Chapter 2 - The Rules of the Fortress
By the time Beatrice moved into the Romano estate the following Monday, the mansion felt less like a museum and more like a fortress preparing for a siege.
The security was overwhelming. As her taxi pulled up to the iron gates, three men in dark suits with earpieces searched the trunk, checked her ID, and scanned the undercarriage of the car with mirrors. Only after a quiet confirmation into a walkie-talkie did the massive gates groan open, letting her pass.
Beatrice carried her two modest suitcases up the steps. This time, there was no Cassandra to greet her. Instead, an older man with silver hair and a kind, tired face opened the door.
"Good morning, Miss Miller," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I am Thomas, the house manager. Mr. Romano is currently in a meeting, but he has instructed me to show you to your quarters and assist you with anything you need."
"Thank you, Thomas," Beatrice said, offering a warm smile. "Please, call me Bea."
"Of course, Miss Bea," Thomas replied, a genuine look of relief crossing his face. "If I may say so, the house has been... lighter since your interview last week. Young Master Leo has been carrying that orange crayon everywhere he goes."
A rush of warmth flooded Beatrice's chest. "Really? That’s wonderful to hear."
Thomas led her up the grand marble staircase—now spotlessly clean, with no trace of her coffee spill—and down the long, sunlit corridors of the east wing. Her suite was larger than her entire apartment in Logan Square. It featured a king-sized bed with white silk sheets, a private sitting area with a fireplace, and a massive bathroom with a clawfoot tub.
"Leo’s room is just across the hall," Thomas explained, pointing to a heavy oak door. "He is currently in the playroom with his tutor. Mr. Romano requests that you begin your duties after lunch."
"I’ll start right now, Thomas," Beatrice said, setting her bags down. "There’s no use in waiting."
She quickly changed into a comfortable, practical outfit—a pair of dark green linen trousers and a soft, breathable cream blouse. She left her hair down, letting her natural curls fall around her shoulders. She wanted to look approachable, not rigid.
When she entered the playroom, she found a middle-aged woman in a severe grey suit pointing at a tablet screen.
"No, Leo," the tutor, Miss Vance, said with an irritated sigh. "This is a circle. We have gone over this three times. Touch the circle."
Leo sat at a small wooden table, his head bowed, his shoulders tense. He was staring at his lap, his fingers tightly wrapped around the orange crayon. He looked completely checked out, his mind miles away.
"Excuse me," Beatrice said, stepping into the room.
Miss Vance looked up, her nose wrinkling slightly as she took in Beatrice's casual appearance. "And you are?"
"Beatrice Miller. The new nanny."
"Ah, yes. The one from the agency," Miss Vance said, her tone dripping with passive-aggressive superiority. "I must warn you, Miss Miller, the boy is entirely unresponsive. I have been trying to teach him basic shapes for an hour, and he refuses to cooperate. I suspect his cognitive abilities may be... compromised."
Beatrice felt a surge of hot anger. She walked over to the table, ignoring the tutor entirely. She knelt beside Leo, bringing herself to his eye level.
"Hi, Leo," she said softly.
Leo’s head jerked up. His dark eyes widened as he recognized her.
"I brought something for us," Beatrice said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small, blue plastic toy dinosaur. "This is Barnaby. He’s a bit of a troublemaker. He likes to eat circles for breakfast, but today, he’s really hungry for a triangle. Do you think you can help me find one?"
She placed the dinosaur on the table. Leo looked at the toy, then at Beatrice.
Slowly, his tiny hand reached out. He touched the screen of the tablet, sliding his finger directly onto the green triangle. The tablet let out a cheerful ding!
Miss Vance gasped. "Well... he didn't do that for me."
"That’s because you were asking him to work, Miss Vance," Beatrice said, keeping her voice sweet but firm. "Children don't want to work. They want to play. And honestly, circles are a bit boring, don't you think?"
She stood up, looking at the older woman. "I’ll take over from here. I believe Mr. Romano paid for your services until noon, and it is currently twelve-fifteen. You are free to go."
Miss Vance’s face turned red. She gathered her things quickly, muttering something about "unprofessional methods" as she stormed out of the room.
Once the door clicked shut, Beatrice turned back to Leo. He was watching her, a faint, curious expression on his face.
"Now," Beatrice said, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed. "Since Barnaby is full, what do you say we go cause some trouble in the kitchen? I heard a rumor that they have chocolate chip cookies, but they’re hidden on the top shelf where only tall people can reach them. Luckily for us, I’m excellent at climbing."
Leo’s eyes sparkled. For the second time, a tiny smile appeared on his face. He scrambled off his chair and ran over to her, grabbing her hand with his small, warm fingers.
As they walked down the grand corridor toward the kitchen, Beatrice felt a pair of eyes on them. She looked up and saw Dominic standing at the end of the hallway, a heavy folder in his hand.
May you like
He was watching them with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat. He didn't say a word, but as Beatrice and Leo passed him, Dominic gave her a slow, appreciative nod.
The fortress was still cold, but for the first time, a small crack had appeared in its walls, letting the warmth slip through.
