Chapter 5

• Brayden’s POV
• The morning light spilled over the hospital driveway as Luca and I waited for Penelope Lorenzo to finish her discharge process. I had instructed Luca to handle the hospital fees first thing this morning. It wasn’t a question of cost; it was about resolving the mess I’d inadvertently caused.
• Penelope finally appeared, her steps slow and hesitant. She was clutching her bag tightly, her wary eyes darting from me to Luca and then back to the car.
• “Miss Lorenzo,” I said, gesturing toward the black sedan parked by the curb. “This way.”
• She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the bag’s strap. Then, with a barely audible sigh, she stepped forward and slid into the back seat. I followed, sitting beside her. Luca, as always, took the driver’s seat without a word.
• As the car pulled away, I felt her shift uncomfortably in her seat. Her silence was heavy, but I didn’t mind waiting.
• Finally, she cleared her throat, her voice uncertain. “Um…”
• I glanced at her. “Yes?”
• “What kind of job…” she started, her words slow and careful, “requires me to go to your house?”
• I smiled faintly, though she couldn’t see it under my mask. “You’ll be a nanny.”
• Her head turned toward me sharply. “A nanny?”
• “Yes,” I replied evenly.
• She blinked, clearly processing the information. “You mean… for your child?”
• I nodded.
• “You have a child?” she asked, her tone laced with surprise.
• “Yes,” I said simply.
• She looked down at her hands, visibly trying to piece it all together. “And… your wife?”
• “There’s no wife,” I said bluntly.
• Her head snapped up. “Oh. I didn’t mean to assume…”
• “It’s fine,” I said, cutting her off. “I’m used to people assuming.”
• She looked back out the window, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the strap of her bag.
• After a long silence, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if… what if your daughter doesn’t like me?”
• I smirked, leaning back against the seat. “She’s four years old. She doesn’t have complex tastes. Besides, with your personality, I doubt that will be a problem.”
• “My personality?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
• “Yes,” I said matter-of-factly. “You’re kind, resilient, and fiercely determined. All traits that would make you a good fit.”
• She didn’t respond, but her cheeks flushed slightly. She turned her gaze back to the window, avoiding my eyes.
• The rest of the drive was silent, save for the hum of the engine. Luca focused on the road ahead, his steady hands guiding the car through the city streets.
• When we arrived at the estate, the towering iron gates opened smoothly, revealing the sprawling mansion beyond.
• “Here we are,” I said as Luca brought the car to a stop in the circular driveway.
• Penelope stepped out slowly, her eyes widening as she took in the size of the property.
• “This way,” I said, gesturing toward the front entrance.
• We had barely taken a few steps when Luca called out from behind us.
• “Don. Giovanni,” he said, his voice cautious.
• I turned to face him, immediately on alert. “What is it?”
• Luca hesitated, his gaze flickering briefly to Penelope before returning to me. “It’s about the file, sir.”
• I narrowed my eyes. “What file?”
• “The file I left on your desk yesterday,” he said, his voice dropping. “It’s… gone.”
• “Gone?” I repeated, my tone sharp.
• Luca nodded, his expression grim. “I’ve searched everywhere, sir. It’s not in the office.”
• My jaw tightened. The implications of a missing file, especially one containing sensitive information, were not lost on me.
• “Do you have any idea how important that file is?” I asked, my voice low and coming out dangerous.
• “Yes, sir,” Luca said quickly. “I’m doing everything I can to locate it.”
• “You better Find it!” I ordered, my tone icy. “Now.”
• Luca nodded and turned away, heading towards the car.
• I turned back to Penelope, who was watching the exchange with curious eyes.
• “Go ahead inside,” I told her, softening my tone. “Someone will show you to your room.”
• She nodded hesitantly and walked toward the front door.
• As she disappeared inside, I clenched my fists, my mind racing. Whoever had taken that file had no idea the storm they were about to unleash.
• Penelope’s POV
• Sitting in the back seat of the sleek black car, I tried my best to remain calm, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing.
• This man, Brayden Giovanni, was an enigma. From the moment I woke up in the hospital and saw him standing there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was someone I should be cautious of.
• His presence was overwhelming—silent, yet demanding attention—and the mask he wore only added to the mystery.
• When he said I was to be a nanny, my mind went blank for a moment.
• A nanny? For his child? I thought someone like him would have a picture-perfect family—maybe a wife, a few more children, and a life far removed from mine.
• But when I asked about his wife, his answer threw me off completely. “There’s no wife,” he’d said.
• I didn’t mean to pry, but I couldn’t stop wondering why.
• A man like him—a man who exudes power, wealth, and authority—shouldn’t have a reason to live alone. Unless… unless there was more to his story than he let on.
• I wanted to ask more, to understand the man who had upended my life in the strangest of ways, but I stopped myself. What right did I have? I was just a girl trying to survive, dragged into his world by pure accident.
• Just as we were about heading inside his luxurious mansion, His driver, Luca, called out to him. The tone of his voice was hesitant, almost nervous.
• I watched as Brayden turned to him, his body language stiffening. The way Luca explained the situation—something about a missing file—only fueled my curiosity.
• I had no idea what was in that file, but judging by Brayden’s reaction, it was important. His voice dropped, low and menacing, and for a moment, I felt a chill run down my spine.
• This wasn’t the same man who had offered me a job moments ago. This was someone dangerous, someone who commanded fear and respect with just a glance.
• As he and Luca continued their conversation, I felt like an outsider in a world I didn’t belong to.
• Whatever kind of man Brayden Giovanni was, it was clear he operated in a realm far beyond my comprehension and I better not step on his toes…
• Else—