Malachi's POV

★MALACHI★

I reached my room, walking to my wardrobe and sliding the glass door open. Suits, cardigans, t-shirts, and cashmere sweaters were all lined up inside. I picked out a dark red button-down shirt and black slacks, then grabbed a pair of black loafers.

After dressing myself, I stood before the mirror glued to the glass door of my wardrobe, fixing my cufflinks while a certain Filipina invaded my thoughts.

She was beautiful and even smaller than I had thought, with her long, dark, wavy hair and the most stunning shade of ocean-blue eyes I had ever seen. That dress hugged the curve of her luscious-looking breasts.

I groaned and shook my head in an attempt to clear the thoughts of another woman's breasts. I didn't do women—not for the last four years—and I wasn't going to start now, especially with someone I was ten years older than. Even though she looked even younger than that.

I sighed. "Why hadn't she gone to college?" I asked myself, moving away from the mirror and walking toward the door. I left my room and walked down the stairs to Lila's lesson room, but my steps faltered when I saw Nina leaning on the door, smiling as she watched the others inside.

My whole being paused at her smile. God, she was so beautiful and young, smiling like that.

"Teacher, teacher! I know the answer to that one!" I could hear Lila's voice from the stairs as I slowly walked down.

"You do, yes? What's the answer?" I heard Cynthia’s much calmer voice.

Before Lila could answer, I saw Nina mouth four before Lila’s louder four filled the air. I climbed down the remaining stairs and walked toward the room when Nina finally noticed my presence. Her eyes widened, and she straightened, her cheeks flaming.

"Uh... Sir. I was just looking at Lila."

"It's alright." I shrugged. "I'll get going now."

She nodded and pushed herself away from the door.

I walked inside, and Lila immediately noticed me.

"Daddy, Daddy! Are you going for your meeting?!" she asked, jumping from her chair and running toward me with her tiny feet.

"Yes, piccolina. Nina will stay with you, okay?" I crouched down, rubbing her soft hair. She had gotten her mother's hair color, and the thought of anything about that witch on my daughter made me want to wipe it all off. But Lila was still four, and it would be too much to dye her hair now. But I couldn't wait any longer.

Once she hit five, I was giving her the same hair color as mine.

"Yes! I like Nina. Nina and I will play when Teacher Cynthia leaves!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically, looking between me and Nina.

"Alright, darling." I kissed her forehead and stood up to my full height. "Go back inside."

After Lila ran back inside to continue her lesson, I gave one last nod to Nina before walking away, picking up the keys to my Porsche, and leaving the house.

***

★NINA★

After Malachi left, I didn’t hesitate to get to work. He hadn’t shown me my room or given me a tour of the house. Maybe that would be for later—when he got back from his meeting, as he seemed like he was in a rush. So I took a tour of the house on my own while Lila was still with her teacher.

I climbed up the grand staircase in the center of the sitting room, placing my hand on the railing and feeling the smooth glide under my palm.

Almost everything in Malachi’s house was in shades of creamy white, brown, and gold—colors that signified luxury. I reached the upper floor, where a square opening was at the center. I leaned on the railing, glancing down at the sitting room.

"Wow..." I couldn't help but mutter. I had never seen so much grandeur and luxury in my life.

My family—when alive—had been averagely rich. My father's police business hardly brought in anything, but we still survived.

I opened the first door that came my way. It was a big, spacious bedroom with a single king-sized bed at the center. The bedsheets were white, and the duvet was gray. I could tell immediately that it was Malachi’s room, so I shut the door, not wanting to go through my boss’s things.

I opened the door directly next to it. The overwhelming pink decor and cartoon stickers made it obvious it was Lila’s bedroom. I slipped inside, leaving the door ajar.

Walking to the small shelf above her bed, I glided my hand over the books—princess stories and lullabies. I had never been read a bedtime story as a child. I didn’t have that privilege, as both Mama and Papa were equally busy in their own understandable way.

I picked up one of the ridiculously pink decorative books. It was titled The Princess and the Frog. I flipped through the pages and finished the whole thing, unable to stop the smile curling my lips.

I shut the book and placed it back in its spot before exiting Lila’s room. I continued my tour, finding two guest rooms before finally locating the storage room downstairs, not far from Lila’s lesson room. I picked up the vacuum, mop and bucket, already knowing what to do with them.

I mopped the dining room after vacuuming it. It wasn’t dirty, just dusty. I cleaned the dining table, chairs, and practically anything that needed cleaning.

I had always loved cleaning. My mother had taught me how, and over time, it became my stress reliever.

After finishing with the dining room, I moved to the sitting area, wiping down the chairs and the middle table. Those were much dustier. It was obvious neither Malachi nor anyone else had bothered to clean them.

Once I was done, I slumped down on the ground, resting my back against the wall. I closed my eyes briefly.

I hadn’t paid Colorado. I didn’t know what James meant when he said I wasn’t resigning.

I knew I had protection here, but it didn’t stop the fear.

I’d pay Colorado after two days of work, and as for James… Well, James could go fuck himself and die.

I returned the equipment to the storage room, grabbing a cloth to wipe the sweat off my face. Then, I walked toward Lila’s tutor room. The tutor was pinching Lila’s big cheeks gently while packing up her things.

"Oh, are you done?" I asked as she came out.

She regarded me, slightly sizing me up before looking back at my face with a faux smile. "Yes. I saw you earlier. Pardon me for not introducing myself."

I shook my head with a small smile. "Oh, it's alright. I'm Nina."

"I'm Cynthia," she responded and outstretched her hand for a shake. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." I took her hand in a light handshake.

I hadn’t noticed when Lila came out of the room until I saw her in my peripheral vision, walking with her tiny feet toward the dining room.

"I'll be leaving," Cynthia said.

I followed her to the main door, where she exited, leaving me behind.

I walked back to the dining room and saw Lila sitting at the table with one of her colorful storybooks.

"Lila, dear."

"Aunty Nina!" She jumped down from her small chair and ran to stand before me.

"Do you know how to make pancakes?" she asked with wide green eyes.

I slowly shook my head. We had never been the baking type and only ate pastries when necessary.

"Busted." She pouted, then giggled softly. "But I know how!"

My eyes widened. "You do?"

I crouched down to her level so she wouldn’t have to strain her neck.

"Yes! Aunty Karen made a baking book! Come, come! Let's make pancakes!"

I chuckled and nodded. She was too adorable to refuse.

"Alright, let's go make pancakes!"

I held her hands, and we walked into the kitchen, ready to make pancakes.