THE BILLION-DOLLAR NANNY OF THE MAFIA KING

CHAPTER 7 ~ GOLDEN CAGE

"A nanny, to be specific," he clarified, turning his attention back to his tablet as the car began to move smoothly down the highway.

I let out a harsh, disbelief-filled laugh. I couldn't help it. The hysteria was bubbling up again. "A nanny? You expect me to believe that? No one pays that kind of money for a babysitter. You could have hired the best professional in the world for a fraction of that. Do you think I am stupid?"

Kade paused and placed the tablet down on his lap and turned his entire body to face me. The movement was slow and deliberate.

"I do not care what you believe, Amelia. I care about what you do," he said calmly. "I require a nanny for my daughter. The previous ones were... unsuitable. I decided to acquire someone who would have no option to leave, no family to run back to, and no other priorities. You fit the criteria."

My mouth fell open slightly. "So you bought a slave to watch your child?"

"I bought loyalty from you," he corrected. "You will live in my house. You will watch my daughter. You will ensure she is safe, fed, and educated. In return, you will have a roof over your head, food, and clothes. You will not leave the premises unless I authorize it. You will not speak to outsiders. If you do your job well, you will be treated with respect. If you try to run, or if any harm comes to my daughter... the consequences will be severe. And you don’t want to know what I mean by severe."

I stared at him, trying to find the lie in his eyes, but there was nothing but cold, hard truth. He hadn't bought me for s*x. He hadn't bought me to torture me. He had bought me because he wanted a prisoner who would change diapers. It was insane and kind of twisted. But strangely, it was the best-case scenario I could have hoped for.

"How old is she?" I asked quietly.

"She is five," Kade replied. "And she is difficult."

We spent the rest of the drive in silence. I looked out the window as the city lights faded away, replaced by the dark outlines of trees. We were heading into the wealthy outskirts, where the estates were so large they had their own zip codes.

After thirty minutes, the car slowed down. Immense iron gates slowly swung open, revealing a winding driveway lined with perfectly manicured hedges. At the end of the drive stood a mansion that looked more like a castle. It was built of gray stone, with towering turrets and windows that glowed with golden light. Actually, this was the type of building I saw in movies.

The car stopped in front of the main entrance, the driver opened the door, and I stepped out, my jaw dropping. I had seen houses like this in magazines, but seeing it in person was overwhelming. It was beautiful, but it also looked like a fortress and a golden cage, one I know I couldn’t escape from.

The front doors opened, and an elderly woman stepped out. She was wearing a black dress with a white apron, her gray hair pulled back in a tight bun. She didn't look frightening, though. She looked kind.

"Welcome home, Sir," she said, bowing her head slightly to Kade as he stepped out of the car.

"Mrs. Holloway," Kade acknowledged her and then gestured toward me. "This is Amelia Rose. She is the new nanny. Show her to her quarters. I have business to attend to."

Without another glance at me, he walked past us and disappeared into the house.

Mrs. Holloway turned to me, her eyes crinkled at the corners as she gave me a warm smile. "Oh, you poor dear. You look like you're about to collapse. Come with me."

I followed her inside, my shoes clicking on the polished marble floors. The foyer was massive, with a crystal chandelier that must have cost more than my life.

"We have prepared a room for you on the second floor, close to the Young Miss's room," Mrs. Holloway explained as we climbed the grand staircase. "I assumed you would want to rest immediately."

"Yes, please," I whispered.

She led me down a long hallway and opened a door on the right. "Here we are."

I stepped inside and gasped, holy mother of moses, the room was larger than my family’s entire apartment. It had a king-sized bed with fluffy white duvets, a seating area with velvet armchairs, and a balcony.

"The bathroom is through there," Mrs. Holloway pointed to a door. "There are fresh clothes in the closet. Toiletries are on the counter. Dinner is over, but I can bring you a sandwich?"

"No," I shook my head. "I just... I just want to be clean."

"Of course," she said softly. "Rest well, Amelia. Tomorrow is a big day."

She closed the door, leaving me alone in the silence.

I walked into the bathroom and hell, was like a spa, with a massive soaking tub and a glass-enclosed shower. I turned on the faucet, watching the steam rise as the hot water filled the tub.

I stripped off the coat and the thin dress, leaving them in a pile on the floor. I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes wide and haunted. There was a bruise forming on my cheek where the guard had hit me.

I climbed into the water, hissing as the heat hit my skin. I grabbed a sponge and scrubbed. I scrubbed my arms, my legs, my chest. I scrubbed until my skin was red and raw, trying to wash away the feeling of the guards' hands, the stare of the auctioneer, and the betrayal of the world, more like the betrayal of my parents.

I washed my hair three times, watching the suds swirl down the drain.

I was sold as a nanny for a billionaire. I was being held prisoner in a beautiful mansion. I was no different from Rapunzel.

I stepped out of the tub and wrapped myself in a thick, soft towel. I found a pair of silk pajamas in the drawer and put them on. They felt like water against my skin, smooth and fluffy.

I walked back into the bedroom and climbed into the massive bed. The mattress seemed to swallow me whole. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind reeling.

This morning, I was worried about being late for a shift at a burger shop. Tonight, I belonged to Kade Silvano.

I pulled the covers up to my chin. My body was exhausted, shutting down despite the fear. As my eyes drifted shut, one thought echoed in my mind.

I was safe for tonight, but tomorrow, I had to meet the "difficult" five-year-old girl who was the reason I was here.

I let the darkness take me.