The Mafia's Obsession

Chapter4

Anna’s POV

The little boy’s question hung in the air, slicing through my foggy thoughts.

I stared at him, my mind going blank.

Mommy?

I remembered my father saying that Richard had no young children. All his kids were grown and studying abroad.

So why…

“What’s your name?” I asked carefully, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

The boy’s brows pulled together, scowling as he pointed his candy at me. “Shouldn’t you know? What kind of mommy are you?”

My lips parted in awe, and I didn’t know if I should be amused or offended.

Just then, sharp footsteps echoed from outside the door.

The boy’s eyes widened, panic flaring in his face as he looked between me and the door. It was almost like he was calculating his next move.

As the doorknob jiggled, he scrambled under the bed like a frightened kitten, pulling the covers down behind him. But then he peeked at me through the blanket, placing his index finger against his lips.

“Ssshh!” he exclaimed.

The door swung open, and my heart stuttered as Jayden Rivers walked in.

What was he doing here?

Jayden’s presence filled the room like a smoke screen, standing tall in black slacks and a rolled-up dress shirt. His dark hair was tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it too many times.

His smile came easily. Warm and welcoming. Just like his eyes.

“You’re awake.”

It turns out that I was wrong. I wasn’t in Richard’s house, but it belonged to Jayden. He had explained everything to me, and I was stunned to hear that he had confronted my family and gotten Richard arrested.

For the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe. I heaved out a sigh of relief, my chest swelling with immense gratitude.

He had really come to save me. But why would he go as far as paying my father off to help me? As happy as I was, I couldn’t believe he did it out of pure goodwill.

“Why are you helping me?” I muttered, wringing my hands together.

Jayden leaned against the wall, his hands tucked in his pockets.

“Well,” he began, his expression softening. “You remind me of someone I wanted to save but couldn’t. And after you told me about everything you were going through, I couldn’t just forget that I heard a girl crying for help.”

I nodded, pressing my lips into a straight line, trying my best to comprehend everything that had happened.

“I promise I’ll pay you back,” I told him, realizing my father’s greed must have cost him. “I can’t just leave without doing anything in return.”

Jayden straightened up, his lips resting on a crooked smile. One that belonged to a businessman striking a deal. “You can pay me in kind.”

I stilled, eyes rounding as heat shot straight into my cheeks.

I was immediately reminded of his body pressed against mine, of how his lips tasted like cigarettes and wine, and how he ravaged my body in the most addictive way.

Oh lord.

Did he mean…that?

Right now?

Jayden arched a brow, like he could tell what I was thinking.

“Relax,” he drawled. “I didn’t mean sex.”

I buried my face in my hands, crushed by the weight of embarrassment. While I silently wished for the ground to swallow me whole, he let out a low chuckle, clearly amused.

“On the contrary,” he continued, and I slowly raised my gaze. “I want you to work for me.”

I blinked once. Then twice.

“Work? How?”

Jayden’s gaze shifted to the bed, reminding me that we weren’t alone.

“Ethan,” he called, tone firm but not unkind. “Come out.”

There was no response at first.

Jayden sighed. “Keep this up, and I won’t take you to the amusement park this weekend.”

A small gasp sounded, followed by the little boy crawling out sheepishly. He jumped down from the bed and clung to Jayden’s leg, his eyes narrowed at me.

Jayden ran a gentle hand through his curls, facing me once again. “This is my son Ethan. I want you to be his nanny.”

His son?

I looked between him and Ethan, but I could barely see the resemblance. Ethan had curly blonde hair and green eyes, pink flushed cheeks, and pale skin. He couldn’t be more than five years old.

Maybe he resembled his mother….

His mother…..

Realization dawned on me.

He was a single father.

“Anna?”

I snapped back to reality, meeting Jayden’s worried gaze. Taking a deep breath, I smiled, pushing back my thoughts. “I’ll take the job.”

Jayden mirrored my expression. “You should rest. Afterward, we’ll discuss your responsibilities.”

“Alright.”

“So she’s not my new mommy?” Ethan looked up at his father. “I wanted a mommy.”

The words punched me right in the chest.

“She’s your nanny. So be nice to her, okay?” Jayden answered calmly.

Ethan’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded. “Okay, daddy.”

They turned to leave, but then Ethan ran back to me, fishing into his pockets.

“Here.” He handed me a candy, offering me a bright smile. “Daddy said," I should be nice to you.”

My heart fluttered at the gesture. I took the candy from him, then he waved goodbye. When he skittered back to Jayden, he ruffled his hair proudly, looking over his shoulder at me before closing the door behind him.

Once they were gone. My gaze lingered on the candy, and before I knew it, my vision blurred with tears.

But this time, there were tears of joy.

****

Once I was fully recovered, I was handed over to the head housekeeper, a stern older woman named Mrs. Fiona who looked at me like I was a stain on her marble floors.

Now she was guiding me through a tour of the mansion.

“This way,” she snapped, heels clicking. “Try to keep up.”

I tried my best to do so, but she marched like a sergeant at war.

“This is the west wing. You are not allowed here. The family dining hall is below. You are not allowed there either. The private study is absolutely off-limits.”

She didn’t even look back as she continued shooting rules like gunfire.

After the tour, she finally faced me, her lips twisted in disgust. “You’re nothing but a pretty face, I don’t know why the master took on a charity case.”

“Excuse me?” I was bewildered. It wasn’t like she knew anything about me.

Her gaze sharpened. “Did I ask you to speak?”

My jaw clenched, but I held my tongue.

A maid scurried over to whisper something in Mrs Fiona's ear, and she rolled her eyes before turning to leave. But not without gracing me with a nasty look.

The maid—Paula, her name tag read—turned to me with an apologetic smile once Fiona marched off.

“You must be the new nanny. Anna, right?” She started.

I nodded weakly, unsure of how to interact with others.

“I’m Paula,” she said, stretching her hand forward. “And don’t mind Mrs Fiona, she always acts like she has a stick up her ass.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her choice of words, reaching out to shake her hand.

“She’s…intense,” I replied.

“That’s the polite way to put it,” Paula giggled. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Just avoid her in the mornings. And afternoons. And evenings.”

We both laughed softly. And I couldn’t help but feel excited.

****

Later that evening, I had my first task and that was to give Ethan his medicine.

But it looked like I had already failed as Ethan decided it was the right time to play hide and seek.

“Ethan,” I called gently, brows furrowed in worry.

I tried tracing his trail of toys, but the mansion was huge, he could be anywhere. I haven’t seen Jayden since the last time we spoke, so how would I face him when I tell him I lost his son on the first day?

As I searched the hallway, two maids trailed past me, whispering not so quietly to each other.

“Did you hear? Mrs. Fiona was caught stealing from the wine cellar again. ”

“She also embezzled some funds meant for the house. Mr. Rivers fired her on the spot.”

Their voices faded as they turned down the hall, but they left a lingering fear in my heart.

What if Jayden fires me because of this mistake?

I shook my head to bury the negative thoughts, clenching my fists in determination.

Let’s find Ethan first.

I searched everywhere, checking the places he could be. The sun had already set, but there was still no sign of him.

While I frantically roamed the mansion, I took a wrong turn and ended up in a secluded part of the east wing. And unfortunately for me, I had forgotten the way back.

“Damn it.” I combed my fingers through my hair, letting out a sigh.

I decided to retrace my steps. Then—

BANG.

I stopped dead in my tracks, a cold pulse shooting through my ribs.

That was a gunshot. No mistake.

The sound came from the room at the end of the hall.

I should have gone the other way. I should have run the moment I heard it. But my legs moved before my brain did.

When I reached the doorway, peeking around the corner, I greatly regretted my choice.

My eyes widened with a scream I couldn’t release.

Jayden stood over a body.

A gun in his hand.

Mrs. Fiona’s lifeless form lay sprawled on the floor, her blood creeping towards his shoes.

I stumbled back in horror, my elbow knocking over a glass vase from the pedestal

by the door.

It shattered with a sharp crash.

Jayden’s head snapped up, his amber eyes locked straight onto mine.