Julia was an experienced nanny. Her first taste of caregiving came from looking after her younger sisters and brother while their parents were at work. Once she turned eighteen, she moved to the city to find a job and help support her family.
For a few years, Julia worked as a nanny for two kids from a well-off family. Her salary was enough to cover her own expenses and send money back home. But a month before the new year, the boys’ mother cheerfully informed her that they were relocating to another country. After a warm goodbye, Julia returned to the tiny apartment she rented and nearly broke down in tears. The holidays were right around the corner, and now she was out of a job!
At least she’d managed to send the St. Nicholas Day gifts in time! Her little brother was over the moon when he got not one, but two Transformers!
Thinking of the gifts brought back memories of that strange man from the toy store. His actions kept replaying in Julia’s mind. In just a few minutes, the stranger had managed to annoy her and then pleasantly surprise her. Who was he, and what did he do for a living?
The SUV and the cologne hinted at his status, and the cashier’s behavior suggested he wasn’t just some nobody in town...
Julia remembered standing there with the bags, staring at the sad-eyed girl reflected in the store window. Finally snapping out of it, she rushed to find Dima, the bus driver who passed through her village. He often delivered gifts and clothes to her family on her behalf.
***
The next morning, Julia headed to a small employment agency run by an old acquaintance, Inga, who often saved good job openings for her.
Flipping through Inga’s thick notebook, Julia paused at an ad:
"Urgently needed: Nanny for twin boys, 4 years old. Meals and accommodation provided by employer. Day off on Saturdays. High pay."
While Inga rummaged through a desk drawer, Julia snapped a quick photo of the phone number.
“Picked something already? Let me see,” Inga said.
Inga glanced at the lines written in her own handwriting.
“No way, Jules. I wouldn’t recommend this one at all.”
“Why not? It’s two kids, double pay, plus meals…”
“The employer’s weird. One of our girls worked for him and disappeared. They found her in the river outside town…”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah, exactly. People say he’s a maniac. After the nanny vanished, his ex-wife disappeared too. That’s why he’s offering four times the going rate for a nanny, but no one wants to work for him. It’s a small town—everyone knows everyone’s business…”
“Okay, got it. Let’s keep looking.”
Julia headed home with three phone numbers of potential employers.
The first number didn’t pick up.
The second call was answered by a rude woman who said they needed a nanny with at least fifteen years of experience.
The third asked for photos and a portfolio, and after reviewing them, invited her for an interview.
***
Finding the small apartment in a quiet residential area wasn’t hard. The door was opened by a tall, older man who looked disheveled and was clearly drunk. The interview ended before it even started.
The moment the man brazenly put his hand on Julia’s knee, she shoved him away and bolted out of the apartment, the sound of shattering glass echoing behind her. He must’ve been more intoxicated than she’d realized, because after her push, he crashed into an old-fashioned buffet.
Back home, Julia cried from frustration and humiliation before calling her family. When her youngest sister asked, “Santa’s gonna bring us gifts, right?” tears streamed down her face again. For the past few years, Julia had been the “Santa” for her siblings, bringing and hiding or delivering their gifts. But this year, she couldn’t even afford rent…
Gathering her courage, Julia dialed the last number she’d saved from Inga’s notebook—the one her friend had warned her against.
A deep male voice answered, sounding oddly familiar. There was something almost hypnotic in its tone...
The man introduced himself as Alexander and offered to come meet Julia in person.
***
The large black SUV looked suspiciously like the one from the toy store parking lot, but Julia obediently climbed into the front passenger seat.
“What a pleasant surprise!” said the same strange man from the store, lounging in the driver’s seat...
Julia’s first instinct was to jump out of the car, but the unmistakable click of the central lock stopped her cold. Instead of the expected fear, a wave of sharp embarrassment washed over her, evident in her burning cheeks.
Apologies stuck in her throat, but what came out instead was a muffled “Damn it!”
The man couldn’t hold back a smile.
“How about we grab lunch and discuss the job terms? That is, if you haven’t changed your mind.”
The low, gravelly voice of her former rival in the Transformer showdown made the car feel somehow cozier. And warmer. Or was that just the heater kicking into high gear?
“I… uh… kinda took that toy from you. And after that, you still want to hire me?”
“Don’t worry. If I don’t want to give something up, no one can take it from me. Besides, it seemed like you needed it more.”
“I really was in a rush to get those gifts to my brother and sisters. I don’t usually snatch toys from grown men.”
“Good to know. I wouldn’t want you teaching that to my kids.” Though his eyes still had that unhealthy gleam, there was now a playful twinkle in them, and Julia felt herself relax a bit.
“I’m Alexander. You can call me Alex or Sasha.”
“And I’m Julia. You can call me ‘Julia, the Toy Snatcher.’”
***
A few minutes later, they were sipping coffee in a cozy café. Alexander got down to business, quickly outlining the job.
“I’ve got twin boys, four years old. Danny and Dmitri. They’re a handful at times, but generally well-behaved. Our housekeeper handles their meals, and there aren’t any strict requirements for activities—just make sure they get at least an hour or two of outdoor play for physical activity. One thing, though: Danny doesn’t talk. And you’ll need to sleep in their room with them. They get scared on their own, and I’m not always around.”
“That’s no problem. I’m used to that kind of thing—I’ve got younger siblings myself.”
“That’s great. Did your brother like the robot?”
“Oh, he still can’t believe he got two instead of one,” Julia said with a guilty smile. “He doesn’t get spoiled like that often. Anyway, back to business. I know the basics of early childhood development and can work with the boys on that.”
“If you’ve got the skills, go for it. I’ll pay extra for that.”
“You’re really hiring me?” Julia still couldn’t believe her luck.
“In the store, you showed how much you care about kids. I respect that. It’s all good.”
“I’m so grateful for what you did. It was very… gentlemanly…”
“Don’t mention it. Forget about it. You can work an unpaid hour if it bothers you that much.” Alexander’s eyes laughed again, though something dark and unknown lingered in their depths—something Julia both wanted and didn’t want to uncover.
“I’ll expect you tomorrow. And you can call me Sasha. I’m not that much older than you.” Sasha pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to Julia. “For now, let me drive you home…”