THE BILLIONAIRE'S NANNY

THE FIRST NIGHT

EPISODE 7: THE FIRST NIGHT

"Can Amara sleep with us?"

Sofia’s words were still ringing in my ears.

Adrian was staring at me like he didn’t know what to say.

I was staring at the floor like it would swallow me.

Sofia just stood there. Holding both our hands. Waiting.

"Uh," Adrian said. "Baby, Amara has her own room—"

Sofia frowned. "But she sleeps with me when I cry."

"That’s different," Adrian said softly. "That’s because you had a nightmare."

"I’m not having a nightmare now," Sofia said. Matter of fact. "I just want her here."

My heart.

Adrian looked at me. "Amara? It’s up to you."

All the rules I made for myself flashed in my head.

Don’t get attached.

Don’t cross the line.

Don’t forget you’re the nanny.

Then I looked at Sofia. Hair in braids. Rabbit in one hand. My hand in the other.

"Okay," I whispered. "I’ll sleep here tonight."

Sofia smiled. A real, small smile.

Adrian exhaled. "Okay then. Guest pajamas in the bathroom. Extra toothbrush too."

---

Sofia’s room was huge. King size bed. Too big for one kid.

We all climbed in. Sofia in the middle. Me on one side. Adrian on the other.

It was awkward at first. Too quiet.

Lily was with Mrs. Hayes for the night. "Girls’ sleepover," Mrs. Hayes said. Thank God.

Sofia was quiet for 5 minutes. Then she rolled over. Grabbed my shirt.

"Story?" she asked.

Adrian and I both froze.

"Story?" Adrian repeated. His voice was hoarse. "You want a story, baby?"

Sofia nodded.

I cleared my throat. "What kind of story?"

"Dinosaur," Sofia said.

Adrian sat up a little. "I know a dinosaur story."

And for the next 15 minutes, Adrian Bello, billionaire CEO, told a very dramatic story about a T-Rex who was scared of the dark.

Sofia giggled. Twice.

When he finished, she yawned. Snuggled between us.

"Night," she whispered.

"Night, baby," Adrian said.

"Night, Amara," she added.

"Night, Sofia," I said. My voice cracked.

We laid there. In the dark.

After 20 minutes, I heard Adrian’s breathing even out. He was asleep.

Sofia was asleep too. Holding my hand.

I stared at the ceiling. This was dangerous. This felt like family.

I fell asleep anyway.

---

I woke up at 6 AM to sunlight and weight on my chest.

Sofia was using me as a pillow. Adrian was on the other side, one arm thrown over both of us.

He opened his eyes. Saw me. Saw Sofia.

And he smiled. Not the tired CEO smile. A real one.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Morning," I whispered back.

Sofia stirred. "Pancakes?" she mumbled.

Adrian and I both laughed. Quiet.

"Yes baby," Adrian said. "Pancakes."

---

Breakfast was chaos. Good chaos.

Sofia sat on Adrian’s lap. Ate 3 pancakes.

Lily came back and told us about the "princess pillow fort" she built with Mrs. Hayes.

Adrian kept looking at me over Sofia’s head. Like he couldn’t believe this was real.

After breakfast, he pulled me aside in the hallway.

"Last night," he said. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saying yes. For... staying. She hasn’t slept through the night in months. She did last night."

"She’s healing," I said. "You are too."

He nodded. "Can we... do that again? Not every night. But sometimes?"

"Yeah," I said. "Sometimes."

He looked relieved. "Okay."

---

Day 12 was normal.

Sofia said "down" when she wanted off the swing.

She drew another picture. This time it was 4 people holding hands. Under a sun.

Adrian framed it. Put it in his office.

At night, no nightmare. But Sofia still asked.

"Can Amara sleep with us?"

And again, I said yes.

This time it was less awkward. We talked for a bit before bed.

"Why did you leave your job in New York?" I asked Adrian.

"Because it was killing me," he said. "And because my daughter needed me more than my company did."

"Do you regret it?"

"No." He looked at me. "Not anymore."

Sofia fell asleep holding both our hands.

---

Day 13.

Vanessa’s lawyer called. "Supervised visit. Saturday. 2 hours. Public park."

Adrian went pale. "She’s not ready."

"She has to be," Ms. Reid said. "Court order."

Saturday came.

The park was full of people. Vanessa was there. Red dress. Sunglasses. A nanny behind her.

Sofia hid behind me the second she saw her.

"Hi baby," Vanessa said. Sweet voice. Fake. "Mommy missed you."

Sofia didn’t answer.

"Sofia, say hi to your mother," Vanessa’s lawyer said.

Adrian knelt. "You don’t have to, baby. Not if you don’t want to."

Sofia shook her head. No.

Vanessa’s face twisted. "This is your fault," she said to me. Low. "You turned her against me."

"I didn’t do anything," I said. "Except stay."

"2 hours," the supervisor said. "Let’s go."

We sat on a bench. Vanessa tried to talk. Sofia ignored her. Played with Lily in the sandbox.

After 30 minutes, Vanessa stood up. "This is ridiculous. She’s brainwashed."

She left. 30 minutes early.

Sofia didn’t even notice. She was too busy building a sandcastle with Lily.

Adrian watched her. Then looked at me.

"Thank you," he said. "For being her shield."

---

That night, Sofia had a nightmare again.

I ran in. Adrian was already there.

She was crying. "Mommy left! Mommy left!"

Adrian picked her up. "I’m here baby. I’m not leaving."

I climbed in bed too. On the other side.

Sofia grabbed both of us. "Don’t go."

"We’re not going," Adrian said. "We’re right here."

It took an hour for her to calm down.

When she finally slept, Adrian didn’t move.

"Amara," he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I think I’m falling for you."

My breath caught.

"I know it’s fast. And messy. And I’m her dad and you’re her nanny and—"

"Adrian," I whispered.

"But I can’t pretend I don’t feel it. When you’re here, the house isn’t empty. When you laugh, she laughs. When you’re in the room, I can breathe."

I was crying. "I feel it too."

He turned to me. In the dark. Sofia between us, asleep.

He reached out. Brushed my cheek.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked. Quiet.

I nodded.

And he did.

Soft. Careful. Like I might break.

When he pulled back, Sofia stirred.

We both froze. Then laughed quietly.

"Later," he whispered.

"Later," I agreed.

---

Day 14.

We didn’t tell anyone. Not Mrs. Hayes. Not Lily.

But everyone knew.

The way Adrian looked at me at breakfast.

The way I reached for his hand when Sofia was drawing.

Sofia knew too. Kids always know.

That evening, she crawled into my lap while I was reading.

"Amara?" she said.

"Yeah baby?"

"Are you my new mommy?"

The room went silent.

Adrian was in the doorway. He didn’t move.

I looked at Sofia. At her big eyes. At the hope there.

"I don’t know, baby," I said honestly. "But I’m here. And I’m not leaving. Okay?"

Sofia thought about it. Then nodded.

"Okay," she said. "You can be my almost mommy."

Adrian made a sound. Like he was choking.

Later, in the kitchen, he hugged me. From behind.

"Almost mommy," he whispered in my ear. "I like that."

"Me too," I whispered.

Rule 1: Don’t get attached.

I tore up the rule book.

[END OF EPISODE 7]

Should Amara and Adrian tell Sofia they’re dating?? Or keep it secret for now? COMMENT 👇

# Stary Writing Marathon #Contemporary #Billionaire #SingleMom #Nanny #Healing #Kids #FoundFamily #SlowBurn #AlmostMommy