Chapter 12 - THE FIRST DINNER WITHOUT FEAR
Dante invited Elena to dinner.
She hesitated.
“Is this about work?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
She studied him.
“Then what is it about?”
Dante looked almost nervous.
“I'd like to get to know you.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“Mr. Moretti—”
“Dante.”
She laughed.
“Dante.”
He waited.
She took a breath.
“I'm not interested in being another woman in your house who has to guess what you want.”
Dante nodded.
“Neither am I.”
She studied him.
Then smiled.
“One dinner.”
He exhaled.
Their first date took place at a small restaurant overlooking the water.
No bodyguards at the table.
No expensive gifts.
No promises about the future.
They talked about childhood.
Family.
Regrets.
Elena told him about growing up in Puerto Rico.
About moving to New York.
About raising Sophie alone.
Dante listened.
He told her about Lorenzo.
His mother.
The pressure of inheriting the family.
At the end of dinner, Elena looked at him.
“Do you know what I like about tonight?”
Dante smiled.
“What?”
“You haven't tried to impress me.”
He laughed.
“I'm trying very hard not to.”
She smiled.
Then she reached across the table.
May you like
Took his hand.
And Dante Moretti, a man who had spent most of his life being feared, discovered how extraordinary it felt to be chosen without pressure.
