15

15
Alaric’s POV
I stood by the window in the living room, watching the rain patter against the glass. It felt like a steady rhythm, filling up the silent house. It was one of those dreary days where the clouds hung low, heavy with rain, and the world outside felt muted and grey. I found myself lost in thought, wondering about my life.
Just as I turned away from the window, I heard the front door open, and my attention snapped back to the entrance hall. Emilia walked in, her hair damp from the rain, and Francesca was right behind her, her little voice chirping with excitement.
“Mommy! You’re back!” Francesca exclaimed, her eyes shining like little stars as she rushed towards Emilia.
Emilia forced a smile, but there was something in her expression that caught my attention and I could see shadows in her eyes. She knelt down, arms open wide, and Francesca dove into her embrace. “I missed you, Francesca,” she said, her voice soft and warm, but there was an edge to it.
“Did you see Matteo?” Francesca asked, pulling back to look at Emilia’s face, her eyes bright with her usual innocent curiosity.
I stood back, watching them talk. Emilia nodded slowly, her eyes flickering with emotions she was clearly trying to hide. “I did. He’s doing better,” she replied, but her voice lacked the enthusiasm I would expect.
“Is he going to come home soon?” Francesca asked, her little face scrunching in worry.
“I hope so,” Emilia said, but the way she said it made me think she wasn’t entirely sure. Her smile was forced, and I frowned, wondering what exactly had gone down in the hospital. Maybe I’d ask the men who took her there later, if they knew anything.
I stepped forward, wanting to get a clearer picture of what was happening. “How did the meeting go?” I asked, my tone casual, but my eyes were locked on her, searching for the truth.
“It was fine,” she replied flatly. Her smile for Francesca looked forced, and the way she hugged her back was more about duty than joy. It was as if she was trying to shield herself from something, and I had a feeling it was more than just concern for her brother.
“Just fine?” I pressed, tilting my head slightly. “You don’t seem very happy about it.”
Emilia looked down for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. “I’m just tired,” she finally said, brushing it off as if it was nothing. But I could see it-her eyes were glazed, the sparkle dimmed.
“Alright,” I replied, sensing the walls she was putting up. “Why don’t you take a breather? I can keep Francesca entertained for a bit.”
Francesca glanced between us, her brows furrowing slightly. “But I want to stay with Mommy,” she protested, her voice small.
“Of course, but I need to take you to the mall for a little while. There’s something I need to pick up,” I said, injecting some authority into my tone.
“Youte taking me?” Francesca asked, her face lighting up at the thought of a little adventure.
I turned back to Emilia, who looked almost relieved by my suggestion. “You’ll be okay for a bit, right?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, of course,” she said, forcing another smile. But it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Great. Come on, Francesca, let’s get our shoes on,” I said, ushering Francesca towards the hallway.
As we walked out, I
Once we were in the car, Francesca bounced in her seat with excitement. “Can we get ice cream?” she asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“Of course,” I replied, glancing in the rearview mirror at her bright face. “And maybe we can find something fun to do while we’re there.”
“Like what?” she asked, tilting her head.
“I don’t know yet. Let’s just see what catches our eye,” I said, trying to keep things light. I felt a tug of guilt for leaving Emilia alone, but I hoped that some time apart would help her process whatever she was feeling.
The mall was bustling, the scent of food and shopping wafting through the air. We wandered through a few stores, letting Francesca pick out a new dress and a couple of small toys. I watched her joy and found myself smiling despite the heaviness of my thoughts.
After some time, we stopped for ice cream, and Francesca’s laughter filled the air as she enjoyed her treat. “This is the best day ever!” she squealed, her face smeared with chocolate.
I chuckled, “I’m glad you think so. But we still have to get back soon. Your Mommy might need us.”
“Okay, but can we go to the toy store one more time?” she asked, her eyes pleading.
“Sure,” I said, though I knew it was probably just an excuse to prolong our return. I couldn’t blame her; she loved Emilia, and I could tell she sensed that something was off.
After indulging Francesca’s request, we made our way back home. The car ride was filled with Francesca’s chatter about all the things she’d do when we got back, but my mind was elsewhere.
Once we arrived, I instructed the driver to take Francesca inside while I took a moment to collect my thoughts. I noticed the silence in the house as I stepped inside, and a strange sense of unease settled in my stomach.
“Emilia?” I called out, but there was no answer. I checked the living room and the kitchen, but she wasn’t anywhere to be found. Finally, I asked Allesio, who was standing guard by the door.
“Where’s Emilia?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
“She’s in her room, I think,” he replied, glancing back towards the hallway.
I nodded, a wave of concern washing over me. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know,” he said, his brow furrowing. “She seemed a bit off when she came in.”
I sighed, wondering what was really wrong from her. . “Alright, I’ll check on her,” I said, turning towards the hallway.
I found her door slightly ajar, and I knocked gently before stepping inside. The room was dim, the curtains drawn tight against the afternoon light. Emilia sat on the edge of her bed, her head hung low, and I felt…bad for her.
“Hey,” I said softly, stepping further into the room. “You alright?”
She looked up, and for a moment, her eyes were glassy, like she was fighting back tears. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, but there was a tremor in her voice that made me doubt her words.
“Fine doesn’t usually look like this,” I pointed out, standing not far from her and crossing my arms. I wanted to tell her she could talk to me, but I was already crossing the boundaries I ought to have set for us since she stepped into this place. “Anyways, get yourself together,” I murmured, forcing myself to me cold towards her. “Francesca noticed something was off…and I don’t want her worrying about it.”
She stiffened, looking at me with something akin to shock in her eyes. Then her shoulders slumped as she nodded her head. “Yes, Mr Castillo.”
“Keep your personal problems from your work, please,” I told her.
“Of course, Mr Castillo,” she replied in the same resigned tone. I gave her a curt nod and turned away from her. I wanted to curse myself for being so cold with her. For talking to her like she wasn’t human and didn’t have the right to have feelings.
Boundaries, I reminded myself. Boundaries. I left her room and made my way to Francesca’s. She was already curled up in bed, her eyelids fluttering as she fought to stay awake. I sat beside her, brushing a stray hair from her forehead.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” I said softly. “It’s time for bed.”
“I don’t want to go to sleep yet,” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleepiness.
“I know, but you need your rest. We have a big day tomorrow,” I replied, tucking her in.
“Okay,” she said, yawning widely. “But can we play more games?”
“Definitely. Tomorrow, we’ll have a game day. Just you and me,” I promised, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Goodnight, Daddy,” she murmured, her eyes already closing.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” I whispered, lingering for a moment longer before slipping out of the room. I remained in the hallway for a few more minutes, not knowing where exactly to turn to. I ran my hands through my hair, letting out a sigh of frustration. Today was starting to look like my worst day ever.
I took a deep breath and moved towards my office, the one place in the house where I could put my thoughts in order. There was business to attend to, and I needed to focus on something other than the stupid growing concern I felt for my daughter’s nanny. I needed something to push her out of my mind once and for all. As I entered, I flipped on the light, and the familiar glow of the desk lamp illuminated the stacks of papers and files that needed my attention.
I picked up a few stacks of paper, reading, signing the documents that pleased me, and treating the ones that felt like bullshit.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Alaric?” Allesio’s familiar voice filtered in. I raised my head to see him poking his head into my office.
“Come in,” I replied, looking up from the papers.
He entered, his expression serious. “I wanted to check in with you before the meeting.”
I nodded, straightening in my chair. Of course I had a fucking meeting that I had forgotten just because I had my god-damned mind on my daughter’s nanny. “Is everyone here?”
“Just the don’s men. They’re waiting in the conference room,” he said, crossing his arms. “Is everything okay with Emilia? She seemed… off earlier.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the tension there. “She’s Francesca’s nanny, not one of us. Her issues doesn’t concern us,” I replied sharply.
“Alright. Just keep an eye on her. We can’t afford distractions,” Allesio cautioned.
“I know,” I said, irritation creeping into my tone. “I’m aware of the stakes. I’ll manage.”
“Good,” he replied, then hesitated. “And don’t forget, the don is expecting a lot from you. He won’t tolerate any mistakes.”
I exhaled sharply, dismissing the him, and his words. “I’ll be fine, Allesio. I’ve handled worse.”
“Alright, just… remember what’s at stake.” He left the room, leaving me alone once more with my jumbled thoughts.
I stared at the papers in front of me, but they blurred into a jumble of letters and numbers. This sort of distraction that Emilia was bringing into my life, I needed to push it out. I didn’t know how she was slipping through my defenses, how she was making me soft. No woman had ever, and yet it was her who was making me feel. I shook my head. I needed to put a stop to it.
She was beautiful, yes, but there were other beautiful women there, but it had to be her who was making me go crazy. I ran my hands through my face.
After a few minutes of forced concentration, I finally pushed the papers aside and stood up. I needed to deal with the don’s meeting and then check on Francesca again.
As I walked towards the conference room, I could hear the low murmur of voices. The don was already here, flanked by his men. I took a moment to gather myself before stepping inside.
The atmosphere in the room shifted as I entered, a mixture of respect and caution filling the air. “Alaric,” the don greeted, his voice deep and commanding. “I trust you’ve had a productive day?”
“Of course, Don Romano,” I replied, taking my seat across from him. “Let’s discuss the shipment for next month.”
The meeting proceeded, filled with discussions of territory, finances, and the ongoing conflict with rival syndicates. I pushed through the details, but my mind occasionally wandered about how to put a stop to this madness that was going on with me.
“Alaric?” the don interrupted, bringing me back to the moment. “You seem distracted. Is everything alright?”
“Everything is fine,” I replied, forcing myself to maintain eye contact. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Make sure it doesn’t affect our business,” he warned, his gaze piercing.
My eyes narrowed at his tone but I nodded nonetheless. “Understood.”