16

16
Emilia’s POV
Alaric Castillo was the perfect definition of hot and cold. Nice and caring one minute, cold and dismissive the next. I didn’t even know what to make of it.
When he first came to my room yesterday, I thought maybe he wanted to console me. He acted like it. And I think he actually wanted to, until he started speaking so coldly to me like he couldn’t care less that I was human and I had my own fair share of problems and emotions to deal with.
I frowned, sitting up on my bed and staring at the standing mirror. My eyes were a bit red rimmed and puffy from all my crying yesterday, and I was in very low spirits right now but I had to find a way to brighten my mood before going to Francesca’s room. That was the downside of being a nanny to such an happy, bright girl, I guessed. I needed to always be in a good mood.
I bit my lip, running my hands through my hair before picking up an headband which I had discarded on the bed yesterday. I put it over my hair before dragging myself up from bed and going to the bathroom to wash my face and then take a bath.
I hurried as best as I could. Knowing Francesca, she was most likely up by this time, and waiting for me to come get her. After putting on some comfortable clothes, I went out of the room, praying to God that I don’t run into Alaric, or any of his men on my way to Francesca’s room.
I pushed the door open and got in, smiling because she was still sleeping peacefully, her silver hair spread out on the pillow as she was curled up under the blanket.
I walked quietly to her bed and then showered her with kisses all over. She opened a sleepy eyes and then began to giggle. “Good morning, Princess.”
“Good morning mommy,” she yawned. There was that word again. Mommy. Why wouldn’t she understand that I wasn’t her mother, though? Well I supposed I should be getting used to it because it didn’t seem like she was going to stop soon. I just didn’t want her to get so used to it that she would be verb attached, and broken when it was time for me to leave here.
I mean, I am going to leave here someday, aren’t I?
I kissed her cheek again. “You slept in today. Are you tired? Do you still want to get some sleep?” I asked her with raised eyebrows me
“No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I’m fully awake now.”
“Good girl,” I answered, brushing her hair off her face and carrying her off the bed.
“Mommy, you were so sad yesterday. Why? Is it uncle Matteo?” She asked, catching me of guard. She was very smart for a three and half year old. And very outspoken too. Such a fast learner and very observative. And I supposed I should have gotten used to those qualities of her too.
“Mommy wasn’t sad, she was just tired,” I assured her, taking her to the bathroom and setting her in a little bath tub. I made a quick work of bathing her, washing her hair then drying her and getting her dressed up. Today was a Saturday, so she shouldn’t have much to do. No homeschooling today. Just for her to eat, relax and have fun.
I carried her to the kitchen, my eyes alert and darting around as if Alaric or one of his men would jump out of one of the many hallways.
“So what are we making this morning, mommy?” She asked, her eyes bright and curious as we walked into the kitchen and I put her on the kitchen island. In a house as big as this, I didn’t understand why Alaric didn’t have an house help, or a chef to cook for them. It was just one of the many mysteries surrounding Alaric Castillo.
“Hmm,” I thought about her question for a while, before shrugging. “We’re having cereal this morning, and then we can make pasta later in the afternoon.”
“Really?” She asked with a grin. “You make the best pasta. But can I have chocolates too?” She asked with puppy eyes but I dsiallroved, shaking my head.
“Not unless Daddy wants you to,” I murmured, walking to the cupboard to take out the milk carton and the cereal..
“Daddy!”
The squeal almost had me dropping the milk carton as I froze. The scent of his strong cologne hit me like a tidal wave, confirming that he was indeed here. And behind me. He reached over me, taking the cereal carton without any stress. As he stepped away from me, I whirled around and saw that he was already in front of Francesca, kissing her head. “How are you, sweetie?”
He was clad in his usual black suit, his hair tousled as through he had been running his hands over it for quite a number of times.
“Fine! Daddy, Mommy says I can’t have chocolates unless you say do,” she reported with a pout.
He turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. “Is that so?” He demanded.
“Good morning, Mr Castillo,” I greeted. He didn’t reply, just kept staring at me while waiting for an answer. “I don’t know if you let her have chocolates everyday. I know she had some yesterday.”
“You give her whatever the hell she wants,” he replied flatly, turning back to his daughter. “She’ll give you chocolates. But you can’t have that for breakfast, you know that right?”
She nodded with a grin. “Good,” he added and turned to me again. “It’s getting late. Stop wasting time standing there and make her breakfast.”
“Alright, Mr Castillo,” I murmured, frowning at him before turning away and going to take Francesca’s lavender cereal bowl.
“Daddy has to go take care of some work stuff, sweetie,” He murmured to his daughter. “I’ll see you later, okay? Be a good girl.”
“Okay, daddy,” she murmured. Only when he was out of the kitchen did I loose a breath that I didn’t know I was holding.