Chapter 8 - THE DINNER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Dinner was in the small family dining room.
Not the formal ballroom.
No chandeliers.
No fifty guests.
Just a wooden table, warm lights, and Sofia insisting we order pizza instead of eating whatever the chef had planned.
Luca agreed.
I laughed.
Sofia looked triumphant.
Halfway through dinner, she asked:
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Do you like Emily?”
I nearly choked on my water.
Luca looked at her.
“Of course.”
Sofia smiled.
“I mean like-like.”
I stared at my plate.
Luca coughed.
“Sweetheart.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“Eat your pizza.”
Sofia grinned.
“That means yes.”
I wanted to disappear beneath the table.
After dinner, Sofia went upstairs.
Luca and I remained in the dining room.
He looked at me.
“I'm sorry.”
I laughed softly.
“She's eleven.”
He smiled.
“She's persistent.”
Silence settled.
Then Luca said:
“She isn't wrong.”
My heart pounded.
I looked up.
“What?”
He took a breath.
“I like you, Emily.”
I stared.
He continued.
“More than I should, considering you work here.”
I looked down.
“Luca.”
It was the first time I'd used his first name without being asked.
His expression softened.
I swallowed.
“I care about you.”
He smiled faintly.
“But?”
I took a breath.
“But I don't want Sofia to think I'm replacing her mother.”
Luca's expression changed.
He nodded slowly.
“Neither do I.”
I continued.
“And I don't want people to think I stayed because of your money.”
He looked at me.
“I know.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Luca said:
“Maybe we don't have to decide anything tonight.”
I smiled.
“Maybe.”
May you like
He nodded.
And somehow, that patience meant more than any grand declaration.
