Chapter 1 – Meeting him…
Madison Taylor
POV
«PRESENT DAY»
Hey, my name is Madison Taylor I'm a twenty-three-year-old preschool teacher at Hillside primary school... It has been my dream to be a psychologist since as long as I could remember. I got my internship at Hillside primary school on a whim. I knew I wasn’t qualified for the position, but the principal took me in on a whim. I care about children and that’s why I studied psychology, when later they were offering teaching, I took it. I fell in love with it.
Hillside primary is a school for the famous and rich kids to go to school safely. Most of the students have famous parents and all the teachers are vetted, I knew I only got this job because I’m not from LA and I don’t know half of the celebrities they asked me about...
I had to take this job, it’s the high paying teaching job in LA, due to the children of course. I had a little brother to take care of. Tristan was really young when our mother and his dad passed away. Tristan is back in New Jersey where we grew up. He stays with his grandparents from his father’s side. I send money home every month for him.
I love teaching here all the kids are really sweet I thought they'll all be stuck up but they not, there's this one boy named Micah who has my attention he barely speaks his really quiet and he doesn't speak much English, the family that picks him up every day doesn't seem to hurt him they seem to love him, but he’s detached and doesn't react well to loud noises... And that’s a lot coming from a kindergarten class. There’s always a noise even during quiet time.
There was a knock on my classroom door... I looked up and a very tall blue-eyed man... He was so sexy he looked like he just walked out of a magazine cover. It should be illegal to be this good looking...
I got up and walked to the door... "Hello how may I help you?" I ask.
He looked dazed, only looked at me when I spoke to him. "I'm here to pick up my son" he says with a smile on his face.
I frown, I’ve never seen him before, I couldn’t trust this man. I’ve seen every one of my student’s parents before, I’ve never seen him, I would definitely remember this man if I’ve seen him before… "Who is your son?" I ask him.
He frowns at me before saying. "Micah Martelli" he says.
"He’s your son?" I ask shocked I didn't know it was his son I assumed the family that drops him and picks him up is his family...
He nods looking at me like I'm crazy to ask. What was wrong with my question? Was it really a stupid question? I didn’t think it was…
"I thought the family that picks him up..." I stop speaking when he cuts me off...
"My brother and sister-in-law?" he has a smug smile on his face. he crosses his arms…
"Oh..." I look at Micah looking at us wide eyed and I saw those familiar blue eyes and I looked at the man claiming to be his dad, even though they looked a like I couldn't just let him go with him, I needed to call the principal to be sure... I couldn’t be held responsible if I let him leave with this man and something happens to Micah because I let him leave. "I can't just hand him over you do understand that right?" I had rules to follow I couldn't just let a child go without confirming with the principle first.
He nods... he didn’t show a hint of emotion on his face, his face was expressionless.
"May I speak to Micah?" he asks.
I think about it for a second, it wasn’t like I was letting him leave with Micah…
I nod... I don't really think it could do any harm it’s not like his leaving with him... I wouldn't let him leave with him without confirming it’s his father and he is okay leaving with him.
He calls Micah over… "Micah vieni papà ti porterà in un posto divertente" [Micah Come Daddy will take you somewhere fun]
Micah entire face lights up and hurriedly packs his bag. I’ve never seen him that happy before, I didn’t even know he could smile.
"What did you say to him? You need to teach Micah to speak English" I ask.
"What do you mean? Micah speaks English…" he says looking at me confused...
I look at this man... He doesn't know that his son can't speak English... How could he neglect his son like that?
"Micah have you been making your teacher think you can't speak English?" he turns to Micah and asks him.
Micah lowers his head and nods...
"Ragazzo sciocco" [Silly boy] He says shaking his head laughing...
"I'm sorry... I've been teaching my son Italian and his been trying to act all Italian not wanting to speak English..." He says making his voice thicker and you could hear the Italian accent...
It makes my insides all warm and fuzzy.
"Little boy you better say sorry to your teacher" he tells Micah.
"Mi dispiace, signorina Taylor" [I'm sorry Miss Taylor]
"English" he says sternly…
"I'm sorry Miss Taylor" Micah says almost a whisper.
I nod forgiving the boy... I felt bad for assuming he didn't raise him right...
I grab my phone off the desk and call the principal...
I looked back and Micah was in the man's arms... He was smiling I've never seen him smile in the three months he has been at this school...
"Ragazzo sciocco" He says ruffling his hair and says "La nonna e il nonno vengono a trovarci" [Grandma and grandpa is coming to visit]
"I don't know that one..." He says almost ashamed...
I finally get through to the principal…
“Miss Taylor…” she answers.
“Mrs. Michaels, we have a man claiming to be a parent of one of my students, but I’ve never seen him before. I don’t have the pickup information, could you have someone bring it over or have someone to confirm this man’s identity?” I ask her.
“I’ll be there myself shortly…” she says before hanging…
I watch the two interact with one another, while waiting for the principal.
"Nick..." She says as she walked in
"Natalie..." He says with a nod...
So, he knows the principal, so he’s not a bad guy at least.
She looks at me. "What's wrong Miss Taylor?" Principal Michaels asks me.
"This man says his Micah's father, but I can't release Micah without proof" I explain...
The Principal Nods and looks at the boy and man.
She examines his face, before asking the man… "You have a son?"
"Yes... Natalie meet, Micah Martelli, Bella and my son" he says with a wide smile...
She frowns, with disgust. "She still around?"
He looks at me and she seems to get the message and nods...
Of course, his married and I don't normally go for his type, I steer clear of all extremely good-looking guys, I don't feel safe with them they always attract attention, I always go for your less attractive guys your boy next door kind of guys... So, the fact that I'm even remotely interested in him is surprising...
"Miss Taylor..." I look up and they both looking at me.
"Miss Taylor it's okay for Mr Martelli to take Micah he is indeed Micah’s father; he is on the list of people to pick Micah up from the school." She shows me the list.
I nod...
"Bye Miss Taylor" Mr. Martelli says winking at me...
I could feel the heat going to my cheeks... OH MY WORD... I have a crush on my student’s parents who is married...
The rest of my day went well... I went home to relax... I live in a three-bedroom apartment with my best friend from high school the third bedroom we turned into a joint walk-in closet we had set up for the both of us... Allison had a lot of clothes, I mostly had jeans and T-shirts in there...
I wanted to cook when I realized we need to do some grocery shopping. So, ramen noodles it is for supper...
After that I had a glass of wine thinking back on the day, I had... The extremely gorgeous man that gave me butterflies by winking at me and smiling with me... He seems like the type that his smile alone is enough for your legs turn to jelly, and her insides to be all warm and fuzzy. You could probably get pregnant from his smile alone. Him smiling should be illegal.
I've never seen a man that good looking before... I'm not originally from Los Angeles, I'm originally from New Jersey... That's awfully nice of his brother and sister-in-law to fetch Micah from school every day... I actually thought he was their son... Mr. Martelli probably works a lot that's why he doesn't fetch him... I wonder what his wife does that she doesn't fetch Micah... Either I've had too much wine, or I'm way too bothered with these people's lives...
I start thinking about Tristan my i***t brother and I phone him...
"Yo Maddie" he says.
"Hey Tris, how are you doing?" I ask him.
"I'm good, good... School's boring... Wish you were here same old same old..." he says, I could picture him shrugging his shoulders, laying on the sofa in his bedroom. He wasn’t dumb my brother was lazy. He’s got anger issues since our parents passed. I’ve been taking care of him since then.
"Are you causing any trouble for me to have to clean up?" I ask. I wasn’t joking he would take pranks too far and he’s nearly been expelled more than I could count.
"You know I am... But nothing fancy... Just you know smoking drinking the usual" he says. The nonchalance in his tone, makes me want to strangle my little brother with my teeth…
It's the one thing about this i***t he never lies he always tells the truth no matter what trouble it could get him into... I just wish he would do something with his life... And not wasting it drinking and smoking...
"I miss you Tris... Promise me you'll try to stay out of trouble otherwise I'm shipping you off to military school" I warn him.
"I miss you too Maddie, you should totally let me come and visit you... I heard there's a nude beach in LA..." he suggests.
And that’s exactly why shouldn’t come and visit me. My brother would take advantage of the beach and pick up women who are too old for him.
"Bye Tristan..."
"Bye bye Maddie"
I hang up... This i***t is honestly way too much... He wasn't like this growing up, he was your sweet and caring little boy...
RING RING...
My phone rings... I was stupid enough to answer without checking who it was.
"Hello..."
"Oh, thank God, Madison you finally picking up my calls... Does this mean you have forgiven me?" The cheating asshat says.
I internally cringe at the sound of the cheating bastard’s voice... Yeah one of those boy next door guys I've dated Dustin Sanders cheated on me he happened to be my last relationship, we dated for two years, until I caught him in bed with my former roommate 6 months ago since then has been phoning me off the hook... She's the reason we turned the third room into a closet we didn't want another blunder and Allison Wilson my roommate is totally gay and into woman, so she'll never steal my man...
"Bye Dustin..." I say.
"Come on Maddie... I'm..."
And I hung up before he could finish his speech... same old same old, I'm sorry didn't mean to sleep with your roommate in your bed... I thought she was you... The best excuse he came up with us, I am a s*x addict Maddie and I just had to have s*x with her, but it meant nothing... Yes, the man tried to make him cheating sound like it my fault because I was at work, and he couldn't be bothered to get a real job... So yes, I dumped his ass... Freaking asshole...
Thinking back on Mr. Martelli, he doesn't seem like a cheater or at least he would own up to it... But that's me assuming again, I'm very good at assuming and over thinking situations.
The front door opens and Allison walks in with her girlfriend Marley... Yes, she has a dog’s name... But she's a nice girl...
"Don't tell me this is how you’re spending your Friday night Maddie?" Marley frowns.
"What's wrong with Wine and chilling?" I ask her.
She claps her hands excitedly, causing me to frown. "Come with us... We're going to the club."
I shake my head. "No..."
"Come on you need to get out more." Allison agrees with her.
I roll my eyes before agreeing with him "Fine..."
"Marls get her ready" Allison looks at her girlfriend.
Marley let's out a squeal...
Marley was your typical blonde girly girl... I didn't own a single dress and neither did Alison... So, Marley would always try and get into a few dresses she kept here...
She pulled me into the closet and started pulling dresses, the first was a bright yellow dress...
"I have no interest in being a sunflower" I say sarcastically...
Yip that dress would totally attract bees, I'm trying to attract hot men not bees...
She glares at me and puts the dress back... She takes out a red leather dress...
"I am not going dressed as a she devil, or a naughty Mrs Clause" I say.
Then she takes out a light blue dress, it was the exact same colour as Mr. Martelli's eyes... And I fell in love with the dress... Mostly because of the colour and not the fact that it would only cover half my ass... Marley’s sense of style was a bit out there for me... I was a preschool teacher; these dresses make me feel like I'm a teacher by day and night worker by night... If a student’s parent sees me tonight, I could get fired...
I put it on and yes it barely covered my ass... My boobs are half covered... What a shame... I'm going to be pulling this dress down the entire night...
She brings me a pair of nude sandal heels... It was a plain sandal it had a single thin strap across my toes, and it tied around my ankle...
"Come on... Let's do your hair Maddie..." she smiles. She’s the happiest stylist tonight.
I let her do her thing... Marley was a hairdresser, so I trusted her... She worked at a famous hair salon...
"You know what, I once did Aurora Martelli's hair, she really has amazingly strong hair for being bleached and dyed monthly she was pregnant at the time?"
That gets my attention… "Did you say Martelli?" I ask.
"Yeah, you know Aurora Martelli the actress and singer, married to Quinn Martelli..."
I frown. "Are they related to a Nikolai Martelli?" I ask.
"Oh yeah Q's brother apparently Q was adopted and they really close, but Nick has a huge entertainment company he started while in his teens, his first talent was Aurora his sister-in-law, Nick is well known for being a playboy" she says.
"I thought he was married…"
"No Nick's not married..." she says.
"Oh..." So, he is a playboy?
Just my luck the first liked months is the biggest playboy in LA...
She finishes my hair... She straightened it... I don't ever leave my hair down, it’s too long and it gets in my face while I'm teaching... So having it down is something new for me... my hair is longer than this dress... I roll my eyes at that fact...
Allison hired a uber to take us... Because we'll be drinking and it’s not safe to drink and drive...
Once we get to the club, Allison talks to the Bouncer, and he lets us in... They go towards the dance floor, yeah, I'm not doing that... I went towards the bar to get me a drink...
"A vodka martini please" I say.
The bartender nods and gets working on my drink...
"Miss Taylor" I turn to see Nikolai Martelli sitting next to me...
I nod and turn back to the bar...
"This is the last place I would ever think you would be" he says in my ear, because of the loud music...
I don't pay Attention to him, but he continues...
"Fata" [Fairy]
That makes me look at him... Did he just call me fat? I can assure I’m not fat.
"Did you just call me fat?" I ask him while glaring at him...
He burst out laughing. "No, it means fairy" he explains
I look at him confused why would he call me a fairy???
"Come with me" he says getting up, he pulls me by the hand.
"To where? I promise if you try anything I'll castrate you" I warn him.
"Such a feisty Gattina aren't you?" [Kitten]
I glare at him... I hate that he speaks in a language he knows I don't understand his doing this on purpose... He is doing it, so I have no idea what he is saying, and I have to ask him.
"We'll just go up to the VIP area you'll be fine, I promise not to try anything" he says.
I nod... And he leads the way to the VIP area... A man comes up to us.
"Nikolai, Ah who's the beautiful lady with you?" The man has a thick Italian accent, Nikolai on the other hand sounds more American when he speaks English, he only has the accent when he speaks Italian...
"Questa è Madison, la mia ragazza" Nikolai says to the unknown man [This is Madison my girlfriend]
What did he just say? The shock on the other man’s face was alarming…