Chapter 5 THE RULES

Rosalia's POV

"Let's get this over with," he said, his voice as cold and unyielding as the stark atmosphere of his study.

I sat in front of The Carmine Montanari. The man whose name was spoken in hushed tones and fearful whispers sat in front of me, his aura cold and suffocating.

I looked away from his gaze trying to look at anything but him. But even his study, the place I was to steal information from, was as imposing as he was.

The study had an imposing elegance, large shelves of leather-bound books and a massive mahogany desk taking most of the space. Heavy velvet drapes framed the windows but had not been drawn, allowing the faintest hint of light to filter through. A single lamp was turned on, casting a pool of light that created deep shadows that seemed to swallow the corners of the room.

The entire room radiated a sense of ancient majesty.

Mr. Montanari's ice-blue eyes bored into mine, his sharp gaze made brooding by dark curls falling over an eye. He was tall and imposing, wearing a pristine dark suit that aligned with the room's solemn feel. The air was thick with the scent of leather and books.

"Miss Caruso, my house is run by strict rules that you must carry out to the letter. I believe you have no problems obeying rules, or do you?" He asked.

"No, Sir." I shook my head.

"Good. Now here are the rules," he started, every word clear and decisive. "Address me as Mr. Montanari or Sir. My home must always be maintained to the highest standards, nothing else. Supervision of the household staff should be carefully attended to, as errors are unacceptable in this house. You will be held accountable if anything goes wrong."

I nodded, hurriedly. My heart pounded in my chest, but I tried to keep my expression calm, my hands clasped tightly in front of me.

"You will also be responsible for taking care of my daughter, Lilianna." he continued. "She is eight years old. Her safety and well-being are your top priorities. I will not forgive any mistakes made in regard to her care. Understood?"

His last statement seemed to emanate a bone chilling coldness. It felt like I stood before a beast who could rip my throat out at any moment if I made a wrong move.

I shifted in my seat uneasily.

"Yes, Mr. Montanari," I replied, my voice coming out more anxious than I had intended.

"Good." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "In this house, there are areas that are off-limits. Prime example being my study. You do not enter my study unless explicitly instructed. You do not question my rules. And you do not, under any circumstances, speak to anyone about what you see or hear within these walls. The price for being indiscreet is something you cannot afford, I assure you."

"Understood," I said again, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me.

I was bound to break these rules, every single one. Those were the entire reason I was present in his house. I felt like bursting into tears.

Why did I have to face this?

If I was caught. I don't even dare to imagine that occurrence.

"Breakfast is by 7 AM sharp, every day. Isabella's bedtime is 9 PM, but she must be in her bedroom before then. She has a tutor who comes during the weekend, so you'll supervise that as well. You must ensure she follows her schedule precisely, this is crucial. Any deviation and you'll answer to me."

"Of course, Mr. Montanari"

His gaze stayed on me for a moment, piercing through me, as if he was assessing whether I truly grasped the importance of my new responsibilities. After a while, he waved dismissively and turned his attention to a stack of papers on his desk, signalling that our conversation was over.

I immediately got up and scurried away.

Thank goodness.

As I left the study, my mind raced. The rumors I had heard about him echoed in my head. Those things didn't seem so unbelievable after meeting him in person. He was really just as dangerous as the rumors had implied, perhaps, even more so.

The rest of the day, I was taken through the responsibilities of my job carefully by the butler, Antonio.

And so, the next day, my job begun.

Gentle morning rays slipped through the heavy drapes, casting long shadows across the polished floors. I walked briskly through the halls of the sprawling mansion, my footsteps echoing in the silent corridors. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the faint aroma of the lavender blooming just outside the French doors.

It was my first day on the job, and everything needed to be completely perfect. I greeted the household staff as I entered the kitchen. Maria, the head cook, handed me a steaming cup of coffee with a smile. "Good morning, Miss Rosa."

I didn't drink coffee much, but I accepted the cup.

"Good morning, Maria," I replied, taking a sip. "How are we on breakfast preparations?"

"All set. Breakfast will be done soon" she assured me.

I nodded, glancing at the clock.

It was already time to wake Lilianna up. Setting my coffee down, I made my way to her room.

She was already awake, her curly hair a wild halo around her little face. Her dark curls seemed to remind me of her father's. Soft and lush. However, his stern aura made one pay no attention to how beautiful his hair was.

I shook my head to remove my wild, rebellious thoughts.

"Good morning, Lilly." I said softly.

She looked at me. "Good morning, Rosalia." She says as she sits up.

"Ready for the day?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

She shrugged, her expression still dazed and sleepy. "I guess so."

"Let's get you dressed. Then we can draw together in the garden after breakfast."

At my words, I could see her eyes brighten. "That sounds good." She chipped.

"Yes."

After helping Lilianna choose a dress and braid her hair, we made our way to the dining room. Mr Montanari sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding even in silence. He looked up as we entered, his gaze briefly softening as he looked at his daughter.

However, the tension between them was palpable. Lilianna seemed to still hold a grudge against her father.

"Good morning, Lilliana" he said, his voice a deep rumble.

"Good morning, Papa," she replied, her tone polite but distant.

I watched Mr. Montanari's brows raise as a smile lifted the corners of his lips. It appeared strange, but the expression did make his features look brighter.

I looked away silently.

I served their breakfast, making sure everything was to Mr. Montanari's standards. He watched me closely, his eyes lingering a fraction for a long time, making me conscious of the perfection I had to maintain. One misstep, one sign of disloyalty, and I could end up like the housekeeper before me. Dead.

I shivered involuntarily as the thought crossed my mind.

Once they were settled, I slipped out to attend to the rest of my duties. The staff knew their roles well, but it was my job to ensure everything ran smoothly. And I needed to do my job perfectly.

Later, after breakfast, Lilliana and I spent an hour in the garden. Unlike when she was with her father, she seemed like a lively little darling with me.

Soon enough, however, Mr. Montanari called for his daughter, and they left for their daily drive together. I watched them from the window, the anxiety in my stomach subsiding.

I moved away from the window after I could no longer see the car. My first day on the job had not been particularly tiring but the metal stress it had given me was immense.

As I headed to my room, my phone buzzed in my pocket. A glimpse of the subject line making my blood run cold.

"Urgent: New Orders"