Kiara Dane woke up to the sound of tiny footsteps marching with the importance of soldiers. it wasn't unusual, in her home, mornings belonged to the two miniature commanders who believed they were born to run the world.
"Leo , reports", Liam's tiny deep voice called from the hallway.
"Everything under under control", Leo answered, pushing open her bedroom door with all seriousness of a 5 year old who thought he was forty.
"But mummy is still sleeping,that's illegal".
Kiara groaned, pulling the blanket over her head . "It is not illegal", she mumbled into the pillow.
Two identical faces-dark hair, sharp gray eyes, soft chubby cheeks-stared down at her with perfectly synchronized frowns.
"Mommy, we have a schedule",Liam said folding his little arm's.
"yes", Leo added." you can't be late you need to eat breakfast or we will call Grandma."
None of them had a grandmother but they used the word for dramatic effect.
Kiara couldn't help it -she laughed, sitting up with her hair sticking everywhere. "You two are going to get me arrested with this laws of your's."
"No," Liam replied solemnly. "we will protect you."
Leo nodded. "We're your bodyguards."
Her heart melted. every morning, every hardship, every struggle..... everything felt lighter when they looked at her like that.
they were the blessing she never expected, the reason she got out of bed each day.
"Okay, okay," she said , kissing both their foreheads. "Bodyguards, help me get ready."
the twins saluted.
their apartment was small-two tight bedroom's, one bathroom,a kitchen, and a little living room barely big enough for a couch and a secondhand TV -but it was safe ,cozy, full of laughter, crayons and mismatched socks.
And love.
lots of love.
their nanny, Auntie Mabel, was already in the kitchen, shaking her head as she muttered playfully."Kiara, my dear , I swear sometimes I feel like they're older than me."
"they act older than u talkless of me ," Kiara said.
Liam cleared his throat. "we're responsible."
Leo added,"It's because we're men."
Mabel burst out laughing. Kiara nearly dropped her mug.
But when the twin's weren't looking, the nanny leaned closer and whispered, "they re very protective of you, Kiara .
they sense when you're stressed."
Kiara's smile trembled."I know, I'm trying,i just..... I want to give them more."
her savings were thinning, Rent was always a few days late, the boys were growing, needing more than she could provide. And she was tired-tired of working little jobs that barely paid enough to keep the lights on.
she wanted stability, security. A future.
that afternoon, after work while the boys argued about whose turn it was to choose cartoons,Kiara sat on a couch with her cracked phone and took a deep breath.
she searched for openings. And then she saw it :
THE GRANT GROUP OF INDUSTRIES- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT needed.
she hesitated ,the company was huge Dangerous, powerful Owned by a man whose name made headlines , A man people whispered about, feared , respected.
All she could think about was her children's joy, she was applying for her children.
she clicked SUBMIT.
Thee days later, she was standing in front of GRANT industries' glass doors heart thudding, the building rose like a mountain of silver and ambition.
Employees walked past her in sharp suits with confident strides.
Kiara swallowed hard and whispered, " I can do this."
she reached the reception and the receptionist directed her to the 5th floor where the interview was being held.
Her hands trembled slightly as she entered the interview room.
The panel questioned her thoroughly. she spoke honestly, confidently. The years of struggling alone had sharpened her strength.
one thing she was thankful about was the fact that she did everything just to get this degree now it's all worth it.
when she explained everything, they nodded. she tried her best, and for once her best was enough.
By the time she walked out of the building, she had a job.
When Kiara stepped out of GRANT industries, the city felt different.
The sky seemed brighter, the air lighter. even the noise of traffic no longer irritated her she stood outside the tall glass building for a long moment, clutching her handbag tightly as if the offer letter inside might disappear.
she has done it.
she had gotten the job.
A quiet laugh escape her lips, followed by a sharp inhale as tears blurred her vision. she quickly wiped them away, refusing to cry in public. This wasn't sadness,this was relief.
The kind that settled deep in the chest after years of holding one's breath.
In the bus ride home, she couldn't stop smiling. she replayed the words in her head again and again.
Welcome to GRANT industries.
you start on Monday.
the moment she opened the apartment door, two small bodies came charging toward her like bullets.
"Mommy!" Leo shouted.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Liam demanded suspiciously.
"I got a job," she said softly.
For a second, they stared at her.
then chaos erupted.
"You got it?!" Leo yelled.
"At a big company?!" Liam asked.
"Yes," she laughed." At a big company."
They jumped, danced, and shouted like they had just won a championship. leo grabbed her hand and spun her around, while Liam ran to the kitchen shouting,"Aunty Mabel! Mommy got a job."
Their Nanny rushed out, wiping her hands on her wrapper. "Eh? what job?"
"I got a job at Grant industries," Kiara said, her voice trembling slightly now.
Aunty Mabel's face broke into a wide smile."Thank God. God is faithful."
She pulled Kiara into a brief hug." You deserve this, my dear."
That Evening felt lighter than any other they had shared in years , dinner tasted better, laughter came easier,even the twins behaved- slightly.
"I will start on Monday," Kiara told them as she tucked them into bed later that night.
"So you'll wake up early," Liam said seriously.
"Yes."
"we'll wake early too,"Leo added.
"you don't have to."she smiled.
"we want to,"Liam insisted. "it's your first day."
Her heart clenched.