THE BILLION-DOLLAR NANNY OF THE MAFIA KING

ALONE

I was so stunned I could only nod. I followed Amy out to the car, my forehead tingling where he had kissed softly. A long, black car was waiting in the driveway and a man in a dark suit was standing by the door. He had a sour expression and didn't even look at me as he opened the door for Amy.

"Hurry up," he muttered as I approached.

"I’m coming," I said, trying to be polite.

"I don't have all day for the nanny," Silas snapped, his voice dripping with disdain.

I didn't respond, it was my first day and i didn’t want to get in trouble with anyone. I just got into the car with Amy. The drive to the school was silent. Silas drove aggressively, weaving through traffic as if he were in a race. When we pulled up to the gates of St. Jude's, I was impressed. It looked like a museum, all stone pillars and perfectly manicured lawns.

I got out and walked Amy to the front gate. Other parents were there, women in designer suits and men with expensive watches. They looked at me, then at Amy, and then back at me. I heard a few whispers and some stifled laughter.

"Is that the new one?" one woman whispered, looking at my simple dress. "She looks like she belongs in a kitchen, not a Silvano car."

"She probably thinks she's special because he kept her," another sneered.

I ignored them and knelt down hugging Amy. "Have a great day, honey. I’ll be right here to pick you up at three. I promise."

"Bye Amelia!" Amy shouted, running through the gates.

I stood there for a moment, watching her go, a small smile on my face. I turned to walk back to the car, but as I got closer, I heard the engine roar. Before I could even reach the handle, Silas started the engine and the car sped away leaving a cloud of exhaust in its wake.

I stood there, dumbfounded. He had left me.

A few of the mothers nearby started laughing openly. "Oh look, the help got left behind. I guess she isn't that important after all."

"Maybe she can walk back to the gutter she came from," someone else jeered.

I felt the sting of tears in my eyes, but I blinked them away because I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. I started walking, I couldn't help but feel dumb because I didn't have my phone. I didn't even have Kade's number. I just knew the general direction of the estate.

I walked for what felt like miles. The sidewalks disappeared, replaced by narrow roads and industrial areas. I was lost and the sky, which had been bright this morning, turned a heavy, stormy grey.

And just like that, the ones above decided to cry, within a few seconds, I was soaked to the bone. My white dress, which had felt so pretty this morning, became transparent, clinging to my body and showing every curve, every outline of my skin. I could see the dark circles of my n*****s and the line of my underwear. I actually felt stupid for not wearing something darker and proper.

I tried to cover myself with my hands, but it was useless. I looked like a drowned rat. I turned into a narrow alley, hoping to find a shortcut or a place to hide from the wind, but I stopped short.

Three men were standing under a metal awning, smoking. They looked up as I approached, their eyes traveling slowly down my soaked, transparent dress.

"Well, look at what the rain washed in," one of them said, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

"You look a little cold, sweetheart," another sneered, stepping toward me. "Why don't you come over here and let us warm you up? We promise to give you a good treat"

"Leave me alone," I said, my voice trembling. If it were that lecherous Mr. Lloyd, I'd have kicked him where the sun doesn't shine. But these were 3 burly men that could throw me away like a sack of potatoes.

"Oh, she’s got a little fire in her," the first one said, his gaze fixed on my chest. "I bet she'd look even better without that wet rag on."

They started to move toward me. Fear, sharp and cold, shot through my veins. I didn't wait because I wasn't that stupid or cocky. I turned and bolted, running through the pouring rain, my feet splashing in deep puddles, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I didn't know where I was going, all I knew was that I had to get away.

I ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like pudding. I turned another corner and saw a row of large industrial dumpsters. I scrambled behind one of them, sinking onto the wet pavement and hugging my knees to my chest.

The rain hammered against the metal bin, and the wind whipped around me. I was shivering so hard my teeth were chattering. I closed my eyes, the image of Kade’s face in the doorway of the nursery the only thing keeping me from giving up.

"Please," I whispered into the dark, wet air. "Kade, please find me."