Chapter 9 You're my woman

Elizabeth's room was spacious and comfortable. In the well-lit space, the little girl sat at the study table near the wall, distractedly coloring her drawing.

Viviane opened the door and was met with an environment decorated in neutral tones, with delicate white furniture. The bedspread was a soft pink.

On the wall hung a picture in a gold frame of Elizabeth with her parents.

Viviane had expected to find a messy room with toys and shoes scattered around, but to her surprise, even the bed was made. "Barbara or Yolanda must have tidied it up," Vivian thought.

"Good morning, Liz!"

The girl put down her colored pencil and quickly stood up.

"You have to knock first," she whispered as if sharing a secret.

"Oh, right!" Vivian smiled. "Sorry!"

Viviane left and closed the door behind her. Turning back, she waited a few seconds and knocked three times.

"Who is it?" asked the child's voice.

"It's me!"

"Who, me?" The little girl giggled.

"Viviane, your nanny!"

Giggling, Liz went to the door and turned the knob.

"May I speak with Miss Elizabeth?" Vivian said casually.

"Of course, come in!" The girl said, smiling.

Liz was still in a lavender pajama. She walked across the room and put the colored pencils back in the case.

"I made this for you!" The child stretched out his arm, handing over the sheet of paper.

Vivian looked at the drawing of a house with uneven lines. In front of the house, Liz had drawn a garden with three flowers and a tree with a swing. Viviane was amazed to see that the little girl could already write her own name.

Liz was very intelligent, and for a child who had spent her early years in the United States, she spoke Portuguese very well.

"Thank you so much!"

Viviane intended to bend down and hug her but remembered what Gabriel had said: be careful with excessive affection and overprotectiveness.

But what harm could it do? No one was watching. Viviane lowered herself to Liz's height and hugged her. She smelled the pleasant scent of shampoo and then pulled away.

"Have you picked out your clothes?"

The girl shook her head. Liz went to the closet and opened the door, pointing to one of the hangers with a charming light pink dress.

"Did you take a bath?"

"No!" She adjusted her feet in the fluffy slippers.

Hurriedly, the nanny helped the girl with her hygiene. After Elizabeth brushed her teeth, Vivian made a French braid in the girl's silky hair and tied a small bow at the end. Sliding the short sleeves of the dress over the child's shoulders, she adjusted the hem, which had a beautiful ruffle.

At one moment, Viviane looked at the photo of the beautiful woman with fair skin and black hair on the wall. Rachel was stunning and photogenic. Not even the scowl of the man beside her dimmed her glow or Elizabeth's.

The nanny turned her gaze back to Liz, who was choosing her shoes. For a moment, Viviane felt a lump in her throat. The girl had no mother at her side, just like her own daughter, somewhere in the world, unaware of her existence.

"Miss Bernardi!" Yolanda's voice echoed after light knocks.

"Yes!" Viviane opened the door.

"Sorry to rush you, but Mr. Welsch said if you don't appear with Liz in five minutes, he'll come here."

"We're on our way!"

Viviane nodded to the housekeeper in thanks and hurried to help the girl fasten the pink shoe with a bow at the tip.

"Time to study?" Liz stood up.

"No, sweetheart!" The nanny said calmly. "Let's see what your father wants."

Elizabeth was the first to leave the room upon hearing the news. Rarely did she see her father in the mornings, and most of the time, Gabriel arrived late because of meetings.

The house was so large that the nanny was still disoriented. Holding the girl's hand, she followed her little steps. Viviane greeted Barbara, who was cleaning the golden console table in the middle of the hallway.

"Where's my daddy?"

"He's in the living room," Barbara whispered.

"This way!" The girl showed Vivian the way.

A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the room's Victorian-style decor displayed refined golden details on the furniture and objects.

Viviane was still admiring the elegant decor when the girl let go of her hand and ran to the man who was finishing signing papers.

"Dad!" Liz ran to the sofa across the curved-legged coffee table.

Gabriel called the housekeeper and driver over before turning to his daughter.

"Are you hungry?" he asked Elizabeth.

"Yes!" She raised her arms.

He picked his daughter up and narrowed his eyes at Viviane. The nanny's submissive posture seemed pleasing to him.

Yolanda and the driver finished signing the papers and stepped aside. A man in a black suit picked up the document and looked at Viviane.

The nanny straightened immediately, realizing Gabriel's eyes never left her. Surprisingly, he did not look stern. In front of his daughter, he seemed like another man.

"Miss Bernardi's signature is missing!" said the middle-aged man.

"Step closer, Vivian!" Gabriel commanded. "Jenkins doesn't have all day."

Even without knowing what was happening in the room, Viviane approached the stranger. Her face drained of color as she read the document. She glanced from the paper to Gabriel and the two witnesses standing on the other side of the room. Yolanda looked completely embarrassed.

"Sign!" said Gabriel in an arrogant tone.

For ten years, Viviane had been married to a man who saw her as just a household object.

"Why should I fear Gabriel's accusations when, until that moment, there was no evidence linking me to Pietro?" Vivian thought before signing.

"Can I speak with you for a minute?" Her voice is so soft and pleasant.

Gabriel kissed his daughter's hair and adjusted his black blazer after rising from the sofa.

"I'll be right back!" His hoarse voice announced.

He went toward the woman walking slowly. Indignant, he stopped in front of the nanny, touched Viviane's shoulders, and pressed her against the wall.

"Are you challenging me?"

His penetrating eyes locked on the woman's scared, sensual mouth. Gabriel had to maintain control to resist pressing his tongue against those inviting lips.

"You have no proof!" Vivian said, unconvincingly.

Smirking ironically, he looked away for a moment and suddenly pulled her into the office.

It was hard to keep up with the furious man's quick steps. Viviane stifled a groan as her leg ached.

Gabriel opened the door and led her to the other side of the desk. He released her arm and flopped into the chair, opening a drawer.

"Do you want to see the proof?" He handed the papers to the terrified woman. "Here's the evidence!"

Viviane examined several transfers of thousands of dollars to an account opened in her name at a bank in the Cayman Islands.

"No, it wasn't me!" She shook her head, denying it. With tears in her eyes, she tried to convince Gabriel. "I never had an overseas bank account, Mr. Welsch."

"Really?" He straightened in the chair and placed his hand on his flat stomach. "You were married to that thief for ten years and never knew about this offshore account?"

"I didn't know, I swear I didn't!"

"You know my late father used to say," he paused and leaned forward, "people who swear usually lie."

Viviane looked like a cornered animal as she examined the transactions in her name. She had known Pietro since high school, yet she never imagined he could use her documents to commit a crime.

"Sorry to bother you, my friend! I'm a little late."

"Come in!" Gabriel stepped aside, letting his friend enter. "My fiancée and I were discussing our last name. We agreed that from today on, she will be Mrs. Welsch."

Vivian was so saddened she didn't contest Gabriel. Without hesitation, she took the papers the justice of the peace handed her and signed in the indicated spots.

The justice of the peace sealed the union by announcing, "You are now married!"

There were no kisses, vows, or rice showers like when she married Pietro. Fourteen years ago, she wore a beautiful white wedding dress to marry a man who promised her the world. Pietro had been a liar, a conman who stole her savings and left her in a coma in the hospital with no remorse.

"The rings," Gabriel interrupted Vivian's thoughts, "I almost forgot this small detail." He pulled the black box from his pocket.

The ring had a beautiful diamond that sparkled. Not even the jewel could bring a smile to the nanny's disappointed face.

In front of the justice of the peace, Gabriel took her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. He cupped Viviane's face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his lips brushing against her forehead.

"I'll take care of you!" he said, then pulled away.

Looking at the friend who congratulated them, Gabe exchanged greetings and shook Jenkins' hand before saying goodbye. Both were heading for the door when the little girl entered without knocking. Elizabeth froze at the sight of her father.

"We already talked about this, Liz!"

"I'm sorry, Dad!"

The girl came back, closed the door, clutched her fist, and tapped lightly twice.

"Come in!"

Liz hurried through the door and hugged her father's left leg.

"Goodbye, princess!" Jenkins said.

Shy, Elizabeth glanced at the nanny.

"Say goodbye to Daddy's friend!"

"Bye," she said without looking at the judge.

The little girl's eyes still watched the downcast nanny. She released her father's leg and ran to Vivian.

"Are you sad?"

"No, she's not sad..." Gabe intervened before the nanny could answer, "Vivian is just emotional, isn't that right, sweetheart?"

Viviane swallowed hard and nodded at her current husband.

"We have news for you, Liz!"

The tall man moved to the other side.

"Viviane is your new mommy."

Surprised, Elizabeth stepped back. Gabriel delivered the news so abruptly. How could a little girl understand?

"Really?" Elizabeth looked at the nanny.

"Yes!" Viviane replied.

The girl stayed quiet, fidgeting with the bow on her outfit.

"Vivian will take care of you." Gabe crouched down to meet his daughter's gaze.

"Is she leaving too?" Liz nestled in her father's arms.

"No! Viviane isn't like Rachel. She will never leave you."

The way he treated his daughter struck Viviane. Perhaps Elizabeth was the weak spot of this proud, cruel CEO.

"I'm hungry, Daddy!"

"Go to the kitchen and ask Aunt Yolanda to make a really good sandwich. When you're done, we'll go to the park, and afterward, we'll go shopping."

Liz kissed her father on the cheek and left the office, leaving the couple alone. Standing up, Gabriel watched the woman smooth her own arm.

"Rachel was never a good mother!" He said suddenly. "She only cared about the law firm and shopping. She rarely had time for Liz."

Even hearing this, she remained silent. Pietro could be using the same excuse to justify his absence in their daughter's life. Viviane held back tears and lifted her head.

"Change your clothes; we're going out with Liz!"

"Yes, sir!"

"You can call me Dear, Gabriel, or Gabe when we're in public!" He stepped closer and squeezed her shoulders. "But behind closed doors, you can call me sir or shout my name as many times as you like," he whispered.

Her skin tingled from the warm breath near her ear. She stepped back, realizing her task as a wife.

"I'll change my clothes!"

"Your suitcase is in my room." He warned.

"Why?"

"You're my woman!" He followed her and held the door with his right hand to prevent her from escaping. "I won't be so demanding tonight."

Turning her toward him, Gabriel touched her thigh, lifted the fabric of the dress, and brushed his nose along her neck. The nanny was completely his. The thought excited him, and he grew more aroused. Resisting the overwhelming desire, Gabe lowered the hem of her dress.

"Later," he receded. "We'll go! I'll show you our room."