A rap on my door claims my attention, and I tear my eyes from the email I’m in the middle of writing to look over my shoulder.
“Cris.” Isa pokes her head into the room. “I brought you some lunch.” Without waiting for an invitation, she strides into my home office carrying a plate and a mug. I lock my screen and swivel in my chair. “I’ll eat with all of you.”
“We’ve already eaten.” She sets the plate and mug down on my desk. “I told Sloane to tell you. Didn’t she say anything?”
“No one said anything, but it’s fine.” I gesture toward my screen as she props her butt against the side of my desk and stretches her legs out in front of her. “I have a lot on my plate today anyway, and I want to finish early so I can take Elio to the courts.” I lift the sandwich from the plate.
“Don’t expect much,” she says, scrunching her nose and glaring at the sandwich as if it’s personally offended her. “How anyone can mess up a sandwich is beyond me, and I wouldn’t hold out much hope for the coffee either. She’s clueless.”
I silently count to ten. “I hired Sloane to be a nanny, not a chef or a barista.” I examine the sandwich in my hand. “Looks good to me.” I take a huge bite out of the pastrami salad sandwich, finding no fault with it.
“I’ve probably spoiled you with my superior cooking skills. I guess you’ll have to lower your standards now.”
Fucking hell. “It’s not a competition, Isa.” It takes effort to soften my tone and keep my words kind when I’m tempted to throttle her. “Elio loves you. He’ll still love you even when you are no longer his nanny. You don’t need to worry about being ousted from his life.”
“I’m not.” She moves in closer and leans down. “I’m worried about you. That girl has ulterior motives, Cris, and you’re already playing right into her hands.”
I really hate when she calls me that. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it,” I demand in a clipped tone, struggling to hold onto my legendary patience.
“She’s not even on the job twenty-four hours, and you’re buying her things!”
“Careful, Isa. You’re beginning to sound like a jealous girlfriend.”
“She’s taking advantage of you, and you can’t even see it!”
I stand, beyond incensed. “I provided her with the tools she needed to perform her job. You are reading far too much into this, and you are way out of line. I know you don’t like her. You’ve made that blatantly clear, but you don’t get a say in how I run my life or the decisions I make for my son.”
“What twenty-one-year-old doesn’t own a cell, a tablet, or a laptop? You can’t tell me she doesn’t have the money. She was well paid by the diplomat, and she’s single with no financial commitments. Like I said, she’s playing you, and you need to open your goddamned eyes, Cristian!” She’s getting all worked up for fucking nothing, and I’m at my wit’s end with her. I don’t know why she is acting like this.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but the financial check I ran confirms the girl is broke.” Isa wasn’t privy to the financial reports of any of the candidates, as it had no bearing on their suitability for the role. I like to be thorough, and I had the full gamut of checks performed, only sharing the pertinent information with my former nanny.
“And that’s not suspicious.” She snorts, and it’s very unattractive. I’m seeing a side to Isa I really don’t like.
“Connect the dots, Isotta! Her mother died of cancer seven months ago. She was her only family. The bank foreclosed on her family home, and she was left with a mountain of other debt. It’s obvious where her money was and is going.” Sloane has requested her salary be paid into two bank accounts. A small amount is going into her personal bank account, with the bulk going into an account that debtors are paid from. The girl literally exists on nothing. Of course, she can’t afford a new cell and tablet. “You’re the only one who thinks this is suspicious.”
I think Sloane’s meager personal possessions are further indication of her dire situation. Yesterday, I was afraid it meant she wasn’t planning to stick around, but after thinking about it last night, this is the obvious conclusion. Sloane doesn’t have the funds to buy herself things. I have more money than I know what to do with. So I plan to add a clothing allowance to her contract, and I’ve already notified my housekeeper to buy whatever toiletries and cosmetics Sloane needs. If she questions it, Mrs. Peake knows to lie and say I did the same for Isa.
I’d outright offer to help if I didn’t think Sloane would refuse. I vow to find other ways to support her without making her feel like a charity case. While she’s in my employ, Sloane will not want for anything. A happy nanny means a happy Elio, and I’ll do whatever I can to alleviate stress in Sloane’s life.
“I’m not buying her act, Cris.” Isa pushes off my desk, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’d do well to be on your guard. Don’t let her pretty face and cosmetically enhanced body distract you from her true agenda.”
She’s like a broken record, and I’m sick of hearing it. “I’m not having this same argument with you.” I rub at my throbbing temples, barely resisting the urge to grab Isotta and shake her. “I’ve got work to do.”
“I’m only trying to protect you.” Her hand lands on my arm. “You’re a man. It’s natural you’re led by your dick, but you’re smarter than this.”
I step back, letting her hand fall away. It takes colossal effort not to lash out at the woman. It’s clear she feels threatened, and I’m trying to understand it, but she doesn’t get to speak to me like this. “You need to leave, Isa. Go now before I say something we’ll both regret.”
Hurt splays across her face, taking the edge off my rage but only slightly.
“We’re taking Elio out on his bike in a bit, just in case you come looking for us.”
“Take Clint and Umberto with you.”
“Of course. You don’t need to tell me that.” She huffs before finally taking the hint and exiting my office, taking her envy and disdain with her. The door slams shut, and I pray for patience that is in limited supply.
Flopping down in my chair, I rest my head back and close my eyes for a few seconds. Then I pick up my sandwich and wolf the rest of it down. My mouth pulls into a grimace when I gulp back a mouthful of coffee. Goddamn. It’s awful. All Isa had to do was show Sloane how to use the machine, but I guess that’s asking for too much.
Taking my empty plate and the almost full mug, I head out of my office toward the kitchen to make myself a fresh cup.
“It’s clear you didn’t grow up in a good Italian American family.” Isa’s cutting tone reaches me in the hallway, and I slow my steps to eavesdrop. “More like dragged up,” she spitefully adds.
“How dare you.” Sloane’s voice is level, but I hear the simmering rage behind her words. “My mother was a single mom, and she sacrificed a lot so I never went without. She raised me right, and there is nothing wrong with this kitchen. It’s perfectly clean. Last I checked, I was the nanny, not the housekeeper.”
“We have standards here. Standards you’re already failing to measure up to, and I’m not just talking about the kitchen. You will stay here and properly clean the kitchen while I take Elio out to the park.”
“I don’t answer to you, and Cristian made it clear Elio is my responsibility now. I’m not staying behind. I’m going with you.”
“Listen here, you little gold-digging witch.”
I’ve heard enough. I’m seething as I stalk into the kitchen and face the warring women. “A word, Isotta.”
My stern tone brooks no argument as I glare at Elio’s maternal aunt. Elio is stalled in the doorway on the other side of the room, his little brow furrowed as he looks between his former and current nanny. “Hey, buddy.” I purposely soften my tone and smile at my son.
Horror washes over both women’s faces, and it’s clear they were too busy arguing to notice him.
“Sloane will get you ready for the park. Show her where your coat and boots are.”
“Okay.” His tone is meek, and I’m livid.
“I’m so sorry,” Sloane whispers, looking distraught. “I didn’t see him there.”
“We’ll talk later. Isotta won’t be going to the park with you. Clint and Umberto will escort you. They know the way.” I introduced her to Elio’s bodyguards this morning and to John Angelo, the soldato I’ve assigned as her personal bodyguard. He’s one of the older men on the security team, but he’s experienced and solid, and he’ll take good care of her.
“I really don’t—”
I shake my head, cutting Isa off mid-sentence, pinning her with a warning look I usually reserve for my enemies. Her lips clamp shut, and I’m glad to see she still has a modicum of sense.
“Buddy, say goodbye to Isa for now. She’ll be back on Saturday to collect you.”
Elio races across the kitchen and throws his arms around Isa’s legs. “I don’t want you to go,” he cries, clinging to her as tears roll down his face.
Pain stabs me in the chest. This isn’t the way I wanted things to be. I had planned a handover that would run for two weeks to gradually acclimate my son to the change. But Isa has left me with no choice. It’s clear the two women do not get along, and forcing them to work together will only cause more problems in the long run. As much as I hate hurting Elio, it’s time to rip the Band-Aid off.
Isa’s pain-filled pleading eyes latch onto mine. I shake my head again. She has brought this on herself. She has orchestrated a situation that’s hurt my son, and it’s unforgivable. While Sloane should not have retaliated while Elio was watching, I believe her when she said she didn’t know he was there, and I don’t blame her for standing up for herself. But the hard truth is, while they were throwing down, no one was thinking about my son, and that is unacceptable.
Sloane stands in the corner, looking heartbroken as she watches Elio sob. Isa lifts him into her arms and hugs him close, whispering reassurances into his ear.
“You’ll still see Auntie Isa, buddy,” I remind him, extracting him from his aunt after a few minutes. I set him on top of the island unit. “It’s okay to be sad, but she’s not going away. You’ll be going to your nonna’s house every Saturday with Auntie Isa to see all your cousins.”
“And Nonno?” he asks in a trembling voice.
“And Nonno too.” I brush his dark hair out of his eyes. “All that’s changing is that Sloane will be with you during the week, and you’re going to have lots of fun with her. Right?”
He sniffles and nods. “Can you come to the park, Daddy?”
I’ve got a shit ton of work to do and people expecting emails and calls, but they’ll have to wait. My son always comes first. I can’t let him go off with his new nanny when he’s upset. He needs reassurance and stability. “Absolutely.” I press a kiss into his hair, inhaling the sweet strawberry scent of his shampoo. “How about this?” I ease back, cupping his handsome little face. “We’ll go for a bike ride and then head to the courts, and what do you say to pizza at Mr. Papas?”
“Yay!” Elio’s screech is so loud it almost bursts my eardrums. He flings his arms around me. “You’re the best daddy ever.”
My heart swells with love. “Love you, bud.” I wrap him in my arms, hugging him to death before I set his small feet on the ground. I give him a little nudge. “Go with Sloane for now.”
He races off before slamming to a halt and spinning on his heel. He comes flying back, throws himself at Isa briefly, and beams up at her. “Bye, Auntie Isa. See you on Saturday.” He takes off again, running toward Sloane.
“Bye, champ. Love you.” Isa’s voice cracks a little.
“Love you too!” he calls out without stopping. His tiny hand slides into Sloane’s hand as he tugs her around the corner.
I wait a few beats to ensure they are out of range before I round on Isa. “I heard what you said to Sloane, and it’s completely unacceptable. I think it’s best you go now, and we limit your engagement to Saturdays for the moment. Elio needs time to bond with Sloane, and that won’t happen if you’re constantly here.”
“Don’t do this, Cristian. Please.” She grips the sleeve of my shirt. “You know how much I love him.”
“You should’ve thought about that while you were lashing out at Sloane in front of him.” I remove her hand from my shirt and take a step back.
“That wasn’t on purpose.”
“No, I don’t think it was, but the fact is you both forgot about my son, and it’s inexcusable, as are the things you said to Sloane.” She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off before she spews more of her vitriol. “You have made your feelings known, Isotta. I don’t need to hear it again. This isn’t the way I wanted the transition to go, but this is the best option for everyone.”
“You’re making a big mistake, Cris,” she whispers.
“We’ll see you Saturday morning.” I shove my hands into my pants pockets, drilling her with a look that confirms this discussion is over for good. “Remember, I need him back by twelve.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
She moves to walk off, and I can’t let her leave like this. “I’m grateful for everything, Isa, and I don’t want things to be awkward between us. You’re important to Elio and me.”
“It sure doesn’t feel like that now.” Pain is etched upon her face.
“We all need time to adjust, and you’ve got a wedding to plan. Focus on that. You deserve to be happy.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. “You do too.”
