Chapter 1: The Contract of Steel**
Clara felt the cold weight of the grand oak doors closing behind her. Five nannies had packed their bags in tears over the past three months alone. Standing in the sunlit foyer of the Sterling Manor, she faced Julian Sterling—a ruthless private equity titan whose razor-sharp tuxedo matched the icy detachment in his gaze.
"You have thirty days, Miss Vance," Julian said smoothly, checking his vintage Patek Philippe. "My sons—Leo, Lucas, Liam, and Noah—have dismantled every professional educator Manhattan had to offer. If you survive the month, the bonus will clear your family’s medical debts overnight. If not, don’t expect a reference."
Clara adjusted the collar of her cream knit sweater. She didn’t flinch. "I didn't come here for an easy paycheck, Mr. Sterling. I came because eight-year-old boys don't act like wild animals without a reason."
A flicker of surprise crossed Julian’s sculpted face before vanishing behind his usual smirk. "Keep that fire when they strike. You'll need it."
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Upstairs, a floorboard creaked. Leo, the ringleader, peered down from the banister, his hazel eyes gleaming with cold calculation. The game had officially begun.
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