Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WOMAN IN RED
Dante confronted Bianca the following morning.
He met her in a conference room with two attorneys present.
No private dinner.
No emotional conversation.
Just business.
He informed her that Caruso Atlantic Holdings would not proceed with her father's development proposal.
The financial risks were unacceptable.
Bianca stared.
“You're doing this because of Elena.”
Dante shook his head.
“I'm doing it because the proposal doesn't meet our standards.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You think she'll come back?”
He looked at her.
“That's not your concern.”
Bianca's expression hardened.
“She left you.”
“Yes.”
“And you're still defending her?”
Dante stood.
“She's my wife.”
Bianca smiled coldly.
“For now.”
He looked at her.
“Regardless of what happens between us, you'll leave her alone.”
The meeting ended.
Bianca left furious.
But the financial review continued.
Investigators later discovered that Lorenzo Morelli's company had concealed significant debts and used misleading financial statements in several proposed transactions.
The findings became part of a separate regulatory investigation.
Dante's refusal to invest had been justified.
Meanwhile, I continued painting.
My work began selling.
A small magazine published a profile.
Then a gallery owner offered me a six-month residency.
I stared at the email.
The program was in Boston.
Six months.
Away from New York.
Away from Dante.
Away from everything familiar.
That evening, I called him.
“I got an offer.”
He sounded pleased.
“What kind?”
“An art residency.”
“That's wonderful.”
I swallowed.
“It's in Boston.”
Silence.
Then Dante asked:
“How long?”
“Six months.”
Another pause.
I closed my eyes.
Here it came.
The objection.
The security concerns.
The reasons I shouldn't go.
Instead, he said:
“You should take it.”
I stared.
“What?”
“You've worked hard for this.”
My throat tightened.
“Dante.”
He continued.
“I'll miss you.”
Silence.
May you like
“But I won't ask you to give it up.”
For the first time, I believed he was beginning to understand.
