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Cecily

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Everything okay, folks?” Elina asks when Dionysus and I don’t respond.

He doesn’t seem in a hurry to let me go, his gaze still holding mine.

“Yes, I lost my balance and Mr. Kostanidis helped me.”

He raises an eyebrow mockingly, and I feel embarrassed when I look at my friend. It’s obvious that Elina doesn’t believe it, but thank God, she doesn’t pry.

“Did you resolve Joseph’s issue with her?” she asks, and hearing the little boy’s name is a cold water shower.

I walk backwards, freeing myself from my future boss.

“Yes, I did,” he says, continuing to stare at me. “But Cecily is afraid of losing her job at the Association if our arrangement doesn’t work.”

“We’ll do a two-week trial,” I say.

“No, I changed my mind. One will be enough.”

“But—"

“In a week, I will know whether my son wants you around, Cecily.”

“And when will you start?” Elina asks.

“Tomorrow,” he replies, and I feel like I’m playing ping-pong, watching my life being decided by the two Greeks.

“Then maybe you’d better spend some time with Joseph today, Cici. So he can get used to you. But first, can you come with me to the kitchen for a moment?”

I feel the shame increase because I can already imagine what she wants to talk to me about. Elina is no fool, and she certainly realized what was happening.

Now, the million-dollar question is: what was actually going on?

I have no idea, so I will classify it, in the name of my mental and moral balance, as temporary insanity .

“Excuse me,” I say to the man who, I’m sure, will make me have sinful thoughts when I go to bed today. I can’t forget the dirty words he said. And far beyond that, I want to obey his command and touch myself while thinking about him.

“Cecily?”

I shudder just hearing the man’s voice, so how will I be able to live in his house?

For Joseph, I will , I promise myself silently.

“Yes?” I ask, turning to face him.

“Pack a suitcase for a week, and then I’ll arrange your move.”

“It’s a trial period,” I say, more to myself than to him.

If it was just any old job offer, I would tell Dionysus that I changed my mind, because after what happened just now, there is no chance that I can meet this man without remembering how hard and hot his skin is or what a scorching sensation it is to be in his arms. But it’s not about me—it’s about Joseph. It was because of him that I came to New York, so I have to control my body’s reaction to this Greek and fulfill my mission.

“Were you kissing?” Elina asks, bluntly, when we reach the kitchen.

“No.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday. Something was happening!”

“I cannot explain it. My body went crazy when he got close to me. I felt an uncontrollable urge to touch him, and he noticed.”

“Oh my God!” She slaps her hand on her forehead in a dramatic gesture.

“He told me I could do whatever I wanted, just for today because we’re not boss and employee yet. He said he doesn’t have relationships with employees and that from tomorrow, I will be under contract.”

“I worked for Odin and now he’s my husband, just so you know.”

“That’s different. From what you told me, you already had a history together. It was destined. There is nothing even close to that between my new boss and me. From tomorrow onwards, we will only have a professional relationship.”

She doesn’t seem to believe me. I see it in the way she looks at me. “Don’t get hurt, Cici. Remember what we talked about. If you added together all the broken hearts that the Lykaioses and Kostanidou have left around the world, it would be the equivalent of a small, peaceful town.”

“It’s over, Elina. He was curious when I told him I’ve never had a boyfriend. That was it. Trust me. From tomorrow onwards, I will be an exemplary employee.”

“Hi, since no one has introduced us, I’ll do it myself. I’m Madison and you must be Harper.”

“Cecily or Cici. I don’t like my first name.”

“I like Cici. So, are you going to be Joseph’s new night nanny?”

“Yes, and you are my future boss’s brother’s fiancée?”

She smiles as bright as the sun. “That’s right. And soon I’ll be the mother of his babies too,” she says, stroking her very round belly.

“Twins? What a blessing! Congratulations!”

“Thanks. I don’t even believe it myself. To make it perfect, I just need my sister to wake up from her coma, but I believe that God has a time for everything.”

“Would it be indiscreet of me to ask what happened to her?”

“She was attacked in the early hours of the morning. Home invasion. Her husband died. Brooklyn survived but has been in a coma ever since.”

“Jesus! I will keep her in my prayers from now on.”

“Thanks. I’m sure she will wake up. She’s in the hands of the greatest neurologist in the world, and on top of that, she has a whole life to live and also two babies to raise.”

The emotion in her voice is evident, and I totally understand. I also prayed for a miracle. In my case, unfortunately, it did not materialize.

“Enough talking about sad things. What I really came to do was invite you to my wedding.”

“What?”

“I don’t know much about you, other than the story of the car accident,” she says, almost apologetically, “but Elina told me that she considers you a friend, so I want you to come too, to celebrate with us.”

“Are you sure? I’m going to be Joseph’s nanny.”

“Yes, I am. I don’t care what your role is—if you are dear to Elina, you are dear to me too. I trust her judgment.”

A few minutes later, she walks away, heading towards the man I know to be Dionysus’s older brother. I go to look for Joseph.

I find him playing on the floor with two blonde children, who are obviously siblings—a boy and a girl—and who, unless I’m mistaken, are also twins.

“This is Silas and Soraya, Cecily,” Joseph’s daytime nanny says, now in a softer tone than she used on me in the morning. “They are Joseph’s best friends.”

I sit on the floor, and the children come over, Joseph leaning over my lap.

I am moved by the bond that seems to have instantly formed between us. Could it be that in his childish purity he feels who I am? Does he have any idea that I would give my life for him without thinking twice?

I run my hand through his blond curls, and to my surprise, he drops his toy, gets into my lap, and lays his head on my shoulder.

Yes, you know that I loved you before I even met you, don’t you, baby?

I will never walk away again, Joseph. I will make sure you are protected and happy.