From Nanny to Mrs. Billionaire

The night I left my marriage with nothing, I wandered the streets of New York alone. A small ad on the side of the road caught my eye: [Looking for a stepmom. Age and looks don't matter. Must be patient with kid. Room and board included.]() Room and board included. That's what got me. That same night, I dragged my suitcase to the address on the ad. I walked straight into the mansion of Natpphan Sterling — the richest man in New York. George, the butler, stiff and condescending. "Mr. Sterling is looking for a mother for his child. Not a wife for himself. I need you to be very clear on that." "Mr. Sterling is an exceptional man. Don't get any... ideas." I kept my head slightly down, eyes forward. Honestly, this job was perfect for me. To put it simply, they just needed a high-end nanny. I had only gotten divorced that morning. Remarriage? Couldn't be further from my mind. But taking care of a kid and having a roof was a lifeline for me. I nodded respectfully. "I understand. I won't get any ideas. You have my word." George gave a curt nod and led me to the dining room. At a massive long table, a young father and his son were locked in a silent battle. The man sat there holding a bowl and a spoon, his expression dark. The boy bit his lip and refused to budge. Neither of them was backing down. The man pinched the bridge of his nose and lowered his voice. "Just one bite, Luca. One tiny bite. Can you do that for me?" George stepped forward and spoke to Nathan. "Sir, another applicant is here. This one seems honest." The man slowly turned around. He wore simple black dress pants and a white shirt, a little bit of mashed potato stuck to his shirt. That handsome face — I'd seen it on the cover of Forbes before. A minute ago, I was worried this whole thing might be a scam. Now I could relax. He had no reason to trick some broke woman like me. His deep-set eyes swept over me, cool and brief. "What's your name?" I said. "Claire Bennett." He gave a barely perceptible nod. "Give it a try." Then he stood, walked over to the sofa, crossed his arms, and leaned back to watch me. So this was interview. Feeding a child was probably harder for him than closing a multi-billion dollar deal. I had to nail this. If I could stay, at least I wouldn't be sleeping on the street tonight. I put on what I hoped was a warm, motherly smile and walked toward the boy.