Chapter 5 - The Threat Behind the Red Dress|
Vanessa stood in the doorway wearing the same red silk gown from dinner.
But everything else about her had changed.
Her hair had fallen loose around her shoulders.
Her makeup was smudged.
And the charming smile she'd worn for months had disappeared completely.
Luca moved toward the door.
“How did you get past security?”
Vanessa laughed.
“It's amazing what people will do when you offer them enough money.”
My stomach tightened.
Luca took out his phone.
“Marco.”
Vanessa raised one hand.
“Don't bother. I'm not here to hurt anyone.”
Luca stared at her.
“Then why are you standing outside my father's study in the middle of the night?”
She looked toward the black metal box.
“Because that belongs to me.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“No. It belongs to my family.”
Vanessa stepped inside.
“Your family took everything from mine.”
I stood near the desk, trying not to shake.
Luca crossed his arms.
“Explain.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“My mother worked for Antonio Moretti for years. She gave him everything. Her time. Her loyalty. Her silence.”
“Silence about what?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then shook her head.
“You wouldn't understand.”
“Try me.”
She looked toward Antonio's portrait.
“My father died owing money to half the city. Your father could have helped us.”
Luca frowned.
“He did help you.”
“Not enough!”
Her voice echoed through the room.
She seemed startled by her own outburst.
Then she continued, quieter.
“He gave my mother a job. A small apartment. Charity disguised as kindness.”
Luca stared.
“Your mother said he protected her.”
“Because she never wanted more!”
Something in Vanessa's voice made my stomach turn.
She wasn't simply angry about money.
She was furious that someone had accepted help instead of demanding power.
Luca looked toward the documents.
“You tried to take property that wasn't yours.”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“I tried to claim what my family deserved.”
“By forging my father's signature?”
She went silent.
“By working with Daniel Mercer?”
Still nothing.
“By convincing my mother that I wanted her sent away?”
Vanessa looked toward me.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You've been filling his head with stories.”
I stepped backward.
Luca immediately moved between us.
“Don't threaten her.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Of course. The brave little maid.”
I swallowed.
“Mrs. Bellini, I haven't told him anything that wasn't true.”
Her face twisted.
“You think you're special because you moved a chair?”
I said nothing.
She stepped closer.
“Do you know how many women would give anything to stand where you're standing?”
Luca's voice hardened.
“Vanessa.”
But she continued.
“You clean floors. You carry plates. You send money to your mother because you can't afford to care for her properly.”
My face burned.
She knew about my mother.
Of course she did.
She'd spent months reminding me that my job was fragile.
But hearing her use my mother's illness as an insult made something inside me change.
I lifted my head.
“Yes,” I said quietly.
Vanessa blinked.
“Yes, I clean floors. I carry plates. And I help pay for my mother's care.”
I took a breath.
“But I've never made an elderly woman cry because I wanted her chair.”
The room went completely silent.
Vanessa stared at me.
Then she raised her hand.
I flinched.
But before she could reach me, Luca caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
Vanessa froze.
He released her immediately and stepped between us.
“Leave.”
She looked stunned.
“Luca—”
“Now.”
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then Marco appeared at the doorway with two security officers.
“Boss?”
“Escort Miss Bellini out. Make sure she doesn't return without my permission.”
Vanessa stared at Luca.
“You'll regret this.”
He looked at her.
“I regret trusting you with my mother's happiness.”
For one moment, her expression crumpled.
Then she looked at the black box.
“You don't know everything.”
Luca didn't respond.
Vanessa smiled bitterly.
“Ask your mother what happened to the eighteen million dollars.”
Then she walked out.
The door closed behind her.
For several seconds, the room remained silent.
I stared at my hands.
They were shaking.
Luca noticed.
“Hannah.”
I looked up.
“I'm sorry you had to hear that.”
I shook my head.
“It's all right.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“It isn't.”
His voice softened.
“She had no right to speak to you that way.”
I tried to smile.
“I'm used to difficult guests.”
“You shouldn't have to be.”
Something in his expression made my throat tighten.
Then he looked toward the documents.
“The eighteen million.”
I nodded.
“Vanessa mentioned your mother.”
Luca frowned.
“Mom never handled the company's finances.”
He picked up Antonio's letter.
Then looked toward the door.
“We need to ask her.”
I hesitated.
“It's almost one in the morning.”
He paused.
I continued carefully.
“Mrs. Moretti has had an exhausting evening. Maybe whatever happened can wait until morning.”
Luca studied me.
Then nodded.
“You're right.”
I felt relief.
He closed the black box.
Then surprised me by asking, “How is your mother?”
I blinked.
“My mother?”
“You mentioned her hip surgery when you started working here.”
I stared.
He remembered.
“She still needs assistance walking,” I answered. “But she's improving.”
“What's her name?”
“Margaret Collins.”
He nodded.
“Does she know what happened tonight?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. I'd rather she didn't have another reason to worry.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Luca looked toward the hallway.
“Go home tomorrow morning. Take a paid day off.”
I shook my head.
“Mr. Moretti, I need the hours.”
“You'll be paid.”
My eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
He gave a small nod.
Then looked at the study one final time.
“Tomorrow we'll find out what my father was trying to protect.”
May you like
But neither of us knew that Rosa Moretti was already awake.
And downstairs, in her bedroom, she was holding a photograph that explained why eighteen million dollars had disappeared seven years earlier.
