Destined

Chapter 4 ~ Crazy Contract

Chapter 4

He ran to lock the door before she could reach it and leaned on it to ensure she's staying inside.

"You are not leaving this room until we have reached an agreement."

"Mr. Conti," she started. "Luca. Call me Luca," he interrupted. "Fine, Luca. Do you realize the craziness of your idea? How am I supposed to do that? And how will you explain it to him when I have to leave? You will only complicate things. And how, pray tell me, would you explain this to your wife or girlfriend or whatever?" she almost shouted.

"I have neither, "wife or girlfriend or whatever" as you put it," he explained smirking. "Will you be seated, so we can discuss this further?"

She remained standing, poised to run to the door anytime. "As I said, you are not leaving so better sit down."

"I don't have any choice, do I?" she asked. "No. And even if you managed to get out of this suite, I assure you, the guards will hold you from leaving my building," he challenged.

"Fine!" She stomped her right foot and walked back to the couch. Luca had to hide his smile. She is just too adorably hot when riled, makes him want to kiss her pretty pout so badly.

He sat back, too and pulled out his phone. "Nana, please have some red wine in my office right away."

"I don't drink alcohol. So if that's for me, don't bother," said the angry voice across him. "Now, Nana," he continued as if he did not hear her.

He continued to stare at her until there was a knock on the door. He remembered locking it so he stood up. He took the tray from Nana, the cook and caretaker of the suite. He placed the tray beside the laptop at the center table and poured some wine to one of the wine glasses.

"Here, drink this. This will settle your nerves," he said handling her the glass.

"There's nothing the matter with my nerves, Mr.--Luca," she corrected at his wide smirk. "And I told you, I don't drink," she said acidly. "Just take a sip or two. Trust me, it will help."

Since it appears that he won't start talking again until she followed his instruction, she accepted the wine glass and murmured, "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Take a sip," he instructed again and she did.

"Luca, in as much as I need to earn a living, I did not apply to be a nanny. "He bolted from his side of the couch and sat beside her. He held both of her hands and looked straight at her eyes.

"No. You're not going to be a nanny but a mommy," he countered. "You can consider this as an employment or charity, however you'd like it to be."

"Charity?" She asked confused.

"Yes, because in a way, you will be helping me and my son cope up," he answered sincerely, "and we really, really need your help. My son is emotionally unsteady. He needs the care and love of a woman, a mother. What happened earlier....it was the first time he showed interest, clinging interest to a person other than me. He looked at you with adoring eyes. That has never happened before. I don't know how he will react if you will just disappear. For some reason, you complete a puzzle for him. You will be paid handsomely..."

"I'm sure I will be. "She cut him off. "Yes, I need the money but money is not the issue here, your son is and his well-being." She stood up and paced. She stopped, facing the window and looked out thinking. "For how long?" She asked in a small voice after a while.

"Until he is ready and told the truth," he answered while staring at her with admiring eyes. She is an example of total calmness. Despite her earlier outburst, she quickly got hold of her emotions and displayed an epitome of professionalism.

"Which is a non-answer if you asked me," she laughed a little. "Can you be more specific than that?"

"Two, three years? Could be shorter, depends on how emotionally strong he grows up to be." He breathed. "And I will make sure that you will be mine before then," he added to himself.

"What is expected of me?" She hesitantly asked. Luca could literally see the sun shining into his life. The fact that she's asking that now could only mean one thing - she is seriously considering his offer.

"Just act as natural as you can be, just like today. You were a natural mom. Yuri has 2 nannies, the other one is in Greece. You just have to be there to...." he stopped not knowing exactly what to say.

"What about your mom? I think she can play Yuri's mommy just fine." A shadow of sadness crossed Luca's eyes. She clearly saw it. She walked back to the couch and sat down beside him.

"My mom is still coping with the loss of her sons, my elder and younger brothers. I was the middle child. Both brothers died due to car accidents. Marko died 14 years ago and Carlos, well.....you know."

"I'm sorry," she said patting his hand. Luca felt like a bolt of electricity just hit him. He hesitated a moment then took advantage of her sympathy. He dragged her to him and hugged her, resting his head on her shoulder. Oh, it feels like heaven already. He smiled inwardly.

Michaela was taken by surprised. She wasn't expecting him to hug her. But she endured it hoping it would make him feel better. She knew how it was to lose someone you loved. She lost her parents not so long ago, too. And until now, she still feels the pain.

Luca slowly and reluctantly leaned back to look at her. "Do you accept?" He asked sporting the most vulnerable expression he can ever master.

"I....I don't--," she stammered. "You want my decision now? Can I at least think about this?"

"Most of the time, Yuri travels with me. That means the 3 of us will travel a lot. But our home is in Greece and we will be returning there in 2 days' time. So, I need your decision now in order to make the necessary arrangement."

"There's one more thing," he paused because of the delicacy of the situation. "By now, all my employees in this building would know that you're my fiancée and ...."

"Oh, yes, your fiancée," she narrowed her eyes on him. "Would you care to enlighten me on that?"

"It's just that...." he started but was cut off by the opening of the door.

"Where is mommy? Mommy! Where is mommy?" A shouting Yuri ran inside followed by the nanny. "I'm sorry, Mr. Conti. But there was just no stopping him," she apologized.

Luca raised his hand to stop her. "It's fine." Then he turned to Yuri. "Look who's awake now?" But the boy ran all the way to Michaela bypassing him.

"Mommy! I thought you left me again," he said crawling to her lap while sobbing. Michaela just hugged him while her hand ran circles on his back soothing him. "Shh, baby. It's okay. I'm here."

Luca is happy that Yuri is awake. If there's anything that could expedite her decision, it would be the child. She can't hurt the boy by saying no, can she? He looked at his wrist watch. Amazing how time flies. They have been talking for almost 2 hours now. No wonder Yuri is awake. When he looked up, he met Michaela's eyes over the boy's head and he can't help but smirked.

"Mommy, I'm hungry," he immediately stopped crying and pouted adorably. "Excellent!" Luca exclaimed and turned to the nanny. "Tell Nana to serve us refreshments at the balcony."

"Come on, buddy. Let's get you something to eat. Mommy is hungry, too." Michaela's eyes narrowed at him angrily. "You haven't eaten since you came in," he reminded her.

"You know that's not what I'm angry at," she whispered. "Later," he whispered back and stole a kiss on her forehead. He just can't help it. She hissed and Yuri leaned back to look at them.

"Mommy, are you angry?" He asked. "No, baby," she readily answered. "Although, I'm not really happy with daddy right now." She looked at him mischievously. "Try and explain that to a child," she smiled triumphantly.

But Yuri asked, "Why? Is he not a good boy?" Luca threw his head back and laughed. Yuri laughed, too and she can't help herself but joined in the laughter. Luca kissed the top of Yuri's head and continued to hers. He has never been this happy in his entire life. Now, if only he could get her commitment, then it would be perfect, his perfect opportunity to make her his.