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Then, the funniest thing happens. He snorts, then inclines his head. “You know, I agree with you. And you’re the first person I’ve interviewed for this job who gets it.”
Gets what?
He sits up straighter, folding his hands on the desk this time. Hope winds itself around my heart—hope is dangerous, hope is something I can’t afford, but it’s also something I can’t hold back. “You’re the eighth person I’ve spoken to, and let me tell you, I don’t have a lot of extra time from day to day. But this matters. It matters very much. Seven of those eight women started talking about enrichment and standardized tests and transcripts in the first few minutes. I get it. I know that kind of thing is important. But Ophilia needs to be a kid, too. You’re the first person who gets that.”
I’ve passed a test. Probably the first of many, but it gives me confidence. “I would love to meet her.”
“Don’t worry. You will.” I haven’t had the chance to process this before there’s a quick knock at the door behind me. I hear it open, and the sound turns me around to find the same burly man I’ve already met, and he’s not alone.
“Daddy!” A curly-headed bundle of energy races into the room, totally blowing past me so she can get to her father.
A change comes over him. Those hard eyes soften along with his entire face. He’s not the stern, cold, calculating mafia boss. Not when she’s around.
Still, he shoots a glance my way, like he has to remind himself I’m still here. He can’t let his guard down. “I have somebody who would like to meet you. Her name is Sarah.”
Ophilia’s dark eyes meet mine, and I don’t know what it is, but I feel an immediate connection. Maybe it’s her playful little grin—she’s shy. Sweet. “Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you. That’s a pretty dress you have on.”
Her father doesn’t seem to agree. “The housekeeper. I keep telling her Ophilia has regular, everyday clothes. But she thinks little girls should wear dresses.”
I tip my head to the side, looking at her. “What do you think about it?” I ask. “What do you like to wear?”
“I like to look pretty.” She flounces her skirt a little and does a twirl. “Do I?”
“You look very pretty.”
Matteo laughs softly before shrugging. “What do I know? This is why I need help. And my housekeeper already has more than enough to keep her busy on any given day.”
“You want to see my room?” Ophilia bounces her way around the desk, coming to a stop at my side. “I just got a new playhouse for my birthday. You can see it if you want.” Her tiny hand closes around mine, and that’s it. That’s when she takes ownership of my heart.
I look at him. He looks at me. He lifts a shoulder, the international symbol of a father who knows the decision has been made for him. “Go ahead. You’re her nanny, after all.”
And just like that, I have a job and a place to live.
I can only hope as I leave the office with Ophilia leading the way that he never finds out about the lies I’ve told.
Something tells me he wouldn’t be very forgiving.
2
MATTEO
“What have you found out about her? Anything new?”
Bruno shakes his head before shrugging his wide shoulders. “She’s like a ghost or something. I can’t even find her on Facebook or anything like that. It’s like she doesn’t exist.”
“But there is a record of her under this name, right? It’s not an alias.”
“No, there’s a girl with her name born nineteen years ago. That much is true. But after that?” He shrugs again.
“Unacceptable.”
“So tell her to leave. I’ll see her out. I’ll take her wherever you want me to take her.”
That’s the thing. I could get rid of her without any trouble… if it wasn’t for Ophilia. “I’ve never seen her take to somebody the way she took to that girl.” Staring at the wall, I weigh my options. There’s always the chance of an outsider having the wrong intentions. You don’t get as far as I have without being aware of that. There are very few people in this world I trust, and that’s why I’m still alive and still in control.
Then, in walks this girl. She wouldn’t be the first girl to walk into my life out of nowhere. And look what happened after that.
