Chapter 6 - The Woman in Red Who Wanted Me Gone|
Vanessa Bellini had lost everything she thought mattered in a single evening.
Her engagement.
Her reputation.
Her access to Luca's money.
And perhaps worst of all, the ability to pretend her past didn't exist.
But she wasn't finished.
Not even close.
At ten the following morning, she arrived at her father's private office in downtown Chicago.
Richard Bellini sat behind an enormous desk.
He was sixty-three, silver-haired, and known for his careful manners.
His eyes were cold.
"You're late," he said.
Vanessa threw her handbag onto a chair.
"Luca ended the engagement."
Richard looked up.
"I heard."
She folded her arms.
"Then why aren't you doing something?"
He stared.
"Because you've already done enough."
Vanessa's face reddened.
"Excuse me?"
Richard slowly stood.
"You humiliated an elderly woman at a private dinner. You exposed a nine-year-old child. And you dragged Daniel Reynolds into a scandal."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You're worried about Daniel?"
"I'm worried about what he'll tell Luca."
She stopped.
Richard noticed.
"Did Daniel mention the shipping accounts?"
Vanessa looked away.
"Some of them."
Her father's expression darkened.
"How much does Luca know?"
"I don't know!"
Richard slammed his hand against the desk.
"Then find out."
Vanessa stared.
For months, Richard had encouraged her engagement.
Bought expensive gifts.
Praised her beauty.
Told her marrying Luca would make her one of the most powerful women in Chicago.
Now he looked at her as though she had failed a business assignment.
She swallowed.
"Dad, why does Luca's brother matter so much?"
Richard went completely still.
"What?"
"Matteo Moretti."
His face changed.
Vanessa continued.
"He contacted me months ago. He knew about Oliver. He knew about Daniel."
Richard approached slowly.
"What exactly did he say?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"He told me not to marry Luca."
"And?"
"He said there were things I didn't understand."
Richard looked toward the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
"That boy should have stayed dead."
Vanessa froze.
"What?"
Richard turned.
"Nothing."
She stepped backward.
"Dad?"
He looked directly at her.
"Listen carefully. Stay away from Luca. Stay away from the old woman. And especially stay away from that maid."
Vanessa frowned.
"Natalie?"
"Yes."
She laughed.
"Why would you care about her?"
Richard's expression hardened.
"Because Natalie Brooks is connected to something that should have disappeared fourteen years ago."
Vanessa stared.
"What?"
Her father didn't answer.
Instead, he picked up his phone.
"Get me security."
Vanessa felt cold.
For the first time, she understood that her father hadn't simply wanted her to marry Luca.
He had wanted her inside the Moretti mansion.
Watching.
Listening.
Reporting.
And Natalie might have been the person he feared most.
Across the city, I stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Margaret.
She had spent the night in one of the guest rooms.
Luca had insisted she remain until safe transportation could be arranged.
But Margaret didn't seem eager to leave.
She sat at the kitchen table wearing the same gray cardigan.
I placed scrambled eggs and toast in front of her.
"Here you go."
She smiled.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
I sat across from her.
"Mrs. Ellis, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why did Matteo tell you to trust me?"
Her expression changed.
She looked down at her hands.
"I don't know everything."
I waited.
She continued.
"But he told me your father once saved his life."
I swallowed.
"And?"
"He said your father had evidence that could destroy several powerful men."
My stomach tightened.
"Where is it?"
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know."
I looked away.
Every answer created another question.
Then she reached across the table.
"Natalie, you're a good girl."
Tears stung my eyes.
"You barely know me."
She smiled sadly.
"I know enough."
For a moment, I thought about my mother.
How hard she worked.
How frightened she'd sounded on the phone.
How many years she'd spent carrying secrets alone.
Then Margaret asked quietly:
"Have you ever thought about leaving this job?"
I looked up.
"What?"
"Finding something that belongs to you."
I smiled faintly.
"I can't afford to."
She nodded.
"I understand."
Then she said:
"Don't let that stop you forever."
Her words stayed with me.
That afternoon, Vanessa arrived at the estate.
Security stopped her at the gate.
She demanded to see Luca.
He refused.
Then she demanded to see me.
Antonio came into the kitchen.
"Natalie?"
I looked up.
"Yes?"
"Miss Bellini says she needs to speak with you."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"She claims it's about your father."
I froze.
My father.
I followed Antonio to the front gate.
Vanessa stood outside wearing sunglasses and a red coat.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Natalie."
I kept my distance.
"What do you want?"
She glanced toward the guards.
"Privacy."
"No."
Her smile disappeared.
"Fine."
She lowered her voice.
"My father knows where James Brooks is."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
Vanessa smiled.
"And if you want him to stay alive, you'll do exactly what I say."
I stared.
"What do you want?"
She stepped closer to the gate.
"Leave Luca Moretti's house."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Her expression became cold.
"Because the longer you stay, the more dangerous you become."
Then she handed Antonio an envelope.
"For Natalie."
I took it reluctantly.
Inside was a photograph.
A man stood beside a hotel window.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But unmistakable.
My father.
James Brooks.
Alive.
Tears filled my eyes.
Then I turned the photograph over.
Four words were written on the back.
He knows about you.
I looked up.
"Who?"
Vanessa smiled.
Then whispered:
"Luca's father."
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Vittorio Moretti had been dead for five years.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
