I Saved His Daughter And The Mafia Boss Won’t Let Me Leave Chapter 02
The car door opens, and a man in a suit steps out leading a little girl by the hand.
It’s her. The girl I saved yesterday.
She sees me and freezes. She pulls free from the man’s grip, starts to run toward me, then flinches when a stranger walks too close.
I crouch down on my own.
“Hey, sweetie. Remember me?”
Her eyes go red. Then she throws herself into my arms.
“Miss…”
I rub her back gently.
“What are you doing here?”
She buries her face in my shoulder and whispers:
“Why didn’t you come back?”
I never promised her I would.
But looking into those careful, hopeful eyes, I can’t bring myself to explain.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I had things to take care of.”
Her fingers clamp down on my shirt.
“Can you come with me now?”
I look at her, torn.
Kid, I need to go find work. If I don’t make some money today, I’ll be sleeping under a bridge tonight.
Then I hear it. The sound of wheels rolling up behind her.
The little girl tenses and ducks behind me.
She peeks out, then relaxes just a little.
“It’s Daddy.”
The man sits in a wheelchair, wearing a tailored suit. Sharp jawline, cold eyes, a thin blanket draped over his legs.
The suited man beside him speaks up.
“This is Miss Lily’s father. Mr. Roman Ashford.”
It clicks.
Roman Ashford. The most powerful man in the city.
Word is, he hasn’t walked since a car accident six months ago.
He stops in front of me.
“You’re the one who saved my daughter yesterday?”
I nod. “It was nothing. Anyone would’ve done the same.”
One of his bodyguards holds out a check.
I glance at the number. I almost choke on my own spit.
“A token of gratitude,” the suited man says.
I wave it off immediately.
“I can’t take that.”
Roman raises an eyebrow.
“Not enough?”
“No, that’s not it.”
I look down at Lily.
“I didn’t do it for money. Yesterday, in that situation, I would’ve helped no matter who was in that car.”
Roman studies me for a few seconds, then takes the check back.
Lily suddenly grabs her stomach.
“Daddy… hungry.”
The suited man opens an insulated container. Inside is a spread of gourmet breakfast, beautifully arranged.
Lily takes one look and shrinks further behind me.
He coaxes her gently.
“Miss Lily, please. Just a few bites.”
She shakes her head. Her fingers dig into the hem of my shirt.
“No.”
He turns to Roman, voice tight with worry.
“She hasn’t eaten since she came home last night. We’ve tried four different cooks. She won’t touch anything.”
Roman softens his tone.
“Lily. Please eat.”
Her eyes well up, but she won’t budge.
After a long pause, she presses her face against my back and whispers:
“I want the lady’s mac and cheese.”
Every single person turns to look at me.
I ask Marco to grab a box of mac and cheese from the nearest store.
Ten minutes later, a steaming bowl of mac and cheese sits on the table.
Lily doesn’t pick up her spoon. She just looks up at me.
I sit down beside her. “Go on and eat. I’m not going anywhere.”
Only then does she lower her head and start eating, one small bite at a time.
Roman’s expression finally eases.
“When Lily was three, something happened that frightened her badly. She’s been terrified of strangers ever since.”
“Yesterday made it worse. Right now, you’re the only person she’ll let near her.”
He pauses.
“Until she recovers, would you be willing to move into our home and take care of her?”
“Name your terms.”
I blink.
Wait. That’s basically a live-in nanny position, right?
Free room, free meals, AND a paycheck? That’s a million times better than scrounging for day work.
I hold up five fingers, trying not to look too eager. “Five thousand a month… would that be okay?”
Roman doesn’t even look up. “Fifty thousand.”
I jump to my feet, eyes blazing.
“Deal!”