Chapter 6

Mikhail

When I got home, I was met with broken picture frames, torn clothes scattered across the floor, and my fiancée drunk on the couch.

“Can you tell me what the hell is going on, Cristina?” I shouted, completely losing control. I couldn’t take her pointless outbursts anymore.

“What’s going on is that I’m tired, Mikhail. You always treat me like a second option. I’m sick of being nothing more than a toy to you. I’m sick of all of this. Do you think it’ll still be like this when we’re married?”

“I don’t want to have this conversation right now. I’m tired and I need to rest. I had a long day, and I’m not in the mood to talk about this.” She threw a whiskey bottle at me, which only missed because I ducked quickly. “Control yourself. I’m fed up with you. Not only are you shallow, but you’re also unbalanced and a complete pain. You might be pretty, but I need more than that—I need a responsible woman by my side. And if you don’t control these ridiculous jealousy fits, there won’t be a wedding. I’ll have you sent back to your parents’ house as soon as possible.”

I grabbed her wrists firmly, making her struggle before she dropped to her knees.

“Don’t underestimate me or try to play games with me. I’m a man, not some spoiled boy. I’m not like the men you’re used to. Do you understand? I can be far worse than you imagine.”

I let go of her wrists and pushed her back onto the couch, watching the fear in her eyes meet my cold stare.

I silently thanked Ella for everything she’d done these past few days and went straight to the bathroom. I put my head under the cold shower, trying to cool down. Cristina kept up her ridiculous tantrum—I just hoped that tomorrow she’d be calmer, because I wouldn’t be.

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Donna

I couldn’t sleep. Anxiety was taking over me, and I couldn’t wait to start working. The clock read 4:37 when Dominic woke up.

“Good morning, my love.” I kissed his forehead and picked him up. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. “We’re living a dream, baby. Mommy is finally going to give you a better life. I’ll be able to give you everything you deserve.”

Dominic is my source of strength. When I found out I was pregnant, I felt lost. But the moment I saw his eyes for the first time, I felt the purest love—and since then, I can’t imagine life without him.

I never went after the man I met that night. Since then, I haven’t been with anyone else. Jess thinks I need a boyfriend, but I tell her she’s wrong—even though I sometimes miss having someone during cold nights.

I bundled Dominic up and called reception to order breakfast. When there was a knock on the door, I thought it was the food—but it was the woman from last night.

“Good morning, Miss Donna. Are you ready to see your house? Sorry about the early hour, but those are the boss’s orders.” Ella was elegantly dressed, almost like a geisha with her perfectly arranged, colorful outfit.

“Good morning, Miss…” She looked at me and told me to just call her Ella. “Ella, would you mind waiting while I take a shower and eat something? My son hasn’t eaten yet, and I’m also—”

“No problem, but we could have breakfast at a wonderful café two blocks from here. That way you can get to know the city, and I can introduce myself properly. Sorry about yesterday—I had a terrible day and didn’t present myself well.”

She sat down, and Dominic went straight into her arms. She picked him up and started playing with him.

“I love children. If I could, I’d have a house full of them.” She kissed the top of his head, making him laugh. “I think we’re going to be best friends, Dom.”

While he was distracted, I took a quick shower, got dressed, and got ready. As we were about to leave, someone knocked and left the breakfast at the door.

“They never wait for us to open it… what if no one’s here?” Ella said, pulling the cart inside.

I was starving, but I could wait.

We took the stairs—I preferred that unless it was urgent. Dominic was restless, and I was already getting tired.

“You know, Miss Donna, I was surprised when you agreed to move here. People usually love New York, although I’ve never even had the chance to visit.”

“Seriously?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s not all that. I don’t think I’ll miss it much. Maybe one day, when I go back, we can go together!” I suggested, and she smiled happily.

“So, Dominic, what do you like to eat?” she asked, picking him up again and playfully touching his nose.

“Nachos!” he shouted, raising his hand.

“Great! We’ll go to a Mexican restaurant at lunch. For now, let’s eat because I’m starving too. Can you believe I didn’t sleep at all last night? Our boss has a fiancée who’s a real demon.”

I looked at her, confused, and she quickly corrected herself.

“Sorry… you’ll understand when you see it yourself.”

“If you say so, I believe you.”

We talked a lot while she introduced me to teas, jams, and fancy toast. Ella was talkative, but she knew her limits. She was kind, and she’d already earned a place in my heart because of how she treated Dominic.

This time, we didn’t take a taxi—we went in her car, which turned out to be a Ferrari.

“Look, we didn’t know you were bringing your son, so the nanny will only start tomorrow. We expected you to start working then too, but you’ll need time to meet each other.”

How could I complain? I was already more grateful than I could express.

Her phone beeped, and she checked it before looking at me again.

“Change of plans. The nanny is already at your house, waiting. You start tomorrow. Are you excited?”

I took a deep breath, unable to hold back my smile.

“I’m very happy. I never thought I’d work at Cyndi.”

Finally, we arrived…

The massive gate looked like it guarded an entire condominium, but in reality, there was only one enormous house in the center—with the sea just beyond the stairs I now had access to.

It felt like paradise.

“Someone pinch me,” I muttered—and Ella actually did, widening her eyes when I looked at her.

“Shall we? We need to register your fingerprints for the gates and doors.”

I couldn’t even speak—I was completely overwhelmed.

Dominic ran off as soon as I put him down, but Ella assured me it was safe—no one else was there besides us and the nanny.

Dafne, a cheerful and enthusiastic young woman, would be Dominic’s nanny. And now, I finally had someone to talk to here.

“In this notebook, you’ll find everything you need—your son’s school schedule, Russian classes, music lessons… if you want to add anything, just let us know, and we’ll arrange it.”

I had to be dreaming.

I thanked Ella for everything and said goodbye. She promised to pick us up for lunch, just as she had promised Dominic.

“Miss, I hope we’ll have a good relationship. I love children, and I’ll do everything I can to take good care of Dominic,” Dafne said kindly.

“I’m sure we will.”

I looked around, still in awe.

Marble floors, a dining table for twelve, a living room bigger than my old house—no, much bigger. My bedroom was everything I had ever dreamed of, and now my son had one too.

I threw myself onto the large ottoman in the middle of the room, overwhelmed with happiness, while Dafne watched me, completely confused.