Chương 6 - The Woman in Red
I agreed to return to the mansion under two conditions.
My mother stayed with Nora.
And Luca explained what his meeting was actually about.
He met me in a small office away from the dining room.
His engagement flowers still filled the hallway.
They looked ridiculous now.
“The portfolio includes warehouses, storefronts, and rental properties,” he said.
“Adrian prepared the transfer.”
“To whom?”
“A Bellini company.”
“Why?”
“Part of a settlement between our families.”
I watched him carefully.
“A marriage settlement?”
“Among other things.”
“So thirty people came to celebrate a business deal.”
“Some came to celebrate an engagement.”
“Did you?”
He looked away first.
That answered enough.
I handed him Nora’s copies.
He read every page.
When he reached Adrian’s signature, he stopped.
“My father worked with Victor,” he said.
“I knew that.”
“Did you know about the fire?”
“I knew there had been a claim.”
“And the man who died afterward?”
“No.”
“You don’t get to say that like it makes everything disappear.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
For the first time, I wondered whether he could hear a question without treating it as disrespect.
Then Vanessa knocked.
Marco remained behind her.
She had changed nothing.
Same red dress.
Same diamonds.
No champagne.
“I want to speak to Grace.”
“You can speak here,” I said.
Vanessa looked at Luca.
“Adrian told me the microphone would record your private meeting.
He said you were planning to cut my father out of the company.”
“Were you?” I asked Luca.
“Yes.”
Vanessa flinched.
“He said I needed proof before you made me sign anything.”
“Why hide it?” Luca asked.
“Because you wouldn’t have allowed it.”
“Correct.”
I leaned forward.
“Who sent the photograph of my mother?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who told Adrian where she lived?”
Vanessa’s eyes moved to my apron.
I had forgotten I was still wearing it.
“Your employee file,” she said.
“You opened my file?”
“Adrian asked me to.”
“Why?”
She pressed her lips together.
“Because your last name bothered him.”
Silence filled the office.
Luca looked down at the report.
Vanessa reached into her evening bag.
Marco stepped closer.
“It’s a phone,” she said.
She placed it on the desk and opened a message.
Adrian had sent it at 8:19.
Make sure Parker leaves before the meeting.
May you like
Below it was another instruction.
If she notices the chair, tell everyone she planted it.
