Chapter 2 - The Answer Vanessa Knew Too Quickly

Luca lowered his hand.

Two fingers.

Not three.

I had guessed wrong.

The dining room stayed silent.

Vanessa reached for her champagne.

Luca looked at her.

"How did you know she walked into a pantry door?"

Vanessa froze.

"I assumed."

"You said it like you saw it."

"I didn't."

Luca looked at me.

"Olivia."

My throat tightened.

"Yes, sir?"

"Did you tell Vanessa what happened?"

"No."

The answer came out before fear could stop it.

Vanessa's glass touched the table too hard.

"Luca, this is ridiculous."

He ignored her.

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No."

"Doctor?"

"No."

"House staff?"

"No."

"Security?"

"No."

Luca stood.

The guests stopped pretending not to listen.

He looked at my face again.

Then at the platter in my hands.

"Put that down."

"I'm working."

"Not anymore."

Vanessa sighed.

"She needs the hours."

Luca turned toward her.

"You know that too?"

Vanessa's face changed.

I stared at her.

She knew I needed the shift.

I had never told her.

Luca saw my expression.

"What else does she know about you?"

I said nothing.

Vanessa stood.

"Enough."

Luca's voice stayed calm.

"No."

"You do not get to decide when enough arrives."

He looked at me.

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday."

"What time?"

I hesitated.

Vanessa answered:

"Afternoon."

Luca turned slowly.

She realized.

Too late.

He said:

"I asked Olivia."

Vanessa went pale.

My hands started shaking.

Luca noticed.

He walked toward me.

Not close enough to corner me.

Just close enough that I could hear him.

"Was Vanessa there?"

I looked at the floor.

"Olivia."

I whispered:

"Yes."

The room changed.

Vanessa's father, Richard Bellini, stood from the far end of the table.

"That proves nothing."

Luca looked at him.

Richard was sixty-three.

Gray hair.

Expensive suit.

Vanessa's father.

And one of Luca's oldest business advisers.

He continued:

"Staff argue."

"Accidents happen."

Luca looked back at me.

"Was it an accident?"

My heart pounded.

Vanessa said quickly:

"She slipped."

Luca closed his eyes for one second.

Then opened them.

"Again."

Vanessa stopped speaking.

Luca looked at me.

"Was it an accident?"

I whispered:

"No."

Someone at the table gasped.

Vanessa's face went white.

Luca's voice lowered.

"Who hurt you?"

I could not answer.

Not there.

Not with twenty-six guests.

Not with Richard watching.

Not with Vanessa watching.

Luca understood.

He looked toward the dining-room doors.

"Everyone out."

Vanessa stared.

"Luca."

"Now."

His security chief moved.

Guests stood slowly.

Chairs scraped marble.

No one argued.

Within three minutes, the table was empty.

Only Luca.

Vanessa.

Richard.

Me.

And Luca's security chief, Dominic.

Luca pointed toward the hall.

"Vanessa."

Her eyes widened.

"You are asking me to leave my own engagement dinner?"

"Yes."

"This is humiliating."

He looked at my face.

"So is pretending a woman cannot see because of a pantry door."

Vanessa cried.

"You're choosing a maid over me."

Luca's expression hardened.

"No."

"I'm choosing a question over an answer you gave too quickly."

Richard stepped forward.

"Luca, think carefully."

Luca looked at him.

"I am."

Dominic escorted them out.

Vanessa stopped at the doorway.

She looked at me.

Not angry.

Afraid.

That scared me more.

When the door closed, Luca sat.

Not at the head of the table.

Across from me.

"Olivia."

I held the back of a chair.

"Yes?"

"Who did it?"

I looked toward the door.

"They can't hear you."

"You don't know that."

Dominic immediately checked the room.

Curtains.

Side doors.

Service corridor.

Then his eyes stopped.

Above the fireplace.

A small black device.

Luca stood.

"What is that?"

Dominic climbed onto a chair.

Pulled it free.

Tiny microphone.

Not part of the house security system.

Luca stared.

"How long?"

Dominic checked.

"Recently installed."

My stomach dropped.

Luca looked at me.

"Olivia."

I started crying.

Because now I understood.

Vanessa had known about the pantry.

She had known I needed the hours.

She had known the exact time.

Because someone had been listening.

Luca waited.

Then I said:

"It wasn't Vanessa."

His expression changed.

"Who?"

I looked at the hidden microphone in Dominic's hand.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Then whispered:

"Her brother."