Chapter 2 - ONE NOTE
“Everybody out.”
Luca’s voice was quiet.
That was worse than shouting.
The guards immediately moved.
Vivian tightened her arms around him.
“Luca, don’t let her near your mother.”
Naomi’s anger exploded.
“You were forcing Isabella to sign that paper.”
Vivian turned.
“You’re insane.”
“I saw you.”
“You broke down a locked door and attacked us.”
“I heard her crying.”
“She fell!”
Naomi pointed at the black ink on Isabella’s thumb.
“Did she fall into a fingerprint pad too?”
One guard looked away.
Luca noticed.
He noticed everything.
“Marco.”
His head of security stepped forward.
“Yes, boss.”
“Close the door.”
Vivian blinked.
“Luca?”
The door shut.
Only Luca, Naomi, Vivian, Isabella, and Marco remained.
Luca crossed the room.
He crouched beside his mother.
“Mom. Look at me.”
Isabella did.
“Did Naomi hurt you?”
The room stopped breathing.
Isabella’s hand hovered over the piano.
Then she pressed one high key.
No.
Vivian went pale.
Naomi’s knees nearly gave out.
Luca looked at Vivian.
“Did Vivian hurt you?”
Isabella stared at her son.
Her fingers shook harder.
Vivian stepped forward.
“Luca, she’s confused. You know the stroke—”
A low note sounded.
Yes.
Luca stood.
Vivian backed away.
“No.”
Isabella hit the low note again.
Yes.
Then again.
Yes.
Luca’s jaw flexed.
Vivian’s voice cracked.
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying!”
“She doesn’t speak with the piano,” Luca said.
Naomi looked at him.
Luca glanced at her.
“You taught her?”
“No. She taught me.”
Something passed across his face.
Not softness.
Something close.
Then Marco picked up the legal papers.
“Boss.”
Luca took them.
He read silently.
Naomi watched the anger build behind his eyes.
“What is it?” she asked.
Marco answered.
“If Isabella is declared mentally incompetent, legal authority over her private trust shifts.”
“To who?”
Nobody answered.
Naomi looked at Vivian.
Luca folded the paper slowly.
“To my future wife.”
Vivian laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous. Your mother wanted me to help.”
Isabella hit the high key.
No.
Vivian’s face twisted.
“You miserable old—”
She stopped.
Too late.
Luca’s head lifted.
“Finish that sentence.”
Vivian stared at him.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
“Luca, please.”
He turned to Marco.
“Take her phone.”
Vivian jerked back.
“What?”
Marco reached for it.
She slapped his hand.
“Don’t touch me!”
Luca did not raise his voice.
“Give him the phone.”
“No.”
Luca looked at her.
Just looked.
Vivian slowly handed it over.
Marco unlocked it with her face.
She tried to turn away.
He was faster.
A message appeared on the screen.
Marco’s expression changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
Marco handed Luca the phone.
Naomi watched Luca read.
His face went completely blank.
Then he read the message aloud.
“Get the old woman’s print tonight. Luca won’t make it home before midnight.”
Vivian whispered, “That isn’t what it looks like.”
Luca scrolled.
Then stopped.
“Who is D?”
Vivian said nothing.
Luca turned the phone around.
Naomi saw one final message.
D: ONCE THE MOTHER SIGNS, WE DEAL WITH THE MAID.
Naomi’s blood turned cold.
May you like
Vivian looked at her.
And smiled.
