Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 5

SERENIA POV "You have exactly ten minutes to pack your things, Serenia. This is a respectable building, not a zoo." My landlord, Mr. Henderson, stood in the doorway of my tiny studio apartment. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his face practically purple with rage. Behind him, three tiny kittens peeked out from underneath my worn-out sofa, their eyes wide with innocence. They didn’t know they were currently committing a lease violation. "Mr. Henderson, please," I said, holding my hands up in a pleading gesture. "They’re just strays. The shelter was full, and it’s raining outside. I was just going to keep them until tomorrow." "You said that last week. Ten minutes, Serenia. Or I’m throwing your boxes onto the sidewalk myself." He slammed the door shut, the force of it shaking the cheap frame. I sighed, rubbing my temples. My head was throbbing. I looked down at my phone, hoping for a shred of good news, but the screen remained stubbornly dark. No messages from

SERENIA POVThe study looked more like a courtroom than an office. It was lined with dark mahogany bookshelves, a massive leather desk sitting right in the center. Matteo Alcantara walked over and took a seat behind it, his presence immediately filling the room.Leo was still attached to his left leg, his sobbing now reduced to a wet, repetitive hiccup.I didn't wait to be asked to sit. My shoes were still damp, and my feet were starting to ache, so I pulled out one of the heavy leather chairs opposite him and sat down. I rested my hands on my knees, looking directly at him.Matteo leaned back, weaving his long fingers together. The ink on his hands caught the dim light of the desk lamp. He looked at me the way a scientist might look at a strange new insect."You have a lot of nerve, Serenia," he said, his voice smooth but laced with a cold, underlying threat. "You walk into my home soaked in rain, carrying a box of garbage and a basket of cats, demanding ten thousand dollars.""It's

SERENIA POVMatteo flipped open the black leather folder, sliding a crisp, multi-page document across the smooth surface of the desk. A heavy, silver fountain pen followed right after it, rolling to a stop right by my coffee cup."That is your employment contract," Matteo said, his voice dropping into a formal, strictly professional tone. "Read it carefully."I pulled the papers toward me, scanning the neat print. "Let's see. Ten thousand dollars a month. Paid in cash every Friday evening. Free room and board. Premium medical coverage." I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Wow. You guys really don't skimp on benefits.""There are conditions, Serenia," Matteo said, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the desk. "Strict ones. First, you will live here full-time. You are on call whenever Leo is awake. Second, you are responsible for his safety, his diet, and his emotional well-being.""Fair enough. He's a kid, he needs structure," I said, flipping to the next page. "What's thi