9. Such a bad dad.

Deangelo.

As soon as my kids trooped in, I couldn’t help but immediately notice how a little part of my eldest was torn and dirty, Mia is a very neat and organised teenager, she doesn't even let her brother into her room for any reason at all, so this was something that actually stands out for her.

"Mia, why is your sleeve that dirty? Torn even? Are you five?" I scolded instead of asking politely and showing concern like I normally would before... well... before we fell out with eachother.

Here's what I mean, Mia used to be a daddy's girl with me, we'd have fun, I'd protect her and she'd tell me everything that she couldn't even tell her mom but it all went south when Jules, my wife died. She became so cranky and it has even gotten worse since she celebrated her thirteenth birthday last year, it was almost like she got initiated into the typical teenage crankiness. And she hated every single thing I did, nothing I do goes well with her, it's almost like she has it in for me. Honestly, I barely know what's up in her life anymore, not school, not friends, and definitely not boys either.

"Nothing, dad. I bumped into a tree and it caught my sleeve hence the tear." She said quickly and even though it sounded made up, I didn't bother to push further, I wouldn't want to ruin the civilised conversation we just had.

"Daddy, daddy. We learnt a new song in school today and it is so nice!" Diego, my youngest said, in his usual cheerful and playful mood.

Diego is the total opposite of his elder sister, he started school this year and even though he's just five, he takes things that would normally upset a child of his age with smiles. He hardly cries neither does he throw tantrums for no reason. Whenever ihes around me, he always finds a way to make me laugh and smile even when I do not want to. He's just so adorable.

Although, this can be relative because we've had nannies go and come while complaining of his troublesomeness and Mia's rudeness. A nanny once sustained an injury from being scratched out by Diego even. Noticing that I was engrossed in listening to Diego's school feedback, I quickly snapped out of his trance and looked back at Elena who was still seated before me, watching us with a look of confusion as if trying to figure out what was happening.

It was almost like she couldn't believe her eyes and I couldn't blame her, the fact about me having kids is something that I kept away from the public as much as I could because of the enemies that I have lurking at every corner. Even though I made sure to build this little estate for my pack and family away from the Amato bloody fight, I knew that getting to us if they wanted to would be easy so acting like I had no weakness seemed better. I just didn't want my kids in harm's way.

"Uh... Elena, these are my kids. She's Mia and he's Diego." I introduced and she smiled awkwardly while my kids looked to and fro between us both, probably wondering who Elena was.

And trust impatient Mia to ask before I even get the chance to continue, "who is she, dad? Don't tell me that we are getting another strange person in here?" She questioned and I threw her a glare.

"She's your new nanny." I simply replied and as if I had just said I brought something of harm into our home, Mia yelled maniacally.

"What? What nanny? Dad! How many times do you want to be told by me that we do not need nannies anymore? I'm thirteen for fuck's sake!"

"You will not curse in my house, Mia. I will not even stand by and watch you foul your own mouth like that!" I snapped immediately but she was just not having it.

"That is not the point right now, dad! That is so not the point! Are you not even seeing her? She's like eighteen, how can someone like that be a nanny? Can she even take care of her own self?" She said, making Elena even more uncomfortable than she already was.

"That is enough!" I snapped and she immediately went mute. Just when I was about to scold her more, Sofia, the kids' tutor walked in, but it seemed like she had been at the entrance for a while and might have witnessed all that happened.

Sofia has been a very stable part of our family and I away feel very grateful for having her in my corner. She's patient, kind and there for my kids always. She had been here just before my wife died, and she was also her very bestfriend. Even when I told her that she could leave to better her life or do whatever she wanted, she refused, saying that we were our family and she would go nowhere but continue to care for the kids. She said she promised that to my wife before she died, so despite having an MBA and not being liked so much by the kids, she stuck around.

"Uhm... sir. I'm so sorry for speaking out of turn this way but for once, I do agree with Mia. I think they'll function better and get more independent without a nanny, even if they need someone to take care of them, I'm sure the chef and I can handle it. Camila is always here most of the time too, so is Madam Beatrice. I just don't think getting another nanny is the answer, we should note that they've had three now that never lasted, this has a psychological effect on children sir." She adviced.

"Everyone has their job to do, Sophia. The chef shouldn't have to leave the kitchen to tend to the kids neither should you leave their studies and assignments to tuck them into bed. They are all different jobs and roles and no one should ever have to combine what isn't their business to what is actually theirs. I will not let that happen, Elena is here to stay and I'm sure she'll do good with the kids, right, Elena?" I directed and she quickly jerked up at been suddenly involved in the heated moment.

"Uh... ye... yes sir. I promise to do my very best, I... I am very food with children and there would be no reason for me to back out just like that." Elena said and I found myself smirking to her response.

Of course, she can't back out. She can't even afford to.

"See? They will be in good hands so Mia, you just have to suck it up and accept your new nanny. I do not want you acting rude and bratty towards her, do you understand me?" I warned sternly.

"No dad! No, I don't! And I don't think I ever will. You never even listen to what I want, you just do what you want even when it involves us, even when we deserve to be heard, you always choose not to hear us. All you do is dictate what we should do and not to do to us. You're such a bad dad and I hope you know that!" Mia said to me just before storming out of my room to God knows where.

But then, she definitely struck a tiny nerve with her words.