She turned.
Adrian reached into his jacket and took out a business card.
"If you ever need anything, call me."
Emily looked at the card, surprised.
"Thank you, sir. But I don't need anything."
For the first time that morning, Adrian almost smiled.
"Everyone needs something."
She politely declined the card.
"Then perhaps I'll save it for a day when I really need it."
She returned to her trolley and continued working.
Adrian watched her disappear behind the reception area.
Then he looked down at Daniel.
The baby was still sleeping peacefully.
It was the first time in six months that Adrian had seen him relax in the arms of someone he barely knew.
But upstairs, Victoria had already made up her mind.
She approached her son later that afternoon.
"Adrian, we need to talk."
He barely looked up from his phone.
"About what?"
"That girl."
"Which girl?"
"The maid who was holding Daniel."
Adrian sighed.
"Mother, she was helping me. That's all."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"You should be careful about allowing strangers near your son."
"She calmed him down. Something none of our expensive specialists have managed to do."
"That doesn't mean she should become part of this family."
Adrian finally looked at her.
"Nobody said she would."
Victoria leaned closer.
"Good. Because I won't allow another woman to come into this house and pretend she belongs here."
Adrian frowned.
"What exactly are you talking about?"
But Victoria didn't answer.
Instead, she glanced at the sleeping baby in his arms.
And for the first time in six months, she looked genuinely afraid.
Because she recognized something about Emily Carter.
Something she had hoped would remain buried forever.
And she knew that if Adrian ever discovered the truth, the Blackwood family would never be the same again.
Three days passed after the incident at the hotel.
Adrian Blackwood tried to return to his normal routine, but something had changed.
Every morning, he woke up expecting to hear Daniel crying. Every evening, he returned home to find his son restless and refusing to sleep.
The pediatrician insisted that Daniel was physically healthy. His feeding schedule was normal, his development was appropriate, and there was no medical explanation for his behavior.
Yet Adrian couldn't shake the memory of that morning.
The moment Emily had taken Daniel into her arms, his son had become peaceful.
It was almost unbelievable.
On Thursday morning, Adrian made an unexpected decision.
"Find her."
His assistant, Michael, looked up from his tablet.
"Who, sir?"
"Emily Carter. The employee from the hotel."
Michael hesitated.
"Do you want her employment records?"
"Everything relevant to her background. I want to know whether she has experience caring for children."
Within an hour, Michael returned with a file.
Emily Carter was twenty-four, unmarried, and had worked at the Blackwood Grand Hotel for almost two years. She lived in a modest apartment with her younger brother, Noah, and had no criminal history.
Her mother had died several years earlier.
Her father was listed as unknown.
Adrian paused at that final detail.
"Unknown?"
"That's what the records say, sir."
He closed the file.
"Arrange a meeting."
Meanwhile, Emily was struggling through another exhausting shift.
Her phone vibrated inside her pocket.
It was a message from her landlord reminding her that rent was due.
She sighed.
Her younger brother, Noah, had recently started college, and she was determined to give him the education she had never been able to afford for herself.
Every extra shift mattered.
When her manager called her into the office, she immediately feared the worst.
"Emily, Mr. Blackwood wants to see you."
Her stomach tightened.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"I don't know. Just go to the executive lounge."
Emily walked upstairs, nervously adjusting her uniform.
Adrian was standing near the window when she entered.
He wore a dark suit, his expression serious.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Emily. Please sit."
She remained standing.
"Is there a problem?"
"No. Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you."
He gestured toward the chair again.
This time, she sat.
Adrian placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Daniel sleeping peacefully in her arms.
Emily smiled despite herself.
"He's adorable."
"He has been asking for you."
She blinked.
"He's eight months old, sir. I don't think he can ask for anyone."
Adrian almost laughed.
"Fair enough."
He explained that Daniel had continued experiencing severe crying episodes. His usual caregivers had been unable to settle him.
Then he made an unusual proposal.
"I'd like to offer you a temporary position at my residence."
Emily stared.
"Your residence?"
"As a companion and caregiver for Daniel. You would work alongside a qualified nanny. You wouldn't be expected to handle everything yourself."
She looked uncomfortable.
"Sir, I'm not a professional nanny."
"I know. That's why I would arrange proper training and supervision."
"Why me?"
Adrian looked toward the photograph.
"Because my son trusts you."
Emily lowered her eyes.
She thought about her rent, Noah's tuition, and the bills waiting at home.
But she also remembered how Daniel had rested against her chest.
"I need to think about it."
"Of course."
Adrian handed her a written offer.
The salary was almost three times what she earned at the hotel.
Emily's eyes widened.
"Sir, this is too much."
"It's a demanding position."
"Still..."
"Don't accept it because of the money. Accept it only if you believe you can help my son."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
"I'll come for an interview."
Adrian seemed satisfied.
But when Emily left the lounge, she didn't notice someone watching from the corridor.
Victoria.
That evening, Victoria confronted Adrian in his study.
"You're bringing that girl into our house?"
Adrian didn't look up.
"She's coming to help Daniel."
"We have professional caregivers."
"None of them can calm him."
"Then hire another one."
"I've hired six."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Adrian, you are making a mistake."
He finally put down his pen.
"Why are you so determined to keep her away?"
Victoria remained silent.
For a moment, her eyes moved toward the framed photograph on his desk.
It was a wedding picture of Adrian and his late wife, Sophia.
Then she spoke quietly.