Chapter 9 - CAN I TAKE YOU TO DINNER?
Three months after Claire stopped working for Nico, he called.
“Hello?”
“Dinner.”
She paused.
“Is that a noun or command?”
“Would you have dinner with me?”
“Better.”
“Friday.”
“That became a command again.”
Silence.
“Claire Morgan, would you like to have dinner with me Friday?”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
No private club.
No Bellanti restaurant.
Claire chose a small place in Oak Park.
Nico arrived ten minutes early.
His driver waited outside.
He used his wheelchair.
No performance.
No attempt to stand for romance.
Claire appreciated that.
They talked for two hours.
No poisoning.
No court.
No rehabilitation metrics.
Music.
Noah.
Bad television.
Nico admitted he watched cooking competitions.
Claire nearly ended the date.
“You judge people for folding dumplings?”
“Technique matters.”
“You cannot cook.”
“I can recognize weakness.”
“Terrible.”
They laughed.
Then outside, Nico asked:
“Can I kiss you?”
Claire’s chest tightened.
Consent.
Simple.
Powerful.
“Yes.”
The kiss was careful.
Then not as careful.
When they separated, Nico looked almost startled.
Claire smiled.
“You okay?”
“I’m evaluating.”
“Idiot.”
They dated.
Slowly.
No moving into the mansion.
Claire refused.
Nico complained about Cicero traffic.
Claire suggested he survive.
Noah liked him.
Too much.
One night Noah asked:
“Are you going to marry Nico?”
Claire choked on water.
“Why?”
“He has a big house.”
“That is not a reason to marry someone.”
“Pool?”
“No.”
“Model cars?”
“No.”
Noah thought.
“He likes you.”
Claire softened.
“That matters more.”
Nico continued physical therapy.
After a year, he could walk short distances with forearm crutches and braces.
He still used his wheelchair for most daily mobility.
Some newspapers called his walking “miraculous.”
He hated that.
“My therapist worked fourteen months.”
Claire nodded.
“Miracles have terrible documentation.”
Exactly.
The criminal cases concluded gradually.
Adrian received a lengthy sentence after conviction on conspiracy, fraud, poisoning-related charges, and offenses tied to the crash.
Vanessa accepted a plea after overwhelming medical and financial evidence, receiving prison time and restitution obligations.
Her father paid massive civil penalties and resigned from Hale Capital.
Dr. Vale lost his career and served a shorter sentence after cooperation.
Nobody emerged clean.
Not even Nico.
His own cooperation with authorities required him to disclose historical Bellanti operations.
He relinquished interests in several businesses.
Paid fines.
Entered strict compliance agreements.
The old Bellanti criminal structure broke apart.
Some called him weak.
Nico stopped caring.
Mostly.
One evening he told Claire:
“I used to think fear was the only reason people stayed loyal.”
“And now?”
“I think fear makes people stay close.”
He looked at her.
“That isn’t loyalty.”
May you like
Good answer.
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