Chapter 1 Episode 1

After three years... Max

Thank God my meeting was over earlier than planned. I was going to surprise my daughter in her room when I heard her nanny yelling at her. I heard my daughter cry from the hall.

Right away, I became scared and angry. When I walked into the room, I heard her nanny, Sandra, yelling at her while she held her arms and gave her a rough shake.

"What the heck is going on?" Is that what you want to do to my daughter?" It made me mad at Sandra.

Sandra looked like she was struck by lightning, and my daughter looked shocked and happy to see me. Right away, she jumped over to me and hid behind my legs, crying.

Sandra's face turned pale. Her face was filled with fear.

"Mr. Maxwell...I was trying to soothe her and stop her from crying..."

"Do I look like a fool to you?" I snarled at her. "I heard you yelling at her from the hallway, and I come in here, and I see you grabbing my daughter by her arms, shaking her," I said with a menacing voice.

I went to the doorbell and asked Mrs. Jenna to come clean my house. "Mrs. Jenna, please come to Emelia's room with all of Ms. Grace's things right away."

"Yes, sir," she said.

"Ms. Grace, I will not stand for violence in my home." You didn't have the right to yell at my daughter or hurt her. You should have let me know if you were worried. My kid is very young. What makes you think you have the right to do that? I, as her father, have never hit her or yelled at her.

She said, "Mr. Maxwell, I'm so sorry. I promise it won't happen again," but I cut her off before she could go on.

"You're right, and it won't happen again since you were fired." I'm also going to file a report against you. You're lucky I'm not calling the cops right now because I promise I will never hire you again for this job. Not now. They will know what happened, and I will let them handle things with you. "Please leave my house right away."

I stopped when she tried to speak, "Don't bother Ms. Grace."

Mrs. Jenna walked into the room right then. She looked at me and said, "Please take Ms. Grace out of my house."

She just nodded, and it looked like she was glad to be free of Ms. Grace.

After they left, I knelt in front of my daughter, held her face in my hands, and wiped her tears.

"I'm sorry, my angel. I tried to comfort her by telling her, "Shh...it's okay, she won't be able to hurt you again."

I can't keep my cool because I'm mad at her nanny and, most of all, at myself for not knowing what was happening with my daughter.

"Daddy, I'm showy. I was bad. "I woke up the picture frame by accident," she said, referring to the broken frame on the floor beside her dresser.

"Don't worry, kid," I said, shaking my head. It was a mistake. You weren't bad. It was wrong and bad what your nanny did to you. You or any child should never be hit, okay? You need to tell your dad right away the next time someone tries to hurt you, okay?"

She gave a head nod.

"No one can hurt you." "All right, lady?"

She gave a sniff and a nod.

I put my hand on her shoulder and wiped her tears away. "Hey, my little girl. It's all right. I tried to calm her down by telling her, "Daddy's not mad at you."

She took another sniffle and used her little hand to wipe her eyes and nose. "That's better, my little girl," I said with a smile. Will you smile at your dad now?"

She smiled and hugged me with her little arms around my neck. I gave her a tight hug back.

As we moved apart, I smiled at her and lightly tapped her pretty nose.

"Now, what does my principessa want to do tonight?" I told her.

She was happy and forgot what happened when she said, "I want to watch Foxen Daddy."

"Again?" I laughed. "That's what we watched last night, sir."

She pouted, "I know, Daddy, but I want to watch it again."

It made me laugh at how cute she is. "Don't be sad, grand dame. "That wind could change, and you'll get stuck," I laughed.

She laughed. "You're so silly, daddy."

I said, "Silly for you," as I tickled her. She laughed and squealed.

I smiled at her and said, "Let's go downstairs first and see what Mrs. Jenna has made for dinner."

I took her to the kitchen on my back.

The teacher, whose name is Emma, smiled at us. She said, "I've made your favourite Lia."

My daughter was happy and clapped her hands together. "Thank you! The phrase "I love spaghetti" made Emma and me laugh.

She smiled at us and said, "Give me a minute, and it'll be ready."

I put Lia on one of the chairs and asked her, "Why don't you stay here for a minute, Grandma?" I only need to call a few people. Piccola, don't move. I don't want you to fall off the stool, okay?"

She said yes. "Okay, Daddy."

Before I left, I quickly nodded to Emma.

I need a new babysitter right away. Oh no. How am I going to find someone quickly? I don't want to go back to the agency. Even though I don't trust them anymore, I must tell them what Ms. Grace did.

When I told the agency about what happened, they apologised several times and told me that Ms. Grace would be punished and fired by the agency. They will also file a report of the event. They offered to send me another nanny and told me she was the best, but I turned them down. That's what they said about Ms. Grace, and look how things turned out. Finally, I'm sitting in my office and moving while thinking about how to find a good nanny for my daughter. The doorbell then buzzes, breaking my train of thought.

I hear the voice of my daughter.

She yelled, "Daddy, the spaghetti is ready!"

"I'll be right down principessa."

This needs to be put off for now.

I got Lia ready for bed after dinner, and then we watched Frozen in her room. It's her favourite right now.

She picked up her bean bag and sat down. After a short time, she started singing. "Let it go, let it go," I laughed.

"Sing with me, Daddy!" She asked for it.

I laughed with her and began to sing. Everyone on my team and in my business would have a great day if they could hear me right now.

I smiled at myself.

I do so many nice things for my kid.

I would do anything for her because she is my life.

She laughed so hard she could barely breathe and said, "Stop now, Dad, you sing bad."

I pretended to be hurt. "Oh my, lady principal. "You hurt me," I told her, making her laugh even more.

She told him, "You're being so silly again."

It made me laugh. I sat down next to her and put on the movie. "Let's watch it now, il mio piccola," I stated. I have to say it. I enjoy this movie.

She clapped her hands and said, "Okay, dad." She got up and sat down on my lap.

Lia passed out in the middle of the show. I smiled when I saw her pretty, calm face. She seems a lot like her mom.

I felt sad when I thought about it. I still really miss my wife and wish she were here with us... I share my happiness as we raise our little girl.

I turned off the TV and stopped the show. As I got up, I held her close, not to wake her.

I went to her room and put her to bed. Before I left the room, I kissed her on the forehead.

Emma and I ran into each other in the hall, just outside Lia's room.

"Emma, I hope you won't mind looking after her while I look for a new nanny," I told her. "I just don't think the agency is a good idea anymore."

"Yes, Mr. Maxwell, it would be great." You already know how much I love Lia. If it's okay with you, sir, I know someone else who is good with kids. She is someone you can trust with Lia. She is best friends with my daughter, just like her mother was with me. Aria is her name. She just graduated and wants to start her creche, but she needs to save money first. "I could call her and see if she's interested," she said.

I do not doubt that Emma is a good person if she says I can trust her.

"That sounds great," I said with a nod. "Please let her come in tomorrow. I want to meet her and see if she's right for the job."

"I'll call my daughter and ask her to contact Aria immediately, sir," she told me.

I quickly nodded at her. Say "thank you." I am going to be in my office. I'm also going to be working in my office tomorrow. She needs to be here by 9 a.m. sharp.

She said, "I'll let her know."

As I returned to my office, I told myself, "I hope this Aria woman is the one."

*****