CHAPTER THREE
1173 Words
Emilia’s POV
“What were you thinking?” Ashley was mad. And there was no stopping her when she was in that state. “All you had to do was stick to the rules.”
We were walking to Adrien’s car after sending everyone else off. He never came out of his room, but he didn’t have to. The minute he asked me to inform everyone to leave, his butler was aware too and saw to that effect.
“I’m sorry!” I mutter, hugging Adrien’s sweater. “I didn’t mean to.”
Ashley stopped abruptly and turned around. “Do you know what that means? Mr. De Luca isn’t going to let us use his place next summer.”
“But we will be graduates by then,” Adrien said under his breath. He got a bad eye from Ashley, and at once, he raised his hands in the air in mock surrender.
“What happens to the next president of the arts club?” She continued, her wild hair flying all over the place. “What legacy am I leaving behind? For the first time in five years, it is possible that there won’t be an arts party in the De Luca estate. Do you know what that means?”
“Stop yelling at her!” Adrien snapped. “She made a mistake, but Emilia is also going through a lot, okay? Chill out.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she murmured, stalking away. “Just pray that the meeting goes well.”
I stood there, watching Ashley’s retreating figure until she faded into the dark.
“You know she didn’t mean that,” Adrien muttered, always the level-headed one. “She’s not really pissed at you. Ashley just hates when things spiral out of control. She will come around.”
“But she’s right,” I said, allowing my hands to drop from the sweater. The night was cold, but I still felt the warmth from earlier. It pooled in my belly and made me feel funny. “I always mess things up.”
“Emilia…”
“I must have done something to make the University suspend my scholarship. And maybe my mom was right too when she said I would never make it without her.”
“Stop talking, Emilia.”
“I should have just stayed back in the dorm instead of…”
“Emilia!” Adrien grabbed my wrist suddenly, pulling me into his arms. The rest of my words died on my tongue as I remained there, nestled in the familiarity of his embrace. I tried not to cry, even though I felt the tears stinging the corners of my eyes.
“This isn’t about you,” he whispered, his hand patting my hair gently. “The University is stupid for suspending your scholarship, but it is only temporary.”
“This is my last year, Adrien,” I breathed. “How am I going to pay the tuition? I am going to be a dropout, and my mother is going to laugh at me.”
He pulled away slowly, but still kept me in front of him. “You are not going to be a dropout. I promise. You are going to attend the interview for the role of the nanny tomorrow, and you are going to be hired.”
I shook my head and took a step back, wrapping my hands around my frame. I had tried not to think about this all night.
“You think I would be given the job? There would probably be like a hundred other people applying who desperately need the money like I do.”
“Emilia, be positive.”
“How can I be?” I questioned exasperatedly. “You sent the opening to me. You saw the amount they are offering. Everyone will want it, including those qualified to take care of a baby. I have never had to be a live-in nanny.”
“You have babysat people’s children growing up.”
“That’s different.”
He pulled me into his arms again. “It isn’t, Emilia. You’ll see.”
I didn’t believe him.
“Come on,” he muttered, wrapping a hand around my neck. “Let’s go.”
We walked to his car together, and Adrian stopped to get the passenger door open before walking around to slide in behind the wheel. Ashley was in the back seat, but she didn’t say a word throughout the ride.
An awkward silence settled between us, but I was too emotionally down to do something about it. Leaning out of the window, I closed my eyes as the wind caressed my face. I saw him.
Mr. De Luca.
Those green eyes were still watching me, his low buzzed cut giving him a menacing yet alluring look. I tried to push him out of my head, but it felt like the harder I tried, the more determined his image became.
I felt a shudder rush through me as Adrien’s car coughed to a halt in the middle of the road.
“s**t!” He muttered, twisting the key in the ignition as if that was going to make it remember to start again. Another cough echoed through the car. It was the first time Ashley moved.
“What is going on?”
“I think it is the engine,” Adrien groaned, pushing the door open. He stepped out into the night and walked ahead to the hood, popping it open. Ashley and I stayed in silence as he looked around, but it didn’t seem like anything was working out.
My hands were on the handle of the door, about to push it open as well, when Ashley sighed loudly.
“I was out of line,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t have been so rude to you. I’m sorry, Emilia.”
“It’s fine,” I replied, getting out. Ashley did the same as well, falling into the side of the road. It was dark and deserted. We couldn’t stay out here for too long.
“Emilia…”
“You don’t have to apologize again, Ashley.”
“I’m really sorry.”
I turned to her.
“Adrian mentioned you had something going on with you. What happened?”
I didn’t tell Ashley because she was having so much fun during her summer break that I didn’t want to ruin it for her. And when she returned, she had to plan the art party. She was so occupied with that that it would have been unfair to have brought up my problem.
My lips moved, but Adrien cut me off when he suddenly leaned away from the hood.
“What the …”
My head jerked sharply in his direction, and I closed my eyes when bright lights from a car overtook the area. The soft purr of the engine had me opening my eyes again. An SUV parked beside us, and the windows rolled down.
His green eyes found me.
“Get in.”
- Writer
