THE BILLIONAIRE'S NANNY

WE NEED TO TALK

EPISODE 5: WE NEED TO TALK

Day 7.

Adrian landed at 9 AM.

He texted me: "Home in 30. Office. 10 AM. Please."

Please.

My stomach was doing flips all morning.

Sofia was playing with blocks. She built a tower and didn’t knock it down. She looked at me and said "up."

Two words.

I almost cried.

At 9:55 AM, Mrs. Hayes knocked. "Mr. Bello is in his office."

I wore jeans and a simple blouse. Not the gala dress. I didn’t want him to think I was trying.

Lily stayed with Mrs. Hayes to watch cartoons.

I knocked on his office door.

"Come in."

---

He was standing by the window. Tux from the gala was gone. Gray shirt. Dark jeans. He looked tired but good.

"Close the door," he said.

I did.

He turned around. "How was she?"

"Good. She said ‘up’ today. And she ate all her breakfast."

He nodded. Relief on his face. "Thank you."

Silence.

"Is that all?" I asked. "You said we needed to talk about more than Sofia."

He walked to his desk. Picked up a folder. Put it down.

"Vanessa called," he said finally. "She wants custody."

My blood went cold. "What?"

"She saw the photos from the gala. Me and Sofia. And you." He ran a hand through his hair. "Her lawyer said I’m ‘unstable’ and ‘have inappropriate help in the house’."

"Inappropriate? Because of me?"

"Because you’re living here. Because you’re a single mom. Because they’re going to say you’re using Sofia to get to me."

The words hit me like a slap. "That’s not true."

"I know." He walked to me. Stopped an arm’s length away. "But I need to know, Amara. Are you okay with staying? With the lawyers and the media and all of it? Because if you leave now, I understand."

I looked at him. Really looked. The dark circles. The stress. The way his hands were shaking.

"No," I said. "I’m not leaving."

"Even if they drag your name through the news?"

"Even then."

He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay. Then we fight." He picked up the folder. "These are the papers. Nanny contract. Extended. With hazard pay. And a lawyer on retainer for you too. In case Vanessa tries anything."

"You’re giving me a lawyer?"

"You’re part of this now. Whether you like it or not."

I took the folder. My hands were shaking. "$4000 was already too much. This is—"

"Non-negotiable." He cut me off. Then his voice softened. "And there’s one more thing."

"What?"

"I don’t want you to quit. Because of her. Or because of me."

My heart stopped. "Because of you?"

He looked away. "Forget it."

"No. Don’t do that. Say it."

He met my eyes. "The last 6 months have been hell. Work. Lawyers. Sofia not talking. I was drowning. Then you came. And in 4 days, she said two words. She drew a family. She slept through the night."

"Adrian—"

"So yeah. Because of me. I need you here."

The room was so quiet.

"Okay," I whispered. "I’m staying."

He nodded. Once. Like that settled it.

---

Later that day, Sofia was in the playroom.

Adrian came in. Sat on the floor with us.

He didn’t talk to her. He just built blocks too.

After 10 minutes, Sofia looked at him.

She handed him a red block.

He froze. "For me?"

She nodded.

He took it. His voice was rough. "Thank you, baby."

She didn’t say anything else. But she didn’t leave either.

That night, I got another text. 11 PM.

Adrian: "Can you come to the kitchen?"

Me: "Is Sofia okay?"

Adrian: "She’s asleep. I just... can’t sleep."

I went downstairs in my pajamas and robe.

He was at the island. Two mugs. Tea.

"You drink tea?" I asked.

"Started. After she stopped sleeping."

We sat in silence. Drinking.

"You didn’t have to do the lawyer thing," I said.

"Yes I did." He looked at me. "Amara, I know this is messy. My life. My ex. The money. But you... you’re the first good thing in this house in a long time."

I didn’t know what to say. So I didn’t say anything.

He reached across the island. Brushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Don’t quit," he whispered again.

"I won’t."

He smiled. Small. Tired. Real.

"Goodnight, Amara."

"Goodnight, Adrian."

---

Day 8.

The news hit at 7 AM.

"BILLIONAIRE ADRIAN BELLO IN CUSTODY BATTLE. NEW NANNY LIVING IN MANSION."

There was a picture. From the gala. Me holding Sofia’s hand. Adrian behind us.

My phone started blowing up. Unknown numbers.

Adrian burst into my room. "Don’t answer any calls. Lawyer will handle it."

He looked furious. Protective.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

I nodded. "I’m okay. As long as Sofia’s okay."

He pulled me into a hug. Tight.

"We’ll get through this," he said into my hair. "Together."

Sofia walked in. Saw us hugging.

She didn’t cry. She didn’t run.

She just walked over. And hugged my leg.

Then she looked up at Adrian. And hugged his leg too.

Adrian picked her up. All three of us, in a messy hug in my bedroom at 7 AM.

And for the first time, I believed we might actually be okay.

[END OF EPISODE 5]

Do you think Vanessa will win custody? Or will Amara + Adrian fight her off? Comment! 👇

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