ask why the young lady treat her grandmother like that.

"I h-hope you don't mind me asking Mrs. Manoban but m-may I know the reason why you're doing this? And where are her parents?"

Davika let out a sighed. "My son, Lisa's father, died when she was just ten years old. As for her mother, I don't know where my daughter in law is now. She left right after my son's death. Lisa had been my ward since then."

"But because I have to run the business left by my husband and son for the meantime, I took her for granted. And now that she's already a grown up woman, whatever I do I can't bring back the time and take care of my granddaughter myself."

That explains why.

Davika's expression turned solemn and her eyes soften. "I love my granddaughter. But I don't know what to do with her anymore. She's doing things that would surely make me mad just to have her revenge."

Jennie knew that Mrs. Manoban's grandchild shouldn't act like that. But she can't blame the young woman. Lisa has her reasons to act like that. She grew up alone, it may not be literally. No one to lean on and guided her during her most difficult years. As a teacher, she knew about the possible effects of an individual to be neglected.

Mrs. Manoban may have good intentions, but what she's doing now is not different from what she did before. She was just passing her responsibility for her granddaughter to another stranger, again! She felt annoyed with the widowed woman. This is not the solution to her own problems.

"Will it just be easier if the two of you have a heart to heart talk? That way maybe--"

"You're not here to lecture me about my granddaughter, Miss Kim! And I have already told you more than you should know. What I want to know now is if you're still interested in this job. If not then I'm sure I'll be able to find somebody else."

Jennie think about it for a while. She wanted to back out because she thinks that she won't be able to do her job properly. She's also not sure if she can live with the woman or her grandmother under the same roof. Both have issues in life, even though she was sure that no one would want to admit it. Right now she can already feel herself standing between the two bumping rocks. But everytime she thought about the high amount of salary she will received and the needs of her family, she's having second thoughts.

A picture of her father in his wheelchair appeared in her mind.

"So what will it be, Miss Kim?"

"Y-Yes, I will accept it."

"Good." A small smile appeared on the older woman's lips, the first smile she saw on her. And it's not even an amused smile but more of an triumphant one. "You're not that hard to talk to, Jennie. Anyway, I think you already know how much salary you will receive as the nanny of my granddaughter. I just want to tell you something. Lisa will be your boss but you will do what I say. And I want to know whatever she is doing most of the time. You will report everything to me, is that clear?"

She nodded. "Y-Yeh."

"I'll give you two days to do whatever you have to do. Come back here before eight on Monday morning."

After that the older woman dismissed her. Until she got out of the mansion and rode a taxi on her way home she's still deep within her thoughts. She didn't know if she should feel happy about getting the job she wanted to have.