Of course. Here is the complete English version, set in a modern, high-society American context, with heightened drama and "dog blood" (melodramatic) elements while maintaining narrative logic.
***
**The Male Nanny in the CEO's Mansion**
What's it like to transmigrate into a CEO novel as the male nanny?
Ask me anything. Just a second ago, I delivered my line with the butler, Alfred: "The Young Miss hasn't smiled like that in so long."
I was perfectly content mooching meals, slacking off, and collecting my paycheck. Then the female lead's rival showed up.
I know the drill. She's the CEO's sister, beautiful, cunning, and obsessed with stealing the male lead.
But can someone explain why, when the female lead frowned and said, "You can have anything but Ian," the sister's reply was, "Then I'll take your male nanny. It's not like he does any work around here anyway."
Me, munching on canapés in the corner: ? Excuse me?!
**1**
Absurd. Utterly absurd.
Others transmigrate as the male lead, or at worst, a rich second-generation supporting character.
Me? I became the male nanny.
When I realized my situation, I was already wearing an apron, spatula in hand, frying a sunny-side-up egg in a kitchen bigger than my entire previous apartment.
Truth be told, frying eggs is my entire culinary skillset. I'm a kitchen menace. My cooking triggers fire alarms.
But I'm resourceful. If I can't cook, I can heat up gourmet frozen food or make reservations.
So, when Serena Van Der Linde, CEO of a massive conglomerate, sat down in her tailored suit, elegantly picked up her silverware, and saw the artisanal, bunny-shaped croissant from a nearby famous bakery on her plate, she fell silent.
She looked at me, her expression strained. "Carl. Please refrain from serving such... juvenile pastries in the future."
Being called "Carl" at the ripe age of 25 stung, but for the sky-high salary, I offered a professional, humble smile. "As you wish, Miss."
After breakfast, she left for her Manhattan office in the Rolls-Royce. The moment the door closed, the old butler, Alfred, approached me, beaming.
"Since young master Ian returned from London, the Young Miss's spirits have lifted considerably."
Ian is the male lead, Serena's childhood sweetheart and fiancé, the standard white moonlight. He recently returned from abroad, and they're currently engaged in the classic "I love you, you love me, but our families and pride won't let us admit it" tango.
I nodded sagely and delivered the line I'd always wanted to say: "Yes, Alfred. The Young Miss truly hasn't smiled like that in a long time."
Alfred and I shared a look of perfect understanding.
**2**
My job was surprisingly cushy. Preparing breakfast, supervising the cleaning staff, walking the impeccably bred Borzoi hound. Miss Serena usually only ate breakfast at home, which I could fake with high-end prepared foods. If she ever dined in for dinner, I'd order from Jean-Georges or Per Se and plate it artistically. Though the cost was eye-watering, a discreet inquiry about my salary made it clear—the occasional Michelin-starred takeout was a justifiable business expense.
As for cleaning? The mansion had a full staff and smart-home systems. I barely lifted a finger.
Walking the dog was a pleasure.
Within a week, I'd fully adapted. My initial despair at being a nanny had transformed into pure bliss. No messy love triangles, a luxurious lifestyle, and a gorgeous dog to boot.
But paradise was short-lived.
Miss Serena came home from work one day and announced, "Carl, prepare the guest suite for Sienna. She'll be moving in next week."
Serena's sister, Sienna. The troublemaking female lead rival, whose life's purpose was to make her sister miserable and steal Ian.
Alfred sighed deeply after hearing the news. "Miss Sienna is... unpredictable. And she's always held a torch for Mr. Ian. May the heavens help this household remain peaceful."
Thinking of the original plot where the two sisters fought viciously over one man, I was thrilled. The drama! Let the games begin!
I was wrong. Serena and Sienna didn't immediately clash.
*I* was the one Sienna decided to torment.
**3**
The day Sienna moved in, the sisters had a rare dinner together.
Alfred and I stood by attentively. Serena made introductions. "This is Alfred. This is Carl. Direct any needs to them."
I glanced at Sienna. The Van Der Linde genes were formidable. Both sisters were stunningly beautiful. Serena was an ice queen; Sienna was a venomous rose, her deep-set eyes half-lidded, looking through everyone with lazy disdain.
I offered my most professional smile. Sienna glanced at me and looked away, utterly bored.
Fine. The aloof young miss. Fitting.
But this young miss seemed to find her amusement in torturing me.
For dinner, I'd splurged on a tasting menu from Eleven Madison Park, artfully arranged. Watching my bank balance drop, I consoled myself: It's for the job!
The dinner table was frozen in silence, only the soft clink of silverware audible. The tension was so thick you could cut it with one of their butter knives.
Sienna suddenly looked up.
My inner voice: It's happening! The classic confrontation!
She looked directly at me. "The nanny. You made this?"
It took me three seconds to realize "the nanny" meant me. "Uh, yes, Miss."
Sienna smiled, a beautiful, dangerous curve of her lips. "We'll have this again tomorrow. No trouble, I assume?"
Her tone was a command disguised as a question.
I forced a smile. "Of course, Miss. It would be my pleasure."
My wallet was weeping. Serena never dined in. I assumed Sienna would be the same. I'd dug my own grave.
That wasn't the worst of it.
The true horror came at 1 AM, when a knock sounded on my door—
She wanted me to make her a midnight snack!
**4**
Woken by the knocking, I thought I was dreaming.
I stumbled to the door and found Sienna leaning against the frame, draped in a silk robe. The deep V-neck hinted at her figure, and the hallway sconces cast shadows on her collarbones. She looked decadent and stunning.
I have to admit, her beauty woke me up faster than coffee.
It momentarily soothed my rage.
I rubbed my eyes and tried to smooth down my bird's-nest hair.
"Miss? Is there an emergency?"
"Yes." She smirked. "I'm hungry. Make me some pasta."
?
I looked at the grandfather clock. 1 AM. She woke me up for pasta.
I chanted internally: *Salary, salary, don't get angry. She's the boss's sister. Affects performance reviews...*
I trudged to the kitchen, found a box of De Cecco spaghetti, and started boiling water.
After serving her, I turned to flee back to my bed.
"Nanny," she called out. "Aren't you going to clean up?"
I nearly lost it. I grabbed her wrist (it was smooth and cool) and pulled her over to the built-in dishwasher. "Watch, Your Highness. Open the door. Put the dish in. Close it. Press this button. Understand?"
Sienna didn't speak, just looked at me with those deep, unreadable eyes.
I instantly sobered up. My bravado vanished, replaced by fear.
Crap. I overstepped. Is she going to fire me?
"Understood." Her voice was calm. "You can let go of my hand now."
I looked down and realized I was still holding her wrist. I released it with an awkward laugh and beat a hasty retreat.
But as I turned, my slipper caught on the Persian rug. With a soft thud, I found myself kneeling on the expensive wool.
...
At that moment, staring at the New York moon through the window, I sincerely wished for alien abduction.
None came.
Only Sienna, who stepped in front of me, looking down with amusement. "I'm over here. No need to kneel in the wrong direction."
My professional dignity was in tatters.
**5**
Sienna had just finished her Art History degree in Switzerland and was preparing to join the family foundation. Her penthouse was being renovated, hence the temporary move.
Meaning, she was currently unemployed and bored.
Meaning, my happy, slacker days were over.
When Serena was at the office, I used to be invisible. Alfred was tolerant.
Now, I had a full-time supervisor.
To look busy, I'd wander around with a feather duster, flicking it at priceless antiques, all while stealing glances at Sienna lounging on the sofa scrolling through Instagram.
Luckily, she usually lunched out and was often absent in the afternoons. Before she returned, I frantically ordered the same expensive dinner.
Serena was at a business dinner. Sienna ate alone. She dabbed her lips with a linen napkin and called, "Nanny."
I scurried over. "Yes, Miss?"
She looked at me, her eyes glinting. "Dinner was superb. Let's have it again tomorrow."
No! My wallet screamed in protest!
What was so special about this restaurant? Three days in a row!
At this rate, my entire salary would be gone. I might as well quit!
Poverty bred honesty. I closed my eyes and began my performance. "Miss, I confess! I deceived you! This... this was all takeout!"
Sienna was unnervingly calm. "I know."
I was about to fake-sob into her Loro Piana robe, but froze. "You knew?"
"Of course. I was testing you. I didn't expect you to break so easily. How... naive."
I turned and walked away.
In other stories, the tragic, beautiful rival is the reader's darling.
In this story, she's my personal nightmare.
**6**
The second time she woke me at midnight, I'd had enough. "Miss! My dear Miss! Can't you please eat a proper dinner? Are you a vampire needing a midnight snack? Do you transform at the witching hour?"
I'd evolved. I was immune to her beauty now. Even an angel would have to make their own cereal.
Sienna still wore that infuriating, innocent-yet-sly smile. "Oh? You refuse? I suppose I'll have to tell Serena that her highly-paid male nanny can't cook and has been lying to her. Don't blame me if you get fired."
Wow. Wow. Wow.
She learned to tattle!
Playing the devoted sister now, are we?
But what could I do? Wage slave, wage soul. I dragged myself out of bed to make her noodles.
The Money Goddess also specified that I should "add more ingredients," claiming last night's pasta was too plain.
I raided the fridge, found some organic greens and a box of wild mushrooms, and tossed them all in. After serving her, I went straight back to bed.
But I couldn't fall asleep. Just as I considered pulling an all-nighter, I faintly heard barking downstairs.
Strange. The aloof Borzoi never barked at night.
Since I was awake, I went down to investigate.
The sight that greeted me was unbelievable.
The living room chandeliers were blazing. Sienna, our esteemed second miss, was leading the elegant hound around the vast room in a... tango?
The dog saw me and let out a pleading whimper.
In that moment, I understood dog language. It was clearly screaming, "HELP!"
If dogs could talk, it would tell Sienna, "Please, for the love of God, act like a human."
I was too stunned to move. I noticed Alfred and Serena had also been woken up, standing speechless at the foot of the stairs, watching Sienna dance with the dog.
Serena finally snapped. "Sienna! What in heaven's name are you doing at 2 AM?"
Sienna turned towards us, releasing the dog.
"Oh, you're here! Look! There are rainbow unicorns flying on the walls! And the mushrooms are singing show tunes!"
I, Alfred, and Serena stared in silence at the blank wall she was pointing at.
Serena's face went through a kaleidoscope of emotions. "Is she drunk?"
We rushed to the dining room. No bottles. Just my empty pasta bowl.
I explained, "The young miss was hungry. I made her some pasta."
Alfred dashed into the kitchen and emerged holding an open box of mushrooms. "Did Miss Sienna eat these?"
I looked at the colorful fungi and nodded. "Yes, I added them to the sauce."
Alfred's expression was priceless. "These... these are psilocybin mushrooms... I believe Miss Sienna is... hallucinating..."
I fell silent, remembering news reports about magic mushroom trips, then looked back at Sienna, who was now trying to have a deep conversation with the velvet curtains.
Good news: Sienna would probably never ask me to cook for her again.
Bad news: I was probably about to be fired.
**7**
Miraculously, I wasn't fired.
Serena seemed to have a strange soft spot for me. She just told me to be more careful with ingredients and left it at that.
But I was assigned a new duty: caring for Sienna during her recovery.
Not that she needed my care. She was in a VIP suite at New York-Presbyterian, nicer than any five-star hotel, with a team of gorgeous, capable nurses.
Besides, I was pretty sure the last person she wanted to see was me.
Who'd want to remember dancing the tango with a dog and debating philosophy with drapery?
But since Serena was being merciful and Sienna hadn't demanded my head, I decided to visit the hospital out of gratitude (and morbid curiosity).
I pushed open the door to find Sienna, hooked to an IV, typing furiously on a tablet. The moment her lazy eyes landed on me, they sharpened into lethal daggers. If looks could kill, I'd be mincemeat.
I hovered at the doorway. "So... Miss... feeling better?"
"Just wonderful," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Are you going to stand there like a statue? Get in."
I knew Sienna well enough. The subtext was clear: "Get over here and face your execution!"
I shuffled to the bedside and presented the bouquet I'd picked up from a florist. "My deepest apologies, Miss. Wishing you a speedy recovery."
She didn't take it. Her face darkened further. "Do you know what these are?"
"Uh..." I looked at the cheerful yellow and white flowers. "Daisies?"
Sienna just stared at me.
Oh, God.
Daisies... Daisies are a type of... Chrysanthemum.
I'd just brought funeral flowers to a patient!
**8**
I yanked the flowers behind my back, ready to prostrate myself. "I'm sorry, Miss! I truly am! It won't happen again!"
Sienna, probably too exasperated to speak, rolled over, presenting me with the back of her perfectly styled head.
I didn't dare make a sound, pulling up a chair and sitting quietly, trying to become one with the wallpaper.
The awkward silence stretched until the door opened again.
I turned to see Serena and Ian.
Wow! Female lead, male lead, female rival all in one room! Is this the showdown?
I stifled my excitement, greeted them politely, and shrunk further into my corner.
Ian approached the bed, his voice gentle. "Sienna, how are you feeling? Serena told me about the food poisoning. I was worried."
The male lead was a true gentleman, kind and considerate. No wonder both sisters were smitten.
"I'm fine. Thank you," Sienna's voice was flat.
Ian seemed like he wanted to say more, but Serena smoothly linked her arm with his. "See? I told you she was fine. We should go. We have the board meeting tomorrow."
Ian gave Serena a tender smile. They looked like a perfect, loving couple.
The emotional damage was immense. If I were Sienna, I'd need two more IV bags to recover.
The leading couple left, lovey-dovey. I was disappointed by the lack of drama but also confused. Why was Sienna so calm? In the original plot, she was obsessive and ruthless, constantly undermining Serena and determined to have Ian.
Now, Serena and Ian were practically kissing in her hospital room, and she didn't even blink.
Did the mushrooms fry her brain?
I ventured a试探. "Miss... are you *really* okay?"
Sienna looked at me, puzzled. "You already asked me that."
This time I meant mentally!
I tried to comfort her. "Well... don't feel too bad. Even the nicest female rivals rarely get the guy, and with your personality... any potential male suitors would probably run for the hills..."
Sienna was both angry and confused. "What on earth are you babbling about? What male suitors?"
Her question jolted me.
Right.
Where *was* the gentle, devoted male supporting character who was secretly in love with the female rival?
**9**
Just as I was wondering about him, he showed up.
And he targeted the wrong person.
During Sienna's hospital stay, I'd been the model attendant. I fetched water, fed her hospital food (she refused), read financial newspapers aloud. I was one step away from juggling for her entertainment. The actual nurses were impressed by my dedication.
By her discharge date, Sienna was radiant. I was the one who looked drained, as if *I'd* been the one poisoned.
Sienna: "You're clumsy, but marginally useful."
Me: "Thank you for the praise. Please don't do it again."
One day, while I was dutifully dusting a supposedly Ming Dynasty vase (for show), the doorbell chimed.
I opened the heavy oak door to find a handsome, impeccably dressed man, his hair perfectly styled.
I was about to ask his business when he spoke, his voice dripping with contempt.
"So, you're the one. The gold-digger who's somehow bewitched Sienna."
I was baffled. "Who?"
He looked me up and down with a sneer. "Hah. Trying a new angle? The poor-boy-butler fantasy?"
?
I glanced down at my expensive, tailored uniform. Silence.
Sir, if you want to be a butler, just say so. I can give you a friend's discount on this outfit.
A thousand retorts died in my throat, leaving only: "Are you out of your mind?"
He was enraged and actually slapped me! "Ian! Don't get cocky! Serena's just playing with you! The Van Der Lindes would never accept someone like you!"
I stood there, cheek stinging, completely stunned.
Dude. So you're the male rival pining for Sienna!
But you've got the wrong guy!
Clutching my face, furious, I repeated, "You are insane!"
He grew even angrier, raising his hand again. "You dare speak to me like that?"
I braced to block it, but a slender, surprisingly strong hand shot out and caught his wrist in a vise-like grip.
I looked over at Sienna, who had appeared silently.
Her eyes were ice. "How dare you touch what's mine."
Whoa. So cool. A true Van Der Linde.
Sienna, you've finally done something decent!
After a brief, involuntary flutter of my heart, I came to my senses.
This kind of rough stuff is no job for the young miss!
I launched myself at him, and we tumbled to the floor in a tangled, grappling mess.
It took both Sienna and Alfred to pull us apart. Sienna held me back from charging again, a note of amusement in her voice. "Alright, that's enough."
I could feel her warm breath by my ear. My heart raced, unsure if it was from the fight or her sudden proximity.
Just then, Serena returned.
The male rival rushed to complain. "Serena! Your butler assaulted me!"
I immediately cried out, not to be outdone, "Miss! He slandered Mr. Ian! Called him a social-climbing gold-digger! Said you have terrible taste! How could I stand for that?!"
Hearing Ian being insulted, Serena's face froze solid.
Bingo! Right on target.
My annual bonus was secure.
**10**
Sienna's penthouse renovation was nearly complete. Before she moved out, she and Serena shared another tense meal.
The thought of my "supervisor" leaving made me as happy as a squirrel in Central Park.
I was about to reclaim my slacker paradise!
Maybe my smile was too bright. Sienna glared at me. "Nanny. You seem awfully happy I'm leaving."
I tried to force a neutral expression. "Not at all, Miss. You're mistaken."
Sienna snorted.
The dining room was quiet. Serena set down her fork. "Sienna. There's something you should know."
Sienna looked up.
Serena: "Ian and I are engaged."
Whoa.
I immediately looked at Sienna. Her expression was unreadable.
Serena continued, "Sienna, I know you once had feelings for Ian. You can have anything else the Van Der Linde name can offer. But not him."
The sisters stared each other down. Only the ticking of the grandfather clock broke the silence.
Such a cliché line! But this cliché-lover ate it up!
My inner voice screamed: Here it comes! The classic declaration!
After a long minute, Sienna finally spoke.
Sienna: "In that case... I want..."
My heart pounded: It's happening!
"... your male nanny. It's not like he does anything useful around here anyway."
?
I must be sleep-deprived. Hearing things.
But when I saw Serena's shocked look and Sienna's triumphant smirk, I knew it was real.
What's going on?
I'm just the nanny! Why am I part of the deal?
And who says I'm not useful? I dust that Ming vase every day!
**11**
I clung to the Borzoi, sobbing dramatically, pledging my loyalty to Serena.
"Miss! You can't give me to her! I may slack off sometimes and my cooking is terrible, but my loyalty is to you and this house! And 'Sultan' and I have a bond! I can't leave him!"
Serena frowned at Sienna, confused.
Sienna, looking utterly unfazed, stared me down and uttered four magical words:
"Double the salary."
I was dumbstruck. "?"
Sienna: "Come work for me. Same duties. Double the pay."
Me: "You mean it?"
Sienna: "I do."
Cue the heavenly choir! The devoted servant has arrived!
I instantly stopped crying, released the gasping dog, and made a beeline for the stairs.
Sienna called after me, "Where do you think you're going?"
"To pack!" I chirped. "When do we leave, my dear Miss? How about tonight?"
The two women and the dog stared at me in unison.
Sorry, Sultan. Double the salary! I'll buy you the finest organic steak in New York!
A few days later, I moved into Sienna's Upper East Side penthouse.
The workload was similar, but Sienna's demands became even more eccentric.
For instance, she came home one day and mentioned, offhandedly, "Serena's lunches are now prepared personally by Ian. 'Love lunches,' he calls them."
Ouch. Brutal. Being fed that kind of dog food by her sister and future brother-in-law must sting.
I walked over and gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
Sienna didn't say a word, just stared at me.
Huh?
What does that look mean?
Sienna: "Starting tomorrow, you will prepare my lunch. For the foundation."
?
You can't be serious! You're competing over *lunches*?
His are made with love! Mine are made with... contractual obligation!
And more importantly—
I still can't cook!
**12**
I struggled to find the words. "Uh, Miss? You recall my culinary limitations?"
"I do." Her tone was flat. "So you'll start learning. Today."
I started to protest.
"Tomorrow. I expect a lunchbox. No takeout. You make it. Fail, and you pay the penalty clause for breach of contract."
She said it with a smile. I entered the kitchen in tears.
The thought of the astronomical penalty fee got me moving.
I reopened the cooking app. I decided to start with the basics: spaghetti aglio e olio.
During my practice, the smoke detector went off once. Sienna burst into the kitchen twice thinking it was on fire. After being forced to taste my "creations," she ran to the bathroom to vomit three times.
Finally, on my Nth attempt, I produced a semi-edible pasta dish.
The next day, I packed it into a Bento box, adding my signature, perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg.
It was the best I could do.
I presented it for inspection.
She opened the lid with what seemed like anticipation, but her raised eyebrows quickly lowered.
Thinking she found it lacking, I started to explain, but she cut me off.
"It's not right."
"Pardon? What's wrong?"
She tapped the box impatiently. "I said *love* lunch. Where is the *love*?"
Huh?
What love?
A lightbulb went off. I think I understood.
I took the box back, quickly sliced a piece of Italian sausage into thin strips, and arranged them into a perfect heart shape next to the golden egg.
I showed her again.
Instantly, Sienna's beautiful face lit up. She took the box, satisfied, and headed to work.
At lunch, I saw her Instagram story.
No caption. Just a close-up of the Bento, the sausage heart prominently displayed.
Minutes later, Serena's story updated. Also no words. A picture of a salad with a huge heart drizzled in balsamic reduction.
...
Could you two be any more childish?
**13**
Serena and Ian's engagement party was set for the end of the month.
Sienna came home one day and tossed me a bag from a famous designer.
Inside was an impeccably tailored tuxedo.
Sienna: "The engagement party. You're my plus-one."
Huh?
I understood not wanting to go alone, but why me?
I tried to refuse. "Miss, surely you could find a more... suitable escort from your social circle."
With her looks and status, she could have any eligible bachelor in the city.
She narrowed her eyes. "Oh? You object to a slight expansion of your duties? Look at you. Do you know what other society butlers do? The Hills' butler is fluent in four languages and manages their private equity portfolio."
She sighed dramatically. "Perhaps I *do* need a more versatile employee..."
I quickly covered her mouth (and just as quickly removed it under her icy gaze). "I'll go! I'll get ready!"
The engagement party was at a private estate in the Hamptons.
Sienna was quickly swallowed by the socialite crowd. I happily camped out by the caviar station.
While I was enjoying myself, a familiar face approached.
The male rival, Lucas, sauntered over, champagne in hand. "Well, if it isn't the nanny!"
I took a cautious step back.
Buddy, not again. This Brioni tux is rental, but still!
He saw my retreat and closed the distance. "Don't be like that! Last time was a misunderstanding! My apologies!"
I eyed him suspiciously, but detected no malice. Maybe he was just a harmless, spoiled rich kid.
I couldn't resist asking, "What are *you* doing here? Planning to disrupt things?"
"God, no! I didn't realize everything Serena and Ian had been through. I acted like a jerk. Hearing their story... I was genuinely moved. I'm happy for them."
Got it. Not a true villain, just a misguided fool who saw the light.
We started chatting. His name was Lucas.
Eventually, he asked, "Seriously, what's the deal with you and Sienna? When I hit you, the look she gave me... I thought she was going to have me disappeared."
I answered truthfully, "I'm her nanny. That's it."
Lucas looked skeptical. "Yeah, right. Nobody brings the *help* as a date to something like this."
He leaned in, dropping his voice. "Let me tell you something. I think Sienna's into you."
I nearly dropped my caviar spoon. "No... that's impossible."
He analyzed it seriously. "Think about it. You live with her. You take care of her. In a way, you're practically the..."
He searched for the word.
"... the man of the house."
We were a perfect pair—one talking nonsense, the other actually considering it.
It started to make a weird kind of sense. If she didn't like me, with my subpar skills, I'd have been fired ages ago.
Could a lowly nanny really have a romance subplot?
Suddenly, there was a commotion. Sienna rushed over, looking frantic.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Sienna: "Ian's gone!"
What?! The male lead fled his own engagement party!
Is this the legendary "Runaway Groom" trope?
**14**
We found Serena in a secluded hallway, on the phone, her voice hoarse, eyes red.
No doubt she'd soon have a stress-induced ulcer, insomnia—all the old ailments resurfacing.
Out of loyalty to my former employer, I helped analyze the situation.
"Did your mother perhaps offer Ian a blank check to leave?"
"Did another woman—or man—stage an intimate moment for him to see?"
"Did you have a previous lover who resembled Ian?"
Serena shook her head at the first two, but paused at the third. She nodded. A girl named Chloe.
I had it.
"Chloe must have found Ian," I deduced. "She lied, telling him he was just a substitute, a stand-in for her. He believed it, thought he was just a replacement, and left in heartbreak. When in reality, *she* was the substitute all along!"
Sienna and Serena looked at me, bewildered.
The logic was convoluted. Without my extensive trashy novel experience, I'd never have pieced it together.
I told Serena to check Chloe's recent movements. The report came back: she'd met with Ian days before.
Serena looked at me with something akin to reverence. She grabbed my shoulders, emotional. "Carl! What do I do now?"
Before I could speak, Sienna pried Serena's hands off me and replaced them with her own, possessively linking her arm through mine.
Truthfully, I didn't remember the rest of the plot.
If this was a "runaway groom" scenario, he might return in a year or two with a secret child.
I suggested Serena check Ian's medical records. Lo and behold, a recent paternity test consultation (?! This world's logic was flexible).
Serena's look was no longer just reverence; it was like I was a prophet.
I advised her to wait. The plot was powerful. Until the destined time, he'd be unfindable.
In the car home, Sienna eyed me jealously. "You're awfully concerned about Serena. Not still carrying a torch, are you?"
Oh? Jealous?
I felt a flicker of pride and was about to tease her when I tripped over my own feet getting out of the car, twisting my ankle.
Sienna sighed, crouched down in her evening gown.
"Get on."
I was shocked. She was offering to carry me?
I hesitated for less than a second before happily climbing onto her back, wrapping my arms around her neck, my cheek against her surprisingly strong shoulder.
She wanted to take me to the ER. I refused. "No need! Doesn't your sister have that private doctor on retainer, the one who makes house calls at 3 AM? Can't we call him?"
Sienna stared at me, utterly floored.
"How do you *know* these things?!"
**15**
Ian was found surprisingly quickly.
Could the "burning pursuit" arc be any shorter?
Serena visited me personally to express her gratitude and offer a reward.
I thought about it and voiced a universal worker's plea. "I don't need anything special. I just hope, Miss, that if you and Ian have disagreements in the future, you could try not to... let it affect company decisions or employee morale."
Reading about CEOs having meltdowns was fun. Being an employee under one was not.
Serena seemed puzzled but agreed.
With the eldest sister's crisis averted, the youngest sister's intentions became the new puzzle.
After Lucas claimed Sienna liked me, I saw her in a new light.
She had her faults, but she wasn't overly delicate. No fragile stomach, slept well, wasn't a clean freak, and always smelled of expensive perfume.
A perfect combination of beauty and... more beauty.
So, I waited daily for her confession. Nothing.
The emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was frantic!
After a week, I couldn't take it.
Was I delusional?!
As I was panicking, old Alfred texted me. He wanted to set me up with his niece, an Art History major at NYU.
I had an idea. I went to ask Sienna for time off.
She raised an eyebrow. "Reason?"
I was blunt. "A date. Alfred's niece. Supposedly built like a Victoria's Secret model. She studies art, I'm a nanny. A perfect match."
Sienna's face darkened instantly. "A *date*?"
I nodded.
"Request denied."
I played dumb. "Why?!"
"You dare ask? Do you even work four productive hours a day? How many times have you nearly burned my kitchen down learning to cook? You killed my prized Japanese bonsai last week and thought replacing it with a plastic replica would fool me? Other people's butlers are multifaceted geniuses. Mine can only make pasta and eggs!"
She grew angrier. "With that performance, you want time off for a date? Over my dead body!"
...
"My apologies."
**16**
Disaster. Reverse psychology failed. Almost lost my money.
I apologized profusely, swearing off dating forever.
Sienna finally calmed down.
Just as I was resigning myself to a purely professional life, I found a receipt while preparing Sienna's suit for the cleaner.
It was from Harry Winston. For an engagement ring.
I counted the zeros. My understanding of old money spending was forever altered.
This ring... was for me, right?
I grew nervous and excited.
From then on, I was the model employee. I'd "coincidentally" be polishing silver when she came home. I practiced new recipes, though her review remained: "Let's just order in."
I waited and waited. The ring never appeared. Instead, I received a termination letter.
Sienna's expression was cold. "Carl, your employment ends this month. Don't bother coming back."
I was thunderstruck. "Why?"
Now she was the cold, ruthless rival from the books. "Your performance is inadequate. I'm hiring a replacement. Also, this penthouse will soon have a proper master. Your presence would be... inappropriate."
Fantastic. Unemployed and heartbroken.
Private sector jobs are so unstable! I should've listened to my mom and taken that civil service exam!
Devastated, I looked down, muttered, "I understand," and turned to go pack my bags.
After a few steps, she stopped me.
"Where are you going?"
"To pack," I said, voice hollow.
She stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly laughed.
I was confused. ?
What's so funny?
Her lips curved into a smile. "Alright, enough teasing."
Then, she pulled the glittering diamond ring from her pocket and slid it onto my finger.
I stood frozen, finally hearing the words I'd waited for.
"Carl, would you end your employment as my nanny... and become the master of this house?"
**17**
I punched her shoulder with my newly ringed hand.
You jerk! You scared me to death!
She took the hit, laughing, and pushed me back onto the expensive sofa. "So, is that a yes?"
A thought occurred to me.
Wait.
If I'm not the nanny... I'm unemployed!
I hesitated. "Well... maybe we should maintain a pure employer-employee relationship?"
Romance interferes with my career!
She laughed in disbelief. "In your dreams."
She secured the ring on my finger. "It's either become my husband, or become nothing at all."
I looked at the rock on my finger and sighed.
Well, alright.
But what would I do for work?
Seeing my worry, she said, "You could always be my personal assistant... if you can convince me."
She already had three assistants. She said my job would be fetching coffee, giving massages, and looking pretty to keep her happy.
That sounded even easier than being a nanny!
My eyes lit up. "How do I convince you?"
She pointed to her cheek.
I got the message and gave it a loud, smacking kiss.
Trading a kiss for a better job? Hesitation is a crime against capitalism!
My shamelessness secured me a new position.
On my first day, I spilled coffee on her Valentino dress.
Seeing her about to explode, I quickly kissed her again, narrowly avoiding being fired on the spot.
Maybe I'm just not cut out for service jobs.
**18**
After that, Sienna banned me from the coffee machine.
I became her official "mood manager," a handsome trophy husband whose main job was to look good and keep the boss happy.
I also took on a side gig as Serena and Ian's "relationship consultant." Their plotline was ridiculously convoluted, full of absurd misunderstandings. You needed a PhD in trashy romance novels to navigate it.
At Serena and Ian's wedding, Sienna and I were the maid of honor and best man.
Old Alfred wept openly. "For the young miss and Mr. Ian to reach this day... it's a miracle. Carl, you have no idea, when Mr. Ian disappeared, the young miss drank until she was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer..."
Internal monologue: I know.
After the reception, I pulled Sienna onto a balcony to look at the moon.
Lying in her arms, I asked, "Hey, when did you stop having feelings for Ian?"
She thought for a moment. "Honestly, I don't think I ever truly loved him. It was always about competing with Serena. Wanting what she had."
That made sense.
The night breeze was cool. The noise of the party felt distant. Since arriving in this world, it had been constant chaos. This quiet moment was precious.
I asked another question. "What about me? When did you... you know?"
"I don't recall exactly. Somehow, I just found you endlessly amusing. And cute. They say if you find someone adorable, you're probably already in love. I guess I fell for you when I started thinking you were cute."
I grinned like an idiot.
I declare this the day Sienna's lips were the sweetest.
I smiled up at her. The mood was perfect. Her face drew closer, and I tasted the champagne on her lips.
I don't know what other twists this over-the-top family drama has in store, but I know one thing for sure:
Our ending will be the most perfectly cliché one of all.
**(The End)**