Chapter 6 - THE NAME ON THE DOCUMENT|
I remember the sound of the clock more clearly than anything else.
One slow tick.
Then another.
Vanessa stood beneath the chandelier, staring at the document in Luca's hands.
She had just admitted there was something worse.
But now she seemed desperate to pull the words back.
Luca watched her carefully.
"What do you mean?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"Nothing."
"You said it wasn't the worst part."
"I was upset."
"What else have you arranged?"
She looked toward Benjamin.
"Can we please stop discussing this in front of him?"
For once, I agreed with her.
Whatever Vanessa was hiding, Benjamin had heard enough that night.
Luca seemed to reach the same conclusion.
He turned toward Mrs. Carter.
"Would you take Ben to the library?"
The little boy shook his head.
"Daddy, I don't want to go away."
Luca crouched.
"You're not going away."
"But everybody keeps talking about it."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"And I'm sorry."
Benjamin looked toward Vanessa.
"Will she still be here tomorrow?"
Nobody spoke.
Luca took a breath.
"No, buddy."
The little boy considered this.
Then whispered, "Will somebody tell her I'm sorry?"
My heart almost broke.
Luca closed his eyes.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
Benjamin looked uncertain.
His father hugged him.
"Mrs. Carter is going to help you with your birthday cake."
"And you'll come?"
"Absolutely."
"Before the candle melts?"
Luca smiled.
"Before the candle melts."
Benjamin finally nodded.
Mrs. Carter took his hand.
He turned toward me.
"Miss Rachel?"
"Yes, honey?"
"Can you save my balloon?"
I smiled through my tears.
"I'll keep it safe."
He looked relieved.
Then disappeared through the library doors.
Only when he was gone did Luca face Vanessa again.
"Now tell me."
Vanessa sank into a chair.
"I didn't want Benjamin to hate me."
"Then you should have treated him differently."
She wiped her eyes.
"You don't understand what it's like to enter a family where everyone is already loved."
Luca remained silent.
"Caroline has history with you."
"She is Benjamin's mother."
"Benjamin has your name."
"He's my son."
"And I have nothing."
I watched Luca's expression change from anger to disappointment.
"You had my trust."
Vanessa looked down.
"You had my commitment."
He paused.
"And you had every opportunity to build a relationship with Benjamin."
She covered her face.
"I tried."
Luca didn't answer.
After a moment, he turned toward Frank.
"Bring Daniel in."
A thin man in a gray suit stepped through the doorway.
Daniel Price was Vanessa's personal assistant.
I'd seen him at the estate several times.
He carried garment bags, coordinated florists, and managed her appointments.
Tonight, his face was pale.
"Mr. Moretti."
"Daniel."
Luca held up the Westbridge document.
"Did you arrange this?"
Daniel glanced at Vanessa.
"Yes, sir."
"On whose instructions?"
"Miss Bellini's."
Vanessa shook her head.
"Daniel, please."
He swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Miss Bellini."
Luca continued.
"Did you know neither of Benjamin's parents had approved it?"
Daniel hesitated.
"I was told approval would follow."
"By whom?"
"Miss Bellini."
Luca nodded.
"And the airport hotel?"
Daniel shifted uncomfortably.
"That was part of a proposed family transition plan."
I nearly laughed.
Family transition plan.
Three elegant words for making a little boy believe he was being sent away.
Luca looked at him.
"Who created that plan?"
Daniel glanced down.
"An outside consultant."
"What consultant?"
He opened his leather portfolio.
Then removed a folder.
I recognized the gold lettering immediately.
It was the stationery Vanessa had ordered for the wedding.
Across the front were the words:
The Bellini-Moretti Household Transition.
Luca opened it.
His expression darkened.
There were schedules.
Room assignments.
Visitor policies.
Staffing recommendations.
And a list titled Post-Marriage Adjustments.
Luca read silently for several seconds.
Then stopped.
"Why is Caroline listed under restricted visitors?"
Daniel said nothing.
Luca turned another page.
"Why does it say Benjamin's contact with household employees should be reduced?"
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa stared at the floor.
"Why is Rachel named here?"
Daniel cleared his throat.
"Miss Bellini requested a staff review."
Luca looked up.
"What kind of review?"
Daniel hesitated.
"She wanted to replace employees who were emotionally attached to the previous household structure."
Mrs. Carter had worked here seventeen years.
I had worked here fourteen months.
Both of us had become part of Benjamin's daily life.
Now I understood why Vanessa had threatened my job.
She wasn't simply angry about a balloon.
She wanted the people Benjamin trusted to disappear.
Luca slowly closed the folder.
"Daniel, did you prepare any documents using my signature?"
The assistant went completely still.
Vanessa whispered, "Don't answer that."
Luca looked at her.
"Why?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Sir, I prepared draft authorization forms."
Luca's face hardened.
"Did you sign them?"
"No."
"Did Vanessa?"
Daniel hesitated.
"One form contains a reproduced signature."
The room became silent.
Luca opened the folder again.
"Show me."
Daniel turned to a page near the back.
It was a parental authorization form.
Benjamin Moretti's name appeared at the top.
Below it were boxes for emergency contacts, educational records, and transportation consent.
At the bottom was Luca's signature.
Or something that looked like it.
I watched him study the page.
Then he gave a humorless laugh.
"That's not my signature."
Vanessa started crying.
"I never intended to use it."
Daniel looked away.
Luca turned toward him.
"Was this submitted anywhere?"
"No, sir."
"Are you certain?"
"To the best of my knowledge."
Luca nodded slowly.
"Frank, preserve the originals and secure the related correspondence."
Frank immediately stepped forward.
Vanessa stood.
"You can't treat me like a criminal."
Luca's voice remained steady.
"I'm trying to establish what happened."
"I was planning a family."
"You were planning my son's future without his parents."
She stared at him.
Then suddenly turned toward me.
"This is all because of her."
I flinched.
Luca stepped between us.
"No."
Vanessa pointed at my apron.
"She filled Benjamin's head with stories."
"Rachel didn't write these documents."
"She poisoned you against me."
"Rachel didn't cancel his birthday."
"She contacted Caroline."
"Rachel didn't forge my signature."
Vanessa went silent.
For the first time, she seemed to have no accusation left.
Luca turned to Frank.
"Please ask our attorney to come tomorrow morning."
Then he looked toward Daniel.
"I want a complete account of every instruction related to Benjamin."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Vanessa whispered, "Luca, what happens to me now?"
He studied her.
"You'll collect your personal belongings with a member of staff present."
Her eyes filled.
"And then?"
"You'll leave."
She looked toward the staircase.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
For a moment, she seemed smaller than I had ever seen her.
Then she straightened.
"Fine."
She pulled off her engagement ring.
The diamond caught the chandelier light.
She placed it on the table.
"There."
Luca didn't touch it.
Vanessa looked at me one final time.
"I hope you're happy, Rachel."
I swallowed.
"This was never about me."
She laughed bitterly.
"That's what you want everyone to believe."
Then she walked toward the doorway.
But before she reached it, Daniel suddenly spoke.
"Miss Bellini."
She stopped.
He looked toward Luca.
"There's one more thing, sir."
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel opened his portfolio again.
"I received a message this morning from the manager of the storage company."
Luca frowned.
"What storage company?"
Daniel swallowed.
"The company Miss Bellini hired to remove Benjamin's bedroom furniture."
My heart stopped.
Luca stared at him.
"When?"
Daniel looked down.
May you like
"Tomorrow morning."
Then he added quietly, "The movers already have a key."
