34

Chapter 34

Darcy’s Pov

I'd decided to spend quality time with Pink before she started school tomorrow.

The summer break is over and she needs to resume school tomorrow. I also noticed that since Adrian was now in the family picture, I'd been absent from Pink more often because I was in between work and my own complicated feelings.

So I decided to have dinner with her although I knew I wouldn't be at peace because she would be there.

Normally dinner with Adrian and Pink felt warm and comfortable but today's own was different.

Pink was her usual bright self, she was excited about resuming school tomorrow. She explains not going out often.

She talks about her new backpack and the friends she couldn’t wait to see.

But Adrian was quiet. She kept her eyes down on the plate of food she barely touched.

I knew why.

Because I’d called her a mistake. Because I’d thrown money at her after we slept together—like she was nothing more than a transaction. Maybe I have hurt her badly.

I didn’t mean it that way, but I wouldn't know what she thought?

The truth was,that morning, when I woke up beside her. She looked peaceful, beautiful to stay with a man that hates commitment like me and it scared me.

I knew I shouldn't have crossed the line where I fuck my daughters nanny. I wasn't ready for any commitment yet. So ì had to push her away just to kill my feelings and not to allow it to get real.

And now, watching her avoid my eyes, I hated myself for it.

Then she started choking.

She was coughing which made her face red, gasping for air.

“Adrian?” I got up quickly from my seat, offered her a glass of water. “Here, drink this water.”

She ignored me. Didn't accept the glass of water, instead she rushed out of the room.

“Dad?” Pink’s voice was small. “What’s wrong with Ms. Adrian? Why isn’t she happy?”

I stared at the doorway she’d run off from, guilt burning my chest. “She’s not feeling well, sweetheart.”

“But she’s been sad all day,” Pink said softly. “Even when we played earlier.”

Yes. Because I broke her.

“Go get ready for bed, darling,” I said, forcing a calm tone. “I’ll check on her.”

Pink frowned. “Dad, remember? You promised to call her Adrian, not nanny.”

She was right. Pink had made me promise that weeks ago. When I made that promise I thought it didn't matter, just to talk and agree with the child but now it mattered.

“It's true,” I said. “Adrian isn’t feeling well but she'd get better.”

Pink nodded, “ Dad,I hope she feels better." She said, then kissed my cheek, "Please go check up on her”

Then she headed to her room.

I waited for sometime to hear her door locked because I didn't want her to know the mess I'd made with her nanny.

So I moved to Adrian’s room.

When I reached her door, I heard her crying —the kind that made me regret what I did. I stood there, I knew she wouldn't let me comfort her, not with how I used her.

Then I couldn't hear her anymore. I opened the door slowly.

She was on the marble floor sleeping. Tears mark on her face. She'd cried herself to sleep.

My composure snapped.

I knelt where she was laid and then carried her to bed. She felt so light in my arms. She didn’t wake, only sighed and turned closer, seeking warmth even in sleep. I tucked her in and should’ve left right then.

But I didn’t.

I sat beside her bed, watching her closely.

My mind flashbacks to that night, the way she had looked at me as I got down on her, the way she trusted me with her body. I’d thought about her every day. When she passed the hallway and I caught her smell, I caught myself looking for her even when I shouldn’t.

Before we slept together, my attraction was controllable. Now, it wasn’t. And worse—I’d made her believe it meant nothing.

I told myself it was for our own good. At least to protect her from my parents who'd destroy her reputation if they found out. The media would not let her rest for being an ex-con living under my roof. Also for my reputation in the office.

So I pushed her away. But all I’d done was hurt her.

She stretched her body then, her eyes opened. Confusion flickered as she realized she was in bed and then she saw me close to her.

“Mr. Rodrigo, what are you doing here?” she asked, in a harsh voice .

That formality hit me like a slap. “Mr. Rodrigo.” Not Darcy.

“Pull yourself together, Adrian,” I said sharply, though the words were more for myself. “You have to focus on your job here as Pink’s nanny.”

She sat up, covered her body with the bedsheets, I couldn't stop looking at those boobs.

"I know my job, sir.”

“Do you?” I snapped, standing to keep my distance. “ You ran off the dining table, leaving Pink to eat alone.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I wasn’t feeling well today.”

“Your only job in this house Adrian, is to take care of my daughter,” I said, every word heavy. “Nothing else.”

She moved slightly, then straightened her shoulders. “I understand, sir. I’ll do better.”

I turned to move out of the door, but before leaving, I said quietly, “Next time, don’t sleep on the floor. You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m sorry, sir."

I moved out of her room so I won't regret all that I have said

Back in my study, I tried to distract myself by working on some office files I brought home. It didn’t help. I poured whiskey, but even that didn’t dull the guilt.

Then my phone buzzed. Leo.

Sir, we have a situation. Someone’s been conducting surveillance on the mansion. Multiple days. No clear image of the person involved, just the car watching the property.

My stomach dropped. Someone was watching us. Watching Pink. Watching her.

“Show me,” I ordered.

Minutes later, Leo was in my study with his tablet. The footage showed a dark sedan parked down the street at different hours over the past few days. Always facing the house.

“Can we identify the car?” I asked.

“Partial plate. I’m tracing it, but it’s slow.

My thoughts wandered to Adrian's background… Could it be someone from her past because this has never happened before.

The implication was clear. Maybe her ex. Or the man who framed her. Or someone worse.

“Twenty-four-hour monitoring,” I said. “If that car appears again, alert me immediately. Follow it if necessary. I want to know who it is and what they want.”

“Yes, sir."

Increase Adrian and Pink’s security. Make sure you or someone you trust is with her whenever they leave. Pink needs security now she's resuming school tomorrow.

“Understood.”

When Leo left, I was alone again with the whiskey, my guilt, and a new fear that Adrian’s past was coming back to destroy her.

My phone rang again. Amiel One of the women I used to call when I needed distraction. Before Adrian, it had been simple, flirt,fuck no feelings, no mess. Just noise.

Now, even that felt wrong.

Still, I answered. Anything to escape my thoughts.

“Darcy,” she purred. “I was hoping to hear from you.”

“Are you free tomorrow night?” I asked, already hating myself for it.

“For you? Always. What do you have planned?”

The conversation turned intimate—her voice sultry, mine automatic. It was mechanical, empty, nothing like what I’d shared with Adrian. But it numbed me, at least for a moment.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I said flatly. “After work.”

Then I hung up.

I looked at the glass in my hand.

My life. Using other people to ignore my real feelings.

Then my computer chimed with a new email. The subject line froze me:

URGENT – Family Matter. Read Immediately.

It was from my parents.

We need to discuss the merger and your upcoming engagement. This Friday, 7 PM, our home. Non-negotiable.

"Engagement."

Is this what Brittany was talking about? "The future wife blah blah blah,"

They were making it official—me and Brittany. The business merger must’ve advanced further than I knew. They were planning to seal it through marriage.

"Not possible,"

I knew something was fishy when Brittany suddenly appeared in my office after three years we called off our engagement.

But I didn't see it coming with the Merger plans but seeing it written out on my screen made my blood boil. They were treating my life like a chess piece in their empire.

I picked up the phone to call them —to finally say no—when I heard a faint noise outside my study door.

A step. The soft rustle of fabric.

Someone was there.

I moved quietly, closer, then opened the door.

Adrian stood close to my study door, frozen.

My eyes locked on her, In hers I saw everything, hurt, betrayal, disbelief. She’d heard. She’d heard my call.

“Adrian,” I said, my voice breaking. “Wait, stop.”