chapter 4
1382 Words
Chapter 4.
“I know you’re in there. Don’t make me open the door myself,” a harsh voice snapped.
Nyla reached for the lock, and the door creaked open slowly.
A man stood there, his eyes sharp and suspicious.
“Who was in here with you people?” he demanded.
“Nobody,” we chorused nervously.
He glanced inside, still unsure whether to believe us.
“Get going. Don Moretti wants to meet you.”
Nyla grabbed my hands and urged me forward.
“No, let her go alone. Why are you so protective of her? Or is she your daughter?” the man sneered.
“No,” Nyla muttered softly.
Outside the room, a guard was already stationed. I followed him, fighting the urge to ask questions.
The door ahead opened as we approached.
There he was.
Andre Moretti.
This time, I saw something I hadn't expected.
Not kindness.
Not warmth.
Something harder to understand.
A man who could order someone's death without hesitation, yet gently fixed his son's collar as if nothing else in the world mattered.
The little boy sat beside him. They appeared deep in a lighthearted conversation.
For the first time, I saw Andre smile. It didn’t last long. The moment he noticed me standing there, the cold, ruthless expression returned.
“What are you doing there? Never stare at me like that,” he barked.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered.
“Come forward,” he commanded, adjusting his posture.
Turning to the boy, he said, “Bryan, this is your new babysitter.”
I forced a smile, but the little boy seemed unimpressed.
“Dad, I don’t want a babysitter,” Bryan said, not even sparing me a glance.
Andre wrapped his arms around Bryan. “Bryan, I understand, but you have to.”
Was this really the same Andre Moretti I met earlier? It felt like two different people. This one was calmer, almost gentle.
“No, I don’t want her,” Bryan said, pulling away.
Maybe he didn’t like me because of my shape.
I wasn't good with kids either.
“Elena, I told you that you were eating too much,” a voice echoed in my mind.
What would happen now that he didn’t want me as his babysitter? This would have been my perfect opportunity.
Andre didn’t scold Bryan as I expected. Instead, he looked at me.
“Leave us,” he said coldly, not sparing me another glance.
I turned toward the door and left.
I glanced back through the doorway. Nyla was nowhere to be found.
Now, I was truly alone.
---
“Hey, Elena?”
I turned.
“You’re the new babysitter, right?”
“Yes,” I muttered, trying to place where we had met. How did she know my name?
“I’m Christine, the house manager. You’ll be working under me.”
“I’m Elena Thompson, chief investigat—”
She cut me off, catching the word before I could finish.
“ Chief what”
I laughed nervously
"Chief investigator? Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
She looked at me carefully.
I forced a smile, hoping she hadn’t heard too much.
“Come with me. Let me show you around,” she said, turning.
I followed her down a long corridor.
This part of the mansion was different from the earlier rooms. It was filled with artwork and pictures of Bryan. Andre really had someone he loved.
Silence stretched between us before she spoke.
“You won’t have much to do, you know.”
“Why?” I asked, pretending to care.
“Bryan is a quiet child. He doesn’t associate with anyone except his father. But you have to be very careful with him. Andre wouldn’t think twice about punishing anyone who hurt his son.”
Christine stopped in front of a white door.
“Here we are. This is Bryan’s room. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Thank you,” I said.
She smiled politely and walked away.
I waited until her footsteps faded before turning the handle.
The room was beautiful.
Sunlight poured through tall windows, filling the space with a warm glow. Shelves lined one wall, packed with books and neatly arranged toys.
“Wow...” I whispered.
My eyes landed on a framed photograph on the dresser.
I picked it up. It was Bryan.
He looked adorable, smiling brightly at the camera.
He was even cuter in person.
I gently brushed my thumb across the frame.
“I hope my son is this adorable one day.”
I admired the photo a moment longer before setting it back.
A strange feeling prickled the back of my neck.
I turned.
My breath caught.
Bryan was standing a few feet away, watching me silently.
I jumped, clutching the dresser’s edge.
“Oh!”
How had he gotten in?
My eyes darted to the second door on the opposite side of the room.
It stood slightly ajar.
Of course—the room had another entrance.
He must have slipped in while I was distracted.
I hadn’t heard a sound.
“Hey, I’m Elena. Your father hired me to be your babysitter,” I said, offering my best smile. “What’s your name?”
He didn’t answer. I guessed I wasn’t supposed to ask, since he already knew my name.
My bad.
I watched as he gathered his toys from a chair and climbed onto the bed.
---
I didn’t know why, but I felt nervous being his nanny.
What if he told his father bad things about me? What if I got killed?
“Oh, no, Elena. That’s not going to happen.”
I looked at him.
He seemed hungry.
“Are you hungry, Bryan?”
He didn't look at me.
Instead, he carefully lined his toys in a perfect row, correcting one that was slightly out of place.
A child who hated chaos.
A child who reminded me too much of his father.
How was I going to cope with him like this?
“Look, Bryan, I want to be your friend.”
He finally turned to meet my gaze.
“Why? I don’t need friends. Dad said they make you weak.”
I bit my lip, unsure how to respond.
How do I tell a child his father is wrong?
“Okay, let me just be your friend for today. If you don’t like me, you can opt out.”
“no “ he muttered . He still didn't spare me a glance. How was he so good at this?
“Please “ I said pouting
“Okay,” he said, gripping his toy tighter.
“Can I join you to play?”
He didn’t respond.
I understood. He didn’t want a playmate.
Glancing around to check if it was safe, I pulled my phone from my underwear.
Surprisingly, there was no message from Marcus.
He would have been in my DMs begging me to come back. Maybe he had moved on.
I dialed Maria’s number. It failed.
She said she would call to check on me. Maybe I had been forgotten.
I checked the notifications.
The signal bars disappeared.
One by one.
As if the mansion itself had swallowed every connection to the outside world.
The door opened.
I quickly shoved my phone back.
A middle-aged woman stood there, holding a tray of food.
“Are you the new nanny?” she asked, dropping the tray.
“ Yes I am, my name is Elena Thompson”I said forcing a smile
Bryan didn’t look up.
"Don't let him see you where you shouldn't be.”she said, then left before I could ask anything.
If she knew what happened to the others, maybe she could help me.
---
After several minutes, I was able to convinced Bryan to eat.
Finally, I put him to bed.
He was adorable.
He asked me to sing a song before he fell asleep.
I guess I did okay today.
I checked my phone again.
Still no network.
---
The mansion was beautiful but suffocating.
I glanced at the bullet in my hands.
Somewhere in the mansion, Andre Moretti was sleeping peacefully.
I wondered if he had any idea his son's new nanny had come to destroy him.
- Writer
