The rain hammered against the taxi windows as Clara got out in front of the Duarte mansion. The massive house looked more like a museum than a home, with golden lights illuminating the immaculate garden and long shadows moving between the trees. Clara adjusted the backpack on her shoulder and swallowed. This would be her first important job as a nanny, but there was something in the air that sent chills down her spine. For a moment, she thought about sending Javier a message to let him know she had arrived safely, but after their last argument because of his mother, she needed some space. She hated her mother-in-law...
The door opened before Clara could ring the bell. A tall, elegant woman with a deep gaze and an enigmatic smile stood waiting: Isabela Duarte, the mother. Her perfume was intense, sweet, and the eye contact lingered just a bit too long.
"Welcome, Clara," Isabela said in a soft voice. "I hope you feel comfortable here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Duarte," Clara replied, though a strange feeling settled in her stomach. "I'll do my best to take care of the children."
"Call me Isabela," she responded, holding Clara's hand a second longer than necessary as she led her inside the house. "Let me show you around."
As they walked through the main living room, Clara noticed the father, Ricardo Duarte, watching her from a dark armchair at the far end. His eyes were intense, assessing, and although he only looked at her for a few seconds, the feeling it left was enough for Clara to wonder if her arrival was not entirely welcomed.
Clara's footsteps echoed on the marble as they passed by family portraits and antique furniture, and a cold air, almost like an omen, swept through the hallways.
Clara was introduced to Mateo, six years old, and Lucía, four. The children were curious but cautious. Mateo hid behind his mother's leg when he saw her, and Lucía shot her a distrustful glance. Clara knelt down to their level and smiled, trying to seem confident:
"Hi, kids. I'm Clara. We're going to have fun together today, okay?"
Mateo nodded shyly, and Lucía took her hand. As they moved away to play, Clara noticed an open envelope on the desk, with family photographs and some notes with dates and names she didn't recognize. Her instinct told her it wasn't anything good… but curiosity won over caution...
That night, Clara had dinner with the Duartes in the main dining room. The table was spotless; the conversation, somewhat tense. Isabela sat close to Clara, leaning slightly toward her in a gesture that didn't go unnoticed.
"It must be difficult moving out on your own for a job like this, Clara," Isabela said softly.
"Yes… a bit, but I'm excited," Clara replied, trying to sound confident.
Isabela lightly touched her hand as she served her wine. Clara felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold rain beating against the windows.
Meanwhile, Ricardo remained at the far end of the table, watching. Every time Clara looked away, she could feel the father's eyes fixed on her: intense, as if he were trying to read her thoughts.
Clara sensed something strange in the house: the tension was not just familial, but laden with secrets and hidden desire. Every gesture from Isabela and every glance from Ricardo seemed to carry a warning that she couldn't yet understand.
After dinner, Clara decided to explore the house a bit before heading to her room. She walked toward the study and saw the envelope she had noticed earlier. This time, she examined it more carefully: family photos, some with dates that didn't match up, and notes with crossed-out names and underlined dates, which seemed to record meetings or something more clandestine.
A sharp knock on the door startled her.
"Clara, are you coming up to rest?" Isabela's voice asked, soft but with a hint of tension that made Clara stop.
"Yes, ma'am… I mean, Isabela," she stammered, leaving the envelope on the table and climbing the stairs with her heart pounding too fast.
From her room, Clara looked out the window at the dimly lit garden. There, Ricardo stood, alone, watching the house. His silhouette seemed to emerge from the shadows, and for a moment, Clara had the feeling that he wasn't just watching the house, but her. With an intense, hungry gaze. She liked the feeling of being observed and desired, and for a moment, she thought about undressing so Ricardo could see her…
Something was beginning in that mansion: dangerous secrets, forbidden attraction, and a mystery that threatened to engulf her from the very first night. Clara didn't know whether she wanted to escape or dive deeper into this world that was already starting to seduce her.