"You finally showed who you really are.”

Matteo and the kids had barely left when Sofia started. She followed him through the house to the living room and stopped in front of him, refusing to be ignored. Derek felt like rolling his eyes, but he was resigned; nothing he could say would convince her otherwise. So, Derek gave in and just sat on the couch, opening the newspaper to the business section.

"Really? Who am I?”

"A child groomer. You always preferred the younger ones. They’re more innocent, aren’t they? Easier to manipulate? You can tell me.”

He looked at Sofia, at her bright blue-gray eyes that conveyed compassion and understanding. She had always been a good actress. But, did everyone think the same? Did he enjoy dominating the weak? Was that the impression he gave to others?

"Sofia, how many times I will need--”

"You're cheating on me. You'll never admit it, but I know it. Is it revenge for what I did?”

"Sofia." Derek sighed, already tired of this. "If I wanted revenge, I would have done it four years ago.”

“Four years?” She gasped and took a step back. This time, it didn’t seem like an act. “You knew all this time and never said anything?”

"I wasn't sure. Until you brought your lover home, things were great. I saw you two together and it was so obvious. I couldn't keep pretending.”

"Derek, I never meant to hurt you.”

"I know, it would happen sooner or later, right? And all because of our families?”

"Derek, please. Don't complicate things.”

"No, Sofia. I'm tired of this. Remember your part of the deal. This is my last warning.”

"Derek! Don't you realize what you're doing?" Sofia approached him and held his hands like she hadn't done in a long time. "Don't you know what people will say?”

"He's just a kid who needs help.”

"No." She refused to accept it, holding him in place with the strength of her intense eyes. "You say that now, but what about later? When you no longer feel guilty? I know what will happen. What will they say about me when you abandon me because of a little boy?”

"You were the one who abandoned me first!”

"Yes! For an adult and independent person. Someone mature and with a career. What do you think will happen? Will you play with him for a while and then dump him?”

"Oh, I hope not. I'll play with him, dress him, feed him, and give him everything he needs." Derek said with a smile wider than the world, catching himself and Sofia off guard. "Then I'll love him and marry him.”

"You… are you serious? You would throw away our partnership over some random child?”

"This has nothing to do with Matteo. That was our agreement, you would visit the children a few days per year until the divorce was official. All that’s left is for you to sign the papers.”

"Derek! Why can't you accept this? I'll even let you play with him. Equal rights, right?" She said hopefully.

"No, thank you very much. You should have thought about that before making your decision.”

"Derek!”

He had lost interest in what Sofia had to say. Derek sat back down on the couch and opened the newspaper once more, watching from the corner of his eye as Sofia paced the room, her dress billowing around her as she came up with a thousand reasons to convince him why a divorce after so long would be detrimental to both of them.

The truth was, he didn't care, and he didn't care what might happen to him. Would Derek lose some money? Yes. Would his parents be furious in that passive-aggressive way that said they were going to take away any support or power he had over the family business? Absolutely. As long as Matteo and the kids weren't affected, everything else could fall apart and he wouldn't lift a finger to stop it.

"Okay! But don't say I didn't warn you!" Sofia threw her hands in the air and marched upstairs. Which seemed perfect to him, the less he had to deal with Sofia, the less problems he would have in the future.

***

“Thank you, Jenny,” Derek said, picking up the cutlery on the table and deciding what he would eat first.

That was a pleasant early afternoon, the sun was shining brightly into the room and the food was being served on the table while Jenny, the new maid/housekeeper , arranged the dishes on the table. And Derek had to admit, he had never eaten so well before, even at his parents' house when the custom was to have a party or charity event every two weeks. It seemed that Matteo was excellent at everything he did and even at finding exemplary and efficient service providers.

“Of course, Mr. Moore. Mrs. Gray.” Jenny nodded at him and Sofia, and walked away. She was out of the dining room and back to the kitchen faster than a rocket. Had Sofia managed to scare away more of the staff yet?

“So…” Sofia began. She uncovered one of the dishes and made a face. “You know I don’t eat pasta.”

"Matteo eats. The children too.”

"It's your favorite dish. And I know you, everything has to be about you.”

"No, you're mistaken, I think we're talking about someone else.”

It was Derek's turn to make faces. When he was with Sofia, he couldn't help but sink to her level. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long, as he soon heard the front door slam and hurried footsteps coming towards him. Small arms grabbed him by the neck and childish giggles followed. Derek smiled at them and kissed their happy faces, Alice and Logan, the only positive thing that would come out of this marriage. Of course, Matteo came right after, out of breath, running after the children, probably worried that they might have gotten hurt.

"Oh." Matteo mumbled, looking embarrassed for some reason. " I'm sorry.”

Matteo took a step back and was already turning around when Derek said:

"Matteo, join us.”

"I don't want to bother you.”

"I insist.”

"Yes, Matteo. We insist.”

Matteo turned and faced him, hesitating, and then disappeared once more with the children's backpacks down the hallway and up the stairs. When he returned, Matteo simply extended his hands toward the children and they came to him, each holding one in his arms. They went up the stairs and with that, the silence that was so common when he and Sofia were together was once again present, louder than if a lion were roaring in the dining room and right in their faces.

"Hm." Sofia said after a while.

Yeah… maybe he had looked up at the cream-colored ceiling and then at the dishes that, even though covered, were releasing steam from the cooked food. When he looked back at her, Sofia had her arms crossed and was leaning against the back of the chair, observing him as if she were analyzing an experiment that had an obvious conclusion.

"You are thoughtful.”

"…”

"You are… happy.”

Derek made a point of not answering her again. He wouldn't smile or make any faces. But still, Sofia said he was happy.

"You've made up your mind.”

"I already told you--”

"Yes. But this time is serious.”

It was better for things to stay that way. He allowed himself to look at the ceiling once more and let his thoughts go wherever they wanted. He allowed himself to think about Matteo's dark eyes, his easily embarrassed face, and his shy but sweet gestures. And in the end, Sofia was right, he was just biding his time, waiting long enough for Matteo to reach twenty-one so he would feel less guilty about what he was about to do.

***

Derek heard the footsteps before he saw them. Matteo reappeared with the children, already changed, and guided them by the hands, helping Logan to sit in the chair while Alice sat down alone, sitting next to her brother. Silently, Logan and Alice waited for Matteo who started by taking the children's plates. First Logan's, filling his plate with vegetables and a small portion of pasta. Matteo did the same with Alice and even though they made faces, they both took the first bite, swallowing the vegetables practically without chewing. At least it was a start, he had never managed that feat.

"So, Matteo. You're a student, right?" Sofia said, barely letting Matteo sit down.

Matteo went around the table and did the same with Derek, filling his plate with vegetables, but with a much larger portion of pasta, doing the same with his own plate.

Matteo nodded, sat down next to Derek, and lowered his head, shoving a forkful of pasta into his mouth.

"What are you studying again?”

When Matteo continued chewing, showing no signs of responding, Derek spoke for him:

"He's going to be a--”

"I'm not talking to you." Sofia said and turned to Matteo, and asked again: "What do you study, boy?”

He watched things happen in slow motion. Matteo wiped his mouth delicately, put his cutlery on the plate, and then stared at Sofia, his brow furrowed. He placed his hands on his lap, somehow looking shy and yet not at all intimidated.

“You don’t scare me,” Matteo said, straightening his back. “You’re not the first to think that just because I’m quiet I’d be afraid of this emotional manipulation. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting your dinner. I can leave.”

A slow smile formed on Derek's face and not even his attempt to hide it with his hands could disguise his amusement. It was funny to see the way Matteo acted, the boy didn't even make an effort to move and just continued to stare at Sofia, calm and composed, as if this was a normal occurrence. The children didn't have the same composure, laughing softly as they tried not to choke on their food, all while Sofia seemed to take Matteo's answer as a challenge.

"Ah, but it seems like you learned a lot from daddy, right? After all, he's old enough to be your father. Maybe an uncle, hmm?”

It was Derek's turn to swallow something sour.

"My father?" Matteo shook his head and gave a dry chuckle. "My father would never teach me these things. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

"You don't have to?”

"No." This time Matteo looked Sofia straight in the eye, completely serious. "You are not part of our lives. How long will it be before you disappear again? If you don’t care about this marriage, you should care about what happens to your children.”

Only silence remained. Sofia paled and inside, where no one could see, Derek felt vindicated, so fulfilled that he could get down on one knee and ask Matteo to marry him right then and there.

"I’m sorry." Matteo said once more, softening his voice. "I don’t mean to intrude. But all this has a negative effect on the children. They spent the night crying. It’s not healthy. And no, everything I said here, they’re not my words, they’re theirs. Can you hear that?”

"I…" Sofia murmured, looking at her own plate.

"Can we start over?" Matteo then smiled and stood up. "Matteo Rossi Pagano, nice to meet you. I'm the kids' new nanny. I've been here for less than a month and I'm studying law at the community college, next semester I'll transfer to the federal college. I'm working to pay for my studies.”

Matteo offered Sofia his hand and the most incredible thing happened: Sofia stood up and accepted the greeting, shaking Matteo's hand. The children sighed in relief and Derek felt disappointed. Matteo could have chased Sofia away, right? But nothing was that simple. Sofia and Matteo sat down at the table, the plates were emptied, dessert arrived and so the children, Sofia and Matteo began to talk, telling her what had happened since Matteo had arrived there. Unfortunately, Sofia was cordial, Matteo was sincere and the rest of the day passed peacefully with Sofia and Matteo putting the children to bed and wishing them a good night.

The good news is that when Matteo came down the stairs to leave, he was alone. Backpack on his back and a calm expression on his face. That is, until he finished going down them and found Derek waiting for him at the bottom.

"Sorry about today. I didn't expect her to do that.”

“It’s okay.” Matteo shrugged, stopping a meter away from him. “You two are alike, actually. I just needed to shock her and show her that I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

"Still, you didn't have to deal with her.”

"Derek--”

"I have something for you." Derek took a card out of his pocket and offered it to Matteo. "The clinic I told you about.”

"You said it was an NGO." Matteo looked at him suspiciously, but accepted the card.

"It’s a clinic that partners with an NGO. It’s the same thing.”

"No, it's not.”

Matteo read the address on the card and frowned.

"Isn’t it that tall building in the city center…?”

"Well… you discovered my evil plan.”

With that, Matteo looked away from the card and crossed his arms, staring at him with that grumpy little face, making a cute little grimace.”

"I said my family had a partnership with an NGO, didn't I?”

"I didn't expect it to be in that building. I mean…”

"Yes, we are those Moore.”

"You mean, I gave a moral lesson to one of the most… famous socialites in the city?" Matteo said, looking like he was going to faint, his voice slowly fading away.

"Yes, and that was the best moment of my life! Thank you very much!”

"Derek!" Matteo whimpered and came at him, slamming both his fists against Derek's still aching chest. " Couldn't you have warned me?”

"No, I couldn’t." He murmured, satisfied, holding the middle of Matteo’s back. He loved it when Matteo approached him of his own free will. "Did I mention you were amazing? Fantastic. Magnificent. Perfect.”

"Stop it! And don't try to distract me. I can't accept it." But Matteo didn't pull away as he feared, Matteo hugged him by the neck and held on tightly.

“None of this.” Derek murmured against Matteo’s ear. “A promise is a promise.”

"I didn't promise anything.”

"Come on, it will be good for you. And if you need to--”

"No." Matteo denied, letting his arms fall away from Derek’s neck, and took a step back, looking anywhere but at him. "I can’t accept more than this.”

"I know. I understand. But I want you to know, if you ever need me, no matter what it is. I'm here.”

"I know." Matteo murmured back. "And that’s the problem.”