Chapter Three

Matteo's small body falls from my lap and dashes behind my chair, the blanket falling to the sides of the chair he was just sitting on. Standing up, I carefully turn around, my gaze meeting the most stunning silver eyes I've ever seen. His arms were wrapped around the miniature version of himself. Matteo. Behind him stood multiple men in black suits. Some standing by the door and other standing outside. Shiny black cars lined up outside the bakery.

"What did I tell you about wandering off? You don't leave your babysitter's side. Ever. Got it?" Matteo politely nods in response to the man's deep voice, not seeming scared of the giant figure in front of me, Matteo then turns to face me with a broad smile. He bounces on his feet as he releases his grip on the giant in front of him.

"Dad! Daddy! You have to meet someone! I have a new friend." Matteo exclaims enthusiastically, seizing the man's hand and tugging him over to where I was standing. Matteo's hand practically disappeared against the size of his father's tanned hand. His arms wrap around my hips as he comes to stand in front of me with his father standing a few steps away from us. I gently ruffle Matteo's dark hair and chuckle as he turns away from me.

"Daddy. This is Ilaria. Ilaria meet my dad." He says this while grasping my hand and dragging me the final distance towards the massive man in front of me. Oh no, what are you doing Matteo?

My gaze is drawn to the silver-eyed, black-haired giant in front of me. His strong jawline was framed by some dark stubble. The expensive-looking suit encasing his body, his muscles straining through the fabric. The soft tanned skin of his arms where his suit sleeves are rolled up, revealing a number of tattoos. The top of my head barely reaches his armpits unlike Lucas.

"Alessandro Vito Lombardi." He responds blankly, reaching out his hand to me. I tentatively extend my hand to his, the warm skin of his hand wrapping around mine, little tingles meeting where his skin touches mine. His hand is warm, and the callouses on his hands rub against the soft skin of mine.

Wait. Vito Lombardi as in... Vito enterprises. As in... the richest man in both America and Italy... The ruthless Billionare....that Vito Lombardi. Oh god. Why? Why me?

"llaria. But y-you already k-knew t-that." Stupidly, I say, burying my face in my hands, hiding my embarrassingly red cheeks, only removing them once I felt my cheeks calm down. My head rate is banging so hard against my rib cage right now. Help.

"I appreciate your concern for my son. I'm going to have a stern talk with his babysitter." He stated it in a dangerously dark tone causing my heart to speed up out of fear.

My hands immediately grow sweaty as my gaze falls to the floor beneath me, not wanting to meet the gaze of the dangerous rich man standing in front of me. Why couldn't my life be peaceful, so I didn't have to deal with whatever this is?

"Matteo why don't you go sit over there with Tio, I'm just going to talk to Ilaria here quickly." His rich voice echoes once more, this time much softer, as he hands his phone over to Matteo. A blonde-haired man in a black suit makes his way over to us, who I assume is Tio, his frame large but not as large as Alessandro.

"Okay daddy." He says, then walks over to the table where we were earlier seated, Tio following behind him. His tiny body struggling to climb up onto the chair, before Tio comes over helping to lift his tiny body into the chair. His tiny hands reaching to put the blanket over himself again, before grabbing his father's phone. Turning back towards the giant in front of me, I let my eyes meet his hesitantly.

"Matteo hasn't talked to anyone other than his uncles and I in years. What's your secret?" His eyes in slits, glaring at me with suspicion. He moves half of his body in my direction while leaving the other with Matteo so he can watch over him.

"I listened. You must know when to speak, but you also need to know when to listen." As I speak, I turn to face Matteo, who is using his father's phone. He seems to be engrossed in some sort of game.

"How old is he?" I ask, glancing back into Alessandro's eyes, only to see him already looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"Five." He says shortly, as he turns to face the young boy seated in the chair, both of our bodies turning to look at the adorable boy.

"He's a good boy." I speak softly while allowing a slight smile to appear on my face.

"Yeah... he is." Alessandro speaks the softest I've heard him since he arrived.

The two of us remain silent for a moment as we observe the young child seated at the table. This is kind of awkward. I twiddle with my thumb's, scratching at the skin on my fingers. A nervous habit that I've picked up over time.

"I'm going to offer you a deal." After a protracted period of silence, Alessandro's voice reaches my ears.

"I'll double the amount you're being paid now if you become my sons nanny." Alessandro replied as he turned to face me slightly, Why does it look like he's just went into business mode? He looks like he's making the biggest business dession he's ever made.

"I um..." I say dumbfounded. What am I supposed to say to that?

"Triple." He states turning his whole body towards me this time. My eyes expand at the prospect of earning three times my current salary.

"Quad-" I cut him off before he can go on.

"No um... it's not about the money. I don't care about the money. It's j-just I have a job a-and I d-don't know anything about l-looking after kids." I stutter out, watching to see if his expression changed. It didn't.

"Firstly. Don't interrupt me. Ever. Again. Secondly. You just looked after Matteo just fine for what?" He asked, gazing at his watch before returning to me.

"Half an hour or so? Do you really think I'm going to leave my son with the babysitter from earlier?" His eyebrows raising, a small glare aimed at me, making me nervous under his gaze. I mean on one side he has a point, who manages to lose a kid? Poor Matteo.

Again, silence falls between the two of us while I mull it over. My nails scratching at the skin on my fingers once more, making them slightly sore.

"Hey Matteo, come here buddy." I hear the little, bouncing steps of his feet approaching us as Alessandro waves him over.

"Yeah daddy?" Matteo replied, his eyes wide with interest as he looked up at his father. I notice Alessandro hunching down near Matteo's body.

"How would you like it if Ilaria here was your new babysitter? Your new nanny?" He said ruffling up the black hair on his head, turning it into a slight cute mess.

"Really?!" He yells and bounces up and down on his feet once more. He appears to be about to burst with joy. Oh I see what he's trying to do now. I see what's happening here.

"Yeah. But you see Ilaria here thinks that it would be better for her to work here instead." With an innocent expression, he said to Matteo. Wait... no I didn't say that.

Big eyes and a dejected pout are on Matteo's face as he turns to face me. Oh no. No. Nope. Why?

"You don't want to be my babysitter?" Matteo asks sadly, appearing on the verge of tears. His hands fiddling infront of his body, as he looks at me sadly.

"What? No. Of course I want to be your babysitter." What am I supposed to say? What do I do?

"Great. I'll have some papers ready for you to sign soon, and my driver will pick you up tomorrow morning." Alessandro comments before getting up and typing something on his phone which Matteo gave back to him.

While I struggle to process what he just said, I feel Matteo's body slam against mine and his little arms encircle me. Until it clicks.

Before Alessandro can take another step though I stop him becoming panicked, Matteo now wandering over to his father. Alessandro taking his hand gently as they both make their way over towards the doors of the bakery.

"Wait! Driver?" I say shakily, my whole body starting to tremble.

Alessandro halts and frowns as he turns to face me.

"Yes a driver. You'll be moving in with us."