Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO BE BOUGHT
A month later, Alessandro offered me a house.
Not a room.
Not an apartment.
A house.
Three bedrooms.
A garden.
A safe neighborhood.
I stared at the photographs.
"Absolutely not."
He blinked.
"Why?"
"Because I can't accept a house from you."
He leaned back.
"Claire, you've been through a great deal because of my family."
"I know."
"And Emma deserves stability."
"She does."
"Then what's the problem?"
I took a breath.
"I don't want our relationship to become something I owe you for."
He went silent.
I continued.
"I appreciate everything you've done. But I need to build my own life."
He studied me.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
I blinked.
"Fair?"
He smiled.
"You're right."
I sat down.
"Alessandro, I don't want to hurt your feelings."
"You haven't."
He looked at me.
"Actually, I admire you."
My cheeks warmed.
He continued.
"What would help?"
I thought for a moment.
"A predictable schedule. Fair pay. Time to find childcare. And maybe assistance locating a better apartment."
He nodded.
"Done."
I smiled.
Then he added:
"One more thing."
I looked up.
"What?"
"I'd like to take you to dinner."
My heart stopped.
"As my employer?"
He shook his head.
"No."
His voice softened.
"As a man who has fallen in love with you."
I stared.
He continued.
"I know the situation is complicated. I don't want you to feel pressured. If you prefer, I'll arrange for you to report to someone else before we even discuss it."
My eyes filled.
"Alessandro…"
He waited.
I smiled through tears.
"I think I've been falling in love with you too."
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he smiled.
A real smile.
Warm.
Unguarded.
May you like
Beautiful.
And I realized the man everyone feared had been waiting years for someone to see him without fear.
