Chapter 3 ARIANNA

Five years later...

Checking the address on the small piece of paper again, my face scrunched up in confusion as I peered through the grand, iron gates. This cannot be right. Giulia must be playing a prank on me. There is no way I am in the right place.

Pulling out the old-school Nokia phone and clicking on one of the three numbers I had saved on it; I called my new Italian roommate to give her an earful for wasting my time.

"Ciao Ari, are you done already?"

"No, I haven't even been in! Are you joking with this address? I can't even see the house; the drive is so fricking long! It's like royalty are living here or something!" I stood up on my toes to glance over the gate to get a better look. Only luscious lawns and trees were in sight. It looked like some kind of health spa hotel from back home.

"Well, the Rossi family are very wealthy, so I expect you are in the right place. I mean, what unemployed woman needs a full-time nanny if she isn't filthy rich?" Giulia chirped down the phone, and I frowned.

"I'm not sure about this anymore. I am not dressed for an interview with the rich and famous!" I glanced down at my informal outfit choice of a lemon and navy blue summer dress that had huge sunflowers all over it and a white-washed denim jacket. I thought I was just coming to a modest, little Italian family's house for an informal interview as their nanny.

"Ari! You need this job! I love you but I cannot sit back and watch you eat those hideous microwave things any longer. You are in Italy, my love! You need to live it to experience its true beauty! And to do that you need money! And this job pays well!"

I sighed as I pushed one strand of my dark hair behind my ear that had fallen out of the messy bird's nest of a bun on top of my head. She was right. I did need the money and on paper, this job sounded too good to be true.

Two children. Six and four years old. A boy and a girl, needing homeschooling and wrap-around care. And the bonus, they wanted English-speaking applicants. Well, I had that covered. I was born and raised in England.

"Okay. Okay. I'll see you later. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck, Arii! Ciao!" I heard her loud smacking lips sending me air kisses through the phone before she hung up, but hearing that nickname still sent a shiver down my spine. I hated being called that. It reminded me of him.

I had only known Giulia for a few weeks, but we quickly hit it off and became good friends. Something I desperately needed when I stepped off the plane into a foreign country where I didn't know a soul. She was positive, intimidatingly confident, and a little bitchy, which I liked.

She reminded me so much of Kelly and my heart ached. Gigi had quickly taken me under her wing and showed me the authentic side of Verona and managed to secure me with this interview. Her brother's girlfriend works as their cleaner and had mentioned to her that they were rehiring a nanny.

Everyone seemed to know everyone in this town, and I loved the support they all had for each other. Most of the Italians I had met so far were nothing but warm and welcoming and I knew I had picked the right place to hide from my dark past.

I nervously pressed the modern intercom button on the stone wall next to the gate and was surprised to see my reflection staring back at me on a built-in TV screen.

I quickly checked my newly dyed chocolate brown hair, trying to tame any of those pesky wisps that were sticking out by my ears before moving on my teeth. I had just eaten, and I did not want the embarrassment of showing them what I might have had for lunch.

"Si?" A loud male voice boomed through the speaker, causing me to jump back and my face to flame, knowing he probably caught me on camera.

"Oh...er...Ciao...er...I...E sono qui in orario per il colloquio," I cringed at my terrible attempt to tell him that I was here for the interview from my handy little translation book.

"Come si chiama?" The voice replied and I scrambled through the pocket-sized lifeline for a translation. "Ciao?" His tone was impatient, and I

slammed the book shut in a fluster as I felt sweat starting to build on my brows.

"Er. Yes. I am still here. I'm sorry I don't speak Italian. My name is Arianna Jac- I mean Rivas and I am here for the nanny position."

There was a long pause and I glanced down the isolated road as the nerves started to build. This was a disaster already. I could still make a run for it. I am wearing my Converse high tops so I am sure I could get away before the gate opens and...

BUZZ!

The automatic gate started to pull open slowly and I jumped back. Shit. Looks like I am going through with this after all. Stepping over the threshold, I was met with a long, winding road framed with towering greenery.

A black car suddenly appeared, speeding towards me and I leapt onto the neatly mowed lawn to get out of its way. My mouth hung open when I realized it was a Bentley and had pulled to a stop next to me. A smartly dressed man climbed out and opened the back door for me.

"Ciao Ms Rivas. I will escort you to the house," he greeted me formally with a thick Italian accent.

My eyes widened slightly as I looked up the never-ending driveway and back at the car. I forced a small smile on my face and nodded at the man before scrambling onto the luxurious cream seats.

He started up the engine and did a quick U-turn at the gate before zooming back up the driveway at an insane speed.

I peered out the window as tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and horse stables as well as an enormous garage made of glass that housed nearly every luxury car on display inside, blurred past me. This was not just filthy rich. This was something else.

I gulped as the house came into view. No, not house. Palace. It was breathtaking. From the outside, it had all the traditional elements of a stylish Italian villa with a large fountain in the driveway, black iron balconies off every room that was decorated with beautiful vines of greenery and flowers snaking around the bars. But it was the sheer size of the place that left me speechless. It must have been at least three stories high and the size of a small shopping mall.

I couldn't even fathom why anyone would need this much living space. I was going to go crazy at Giulia and her brother's girlfriend, Natalia. I was so not prepared for this!

"Please. Follow me," An older man wearing an expensive suit addressed me rather coldly at the top of the stone steps by the grand entrance to the mansion. I trailed behind him, and my mouth fell open as I entered the lobby. It was a drastic change from the traditional exterior of the building. Inside, everything was pristine and elegant.

Marble floors that looked as though they must be polished numerous times a day and a spiraling staircase going up both sides of the room that led to the top floor with a cream carpet. God, this place must be a nightmare to keep clean. I suddenly felt sorry for Natalia.