Chapter 2 - THE CONTRACT WITH SEVEN RULES
Claire accepted the position three days later.
Not because she trusted Dominic Moretti.
She didn't.
Not completely.
But she'd researched his legitimate businesses, spoken with his company's legal counsel, and insisted on a written employment agreement.
The contract contained seven conditions.
She would not participate in illegal activities.
She would have authority over her assigned staff.
She would not be expected to work twenty-four hours a day.
She would receive health insurance.
Her salary would be paid through a legitimate payroll system.
She could resign without retaliation.
And nobody would comment on her body.
Dominic read the last condition twice.
Then looked up.
“Has that been a problem?”
Claire folded her arms.
“You'd be surprised.”
His expression hardened.
“Not here.”
She studied him.
“That's easy to promise.”
“Then judge me by whether I keep it.”
Claire signed.
Dominic signed.
His mother, Teresa Moretti, insisted on celebrating with lunch.
Claire expected an expensive restaurant.
Instead, Teresa took her to a small Italian bakery in Little Italy.
They ate pasta and cannoli.
Teresa asked about Claire's family.
Claire explained that her father had died when she was seventeen.
Her mother lived in Wisconsin.
They spoke occasionally.
Teresa listened.
Then asked about Ryan.
Claire sighed.
“My ex-fiancé.”
“Was he handsome?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Was he intelligent?”
“Not enough.”
Teresa laughed.
Claire smiled.
“He wanted me to lose weight.”
Teresa's expression changed.
“How much?”
“Thirty pounds.”
“And how much did you lose?”
Claire smiled sweetly.
“One hundred and eighty.”
Teresa stared.
Then burst into laughter.
“Oh, sweetheart. I like you.”
That evening, Claire received her first assignment.
A charity gala for the Moretti Foundation.
Four hundred guests.
Three weeks to organize it.
A venue with incomplete permits.
A catering company threatening to cancel.
And a board of directors who couldn't agree on anything.
Claire looked at the files.
Then at Dominic.
“You're paying me one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to fix this disaster?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Excellent.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
“You're not worried?”
Claire picked up a pen.
“Mr. Moretti, this is the first normal thing that's happened to me all week.”
May you like
He laughed.
And somewhere behind his controlled expression, something began to change.
