CHAPTER 4-- A FLASH FROM THE PAST
1723 Words
Alessia pov
It had been exactly one month since Lucas Moretti had pulled me from Vittorio’s grasp. He insisted that no one know of his involvement and arranged for me to start working as his son’s nanny a month later, as if I were just another employee.
I still didn’t understand his intentions toward me.
It hadn’t gone the way I expected.
He hadn’t touched me—not once.
Sometimes I wondered if he’d bought me for something other than s*x.
And now, I was stuck with someone even more dangerous than Vittorio.
But at least I was safe... for now.
I still remembered the smile on my mother’s face when I told her I was finally free. That memory never failed to warm me. For the first time in a long while, she believed I was safe.
I jabbed the elevator button again, as if sheer impatience could make it arrive faster. It was my first day on the job, and I was already late. Some habits, apparently, refused to die.
The mirrored wall caught my reflection. My eyes widened.
“Oh no.”
I’d forgotten to brush my teeth.
“Seriously, Alessia?”
I breathed into my palm and recoiled instantly.
“Ugh. That’s awful.”
Groaning, I smoothed my hair and straightened my blouse just as the elevator doors slid open. Squaring my shoulders, I stepped out and headed for the living room, praying no one would notice my chaotic morning.
The sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks.
Lucas Moretti sat on the rug beside a little boy, barefoot and completely at ease. The collar of his black shirt hung open, and his dark hair was still damp from the shower.
In the soft morning light, the sharp angles of his face seemed gentler than I remembered.
His blue eyes were vivid and clear, framed by thick lashes, and a trace of stubble accentuated the firm line of his jaw.
He was undeniably handsome.
But it was the quiet tenderness in his expression as he listened to his son that held my gaze.
Before I realized it, I was staring.
“Who are you?”
The sharp voice snapped me back to reality.
My mouth went dry.
“I-I’m Alessia Thompson,” I stammered. “I’m here to babysit.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
Please tell me she didn’t catch me staring.
Alessia, I scolded myself. Stop staring at handsome men.
“The babysitter,” the woman said with a nod, stepping aside. “Come in, Alessia.”
I swallowed my embarrassment and walked inside.
The penthouse was enormous.
Sleek.
Elegant.
The closest I’d been to anything like this was in a movie. This was heavenly. Do people really live like this?
“Sir,” the woman called.
Both of them looked up.
Lucas Moretti gave a small wave of his hand, as though signaling something only she understood.
The little boy didn’t even spare me a glance before returning his attention to the toy in his hands.
God, please don’t let him be the one I’m babysitting.
I wasn’t sure why that thought crossed my mind, but it did.
“Follow me,” the woman said.
I quickly fell into step behind her.
We walked down a long hallway lined with paintings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
I couldn’t stop looking around.
I’d never seen a place this luxurious before.
The silence between us stretched on.
“What’s your name?” I asked, hoping to break the ice. “I mean... if we’re going to be working together, I should at least know who you are.”
She glanced over her shoulder.
“I’m Clara Anderson, the house manager.”
“I’m Alessia Thompson,” I said.
We stopped outside a neatly furnished bedroom.
Clara pushed the door open.
“This will be your room in case you ever need to stay overnight.”
“Oh... no, I won’t be doing that,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
Nice one, Alessia. Why do you always speak before you think?
Clara looked at me for a second before smiling.
“All right.”
We continued walking.
“So... who will I be babysitting?”
I just hoped it wasn’t him.
“Sam.”
“The little boy we just saw?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Why did it have to be him? Doesn’t he have another sibling? I don’t know why, but I was scared.
“Is that a problem?” she asked, slightly turning toward me.
“No! Not at all.” I laughed nervously. “I just... remembered something.”
“I know.”
What? My heart skipped a beat.
What did she mean by that?
Did she know I forgot to brush my teeth?
Oh, my God, Alessia. You’re doomed.
---
My first day on the job hadn’t been nearly as terrible as I’d expected.
Sam wasn’t exactly warm or welcoming, but he hadn’t thrown anything at me, screamed in my face, or tried to run away.
Considering everything I’d heard about him, I counted that as a win.
And somehow...
I’d left the mansion with cookies.
I glanced at the small paper bag tucked beneath my arm as I walked down the sidewalk.
Those weren’t tips.
I literally slipped one into my bag while feeding Sam.
The sudden feeling of guilt hit me.
I thought about it for a second before smiling.
It’s called sharing. And besides, I took only one.
That sounded much better.
My phone vibrated.
[Missed Call — Mom]
A guilty sigh escaped me.
I’d promised to call her after work, but the day had been so overwhelming it had completely slipped my mind.
I’ll call when I get home.
I unlocked my phone and checked my messages.
No new notifications.
Nothing from Marcus. He was clearly serious about this breakup. Who breaks up with their girlfriend because of s*x?
My thumb lingered over our conversation.
After everything...
After he knew I was about to be sold...
He couldn’t even send a message.
He’d probably moved on.
The thought settled heavily in my chest, but I forced myself to let it go.
At least I was still a virgin. I hadn’t given it to him when he wanted it.
My phone buzzed again.
For one hopeful second, my heart lifted.
Then I saw the sender.
Mom.
[Buy these on your way home.
Bread.
Milk.
Eggs.
Fruit.]
I stared at the screen.
"...Seriously?"
Not even a please.
Shaking my head with a smile, I headed toward the nearest grocery store.
---
A few minutes later, I walked back onto the street with shopping bags hanging from both hands.
The evening breeze brushed against my face as people hurried past, wrapped up in their own lives, and the rain began to drizzle.
For the first time all day...
Everything felt normal.
Or as normal as my life ever seemed to get.
Then Lucas Moretti’s words crept back into my mind.
His rules.
Most of them were ordinary: no guests, no smoking, keep Bryan away from the pool without supervision.
Then came the final one.
The only rule he delivered without the slightest hint of flexibility.
“Rule number seven. Do not go into the basement under any circumstances.”
“Stay away from the basement.”
That was it. No explanation.
Who warns their nanny about a basement?
Was it a wine cellar?
A panic room?
Some kind of private office?
What if it was his playroom? No, it can’t be.
Lucas doesn’t look like someone who would have a playroom.
I know he’s frightening, but he’s not that cruel to me.
I think I’ve been watching too many crime movies.
Still...
The warning wouldn’t leave my mind.
Why the basement?
Why make such a point of it?
The more I tried to dismiss it, the stranger it seemed.
Lost in thought, I collided into a wall.
No, this wasn’t a wall. It was living.
The shopping bags slipped from my hands, spilling apples across the pavement.
“Oh!”
I knelt immediately.
Another hand reached the nearest apple before I could.
Long fingers. Steady movements. Unhurried.
Together, we gathered the scattered groceries.
As I reached for the last apple, I lost my balance.
Before I could fall, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, holding me steady.
“You should watch where you’re going.”
His voice was low.
Calm. Almost amused.
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying atten—”
The words caught in my throat.
I looked up.
My heart stopped.
No... It couldn’t be... Vittorio Rinaldi.
“Wow, wow, wow,” he said, clapping his hands. “Look who we have here—an Olympic Gold Medalist.”
“You really believe you can get away with everything, right?”
My stomach tightened.
I shouldn’t be afraid. I no longer belonged to him.
I belonged to Lucas.
It’s been a month now. He’s already moved on.
Without warning, he gripped me.
“Come with me.” His grip was tight on my wrist.
I resisted, drawing attention, but no one dared confront him.
“Leave me alone,” I protested.
His grip grew stronger, pulling me away.
To the back of his car.
Why was this happening to me again? Why couldn’t I catch a break?
“If you cooperate, it’ll be easier for both of us.
Let’s just finish what we started.”
“I am not yours, Vittorio. Leave me alone.”
My scream seemed to go nowhere as the rain began to fall heavily.
Why always me, Lord?
“I told you—you’re mine. No matter how fast you run, fate still brings you to me. And today, nobody is coming to save you. Not even your uncle.”
His grip tightened, trying to pin me.
I thrashed with everything I had, twisting, pushing, refusing to go still.
“Somebody help!” The words tore out of me, raw and desperate.
Then light flashed toward us. Bright. Sudden.
A voice cut through it.
“What is happening?” he said, increasing the brightness.
“Alessia? Is that you?”
The grip loosened. I gasped and pulled back, my eyes stinging from the light.
“Yes,” I choked out. “Please. Yes, it’s me.”
- Writer
