Page 85 of Seduced By Contract

When we reach the room where everyone is gathered, the mothers and nannies who brought their children stop talking, and it takes me a few seconds to understand why. They're all drooling over him.

I stiffen my posture, crazy with jealousy, but I maintain good manners and introduce him—generally, because there's no way I'm going to say their names one by one—to everyone.

"A single dad?" one of the sassy ones asks.

"No. I'm Madison's boyfriend, and this is my nephew, Joseph."

You can see the disappointment on their faces as we walk away to look for Silas and Soraya.

When we reach the hallway, I turn to face him. "Why did you say that?" I ask.

"Because you are mine."

"The day before yesterday, you told me that I was under contract."

"Sugar babyor girlfriend—you choose the label, Madison, but I'm not leaving your life until I'm sure whatever is between us is dead."

Eleanor approaches and, after greeting Zeus more coldly than usual, speaks to Joseph. To our surprise, the little boy throws himself into her arms.

"Can I take him to see the twins?" she asks.

"Yes, you can," Zeus replies.

After she leaves, we don't move, our eyes locked on each other.

“You hurt me,” I say.

Before he can speak, Silas appears, walking up to us.

"Euuuuussssss!" he shouts when he sees him.

"Hi, big guy. So you're already running around, huh?" He bends down, and my nephew walks with those drunken steps. He only stops when he reaches Zeus.

"He started today," I say.

"What about Soraya?"

"Not yet."

As if she knows we’re talking about her, she crawls around the corner. Eleanor is close behind, hand in hand with Joseph, who is already walking much more steadily than my nephew.

Zeus stretches out his hand, and to our surprise, with the greatest difficulty in the world, she leans against the wall and stands up. When she's standing, the three of us are expectant.

She lets go of the wall and threatens to walk. She staggers, and I hold my breath, but I wait.

And then, my little girl takes her first steps, but instead of coming to me, she goes to Zeus.

"You walked towards Uncle Zeus, my love!" I praise, kissing her cheek.

Joseph claps his hands, as if he is happy with his new friend's victory, and Eleanor wipes away a tear, because my mother cries about everything.

"She came to me," my Greek says, all proud, and I smile despite myself, because it's charming for such a powerful man to melt for a little girl.

"Yes, to you," I say, looking at him.

He looks at me, with my niece and nephew sheltered in his arms, and his features change.

He's not smiling anymore.

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