"This must be it." Belle muttered to herself as she checked the address twice. She stood in front of a big house, almost a big castle if you would have asked her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped on the metal ramp, entering the porch. A nice polished brass lion-headed knocker adorned the large door. Taking another deep breath and knocked twice. After a moment, the door opened, revealing a lady in a black dress, her hair streaked with grey.

"Belle French?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, ma'am. I have been invited for the job interview as nurse." Belle replied and something looking quite like relief crossed the woman's face.

"Come in, please." She invited quite more warmly now. "Mr. Gold is in his study. I shall go and announce your arrival." Belle nodded and followed her, getting no time to properly look around. She patiently waited to get called in.

"Miss French?" Mr Gold asked once Belle stepped into the study. The study was darkly furnished with a large desk and one wall full of books. "Please sit." He invited. The only other free seat in the room was what looked like a kitchen chair. He obviously did not need company when he worked from home.

"Thank you for receiving me," Belle said as she sat down, brushing a wrinkle from her grey skirt. A middle-aged man sat on the other side of the desk. His face blank and his dark eyes calculating. Long brown hair hung upon his shoulders, it had a gentle wave in it. The proud stature he had was quite intimidating for everyone who looked at him.

"So, please tell me, miss French, why do you think you are suitable for taking care of my disabled son and this household?" Mr Gold asked after he took a moment to shuffle through some papers.

"I am flexible and capable of many things. I possess all required certificates." Belle calmly replied.

"I saw on your application that you have been working at the elderly home. What have you learned there that you can apply here? Furthermore, why would you give up a perfectly good payed job to take your chances here?"

"Patience. That is mostly what I have learned at the elderly home. You certainly cannot rush one when they have all the time of the world." Belle gave him a little smile but only received the blank and serious face back, which made her feel a bit uncomfortable. "Well, ehm, I had expected more excitement and chaos, and frankly, after a while I started to grow a little bored. Besides an occasional wanderer that got lost, nothing really happened."

"I do not seek chaos, nor excitement, miss French." Gold stated and sternly gazed at her.

"I am certain I can take good care of your son. I can help him with his homework if he needs me to." Mr Gold stayed silent for a while. "I can cook quite well if I may say so… I have no problem taking courses if you want or need me to."

"I shall go and give you a call by the end of the week." He then said before he slowly rose to his feet, lest the girl tried to talk of his ears. Belle watched as the man took a sleek black, gold-handled cane in his hand before he stepped around the desk. "If you please follow me." he drawled when it seemed like Belle had not understood the conversation was over.

"Oh, forgive me." Belle quickly said as she stood, following the man back to the door. Mr Gold had a severe limp on his right foot, Belle observed. Maybe the library would offer some insights into what happened to the family… She mused and almost bumped into him when he stopped walking because they had arrived at the entry.

"Have a good day, Miss French." Gold said as he opened the door for her.

"Have a good day yourself, Mr Gold," Belle said with a bright smile before she stepped through the door since the man did not offer her a hand to shake. The large door clicked close, softly. Mr Gold stood there for a moment as he watched the girl leave. She had been the only applicant to the job, no doubt his reputation proceeded him. Slowly he hobbled back to his office, where he sat down with a soft sigh.

"Sir?" The elderly nanny asked as she peeked her head around the door. "Shall I get you a cup of tea?"

"Yes." Mr Gold replied and buried his face in his hands for a moment. When he heard the door open, he quickly straightened.

"When is the next applicant coming?" She asked as she put a cup of tea on the desk.

"Miss French was the only one to apply." He coldly replied as he took the cup off the saucer. He did not like her to nose around, unaware of how much worse it could become.

"I do hope she did reach your absurdly high standards, otherwise you must lower them. I would very like to retire sooner than later." She then said to him before she left the dour man alone. He had no choice, did he? Mr Gold was shaken out of his musings when a knock sounded on the door of his study.

"Yes?"

"Dinner is ready, sir." The nanny replied. With a small nod, Gold climbed to his feet, walking to the dining room. "Good evening, Baelfire." He softly greeted when he noticed his son was already present and sitting on his spot on the table.

"Good evening, papa." The boy quietly replied. The nanny served them their dinner before she quickly disappeared to the kitchen for her dinner.

*BRB*

It was Thursday evening that Belle received a call from Mr Gold.

"Hello?" Belle asked, as the number on her phone only said 'Private'.

"Miss French?" The voice on the other side of the line calmly said. "Mr Gold speaking." He said once the other side of the line stayed silent. "I have to congratulate you upon receiving the job as a nanny for my son."

"Really? Thank you, Mr. Gold." Belle said as she beamed from the other side of the line.

"I expect you to move in Saturday morning and start your job on Monday. That will leave you enough time to get settled."

"That won't be a problem." Belle replied. "When can I come over to sign the contract?"

"We shall get that settled Saturday afternoon."

"That sounds fine."

"Have a good night, Miss French." Before Belle could say anything else, the line disconnected.

I'd love to hear your thoughts :D