The room exuded power, its rich decor a reflection of the dominance and wealth of its owner, Damien Russo. The crystal chandelier overhead bathed the space in a golden glow, highlighting the polished marble floors and towering ceilings. The walls were adorned with priceless art, each piece a statement of both culture and influence. Yet, despite the luxury, it was Damien’s presence that commanded the room. Standing by the window, silhouetted against the blood-red sky, he exuded authority and control. His tailored black suit hugged his athletic frame, while a crystal tumbler of whiskey rested in his hand, the amber liquid reflecting the last light of day.

Damien was a man whose stillness was unnerving. Every movement was deliberate, every glance calculating. His dark eyes, sharp as knives, missed nothing. He wasn’t just a man—he was an empire in human form, a force that could tear down anyone who crossed him. Tonight, however, his focus wasn’t on his business empire, but his son, Leo. The boy needed someone to care for him—someone who could endure the darkness of his world without flinching.

Aria Moretti arrived at the Russo estate, her purpose clear. Confident and composed, she entered the room, her posture unwavering as she met Damien’s gaze. Her simple yet polished attire—a white blouse and black trousers—spoke to a woman who could blend in while remaining sharp. As she stood before Damien, he scrutinized her, testing her resolve with his unrelenting gaze.

"Do you know who I am?" Damien asked, his voice low and thunderous.

"Yes. But I’m here to work," Aria replied, steady and confident.

Her calm defiance piqued Damien’s interest. He took a step closer, his towering presence like a predator closing in on its prey. "Confidence," he mused, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "That’s rare."

"I don’t fail," Aria said firmly, meeting his gaze head-on. "Your son doesn’t need someone weak to take care of him."

Damien’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "Leo is my life," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you fail him, you won’t just lose your job. You’ll lose everything."

Aria felt the weight of his words, but she stood firm. "I don’t run," she replied, her voice unwavering.

After a long moment of silence, Damien nodded, his gaze still assessing. "Start tomorrow. Don’t make me regret this."

Relief washed over Aria as she left the room. She had passed the test, but she knew that this was only the beginning.

The next morning, Aria arrived at the Russo estate to care for Leo. The mansion was a sprawling fortress, imposing and cold, a place that screamed power. Inside, Leo’s room was a stark contrast—bright and cheerful, filled with toys and books. Leo, a small boy with dark curls and striking green eyes, was building a tower of blocks. He looked up at Aria, cautious but curious. She smiled, crouching to his level. "Hi, Leo. I’m Aria. I’ll be spending time with you from now on."

Leo asked her about wolves, clutching a stuffed one to his chest. Aria smiled, telling him that wolves were brave and strong, just like him. The boy’s small smile brought Aria a sense of relief. She had won Leo’s trust easily, but Damien’s approval was another matter.

Over the weeks, Aria bonded with Leo, teaching him to read, playing with him in the gardens, and telling him bedtime stories. But Damien’s watchful eyes were always present, observing her every move. He never said much, but his scrutiny was unyielding.

One evening, as Aria tucked Leo into bed, Damien appeared in the doorway. He asked her how Leo was, his voice as cold as ever. "He’s doing great," she replied, steady as always. Damien softened for a moment as he gazed at his son, but when he turned to Aria, his expression was unreadable once again.

"Good," he said. "Keep it that way."

Before he left, Aria couldn’t resist asking why he had chosen her. "Because you didn’t flinch," he answered, his voice low.

Aria was left alone with her thoughts. She had earned Damien’s approval—for now—but the true challenge had only just begun. In his world, one wrong move could cost her everything. The stakes were high, and survival was a constant battle.

The shrill sound of alarms echoed through the mansion, sharp and relentless as the fire continued to rage through Daniel’s house. Thick smoke billowed through every crevice, curling and twisting like an uncontrollable beast. Flames licked the walls, crackling loudly, greedily swallowing everything in their path. The heat was unbearable, the air thick with the stench of burning wood and the panic of an impending disaster.

Inside, Arial’s heart pounded in her chest as she darted through the hallways, her eyes scanning frantically. The fire was spreading fast—too fast. She had to get to him. She had to get to him.

Daniel's son, the young Junior Boss, was trapped in his room, unaware of the chaos creeping ever closer to his sanctuary. Arial, though trembling, didn’t hesitate. She had always feared fire—its merciless, consuming nature terrified her. But in that moment, nothing could hold her back. Not the flames. Not the fear. Nothing.

She burst into the room, finding the young boy huddled, looking lost, his small face pale with fear. The fire had already reached the door, the thick, swirling smoke clouding everything in sight. He was too scared to move, his small body frozen in place.

"Come on!" Arial shouted over the roar of the fire, urgency in her voice. "We need to get out of here!"

She grabbed his hand, but Junior resisted, looking back at the fire with wide eyes, trembling. But Arial could see it—he was scared, terrified, but not of the flames alone. He feared losing his father. The boy was too young to understand the full extent of what was happening, but the instinct to protect his father overwhelmed him.

Arial’s pulse raced as she yanked him towards the window. The flames crept closer, licking at the curtains, the heat suffocating. She couldn’t let him stay here.

"Trust me," Arial said softly, more to herself than him. "I won’t let you fall. Hold on tight."

The window shattered with a loud crash as Arial kicked it open, the jagged edges glinting dangerously in the firelight. Without another thought, she lifted Junior and, with every ounce of courage in her, jumped from the window, the ground rushing up beneath them.

They hit the ground hard, but Arial was quicker than the pain, pulling the boy away from the building as the fire roared behind them. Junior clung to her, his small hands clutching her tightly.

As they stumbled away from the burning building, Junior’s eyes searched frantically, his small voice cracking as he shouted, "Where’s my dad? Where’s my father?!"

Arial’s heart broke at the desperation in his voice. She knelt down in front of him, trying to calm him, her own emotions a whirlwind. "He’s going to be okay," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Don’t worry. Your dad is strong. He’ll be fine. Just trust me."

The boy looked up at her with tear-filled eyes, his little face scrunched with fear and confusion. "But… but I need him. I need him now!"

Before she could respond, a shadow loomed over them. Daniel appeared, walking slowly but steadily, flanked by his bodyguards. He was unharmed, but his expression was one of pure fury, tempered with relief. He had made it out. And then, his eyes fell on his son.

Junior, in a blur of emotion, rushed forward and threw himself into his father’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Dad… I thought I lost you. I thought I lost you!" he cried, his tiny voice broken with fear.

Daniel’s arms wrapped around his son protectively, pulling him in close, and for a moment, the chaos around them ceased to exist. It was just the two of them—father and son—holding on to each other amidst the storm.

Arial watched the scene unfold, her heart heavy but full. She had done it. She had protected him. She had saved Junior.

And then, Daniel’s gaze met hers.

It was soft at first, but then, something unspoken passed between them. Gratitude. Trust. In that moment, it was clear. Arial had proven herself. In the face of danger, when every instinct told her to flee, she had stayed. She had made sure his son was safe.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curling in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It wasn’t just gratitude—it was something more. Something deeper.

He tilted his head in acknowledgment, his eyes speaking a silent ‘thank you’ that she could feel in her bones.

Arial’s heart raced, her emotions tumbling inside her. The trust she had just earned was heavier than she ever expected. And now, she stood there, in the wake of this disaster, uncertain of what was next.

But one thing was clear: this was only the beginning. Something between her and Daniel had changed. Something deep, something undeniable. And as much as she feared it, she knew that the road ahead would be anything but easy.

The Russo estate was a fortress—high walls, armed guards, and a silence that felt heavier than it should. It was built to keep enemies out, but in many ways, it also kept Leo Russo trapped inside.

Aria had been here long enough to see the way the little boy longed for more. He didn’t say it out loud—he probably didn’t even understand what he was missing—but she saw it in the way he pressed his hands against the windows, watching the world beyond the glass. She saw it in the way his small shoulders slumped every time he was told no.

And today, she saw it in the way he sat on the floor by the balcony doors, staring at the sprawling green garden just beyond the glass, his tiny fingers tracing the outline of the trees.

Something inside her cracked.

“Leo,” she said softly, kneeling beside him. “Do you want to go outside?”

He turned to her, wide blue eyes flickering with hesitation. “Daddy said I can’t.”

Aria hesitated only for a second.

“Just for a little while,” she whispered. “It’ll be our secret.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. Then, slowly, a smile stretched across his face—the kind of smile that made her chest ache. She held out her hand, and without another word, he took it.

Freedom, If Only for a Moment

The second Leo’s feet hit the grass, it was like something inside him came alive. He ran barefoot across the yard, arms outstretched, giggling as the wind rushed past him. His joy was pure, untouched by the weight of the world around him.

Aria watched, a lump forming in her throat.

How long has it been since he had played like this? Since he had laughed without restraint? Since he had just been a child?

She sat down on the cool stone steps and let him have his moment.

But that moment didn’t last.

A shadow fell over her.

And then—

“What the hell do you think you're doing?”

Her blood ran cold.

Aria turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest.

Damien Russo stood at the edge of the garden, his presence cutting through the warm afternoon air like a blade. His dark eyes burned with fury, his broad shoulders tense, his entire body vibrating with barely restrained anger.

Leo, sensing something was wrong, stopped playing. He looked between his father and Aria, his small fingers curling into fists.

“Inside. Now.” Damien's voice was quiet, but it carried the kind of authority that left no room for argument.

Leo didn’t move. He looked up at Aria, waiting.

Aria took a breath, then rose to her feet, stepping in front of him.

“He’s just playing.” Her voice was steady, even as her stomach twisted with nerves.

Damien’s jaw tightened. “I told you. He is not to go outside.”

“And why not?” Aria challenged, lifting her chin. “Because you’re afraid? Because you think keeping him locked away is the only way to keep him safe?”

Something dangerous flickered in Damien’s eyes. “This is not a discussion, Aria.”

“It should be!” she snapped. “He’s five, Damien! He should be running, playing, and feeling the sun on his face! But instead, you’ve turned him into a prisoner in his own home.”

Damien took a step forward, and the air between them crackled.

“You think I don’t want that for him?” His voice was quiet, but there was something raw in it—something that made Aria's breath catch. “You think I don’t wish he could have a normal life?”

For a second, something passed between them. A glimpse of the man beneath the cold exterior. A father who was terrified of losing the only thing that mattered to him.

But it was gone as quickly as it came.

“You don’t understand the kind of enemies I have,” Damien said, his voice hard again. “Leo doesn’t get to have a normal childhood. He doesn’t get to be careless, because one mistake—one second of weakness—and I lose him forever.”

Aria’s chest ached at the quiet desperation in his voice, but she didn’t back down.

“Keeping him inside won’t change that.” Her voice was softer now, but no less firm.

“You can protect him all you want, Damien, but at what cost? Do you want him to grow up afraid of the world?”

Damien didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned to Leo.

“Inside,” he said again, but this time, it wasn’t as sharp.

Leo hesitated, glancing at Aria one last time before nodding and disappearing into the house. The moment the door shut behind him, Damien exhaled, running a hand through his hair before turning back to her.

“Don't ever do that again,” he warned.

Aria met his gaze, steady and unafraid. “Or what?”

Damien let out a dark, humorless chuckle. “You have no idea who you’re pushing, Aria.”

She took a step closer, tilting her chin up defiantly. “And you have no idea who you hired.”

For a long, tense moment, neither of them moved. The air between them felt electric—charged with something neither of them wanted to name.

Then, without another word, Damien turned and walked away.

But Aria knew this wasn’t over.

This was just the beginning.