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2025-01-17 11:17:41
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The Mafia's Nanny 132
132Gianna’s POVThe first meeting of the day was supposed to be straightforward—key word: supposed. I’d reviewed the client file twice this morning, ensuring we were prepared for every potential question or snag. But as usual, things weren’t going as planned.“Ms. Lorenzo, I don’t think this partnership benefits us as much as it does you,” Mr. Caldwell, the regional director of our potential partner, said, leaning back in his chair. His tone was smug, almost amused, as if he’d been waiting to drop that line since we walked in.I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, he wanted to play hardball. “Mr. Caldwell, I understand your concerns,” I said evenly. “But if you’ll review the projections we’ve provided, you’ll see that the growth opportunity is mutual. Our infrastructure would support your expansion plans—at no additional cost to you.”He glanced at the papers in front of him, not even bothering to hide his disinterest. “Projections are just numbers, Ms. Lorenzo. Numbers can be… man
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17The Mafia's Nanny 133
133Matteo’s POVI leaned against the armrest of the couch in our hotel room, flipping through my phone without really paying attention to the screen. Gianna was at the desk, typing away on her laptop like the day hadn’t been a marathon of negotiations and mental gymnastics.I didn’t know how she did it. Most people would be sprawled out on the bed, face-planted into a pillow, or binge-watching a mindless show after the day we’d had. But Gianna? She was a machine. She hadn’t so much as kicked off her heels.“You ever stop working?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.She didn’t look up. “You ever stop talking?”I smirked. “Touché. But seriously, Gianna, it’s nine at night. Don’t you think you’ve earned a break?”“I’ll take a break when the work is done,” she said, her fingers not pausing for a second.I let out a low whistle. “You’re going to burn out at this rate.”“No one ever got ahead by taking it easy,” she shot back, her voice clipped but not harsh.I watched her for a moment
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18The Mafia's Nanny 134
134Gianna’s POVThe day had been exhausting. Every meeting had been a test of patience and diplomacy, and the last client of the evening had pushed my composure to the brink with his endless demands and passive-aggressive remarks. By the time Matteo and I returned to the hotel, all I wanted was silence and a good glass of wine.I set my bag down on the desk with a heavy sigh, kicking off my heels. My toes throbbed in relief as I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of my neck. Matteo, as usual, looked infuriatingly unfazed by the day. He leaned casually against the doorway, his tie slightly loosened but still in place, and his hair somehow managing to look better disheveled than it did neatly styled.“Tough crowd,” he said, his tone light but not mocking.“That’s one way to put it,” I replied, not looking up.He walked further into the room, his footsteps quiet on the carpet. “You’ve been carrying that tension all day. When’s the last time you had a real break?”I gave him a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18The Mafia's Nanny 135
135Matteo’s POVThe hum of Gianna’s laptop was the only sound in the room, save for the occasional rustle of papers as I flipped through reports. We’d agreed to use the evening to finalize everything for tomorrow’s meetings, but the silence between us was almost suffocating. Not awkward—Gianna was too self-assured for that—but dense, like the quiet demanded my respect.She sat cross-legged on the bed, her blazer discarded on the chair, leaving her in a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled to her elbows. Her focus was absolute, her fingers flying across the keyboard as if her life depended on it. I, on the other hand, had finished my share of the work ten minutes ago and was trying to resist the urge to interrupt her.“Are you always this intense when you work?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.She didn’t look up. “Intense gets results.”“Fair enough. But do results always mean sacrificing your sense of humor?”That earned me a flick of her gaze. “My sense of humor is intact, t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19The Mafia's Nanny 136
136Gianna’s POVThe room buzzed with tension. The clients were seated around the long conference table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and expectation. I stood near the head of the table, trying to conceal my irritation. A last-minute technical hiccup had derailed our carefully crafted presentation slides, and the clock was ticking.Behind me, Matteo was hunched over the laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as he tried to salvage the files. I had to admit, the fact that he was even attempting to fix it without panicking was impressive. Most people his age—or at his level—would’ve been floundering by now.“Any luck?” I whispered, keeping my voice low so the clients wouldn’t overhear.He didn’t look up. “Almost there. Give me two more minutes.”Two minutes. In business terms, that might as well have been two hours. I glanced at the clients again, offering a tight smile. “We appreciate your patience. Technology isn’t always our friend, but Matteo is working on it as we speak
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-19The Mafia's Nanny 137
137Matteo’s POVThe rain started as a drizzle, soft taps on the hotel window that I almost didn’t notice at first. But by the time I got back to our shared room, it had turned into a full-blown storm, complete with howling winds and the occasional flash of lightning. I shut the door behind me, brushing the water droplets off my jacket.“Well,” I said, glancing at Gianna, who was seated at the desk typing away on her laptop. “Looks like our dinner plans are out the window.”She didn’t even look up. “You could try ordering room service.”“I could,” I said, crossing the room and flopping onto the couch. “But where’s the fun in that? Half the point of this trip is exploring the local cuisine. I thought you’d be more upset.”“Rain happens,” she replied, her tone brisk and matter-of-fact. “No use sulking over it.”I stared at her, incredulous. “You can’t seriously tell me you’re content sitting in this room all evening.”She finally glanced up, arching an eyebrow. “And what would you sugge
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-20The Mafia's Nanny 138
138Gianna’s POVThe sound of Matteo’s laugh lingered in the air, softer now that the rain had eased up. I wasn’t sure how we’d gone from an awkward check-in mix-up to this—sitting cross-legged on the carpet in a hotel room, laughing over a game of cards like old friends. It felt…unusual. Disarming.I leaned back against the couch, watching as Matteo shuffled the deck with a confidence that bordered on cocky. The guy had been full of surprises this entire trip. He wasn’t just quick on his feet in meetings; he was adaptable in ways I hadn’t expected. That resourcefulness, paired with his natural charisma, made him someone you couldn’t easily ignore. Not that I’d admit that out loud.“Ready for another round?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.“You’ve won the last three. I’m starting to think you rigged this game.”He gasped, clutching his chest like I’d just accused him of a mortal sin. “Rigged? Me? Gianna, you wound me.”“Don’t be so dramatic.”“I’m Italian. Drama is in my blood.”I rolle
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-20The Mafia's Nanny 139
139Matteo’s POVThe sound of clinking glasses and soft jazz filled the quiet corner of the hotel bar. It had been another long day, but a good one. The deal had gone through smoothly, thanks in no small part to Gianna’s relentless determination. She had been on fire during the meeting, handling every curveball with grace and authority. Watching her work was like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra—it was hard not to be impressed.Now, sitting across from her, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. The usual edge in her posture was gone, her shoulders relaxed as she swirled the wine in her glass. She wasn’t smiling exactly, but her expression was softer, almost…peaceful.“To a successful meeting,” I said, raising my glass.Gianna hesitated for a moment before lifting hers. “To teamwork,” she replied, her lips curving into a faint smile.We clinked glasses, and I took a sip, savoring the warmth of the whiskey as it slid down my throat.“You know,” I said, leaning back in my cha
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-21
Bab terbaru
The Mafia's Nanny 314
314Matteo’s POV I wasn’t dumb enough to think flowers would fix everything.But I figured they wouldn’t hurt.Today was day fifteen, and I had a bouquet of her favorites—white lilies, blue hydrangeas, and those little yellow flowers she once told me the name of but I immediately forgot—delivered to her office. No big romantic gestures, no grand declarations, just something simple.And a note.Gianna, I meant what I said. I’m sorry. For everything. —MatteoShort. To the point. No extra fluff.I spent the next hour pretending I wasn’t thinking about it. Kept my head down, answered emails, even managed to sit through an entire meeting without checking my phone.Then my office door opened.I looked up, my pulse kicking up a notch, only to find Gianna standing there, holding the bouquet like it was a package she hadn’t ordered.“They’re nice,” she said.I waited, but that was it. No smile. No softening around the edges. Just a factual statement.“Glad you think so.” I tried for a smirk
The Mafia's Nanny 313
313Matteo’s POV I should’ve seen this coming. I should have known that this would happened ever since she disappeared for two months without saying anything.The coldness. The distance. The way Gianna looked at me like I was a stranger, like I hadn’t once known exactly how she liked her coffee, how she twisted the rings on her fingers when she was overthinking, how she sighed my name when I kissed the spot just below her ear.I should have know this would happened. I should’ve been prepared for all of it.But I wasn’t.So instead, I did what any rational man in my position would do—I tortured myself by replaying every single moment we’d ever shared, as if overanalyzing the past would somehow change the present.There were the small things. The way she used to roll her eyes at me but smile anyway. The way she’d call me an idiot, but then pull me closer like she didn’t really mean it. The way she’d lean into me when she was tired, like it was the most natural thing in the world.Then
The Mafia's Nanny 312
312Matteo’s POV Today was day five of trying to win her back. I waited until the end of the day.Not because I was scared, obviously. I just figured if I caught Gianna when she was about to leave, she’d have fewer escape routes.That was the plan. But, like most things involving Gianna lately, it didn’t go how I expected.She was already packing up when I walked into her office.“No knocking now?” she asked, barely sparing me a glance.I ignored that. “We need to talk.”She clicked her laptop shut and slipped it into her bag. “No, we don’t.”I exhaled. “Gianna.”She finally looked up, arms crossed, expression unreadable. “Matteo.”There was a time when her saying my name like that would’ve meant something else. Something teasing, warm, familiar. Now, it was nothing more than acknowledgment. And I hated it.I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “I just want to apologize.”She blinked. “For what?”That threw me off for a second. “For everything.”Her lips pressed together like she was
The Mafia's Nanny 311
311Matteo’s POV I am nothing if not persistent.Or maybe just stupid.Either way, I wasn’t going to let Gianna’s newfound ice-queen routine scare me off. Not yet.So, this next morning, I tried again. Showed up at her office with another coffee—because I’m thoughtful like that—and set it on her desk without a word. I figured a silent approach might work better this time. Less room for her to verbally rip me apart.She didn’t even blink. Didn’t look up, didn’t say thanks, didn’t acknowledge me at all. Just kept typing like I wasn’t even there.Alright then.I leaned against the edge of her desk. “Before you tell me you already have one, I checked. Your cup is empty.”Still nothing. But I saw the slight pause in her typing. A crack in the armor.Progress.“And before you say you don’t want it, this one isn’t coffee.” I nudged the cup closer. “It’s tea. Herbal. The kind you used to drink when you worked late.”That got her. The tiniest flicker of hesitation in her expression. Then, jus
The Mafia's Nanny 310
310Matteo’s POVI waited until lunch.Not because I was nervous. Definitely not. I just figured if I approached her too early, it would seem desperate. And I wasn’t desperate.But as I walked toward her office, a coffee in one hand, a file in the other — a completely real, work-related file, by the way — I felt something tighten in my chest. Like I was heading into enemy territory without armor.Gianna’s door was open. She was at her desk, typing something with the kind of focus that made it clear she had no interest in interruptions. Or people. Or, possibly, happiness in general.I knocked on the doorframe anyway. “Boss.”She barely looked up. “Matteo.”Not Matt. Not Teo. Not even an annoyed sigh. Just my full government name like I was any other employee who needed something from her.Okay. Cool. Professional. I could be professional.I stepped inside, setting the coffee on her desk. “Thought you could use this. Since, you know, you used to actually enjoy caffeine before you left.”
The Mafia's Nanny 309
309Matteo’s POV The office was buzzing the moment Gianna walked in.Not the kind of buzz that came with excitement. No. This was a different kind—muted whispers, stolen glances, people suddenly remembering they had work to do when she passed by. The kind of buzz that meant no one had expected her to show up today. Hell, I hadn’t expected her to show up today.And yet, there she was.Gianna Lorenzo, back in her corner office like she’d never left.Only, she wasn’t the same.I watched from my desk as she strode across the floor, her heels clicking against the tiles in sharp, deliberate beats. The last time I saw her, she was different. Softer, warmer, laughing at my stupid jokes even when she rolled her eyes. This version of her didn’t even glance at anyone. Didn’t offer a single smile. Just walked straight to her office, shut the door, and stayed there.Like a ghost returning to haunt its own life.“She’s… different,” Leo muttered beside me, tapping his pen against his desk.I didn’t
The Mafia's Nanny 308
308Rosa’s POV The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the apartment. I sat on the couch, nursing a cup of coffee, my fingers drumming against the ceramic. I’d come back to the states three days ago to finally pack up and move back to Italy. Across from me, Emilia stared, her lips pursed like she was trying to figure out how to respond to what I’d just told her.“You’re leaving,” she finally said, and it wasn’t a question.I nodded. “Yeah. I think it’s time.”She exhaled, leaning back against the couch. “Time for what? To run away? To bury yourself in business deals and pretend like you don’t care?”I rolled my eyes. “I’m not running away.”Emilia shot me a pointed look. “Rosa, please.”I sighed, setting my cup down. “I need a break. And I need to be there for my father. He’s been handling everything on his own for too long. It’s about time I stepped up.”She folded her arms. “And Allesio?”My stomach clenched at the mention of his name. I forced mys
The Mafia's Nanny 307
307Allesio’s POV The whiskey burned on the way down, but it wasn’t enough to numb the ache in my chest. Nothing was. The dimly lit bar around me hummed with the usual noise—clinking glasses, quiet chatter, the occasional burst of laughter that grated on my nerves. It was ironic how the world kept spinning, people kept living, and I was stuck in this endless loop of regret and self-destruction.I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, staring at it like it held the answers to my misery. Maybe if I drank enough, I’d finally stop seeing her face every time I closed my eyes. Maybe I’d stop hearing her voice in my head, the way she told me to stop chasing her like I was nothing more than an annoying shadow she couldn’t shake off.The bar stool next to me scraped against the floor, but I didn’t look up. I already knew who it was. Only one person would be stupid enough to come find me when I clearly wanted to be alone.Alaric sighed, loud and unimpressed. “How long are you going to do this?
The Mafia's Nanny 306
306Rosa’s POV The jet lag hadn’t hit me yet, but I was already very exhausted and felt done for the day.Italy looked the same as it always did—beautiful, timeless, like it existed in a different universe from the chaos I had left behind. I inhaled the crisp evening air as I stepped out of the sleek black car, the grand estate standing wide in front of me. The Smith family mansion. My father’s empire.The guards stationed outside barely blinked at my arrival, nodding respectfully as I walked past them. I had never lived here full-time, but it was still home in some ways. A piece of me, whether I wanted to admit it or not.The grand doors opened before I could even knock, and there he was—Romano Smith. The infamous Don. My father. He looked the same, even though it seemed he had grown older since the last time I saw him. He was dressed in his usual crisp three-piece suit, his silver hair combed back, his sharp eyes studying me the way they always did, like he was seeing everything I
