Chapter 6 - THE BRUISE ON HER WRIST
I noticed the bruise again during Grace's next shift.
Dark purple.
Finger-shaped.
My security guard had left it.
I stared.
“Who did that?”
Grace followed my gaze.
“It's nothing.”
I shook my head.
“Grace.”
She sighed.
“One of your guards.”
My jaw tightened.
“Name.”
She hesitated.
“Mr. Moretti—”
“Dominic.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“My name is Dominic.”
Her expression softened.
“Dominic, I don't want anyone punished because of me.”
I took a breath.
“Someone hurt you.”
“I know.”
“And that's unacceptable.”
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then said:
“Then make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.”
I went still.
She continued.
“Not just me.”
I stared.
Grace gently adjusted my blanket.
“People shouldn't need your personal protection to be treated with dignity.”
Her words struck harder than any accusation.
Because she was right.
That afternoon, I ordered Luca to review security conduct at every Moretti-controlled property.
The guard who grabbed Grace was removed from hospital duty pending investigation.
But I didn't stop there.
I began asking questions I'd avoided for years.
How were employees treated?
Who handled complaints?
How many people were afraid to report misconduct?
Luca looked surprised.
“Boss, this isn't how things usually work.”
I stared at him.
“Then perhaps how things usually work is the problem.”
Grace returned that evening.
She found me reading a stack of employee policies.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Homework?”
I smiled faintly.
“Something like that.”
She looked at the documents.
Then at me.
“Good.”
I laughed.
May you like
It hurt my ribs.
But for the first time since the explosion, I didn't mind the pain.
