Semua Bab The Mafia's Nanny : Bab 231 - Bab 240

231Gianna’s POVI sat on the balcony of the small seaside villa I’d rented a few days back just to clear my head. A steaming cup of tea was cradled in my hands while I watched as the sun set, painting the sky in lovely shades of orange and pink. The waves crashed softly against the rocks below. It was really beautiful here. Quiet and far removed from the chaos that had practically consumed my love over the past week.But the peace I’d hoped for hadn’t come. Not entirely.Matteo’s name still wouldn’t leave my mind. It stil lingered in my head and every thought like a shadow. Even in this beautiful and peaceful place, my heart still felt raw and my emotions were tangled in a web of longing, hurt and doubt about myself.I closed my eyes, letting the salty breeze wash over me. You’re here to heal, I reminded myself. Focus on yourself.The problem was, no matter how much I tried to distance myself, the memories of Matteo kept creeping in. His laughter, his infuriating character, the way h

233Gianna’s POVThe office smelled the same as always—coffee, printer toner, and a faint trace of someone’s overly expensive cologne. It was comforting in a way I hadn’t expected, like slipping back into a routine I’d been avoiding. But I wasn’t here for comfort. I was here because it was time to stop hiding.I adjusted my blazer in the mirrored elevator doors, forcing my reflection to look calm and composed. The soft ding announced my arrival, and when the elevator doors slid open, I was met with the familiar hum of productivity. People buzzed around, papers in hand, conversations trailing in and out like background music.“Morning, Ms. Lorenzo,” Cheryl greeted me with a polite smile as I stepped into the main floor.“Good morning,” I replied, keeping my tone professional but warm. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I made my way toward my office.“We’ve missed having you at the office. I tried to reach you for the past few days you weren’t here, but I didn’t know how. H

235Gianna’s POVThe apartment felt too quiet. Usually, I enjoyed the stillness after a long day, but now it felt suffocating. My fingers itched to grab my phone, to type out the message I’d been holding back, but I stopped myself before the thought could gain momentum.I slumped onto the couch, hugging a throw pillow as I stared at the blank TV screen. Matteo’s face lingered in my mind. It refused to go away no matter how much I willed it to. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he was passionate about. The way he always found ways to make me laugh, even when I didn’t want to. And the way he looked at me—like I was the only person in the world that mattered.My heart ached at the memory. It would have been so easy to pick up my phone and call him, to hear his voice, to tell him I missed him. But I couldn’t.I wouldn’t.Loving Matteo was the most natural thing I’d ever done, but it has also become the hardest. There was no denying how deeply I felt for him. Every par

237Matteo’s POVI didn’t sleep much last night. All I did was lay awake on my bed, staring at the ceiling, and going over what I would say to her, how I would apologize, how I would beg her to hear me out. Gianna deserved better than the silence that had grown between us, and I couldn’t take it anymore.Even though I knew my sleepless night would affect my efficiency at work today, I didn’t mind that if it would let me get my woman back.I stared at myself thought the mirrored walls of the elevator, and I must say, I looked better than I had since all that shit went down. That was what hope did to me.I stopped out of the elevator and walked straight to her office. Her back was to the door, and I suspected she was on a call or just going through some documents. Or just staring at the view.I had rehearsed my speech a dozen times in my head. But standing outside her office door right now, my stomach twisted in knots. I felt different now. Like I wasn’t prepared. But I was here now. I

239Gianna’s POVI stared at the mirror in my bedroom, smoothing down the hem of the black dress I’d chosen for tonight. It was simple but elegant, something I could wear to look like I wasn’t trying too hard. My hair was styled, my makeup subtle but polished. I looked like I had my life together—or at least like I could pretend I did for a couple of hours.“Why am I doing this again?” I muttered to myself, letting out a shaky sigh.Because your friends told you to. Because you can’t keep thinking about Matteo. Because this is the first step to moving on.The reasons ran through my mind like a mantra, but none of them felt convincing. Still, I grabbed my clutch and headed out the door. I wasn’t the type to bail out of things I’ve already committed to, and I wouldn’t start now.The restaurant was trendy but not overly formal, the kind of place where first dates happened all the time. I spotted Jason almost immediately—tall, blonde, and conventionally attractive, just like Riley had pro