Chapter 2 The new nanny

Lorenzo's POV

I wasn't a man who second-guessed my decisions. My entire life had been built on control, power, and making choices with absolute certainty. But as I sat in my office, a glass of whiskey in hand, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that hiring Isabella Lopez might be a mistake.

She was too...bold. Too unafraid. Most people, when they realized who I was, either tried too hard to please him or ran in the opposite direction. But not her.

That kind of confidence could either be an asset or a liability.

I exhaled, glancing at the security feed on his desk. One of the cameras showed Isabella being led out by Marco, his most trusted guard. She walked with purpose, her head high, completely unaware that she had just stepped into a world she might not be able to handle.

A soft knock at the door pulled his attention.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Marco stepped inside. "She's gone."

I nodded. "What do you think?"

Marco hesitated. "She's got guts. Most women would've been shaking in their boots sitting in front of you."

I smirked. "She was nervous. She just hid it well."

Marco shrugged. "Maybe. But she didn't ask unnecessary questions, didn't pry. just focused on the job."

I leaned back in my chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "She'll need to be able to handle Matteo. He's...not easy."

Matteo. My son. The only person in the world who truly mattered to him. The boy had been through hell-losing his mother, growing up surrounded by guards, constantly aware that his father's world was dangerous.

Matteo didn't trust easily. And I couldn't blame him.

Marco crossed his arms."If she sticks around long enough, maybe she'll be good for him."

That was the real question, wasn't it? Would she stick around?

I had been through a string of nannies. Some quit after a week, unable to handle Matteo's silence and his sudden bursts of defiance. Others were dismissed when I found out they were more interested in me than the job.

But Isabella? She was different.

She didn't fawn over him. Didn't try to impress him. She only cared about the job.

I drained my glass and set it down with a decisive clink.

Tomorrow will be the real test. If Isabella Lopez thought she could handle my son, she was about to find out just how wrong she was.

The next morning, I stood by the large window in my home office, watching as Isabella arrived. She was right on time . That was a good start.

She wore a simple, fitted sweater and dark jeans, her long brown hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. No jewellery, no excessive makeup. Practical. Uncomplicated. The kind of woman who didn't belong in his world.

Marco opened the door for her, giving her a slight nod as she stepped inside. Her expression was caIm, but i could see the way her fingers curled slightly at her sides. Nerves.

Good. She should be nervous.

I walked out of my office just as Marco led her into the living room. I didn't waste time with pleasantries.

"Matteo is upstairs ," I said, my tone all business. "He knows you're coming, but that doesn't mean he's going to like you."

Isabella arched an eyebrow. "I don't expect him to. Trust takes time."

I studied her for a moment, then nodded toward the stairs. "Let's see if you still feel that way in an hour."

They walked up the grand staircase in silence. When they reached Matteo's room, I opened the door without knocking.

The boy sat on the floor near the window, building something with wooden blocks. His dark curls were slightly messy; his small face serious and focused. He didn't look up.

"Matteo," I said. "This is Isabella. She's your new nanny."

Nothing.

Isabella took a step closer. "Hi, Matteo."

Still nothing.

I glanced at Isabella, expecting to see frustration or impatience, but she only smiled slightly before kneeling a few feet away. She didn't push, didn't force him to speak. She just sat there, watching him build.

Matteo placed another block on top of the tower, his fingers precise. Then, without warning, he swiped his hand through the structure, knocking it all down.

Isabella didn't flinch.

"Do you want to build it again?" she asked softly.

Matteo finally looked at her, his dark eyes filled with something unreadable. "No."

I felt the tension in the room shift. Matteo rarely spoke to new people, and when he did, it was usually to tell them to leave.

But Isabella didn't leave. She didn't fill the silence with empty words or try to force conversation. She just nodded.

"Okay."

Matteo studied her for a long moment, then turned back to his blocks. He didn't dismiss her.

I crossed my arms, watching the silent exchange. I had seen dozens of nannies try and fail to get through to Matteo. But this-this was different.

Maybe she really could handle him.

Or maybe she just hadn't seen the worst of him yet.

I turned to leave, but before I reached the door, I heard Matteo's small voice behind me.

"Are you going to leave too?"

I froze.

The question wasn't meant for me. It was for Isabella.

I turned just enough to see her reaction. She hesitated, just for a second, then met Matteo's gaze with quiet determination.

"No," she said softly. "I'm not."

Matteo stared at her, his small hands gripping a wooden block. His face was unreadable, but I could see the conflict in his eyes.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt something dangerous.

Hope.

But I knew better than to trust it.

Because in my world, people didn't stay. And if Isabella Lopez was smart, she would leave before she got too close.

Before she realized the kind of man I really was.

Before it was too late.