Chapter 3 - The Fiancée Who Knew Too Much
Vanessa Bellini arrived at the mansion at eleven seventeen.
Elena knew the exact time because she had been staring at the kitchen clock, trying to decide whether she could safely go home.
Mrs. Bennett had insisted she eat something.
A bowl of soup sat untouched in front of her.
Outside, a black Mercedes swept through the gates.
Elena's spoon slipped from her hand.
Mrs. Bennett looked through the window.
“That's Miss Bellini.”
Elena immediately stood.
“I should go upstairs.”
“You don't have to hide.”
“I know.”
But she was already moving.
She reached the servants' staircase before Vanessa entered the foyer.
From the landing, Elena heard the sound of expensive heels striking marble.
“Where's Alessandro?”
Vanessa's voice was sharp and impatient.
“In his office, ma'am,” Mrs. Bennett answered.
“And Elena?”
Elena froze.
A silence followed.
“Why are you asking?” Mrs. Bennett said.
“Because I hear she caused some ridiculous scene this morning.”
Elena pressed a hand against the wall.
“She was injured,” the housekeeper replied.
Vanessa laughed softly.
“People who create drama usually are.”
Footsteps approached.
Elena turned toward the stairs, but it was too late.
Vanessa appeared beneath the chandelier.
She wore a cream designer coat, flawless makeup, and a diamond engagement ring that caught the light.
Her eyes went directly to Elena's bruised cheek.
For one brief second, surprise crossed her face.
Then came something much colder.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Vanessa climbed two steps.
“What happened to your face?”
Elena lowered her gaze.
“I had an accident.”
“That's unfortunate.”
Vanessa's smile remained perfectly arranged.
“Especially when you work in a house that hosts important people.”
Elena said nothing.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Has Alessandro seen it?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Of course he has.”
There was a strange bitterness in her voice.
Vanessa tilted her head.
“Did you tell him about Ryan?”
Elena looked up.
She had not mentioned Ryan's name to anyone in the household except Alessandro and Mrs. Bennett.
“How do you know about him?”
Vanessa's smile disappeared for half a second.
“Chicago isn't exactly a small town, darling, but people talk.”
“Did he tell you about me?”
“Ryan tells people all sorts of things.”
Elena's heartbeat quickened.
“What things?”
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“That you have a habit of taking advantage of men who try to help you.”
The words landed harder than Elena expected.
Ryan had used that exact phrase before.
He had said it after she refused to move back into his apartment.
He had said it again when she blocked his number.
Vanessa watched her expression.
“Oh, don't look so wounded.”
She adjusted the bracelet on her wrist.
“I'm simply warning you that Alessandro is a very generous man.”
Elena looked toward the office corridor.
Vanessa noticed.
“He is also a very busy man.”
Her voice lowered.
“He doesn't need another woman turning her personal problems into his responsibility.”
“I'm not asking him to.”
“Good.”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Because he already has a future wife.”
A door opened behind them.
“Vanessa.”
Alessandro stood at the end of the corridor.
His gaze moved from Elena's pale face to Vanessa's hand resting against the staircase railing.
“What are you doing?”
“Talking to your employee.”
“About what?”
Vanessa descended the steps with a bright smile.
“Her unfortunate accident.”
Alessandro didn't smile back.
“I asked what you were doing.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh.
“Darling, you can't interrogate me every time I speak to the staff.”
“Then answer a simple question.”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I heard about the man at the gate.”
“From whom?”
“Someone called me.”
“Who?”
She looked away.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Ryan Mercer.”
Elena felt the room tilt.
Alessandro's voice dropped.
“How do you know Ryan Mercer?”
“Business.”
“What business?”
“Consulting work for one of our partners.”
“Which partner?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Alessandro waited.
Finally, she said, “Mercer Strategic Holdings.”
Marco appeared behind Alessandro.
He was holding his phone.
“Sir.”
Alessandro didn't turn.
“Not now.”
“I think you'll want to see this.”
Marco approached and handed him the screen.
Elena watched Alessandro read something.
His expression became unreadable.
“What is it?” Vanessa demanded.
Marco answered before Alessandro could.
“We reviewed the vendor list for the North Shore redevelopment project.”
Vanessa went very still.
“Why?”
“Because Mercer Strategic Holdings received a payment yesterday.”
Alessandro looked directly at his fiancée.
“Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars.”
Vanessa stared.
“That's a legitimate consulting fee.”
“For what?”
“Market analysis.”
“Then where's the report?”
“I don't carry business documents in my purse, Alessandro.”
He handed the phone back to Marco.
“Send everything to counsel.”
Vanessa's face flushed.
“You're embarrassing me in front of a maid.”
Elena started toward the stairs.
“I can leave.”
“No,” Alessandro said.
His tone was firm but not directed at her.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“Her name is Elena.”
Vanessa laughed once.
“Are you serious?”
“Completely.”
A terrible silence followed.
Vanessa looked from Alessandro to Elena.
For the first time, Elena saw genuine hatred beneath the polished expression.
“You'll regret getting involved in things that don't concern you,” Vanessa whispered.
She turned and walked toward the front doors.
Alessandro watched her leave.
Then he looked at Elena.
“Did she threaten you?”
Elena hesitated.
“She knows things Ryan said to me.”
“Things she shouldn't know?”
“Yes.”
Alessandro nodded slowly.
From outside came the sound of an engine starting.
Marco glanced toward the window.
“Sir, Vanessa just made a call.”
“To whom?”
“Mercer.”
Alessandro's expression darkened.
Elena stared at the floor.
She had spent eight months trying to escape one dangerous man.
Now she understood something far worse.
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Ryan had not found her by accident.
Someone inside the mansion had told him exactly where to look.
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