19. One down, One to go.

Elena.

You're banned from playing those games, Diego. Banned! You're too young to be so interested in those games that can get you so addicted, and how many times do you have to be told that running is not exactly good for you nor your health. At least not now, why don't you ever listen?"

I watched as Mr. Deangelo scolded his young son like he was a teenager or soenthibg and it just didn't sit well with me, "Sir, I think speaking to him I more gentle manners is what will get across to him and not in such harsh ways... he's too young to..."

"Oh shut up, Elena. Shut up!" He snapped, cutting me off and I was embarrassed.

Diego ran up the stairs into his room and then the Alpha faced me squarely, "You're supposed to be their nanny which means you guide them from doing wrong and bad thinsg that may be detrimental to them not join them in doing those things. If you cannot correct and guide my kids in the right part as expected, then what kind of nanny are you? Huh?"

"I'm so sorry sir, I had no idea that he wasn't allowed to run. He just seemed to sad and all he wanted was to have a bit of fun... it was not---" I started to say before I got cut off again.

"Well, if you do not have the barin to direct kids and can be directed by them instead, say so! I won't have someone like you come around and unbuild the valor that have been imbibed in them!" He snapped at me and then walked away.

But I was not done taking the scolding as Sofia started hers as soon as the Alpha left, "all you have been doing since you showed up in these kids' lives is ruin it in one way or the other. Not even once have you managed to do something tangible for them... I wonder why the Alpha keeps overlooking these things. If it were up to me, you'll be gone by now... I won't let you ruin the goodness that the kids already have." She said and then left to God knows where too while I scoffed.

I facepalmed myself while Camila moved closer to me, "it has been from one problem to the other since you got here, right?" She said to me with humor underlining her tone

"Right! I can't seem to do anything right in my life, it's almost as if I have been destined to make everything flop even when I try to make it right in my own way. All I tried to do was right my wrongs and try to get closer to him not knowing that I was about to blow it up yet again." I ranted to Camila who just stared at me with concern and worry.

Hours later, it was time for lunch and that was when we all realised that Diego had refused to come down for his and this made their family somewhat worried.

"He has refused to come down for food sir. He didn't eat the snacks I took to him hours ago either. I think he's going on an hunger strike because of what happened this afternoon." Mrs. Cali said to the Alpha who shook his head in a tired way.

"Since when does Diego go on hunger strikes just because he got scolded, he's only five. How did he even think of doing that?" He asked while almost everyone shrugged.

At that exact moment, madam Beatrice whom I hardly come across in this huge house came into the large dinning room too.

"Were you all waiting for me or something? Why aren't you eating?" She asked the people seated around the table, this which included the Alpha, Mia, Camila, Luca, Sofia and I.

"Why would anyone wait for you? Did we do that yesterday or ever?" Alpha Deangelo said rudely while I looked around awkwardly.

"Uhm... Diego has refused to come eat ma'am and we are all worried." Sofia replied her instead.

"Oh... the little gremlin has started to embark on hunger strikes too, well, the apple sure doenst falk far from its tree, right?" She said sending what seem to be a subtle shade to Mr. Deangelo who simply glared at her in return.

"Uh... I'll go and get him to come eat sir, do not worry." Sofia said as she walked out of the dinning room.

They all started to eat while I waited to see the outcome of what Sofia had gone to do and we were all dejected when she came down minutes later without Diego by her side.

"What? He refused?" Alpha questioned, surprised.

"Yes sir... he refused to speak to me. He says he won't eat a thing." She said with a sigh.

I couldn't take this anymore, most especially since it had to do with me and what I have caused so I stood up to volunteer to get to him.

"If he didn't come with Sofia, what makes you think he'll even want to see you at all, Diego hates his nannies. I won't even bother if I were you." Madam Beatruce chipped in after I spoke, earning some nods from the people in the room.

"There's no shame in trying though, right, ma'am?" I said, refusing to back down as I walked out of the room and up the stairs that lead to his room.

I knocked only once before I then opened the door to walk in.

"I don't want to see anybody! I don't want to eat!" He yelled as soon as I was in. I stood at a distance from him, not wanting to upset him even more.

He had his blanket over his head as he slept on his bed.

"Diego..your daddy just wants the best for you which is why he scolded you, it's nothing to be upset about." I said as I started to move closer to him as slowly as I could.

He threw the blanket off his body suddenly before speaking, "get out! I don't want to talk to you! You're just like all of them!"

I sighed, "what do you want, Diego? Let me help?" I asked in the calmest tone that I could muster.

He finally sat up on his bed and looked straight at me, "I want to play arcade games and be able to run. I don't want to be on boring shows and books all day. I want games, I want to run around." He yelled and I walked over to him to sit beside him.

"Okay... okay. Diego, it's fine. Will you come down to eat if these are granted to you?" I asked and he looked up at me with hope, tears welling in his eyes.

"Will you do that for me? Will I allowed to play arcade games?" He asked, hopeful.

I didn't know how that was going to be possible since his father had banned him from it and I was also hanging on a loose thread at the moment but I knew I had to do something else, this boy would just starve himself, "yes... I'll talk to your daddy to allow you play games."

"Promise?"

"I promise." I confirmed, now knowing that someway, somehow, I had to convince Mr. Deangelo to allow his son.

"I don't believe you, not yet. I want to hear daddy say this by himself." He said and I couldn't help but applaud his smartness.

"Okay, fine. If daddy says you can play arcade games, will you come and eat your food?" I asked.

"Yes. Yes, I will."

At this confirmation, I went down the stairs with Diego who followed beside me gently, Sofia and Mrs. Cali were outside the dinning room so they saw us come down and they looked surprised. I asked Diego to take a seat while I go speak to the Alpha.

After succeeding in getting Mr Deangelo to give me audience, I started, "sir... I know that this might look like I am going against your order but I honestly want you to see this as an advice instead of that."

"What is it again, Elena? What is it this time?" He questioned impatiently.

"Allow Diego play arcade games sir." I blurted out.

"Are you out of your darn mind?"

"Please sir, can you at least let me finish?" I interrupted before he went haywire on me. He rolled his eyes and I simply took it as a go ahead.

"Sir, it's true that these games can get addictive and it has a bad influence on kids but I believe that regulating this is our responsibility not taking this away from him totally. He loves this, it give him so much joy and I don't think I've ever seen him smile so wide until he played on it."

Grumpily, he asked, "So how do you suppose it's regulated?"

"I think he should be allowed to play maybe twice a week and allowed to run around once in a while to get him satiated. These few times are not enough to get him addicted sir, infact, I believe that it can even make him functional. Taking kids favorite activities away from them has more negative effects sir."

I waited to hear what his response would be and he sighed before speaking, "did Diego put you up to this?" He asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Hm... maybe. Maybe not." I replied.

"Since when are both of you friends?" He asked further and I smiled before responding, "since today sir?"

"Ugh. Whatever, fine. He'll be allowed to play arcade games but only once a week! Once! And that's it, no more negotiations!" He replied grumpily and I smiled excitedly.

I walked back to Diego while his dad followed behind me and relyed the news to him and he was more than excited to have been given that chance even if it was once a week, he rushed into the dining room while dragging me along happily.

He then sat me beside him as he began to eat his food eagerly.

I smiled, one down, one to go.