Chapter 4 - Change in Tides

Nanny? Geena thought to herself. She had absolutely no idea about this elderly woman.

“I know, I know, you may not remember me, I didn't work for long at your home but I sure remember that smile, no matter the age you got to” Grandma beamed with a smile.

“Let's go in and have tea or coffee or whatever rich people drink”, she urged Geena.

Geena could see clearly where Dariel got his sense of humor from. His Grandma was very receptive and had life flowing through her even at her old age.

Walking into the house, Geena loved the view of the house. It wasn't too flamboyant or had much interior decor but it was a decent home with basic necessities. It smelled of freshly picked lilies and it made the place so welcoming.

“I'll be right back Geena, we have a lot of catch up to do”. Grandma said and left them to the kitchen.

“Welcome to my dwelling place, Geena” Dariel said.

“Thank you, I'm in love with the place already, so serene” she said and inhaled so deeply.

“This is nothing compared to your big mansion”.

“There's a big difference between a house and a home. This right here is a home” Geena stated.

“My love, I don't have the strength with you, I'm still recovering”

“You seem to have forgotten" Geena said with a little laugh.

Grandma walked in with 3 large cups of tea and served them.

“Geena, I was your nanny and home nurse while you were still little, I left when you were almost 2 years. I had to go back to my full time nursing job”

“Oh, what a small world then! Meeting my nanny on a very unexpected day” Geena said, with an expressive smile.

“And your father, that man was a good man. He literally begged me not to go, because of how close you and I were” Grandma added.

Dariel tried to hide his smile, because his Grandma was his new found love's nanny, which meant that the closeness was bound to continue.

“Seems you guys were very close, Grandma?” Geena asked. ‘Grandma’, she liked the way the word sounded coming from her own mouth.

“Your father was the life of the party. He would come into a room and cheer everyone up. Your mother was quite the opposite, but he did love her with all his heart”. Grandma replied.

“Well Grandma, it seems you guys have forgotten me. Did I tell you that Geena's my boss?”

“Oh Dariel my boy, it makes sense now. Stones Conglomerate, of course it had to be Geena Stones”.

“I'm really sorry for his accident Grandma, trust me it wasn't intentional” Geena apologized.

“Funny how he looks happier after the accident, he must have been in really good hands” Grandma teased with a little laugh.

Dariel and Geena's eyes met. They both tried suppressing a smile. He was happy that Grandma already loved Geena. It wouldn't be hard when he tells her that they're in love. He still couldn't that his billionaire boss was in love with him.

Grandma talked some more about her experience raising Geena and they enjoyed the conversation so heartily.

Geena really enjoyed the conversation and the presence of a mother. She rarely saw her mom and they only spoke sparingly on phone. Ever since her father died, her mom had been on vacation from one country to another. It was her own way of grieving the loss of her husband. They were real love birds just as Grandma had earlier said.

Geena looked at her wristwatch and realized she had spent so much time at Dariel's place. She waved Grandma goodbye and Dariel walked with her to the car. They exchanged pleasantries and she left.

*********************************

Dariel headed straight to the store, to pick up his cleaning tools. He had been home for a week - a medical leave personally approved by Geena.

On his way out, his supervisor came in. “Dariel, there's a man at the reception to see you, he specifically called your name and he looks rich too” his boss added with a little laugh.

“I…..I don't know, but I sure wasn't expecting anyone, I'll check him out, it could be a misunderstanding” Dariel responded, feeling bewildered.

He went down to the reception and he saw an elderly man around his mid 60’s, clean cut hair and a well tailored suit. Judging from that appearance, he was looking rich, just as Dariel's supervisor had noted.

“Mr. Montague, good morning”, the man greeted, walking up to him.

“Good….. good morning Sir. Please who are you and how do you know me? Your face doesn't look familiar, Sir” Dariel noted with a look of shock.

“I'm sorry Mr. Montague, if only we could have a seat, I will explain myself”, the gentleman pleaded.

“Okay Sir”, Dariel walked with him and they sat together.

“Mr. Montague, I know this may sound shocking, but I am your late father's lawyer, I am Lorenzo Conti” Lorenzo stated.

“My father? Late father? I don't understand” Dariel asked.

“That's why I'm here Dariel, I want to tell you everything” Lorenzo stated.

According to Lorenzo, Dariel's father - Francesco De Luca, was an Italian billionaire business man. He uncovered that his business associates were involved in illegal businesses that would affect his business empire and tarnish his reputation.

He threatened to report them to the appropriate authorities. His father received information of an assassination plot on his life and his family planned by the associates. So the father handed Dariel to the lawyer and told him to send Dariel somewhere far away and keep him safe.

So Lorenzo came to Los Angeles where he met Dariel’s Grandma, being the head of an official agency for nannies. So he told her to take care of Dariel for a while, that his parents' lives were in danger (although he didn't give her the specifics). He made a wholesome donation to her agency and to her for Dariel's care.

Lorenzo went back to Italy and found out that Dariel's parents had been assassinated. Lorenzo had been trying to bring the culprits to justice before he came back for Dariel.

Dariel could not believe what he just heard. Billionaire, Italy, assassinated parents, father's lawyer, everything felt like a joke to him.

“I understand exactly how you feel, I felt you wouldn't believe me, so I came with a picture of your parents with you”. He removed 3 pictures of Dariel with his parents.

Dariel collected the pictures and was almost in tears. There he was, although he wasn't even up to a year old, he could see the similarities in his eyes, his cheeks and his little laugh.

“Your name is actually Nico. Nico De Luca. I guess it was your grandma who named you Dariel Montague.”

Dariel was short of words, he didn't know what to say, what to ask or where to even start from. Growing up away from his parents all this while and they were dead, it truly felt like a dream. He knew so little of his background.

“I know you must be really overwhelmed now, but that's not the main reason I'm here. I came to hand over your father's billion empire to you. I wanted to make sure everything was okay over there before coming to you” Lorenzo stated.

He opened his bag and brought out a large envelope. “Here are the documents and the necessary information about your father's properties and businesses. They are all yours now”.

“Mine? I don't even know what to say or where to begin” Dariel said, looking so lost.

“Take all the time you need Dariel, I'm at your service. I'll still be in Los Angeles till whenever you're ready”. On that note, Lorenzo gave Dariel his complimentary card.

“Call me anytime, do have a lovely day” Lorenzo stood up, packed up his bag, gave Dariel a handshake and left the building.

Dariel didn't even know where to begin. He couldn't go home to Grandma, at least she'd give him listening ears. But here at the office, there was Geena. He could talk to her, to get some things off his chest. Up the elevator he went straight to Geena's office.

Dariel kept on playing the scenario with the lawyer earlier on in his head. He didn't even know what to think or say. The envelope was still closed, he wasn't going to open that here at the office.

Dariel, approaching Geena's office, heard a little chatter coming from her direction. He could hear a man's laughter, it was confident. Dariel thought it was a staff.

But on arriving, he received another shock. Geena was smiling passionately at another man, hands locked in and they were both engaged in a seemingly enjoyable conversation.

The sight hit him harder than he cared to admit.

A strange feeling twisted in his chest, tightening with every second he stood there.

Suddenly, the laughter, the smiles, the joined hands—none of it seemed innocent anymore.

And for the first time since meeting Geena, Dariel found himself wondering if he had already lost a battle he never got the chance to fight.

He remained frozen at the doorway, unable to move, unable to look away.

Then Geena said something that made his heart sink…..