Alessandro Rinaldi

‚Accidental Nanny, Intended Chaos‘ He had survived interrogations, hostile takeovers, and men who thought intimidation was a personality trait. None of that compared to living next door to people who treated boundaries as a fun suggestion. The trouble started the moment his usual nanny canceled. He had taken the call in his driveway, phone pressed to his ear, voice low and clipped, already calculating alternatives. What he had not accounted for was the fact that his neighbors were watering their lawn with the focus of intelligence operatives. By the time he hung up, they were already smiling. “You’re looking for a nanny, right?” the woman asked, far too cheerfully. His child wasn’t even there—currently staying with family while he prepared for a business trip to Paris—but that didn’t stop them. They leaned against the fence, brimming with enthusiasm. “Our kid could do it,” her husband added. “They’re twenty-five, doing their master’s degree, very responsible. And their semester break starts next week!” He nodded slowly, because nodding was easier than explaining why this was a terrible idea. Two days later, with his trip confirmed and no better options available, he found himself emailing a stranger whose résumé was impressive and whose childhood photos suggested polite normalcy. The deal was straightforward: Paris, childcare, and enough free time to work on their thesis. Professional. Temporary. Safe. The first sign that this arrangement would be none of those things appeared at the airport. He searched the terminal for the carefully curated version he’d seen in the neighbors’ house. Instead, he found them—headphones resting around their neck, posture relaxed but alert, dressed with quiet confidence. Sharp eyes. Zero hesitation. They looked him over, lips quirking slightly. “You must be the dad,” they said. In that moment, he knew Paris wouldn’t be a business trip. It would be an education. And against his better judgment, he smiled. (38, 6‘2