Gabriele
"Daddy wake up," The small voice came from beside me, I opened my eyes seeing my boy peering at me. He giggled as I looked at him. I rubbed the stubble from my chin trying to wake up.
His blue eyes glinting, being the overactive child that he is, he makes sure that I get half the sleep I should. I don't mind it since actually waking up is a battle with myself.
"Why are you awake big guy?" He pointed to the clock. I saw the time and jumped out of bed. Thankfully I had the foresight to teach him to read time from early on.
"Oh shi...zzle we're late!" On days like this, I hated being a single father. I bolted out of my bed with Luca following behind.
"Luca get dressed quickly."He dived off the bed and waddled down the hall (when he jumped I held my breath as he did preparing to catch him, he has a knack for injuring himself). I ran to my closet trying to get my suit on, I skipped a shower. (I was still fresh after the quick shower I had last night, well I hoped.) I barely shaved. I still had a patch here and there that I missed.
I quickly tied my tie. Luca came in and he was luckily dressed with everything where it should be. Some days things would be on his head when they should be on his bum. I grabbed an apple and stuffed it into his hand. I grabbed his lunch box and put it in his backpack.
I drove Luca to his school. Things have been hectic since I started working again and I haven't had time to hire a nanny. I was so busy and things were not going as planned. I had to be the mom and the dad.
I gave him a quick peck telling him I'll see him this afternoon. Before he ran to his teacher, he wrapped his little arms around my neck as I was bending down to ruffle his hair.
"Daddy remember my soccer game after school." He stated sternly. I kissed his forehead again, I could kiss his little face all day long.
"I promised you I'd be there, so I will." He waved goodbye and ran to his teacher that was standing at the door waiting for the kids.
I got to work a little late but earlier than I thought I would arrive. Opal, my secretary, rushed to me giving me a pile of notes I had to work through. I was already behind and unfortunately, I couldn't work from home anymore. It was going to be a hectic financial quarter.
Being an investment banker isn't the easiest job while trying to raise a 5-year-old, a very active one. Opal came into my office placing some files on my desk, with her short dress clinging to her every curve. After 4 years of trying she still hasn't gotten the message that I am not interested in her.
After my marriage ended I haven't had time to even look at another woman. My ex-wife Clara was an absolute bitch so I couldn't fathom having a relationship again. She and I were married for 2 years, I loved her with all my heart. One day I came home and found her in bed with my best friend. The usual followed, we fought and she said that she needed someone like him, better than I am. Not so long after that we got divorced, after that I didn't hear anything from her and I thought that I never would again.
A few months after our divorce I came home one winter night and on my doorstep was a basket and a note. When I opened the basket a baby boy was cuddled inside with blankets wrapped around him, he was fast asleep.
The note read,
Dear Gabriele, I wish I could look after this baby, our baby, but I can't. I have my modeling career to focus on and Nicholas and I are happy together. I don't need baggage. He is after all your son too, take care of him.
Clara
I was beyond furious, how could she leave a 2-month-old on my doorstep in the winter. Someone could've kidnapped him if I didn't come home early that night. Heaven knows how long that poor baby would be outside. If it started to snow...god, I hate her. I was so shocked since I hadn't seen her in about 10 months. She didn't even have the decency to mention to me that she was pregnant and it was mine. If she told me we could've worked something out, but then she just dropped him on my doorstep like he was nothing.
I haven't seen her since, except here and there on a magazine cover. Luca asked me about her once. I couldn't tell him that his mother abandoned him and left him at my door without a care in the world. All I could say to him is that she is doing an important job and was very, very busy.
He didn't believe me but took the explanation. When he gets older I'm not sure if I would even then be able to keep it from him but for now, it's for the best.
I did a paternity test after I got him. He did have my dark brown hair but he had his mother's blue eyes. I made sure that if Clara came back for him that she wouldn't be able to get custody of him. From the day I got Luca I loved him. My parents were thrilled when they found out I had a son, my mother always spoiled him so much, she would teach him Italian when she looked after him so he could speak it a bit.
My father named Luca after him. He wanted the Armato heir to carry his legacy. I was named after my grandfather and so the legacy continues. I learned quickly how to change a diaper and give a bottle. The first time I changed his diaper still haunts me, I think on that day I almost fainted. It was something hideous. I was a strong willed man but a diaper like that one would make the strongest of men go down without a fight.
I had a meeting after an hour after I started working. After our meeting ended later in the afternoon I walked to Opal's desk.
"I'm going now, so see you tomorrow. Please email the statistics Markus in Accounting asked for to him."
"What's the rush?" She tried to ask seductively.
"Luca has a soccer game." I waved to her as I walked to the elevator. I could see her face falter as the elevator door closed.
Also one of the reasons I wouldn't date her, she hates children and Luca and I are a package deal. I drove to his school where a crowd was already sitting on the bleachers. I, still in my suit, excused my way through the crowded seats taking my seat. I watched as his team jogged onto the field.
A woman came and sat beside me since there wasn't another spot open. She didn't notice me, her eyes were set on the game. I turned my attention back to the game.
Luca was a great soccer player.
"Which one is your boy?" I asked her, she gave me an airy laugh.
"I don't have a boy, I'm that boy's nanny," She pointed to the boy going for the goal.
"Nanny?"
"Yes, I look after him after school mostly his parents are too busy so I'm the sub-parent." I nodded looking at Luca cheering him on. Nearing the end of the game I got very uncomfortable since most of the single moms were now staring at me. I should've changed into something other than my suit. The ogling isn't something I appreciated at all.
I stuck out like a sore thumb, single fathers in suits are rare to find here.
I was the only male in the crowd of women. There weren't a lot of single dads so the single moms were all over me like butter on toast. I ignored them for the most part. Unfortunately, Luca's team didn't win but he looked unfazed.
"Daddy! You made it!" He ran up to me hugging my leg, I picked him up in a hug and set him down. A few moms made an 'aww' sound. I took Luca's hand winking at him.
"Let's get out of here before the dames' attack." He walked with me while holding my hand, his eyes snapped to the ice cream cart.
"You want one?" He nodded and gave me a half smile.
Before I could walk him over the street he bolted to the cart not looking out for traffic.
"Luca!" I screamed, luckily a hand grabbed him away from the oncoming traffic to safety. I felt my heart beating rapidly in my chest.
I ran to him.
"Luca Armanto, you know you're not supposed to run over the street, you and I are going to have a serious talk about this. You're going to be the reason why I have a heart attack one day!" He looked petrified so I gave him a hug and a steely glare.
I looked up at the hand who grabbed him, it was that nanny from the bleachers.
"Thank you," I stood up from Luca's eye level.
"I'm Heather, it's no problem I deal with runners a lot."
"Thank you anyway." She turned her head to the side studying me and then down to my hand, she shook her head taking something out of her handbag and then handing it to me. It was a piece of paper with her name and number on.
"You seem like you need some help, it's my last week working as the Smith's nanny. Call me if you need any help." She ruffled Luca's hair and left.
Luca was smitten with her, he had a bright smile on.
"She's too old for you buddy."I joked. I walked Luca to the ice cream cart, telling him how worried he had me and what exactly to do when he walks across the road (I've told him this so many times but he never listens).
We sat on a bench eating our ice cream cones. Luca stared at me for a while.
"Am I going to get a nanny now?"I took out the card I shoved into my jacket pocket looking at it, 'Heather Jackson. I still had other nannies to interview, ones that my mother would line up. Unfortunately.
"Maybe, after the morning we had today I think we need to get you a nanny, or at least a leash."
A/N Well hi, this is my new story so spread the word :) Thanks for the read-just btw he was joking with Luca about the leash.
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