Anita was standing by the side of the living room, dressed in a long, blue gown. She felt more comfortable in it than in those flimsy clothes she wore before.
It made her wonder just what kind of man Nero was. He must be some principled man.
Gotti's father?
She was facing the stairs she vowed she would never want to find out what was up there.
But she has come to realise that in her life, it's not about what she wants, but what Gotti wants.
"Go up the stairs, you will find a door with Nero written on it. He will be waiting in there— Be careful, that is the Alpha's floor." Vivian stood beside the stairscase, staring at Anita with some kind of hidden message in her eyes.
Anita was in no mood to ask Vivian why she was looking that way. Everyone had their mystery, just like no one knew that she had just transmigrated from the past.
"Okay," Anita replied and started climbing the stairs.
This was still day one of her transmigration and resurrection, but it felt like she had spent a hundred years due to how stressed she already was.
She slowly trailed her hand over the silver barricade as she reached the second staircase. She lifted her head and stared ahead, just a few more steps, and she would reach the Alpha's floor.
What was she supposed to expect?
Danger?
Death?
Punishment?
'God—why didn't I just die?' she groaned internally.
She was mentally drained.
With renewed courage, she climbed the rest of the stairs, not slowing even when she reached the lit hallway.
She kept turning her head from side to side, searching for the door with Nero's name on it.
It was better she got this over with, and stalling would only heighten her anticipation and tension.
She was almost giving up as she neared the end of the hallway, but had yet to see any door with Nero on it. She wondered if this was yet another test for her.
However, just when she wanted to make it down the stairs and tell Vivian that there was no such thing as Nero's door, a silver glint caught her eye.
It was the last door on the right, engraved into the rich, wooden, dark door was a silver marking: NERO.
Anita took a shuddering breath in and slowly exhaled.
This was it.
She was officially meeting Nero.
She walked over to the door, her steps no longer as brisk as before.
She was scared.
She passed in front of the tall door and stared at it for a few seconds, and then, she knocked.
Silence.
She frowned slightly, biting her lip as she knocked again.
The sound echoed around the quiet hallway, sending chills down her spine.
She gulped quietly and stared at the door, wondering why Nero wasn't responding.
She raised her hand to knock again but paused mid-air when she recalled what Gotti had told her.
He had only instructed her to meet Nero in five, so, she guessed she was meant to enter.
Hopefully, she doesn't meet a scene like the one in Gotti's study.
With a deep breath, she twisted the knob and slowly pushed in the door.
The room was quiet, very quiet.
She gently closed the door behind her and walked to the centre of the room, standing still to look around.
It looked simple but classy.
A neatly made bed sat in the centre, a TV, a small sofa, and a wall dedicated to weird forest paintings with creatures like wolves, vampires, and others she couldn't decipher.
No one was in the room.
Anita felt the familiar chill run down her spine. She didn't know why she felt like someone was watching her even when there was no sign of anyone.
She sighed, "Mr. Nero?" She called quietly.
Her eyes went to the two doors at the corner. She wondered if they were his bathroom and wardrobe.
Should she check?
Probably not. She would be invading his privacy.
She decided to leave, she would come back later.
'I'll just leave first. Nero isn't available,' She said to herself and turned toward the door.
"Jesus!" Anita screamed and jumped back as she almost bumped into someone at her hip.
In front of her stood a boy, about 3/4 years old, his blue eyes staring deep into her soul. He looked calm and unbothered, his hands steady beside him.
His hair was kind of overgrown, falling over his eyes and ears, his skin almost pale but still healthy.
Anit was supposed to be freaked out—she was at first, but as she looked longer at the boy, she didn't feel scared anymore, she felt pity for him.
She could see her smaller self in him: alone, different, scared.
She cleared her throat and smothered out her dress, "Hi, I'm Anita." She spoke very softly, taking a step toward the boy.
She couldn't imagine what. The little boy was doing in such a sinful mansion, she only prayed Gotti wasn't using him for some sick activity, or she swore she would go out of her way to poison that bastard Alpha.
The boy didn't move.
He stood still, watching Anita slowly approach him.
"Hey," Anita squatted in front of the boy, her first genuine smile appearing on her face as she stared into the boy's eyes.
"Can you tell me your name? I'm new here, and have no friends. Can we be friends?" She asked, reaching out to touch the boy but lowered her hand again, she didn't want to scare off the poor boy.
To her surprise, the boy moved, leaving almost no space between them as he peered closely at her face.
"Oh?" She murmured as the boy slowly reached his little hand up to her face, his cute fingers gently poking her cheek before he placed his palm flat giant hee cheek.
"Um, okay— it's nice meeting you, too–"
"Mama Ani" The boy murmured and suddenly hugged Anita.
"What?" Anita gasped quietly while unconsciously wrapping her arms around the boy's body.
The boy hugged her as if his life depended on it.
His small arms were around her neck, his face buried in her neck, and Anita could feel him smiling against her neck.
She was thunderstruck.
She was definitely no one's mama, she wasn't even up to eighteen, or was she now?
Even though, she was no one's mama. But, she didn't know how to break the sad news to the poor boy.
He must have been kidnapped by Gotti's mafia gang, waiting for his parents for ransom.
She clenched her fists, hating Gotti more and more.
Did he have to be cruel? Even to little, helpless children?
"Hey, little star. May I know your name?" Anita asked, gently pulling the boy away to stare at his face that now had a hint of a smile on it.
"Nero, Mama," he replied, his voice so smooth and sweet.
Anita smiled, almost forgetting that she wasn't supposed to be enjoying the first genuine love she had gotten in her entire life, both in the past and present.
"Wait — you're Nero?" She asked, her senses returning to her for a second.
Nero nodded, smiling, "Nero Brastov." He murmured.
"What?" Anita gulped, stilling.
She was frozen in place, the only thing moving was her eyes as she stared in realisation at Nero's face.
He was Gotti's son!
Why would Gotti send her to his son?
Gotti never had a son in her previous life, he was a menace to women, just like he presently was.
How?
A son?
"Mama?" Nero's voice echoed in her ears, his hands coming up to pat her cheeks, "Hate Papa?" He whispered as if Anita were the child.
Anita blinked back to reality. She cleared her throat and smiled at the boy, gently taking his hands away from her cheeks.
She shouldn't let herself get too close to Gotti's son, it was dangerous.
"Hi, Nero, it's nice to meet you. Please, call me Anita," She introduced politely, standing and taking the boy's hand to lead him to the small sofa.
She lifted him onto the sofa and sat beside him, digging softly.
"Will you stay with Papa and me?" Nero asked, hugging Anita's arm.
Anita felt so attacked by this little boy. His questions were direct, too direct, and quite uncomfortable.
If he were an adult, Anita would have read him a textbook on why she would never stay with Gotti and how much she hated him. But the case was different, he was just a toddler, misplacing her for his mother.
"Nero," She called, turning to face him, "I—" she trailed off, unable to continue as she looked into Nero's hopeful blue eyes.
"I am working here for now, so, I'm typically staying with you as long as I work here," She chose a less harsh reply, smiling at the silent joy shining in the boy's eyes.
"Thank you, Mama," Nero said, still hugging Anita's arm.
"You're welcome," Anita replied, patting his head.
She suddenly remembered why she was sent here sighed, "Nero— the Alpha sent me here for a screening. I have no idea what the screening is about, but I'm hoping you approve of me. Do you?" She asked, touching Nero's cheek to lift his face.
Nero's hair fell away from his face as he looked up at Anita with furrowed brows. "Approve?" He questioned, looking confused.
Anita felt fear creeping under her skin. She was hoping the boy already liked her from their interactions, but, from the way he looked confused, she was scared she might have misunderstood the whole thing.
"Yes, little star. Do you approve—" she trailed off as the door suddenly opened in front of them and in walked Gotti in black pants and a black tank top.
Heavens, he looked like an appealing sinner.
Anit immediately sprang up from the sofa, putting a good distance between herself and Nero. She did not want to offend the Alpha by posing to be loose with his son.
Gotti slowly closed the door, his eyes taking in the scene bedire Anita sprang away from his son.
His face showed nothing, making it hard to tell what he was feeling exactly.
He glanced at Nero briefly before letting his grey eyes settle on Anita, who was standing beside the sofa with her head lowered.
She looked different in the long gown.
He thought she would look dumb and plain, but he found himself proved wrong.
With her long, black hair neatly clipped behind her head, she looked domestic. The sexy kind of domestic.
He was surprised at himself for even noticing that about her. And, he was even more shocked to see his son sitting that close to anyone.
"Nero?" He tore his eyes away from Anita and faced his son, stretching his hand out to him.
Nero stared at Anita with a frown, then back to his father, his frown still present.
He reluctantly slid down the chair and walked over to his father, placing his hand in Gotti's.
"What do you think? Keep her?" Gotti asked.
Anita almost rolled her eyes at how professional Gotti sounded with his son.
He wasn't talking to a business partner for crying out loud, he was speaking to his toddler!
But, who was she to make an input, her life was too precious to risk.
She didn't appreciate the way Gotti spoke about her like some item for bargaining. Still, she focused on Nero, anticipating his reply.
However, Nero didn't speak, he simply stared at the floor as if it were the most interesting thing in the room.
"Nero," Gotti called again, his tone stern, "Do you want her or not?" He asked impatiently, gently lifting his son's head to make him look at Anita.
Nero's eyes locked with Anita, and for a long time, they simply stared at each other, the silence stretching.
Anita's heart was hammering within her chest, she couldn't read the boy's eyes, he was as unreadable as the father.
She knew she was finally going to be sent to the Brastov's Club. Her life was about to — her thoughts paused instantly as he saw Nero nodding at Gotti.
Did he just approve of her?
Her eyes immediately flew to Gotti, who was now staring at her with a strange look.
He looked unreadable, but Anita recognised shock when she saw one.
Alpha Gotti Brastov was shocked by his son's decision.
"Are you sure, Nero?" Gotti questioned slowly, needing to make sure Nero's decision was final.
Nero nodded once again, firmer this time.
"It's settled, then. Walk with me, Ms. Stone," Gotti ordered and turned away, walking out of the room in long strides.
Anita released a deep breath as Gotti left. She moved immediately, pausing beside Nero to whisper a soft thanks before dashing out of the room.
Now, the Brastov's club was out of the picture, what else could be waiting for her in this new direction life had just thrown her into?