Page 5 of Nanny for the Silver Fox

"If you put effort into your life, Dad wouldn't be so hard on you."

"I run a successful business," I snap.

"That's not what I mean, and you know it. Your personal life is shit. There isn't a week that goes by that your name isn't in the tabloids. There is more to life than just having sex with every gorgeous woman you meet. Did you ever stop to think your behavior embarrasses our parents?"

"My personal life is my business," I yell, and the woman beside me gives me an annoyed look.

"Not when everyone knows about it," Ezra matches my tone, then sighs. "Look, I'm not asking you to settle down. I’m saying to be more respectful and show Dad he doesn't need to worry about you."

"I'll consider it," I say as I turn the corner and stop in front of Antonio's building.

"Good. And don't think I missed the sarcasm in your voice. Just promise me you won't miss his birthday again," he says finally. "Dane and I don't want to fabricate another excuse for your absence."

"Yeah, sure. I won't miss it," I say dryly, knowing that I'm lying.

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up the phone. I take a deep breath, sighing as I enter Antonio's building.

Antonio's living room is inviting and cozy, with soft cushions on the sofa and vibrant paintings lining the walls. I can feel a gentle breeze through the open balcony windows that carry in the sweet scents from the many potted flowers covering the balcony.

Antonio’s home reflects his personality—laid back, down to earth, and sophisticated. He hasn't always been wealthy, and his wealth didn't turn him into a snob.

Antonio and I sit in the living room, each with a beer. We chat about sports, current events, and business, but my mind drifts away from the conversation. I keep thinking about the woman from the club. I can still smell her scent and feel the warmth of her skin. My body tightens from the memory.

Then I think about the conversation with Ezra and the upcoming party. Walking over hot coals and broken glass would be preferable to that.

"You seem a million miles away," Antonio says, returning me to reality. “Are you even listening?” Antonio asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

Antonio is a large man with broad shoulders, a solid chest, and muscular arms. His black hair is streaked with gray, and his deep-set eyes speak loudly of his determination. He has an air of authority that’s hard to ignore.

"Huh...no, I wasn't listening." I rake my hand through my thick hair. "I have a lot on my mind."

Although I consider Antonio my closest friend, I don't want to go into the details of my family drama.

"Business trouble?"

I shake my head. "Thankfully, all is good on that front."

My parents are wealthy, and when I turned eighteen, I was determined not to be another trust fund kid living off their parents' wealth. I went to college, got an MBA, and started an investment company. Antonio's business was one of the first ones I invested in, enough to be a stockholder. I believed in him when no one else did. After I was offered a return on my investment ten times greater than what I had put in, it felt like the perfect time to move on.

Antonio and I have been close friends ever since.

Antonio inquires, “How has investing been for you, as of late?" His eyes sparkle with interest as he adds, "I'm considering investing a bit myself."

“The market is currently thriving, offering countless opportunities... but with all the competition out there, it can be rugged terrain to conquer. It’s hard seeing folks give their best effort only to realize that they're reaching too high this time—no one enjoys delivering bad news after all!"

He blinks at me.

"What?" I question his stare.

"Careful. You sound like you have a heart and care about people."

"I'm not a total jerk," I snort and sip my beer.

I have to break the bad news to all sorts of business owners. I'm not one for caring about what's happening in people's lives - everyone has something, right? But I must admit that seeing how hard someone works for something and telling them it isn't working out isn't easy. It takes a certain kind of strength to be able to do that.

"I think it's admirable," Antonio muses, sipping his beer.

"Don't think I don't care about money." I place my glass on the coaster. “In this business, the numbers are everything. That's why I have an excellent marketing team to help me determine the viability of a product. If I don’t see green, then they’re not seeing green. End of story.”

---