3

Emilia’s POV.

 

I was pacing in the hallway outside my brother’s room, my thoughts tangled and all about the brutal men that I had just encountered in the hallway. I had gotten into the elevator, only to go and take the second route, where they wouldn’t see me, and gone back to Matteo’s room, though I didn’t enter. He’d see through me, and I didn’t want him getting worried. My mind kept replaying the scene in the hospital lobby—the little girl who looked at me like I was the answer to something, and her father, his presence as intimidating as it was magnetic.

 

I was lost in those thoughts when I felt someone grab my arm. I jerked around, ready to defend myself however I could, only to find a tall, muscular man gripping me tightly. He was dressed sharply, but his eyes were cold, businesslike. Allesio. He was the one holding the gun to my head.

 

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low but firm.

 

I tried to pull away. “Excuse me, who do you think you are? Let me go!”

 

“You’re coming with me,” he replied, his tone flat. “No questions, no fuss.”

 

I glanced around, hoping someone might notice, but the hallway was empty. “Why should I go anywhere with you?”

 

He tightened his grip just enough to show he wasn’t bluffing. “Don’t make a scene. It’ll only make things worse.”

 

Fear crept up my spine, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “But if you’re kidnapping me, know that I’ll fight my way out.”

 

He didn’t respond; he just steered me through the elevator and then the side exit toward a waiting black car. The door opened, and he practically pushed me inside, closing it behind him as he climbed in the front seat next to the driver. The car started moving almost immediately, pulling away from the hospital.

 

“Who are you?” I asked, my tone sharper this time. “And where are you taking me?”

 

Silence.

 

I clenched my fists, glancing out of the windows and realizing I had no idea where we were going. My heart was pounding against my chest wildly. “Please just tell me where we’re going,” I begged.

 

He might as well be stone, because he didn’t even react as if he heard me. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the car slowed to a stop outside a building that looked far too elegant for a kidnapper’s hideout.

 

“Out,” Allesio ordered, and before I could protest, he opened the door and pulled me out. He guided me inside, leading me down a hallway and into a dimly lit office. The room was furnished in dark wood and leather, screaming wealth. I scanned the space, and there, behind a massive desk, sat the man from earlier—the one with the little girl.

 

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes calculating as they settled on me. “Emilia, is it?”

 

I folded my arms, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Yes. And you are?”

 

“Alaric Castillo,” he replied smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine.

 

“Right.” I lifted my chin. “Care to explain why I was dragged out of a hospital and brought here? Or are you in the habit of kidnapping strangers?”

 

He didn’t flinch, just gestured to the chair opposite him. “Sit.”

 

“I’d rather stand,” I shot back, refusing to be intimidated. Gods. I was talking to a man whose men held guns to my head just because I touched his daughter, and yet I talk to him so rudely. I certainly had a death wish.

 

His lips twitched, almost as if he were amused. “Suit yourself.”

 

I braced myself, determined not to let him see my nerves. “So? What is this about?”

 

His gaze turned more intense, like he was trying to see through me. “My daughter, Francesca. She's attached herself to you. Unfortunate, but here we are.”

 

I blinked, thrown off. “Attached herself? She just met me for the first time this morning.”

 

“Yes. But children aren’t known for their logic,” he replied dryly. “All she’s done since we left is cry about wanting to see you again.”

 

I frowned, remembering the little girl’s teary eyes. “She seemed… lonely.”

 

Alaric leaned forward, his expression unreadable. “She needs someone in her life. Someone steady.” He paused, and his gaze sharpened. “Someone like you.”

 

I raised my eyebrows, taken aback. “You’re saying you brought me here because your daughter likes me? That’s… a stretch.”

 

“I’m offering you a job,” he clarified, his tone as cold as ever. “As her nanny.”

 

His words sink in slowly, and I let out a laugh before I could stop myself. “You must be kidding. I’m not a nanny.”

 

“You don’t have a job, do you?” His voice was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it.

 

I bristled. “What’s it to you?”

 

“I looked into it. No employment, and…” He paused. “A brother in the hospital. Expensive bills, I’d imagine.”

 

My heart dropped, and anger surged within me. “You did background research on me?”

 

“I had to be thorough,” he replied with a shrug, as if this sort of invasion of privacy were completely normal. “I needed to know if you were a suitable choice.”

 

“Suits me fine,” I said coldly. “The answer is no. I’m not interested.”

 

He didn’t blink. “I wasn’t asking.”

 

I stared at him, caught off guard by his sheer audacity. “Excuse me?”

 

Alaric leaned back, his gaze unyielding. “You’re going to be Francesca’s nanny. She needs you, and you’re more than capable. This arrangement will benefit us both.”

 

“No,” I repeated, shaking my head. “I don’t have time for this. I have my own life and my own responsibilities. My brother needs me, and I can’t just drop everything to look after your daughter.”

 

Silence stretched between us as his eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. I could see his jaw tense, and there was something almost predatory in his expression.

 

“Your brother,” he said slowly, “could have his hospital bills covered. By me.”

 

My heart skipped a beat. “What are you saying?”

 

“I’ll pay for his treatment,” he said smoothly, “and ensure he has a job when he recovers. Financial stability. Comfort. All the things I’m sure you want for him, I can provide.”

 

It was like he’d punched the air out of my lungs. This man was offering me everything I’d been struggling for, but I knew it came at a price. I hesitated, weighing the cost. Working for a man like him, under his control... it was daunting, but the thought of my brother kept nagging at me.

 

“I see you’re considering it,” he said, almost smugly.

 

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let him see how tempting his offer was. “Fine. I’ll negotiate.”

 

“Negotiate?” He looked almost entertained by the notion.

 

“Yes.” I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “If I agree to be her nanny, you won’t just cover my brother’s bills. You’ll also set him up with a job and provide enough financial support to keep him stable.”

 

Alaric’s eyes gleamed, and I could tell he hadn’t expected me to push back. “You’re bold; I’ll give you that.”

 

“You want me as your daughter’s nanny; you meet my conditions,” I replied, crossing my arms to hide how my hands were shaking. “Otherwise, find someone else.”

 

He looked at me for a long moment, considering. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Your terms are acceptable.”