Chapter Four

"I um... I d-don't need a driver. And um... m-move in with y-you?" I manage to get out through my panicked state, as I look back at Alessandro and then back at the floor when I see his face change to frustration. He wouldn't be like him, would he?

"You will be living in with us, yes. How do you expect to look after Matteo while you live somewhere else?" Alessandro says with a bigger scowl on his face, my body starting to shake under his gaze. I see Matteo out the corner of my eye looking between his father and I, stopping on me with a worried frown. I'll be ok Matteo, if your father doesn't end up killing me first that is.

"But my a-apartment. And -"

"Your apartment and belongings will be taken care of." This time he said it frustratedly, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor. His shiny black shoes making a steady tapping sound on the wooden floors of the bakery.

"I really don't n-need a driver." I shakily say. I'm not sure how to tell him I can't get in that car without sounding like a maniac. As I try to regulate my frantic breathing, my hands at my sides begin to shake. 

I can't do that all over again. I can't experience that ever again. I don't want to feel that feeling ever again. No, I don't... can't do that ever, ever again. My heart rate picks up, the sound of my heartbeat ringing in my ears, the sound of the bakery washing away in my slight panic.

"You will be sent a driver Ilaria. Tomorrow morning." He said quickly, tenderly grasping Matteo's hand and preparing to go, as Matteo tries to turn around to wave goodbye whilst his father gently pulls him along.

"But you don't know where I live." Now ultimately confused. How is he planning on sending a... driver to my house if he doesn't know where I live... Unless he's a stalker.

"You will be sent a driver tomorrow morning. Be ready Ilaria." Alessandro spoke without even giving me a glance as he moved towards the bakery's glass doors, opening one of the doors as the bell jingles, signalling that they are leaving.

"Bye bye Ilaria!" Matteo yelled while gesturing with his small hands and turning to face me with a big smile on his adorable little face.

"Bye." I wave to Matteo in a hushed tone as they leave the store, walking over to one of the shiny black cars across the roads. The men in suits who I'm guessing are bodyguards leaving with them.

What have I just got myself into?

****

"Wait... wait, wait, wait." Lucas murmured into the phone, "Wait," so many times that I've lost track. Oh wait, he's still going.

My phone is currently on speaker phone to my left and I'm laying on my bed with my head resting over the pillow. My ears pick up the sound of Abbey and Lucas screaming into the phone about Alessandro Vito Lombardi. I've been unable to say anything throughout the last twenty minutes that they have been talking.

"So you're trying to say... that you... the most innocent cheerful girl in New York met... Alessandro Vito Lombardi... The Alessandro Vito Lombardi... The arrogant Alessandro Vito Lombardi. The billionaire Alessandro - " Lucas stated after repeating what I had just said what seemed like an infinite number of times. He's somehow still going on.

"Yes, that Alessandro Vito Lombardi." Abbey said frustratedly through the phone, from hearing Lucas go on and on.

"And not to forget his son, who seems overly fond of our Ilaria here." Abbey said she probably has a mischievous grin on her face right about now, I can almost see it.

"And your telling us... that you have to move in with him... to babysit his son... To be his nanny?" Lucas questions once more. Oh my god. How many times do I have to tell him? I swear it's going in one ear and right out the other.

"Yes Lucas. That's what she said the last time, and before that... and the time before that." Abbey said, taunting Lucas. At least someone's got my back.

"Do you know what I think?" Lucas asks, as I hear him shuffling through my phone's speaker.

"No because the things you think of terrify me." Abbey remarked, and I laughed at her response, turning over onto my stomach with my hands supporting my chin. She's not wrong though.

"Ha ha ha. Smartass. But no.... I think that Alessandro wants something more than just you babysitting his son." Lucas hints at us. Huh? What? I don't follow.... Oohhhhh....

"Cookies? Matteo said he wanted to come back to the bakery with his dad for cookies. The only problem now is I don't work there anymore." I spoke quietly. Who doesn't like cookies, after all? Or cupcakes?

For the first time in twenty minutes silence reaches my ears through the phone speakers. Did they hang up on me? I grab my phone and am confused to see that the call is still active. Did I lose signal?

"Guys?" I ask, wondering if they had just lost connection to the call.

"You are such a cute innocent soul Ilaria. No one deserves you." Lucas finally states softly through the phone, a slight chuckle running through the phone after. Ok now I'm really confused.. And then.. It clicks.

"Lucas, I'm just babysitting!" I shout into the phone speaker and hear Lucas and Abbey shout back at me while crying out in pain, a bang sounding on the other side of the phone.

"Not so loud Ilaria!" Abbey screams back at me, making me flinch back from my phone.

"I fell off my bed!" Lucas exclaims, more shuffling running through the other side of the phone once more.

Sobering up I decide to open up to them slightly about tomorrow.

"He said he's going to send a driver over to me tomorrow." I'm shocked they even heard me as I mumbled into the phone.

Lucas sighs, at this point I can almost hear their thoughts through the phone. Heck, I can practically feel their worry through the phone.

"Are you going to go?" He says it this time, much more gently than during our earlier talk.

The two people who have supported me the most in my life have been Lucas and Abbey. In addition to my parents, of course. When I first arrived in this area in search of work, I met Abbey at the bakery, she offered me a job saying that they need new workers. Ever since then we've practically been besties. Later, just outside the park, when I was experiencing a panic attack due to something I won't reveal, Lucas and I met. They have always been understanding and now know pretty much everything about my past now. They've helped me through every panic attack, every breakdown... everything. Or.. almost everything.

"I have to." I say softly.

"If not for me then for Matteo."

"We're proud of you." Abbey spoke as silence once more filled my apartment.

"You'll tell us if you need us, right?" Lucas asked, worry in his tone. I can tell he's thinking about coming over tomorrow morning. He's a good friend like that.

"Yeah. I promise... Night guys." We all say goodnight and I hang up the phone.

I take a big breath and stand up, moving toward a photo of my parents and I, which is standing up on my small wooden dresser. A small smile appears on my face as I lightly trace my finger over the picture.

"I miss you guys. I'll talk to you soon."

I move away from the picture and pull out a substantial bag from my wardrobe, filling it with clothes, mementos, personal care products, and my favourite books. I'm not sure how Alessandro did it, but when I got home, I got a call from my boss at the bakery stating that though I finished today, I'll still get paid for the rest of this month. How he even managed to contact my boss I'll never know.

I lay down on my bed and zip up my bag as I reflect on today's events. Pulling the blanket up to my shoulders I let out a large sigh. The warm sheets and covers on my bed enclose my body in warmth, allowing me to relax against the bed.

I close my eyes as I nod asleep, remembering the stunning yet intimidating silver eyes of Alessandro Vito Lombardi, and his adorable son.