Chapter 2 - THE ORDER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
"Nobody leaves this house until every employee has been paid what they're owed."
Dante Moretti's words fell across the foyer like a verdict.
Mrs. Conte looked bewildered.
"Sir?"
"And nobody touches Miss Romano's belongings again."
Lorenzo Bellini laughed nervously.
"Dante, surely we're not making a spectacle over one maid."
Dante turned toward him.
"No, Lorenzo. We're making a spectacle over the people who thought they could dismiss an employee using my authority without asking me."
Alessia stood beside her suitcase, the silver key digging into her palm.
For seven months, she had watched staff members disappear from the Moretti payroll without explanation.
Some left voluntarily.
Others supposedly resigned overnight.
A few simply stopped answering their phones.
Nobody discussed them.
Nobody asked questions.
Until now.
Dante looked toward the security chief, a broad-shouldered man named Rocco Ferrara.
"Preserve the security recordings from yesterday. No deletion, no editing, no exceptions."
Rocco nodded.
"Understood."
"Then bring me the employment records for every person dismissed in the last year."
Mrs. Conte visibly stiffened.
"Mr. Moretti, I assure you all terminations were handled appropriately."
"Then the records will prove it."
Alessia watched Bellini's smile disappear.
That was when she knew she had been right.
Something was terribly wrong inside this house.
---
An hour later, Alessia sat across from Dante in the library.
She had expected an interrogation.
Instead, he placed a glass of water in front of her.
"You're not under arrest, Miss Romano."
"I hadn't assumed I was."
"You looked ready to run."
"I had a suitcase waiting."
One corner of his mouth moved.
Almost a smile.
Then he leaned forward.
"Why were you in my study?"
Alessia looked at the locked doors.
"I heard someone crying."
Dante's expression changed.
"From my study?"
"From the service corridor beside it."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
She described the previous night.
At eleven twenty, she had been folding table linens when she heard a woman sobbing.
Not loudly.
The frightened, muffled sound of someone trying not to be heard.
Alessia followed the sound toward the private study.
The study door stood open.
Inside, an unfamiliar woman was arguing with Bellini.
The woman wore a dark blue coat and carried a yellow folder.
Alessia heard her say, "You promised the families would receive their money."
Bellini answered something too quietly to hear.
Then the woman shouted, "They're not numbers, Lorenzo. They're people."
Alessia backed away.
A moment later, Bellini discovered her.
"He told me if I repeated anything, my employment would be finished," she said.
Dante's expression darkened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Alessia laughed without humor.
"Because I've seen what happens to employees who accuse powerful men of wrongdoing."
He said nothing.
She continued.
"And because I need this job."
Dante examined her carefully.
"Who was the woman?"
"I don't know her name."
"Can you describe her?"
"About forty-five. Dark hair. A scar above her left eyebrow."
Dante went completely still.
Alessia noticed.
"You know her?"
He stood abruptly.
"Did she have a silver bracelet?"
Alessia frowned.
"Yes. With a little blue stone."
Dante closed his eyes.
For the first time, she saw something resembling genuine fear cross his face.
"Mr. Moretti?"
He turned toward the window.
"Her name is Evelyn Shaw."
"Who is she?"
A long silence followed.
Then Dante said quietly, "She was my mother's attorney."
Alessia stared.
"Was?"
"My mother died eight years ago."
"And Evelyn?"
Dante looked back at her.
"She disappeared three months after the funeral."
The library became painfully quiet.
Alessia swallowed.
"But I saw her last night."
"I know."
He picked up his phone.
"Rocco, find out who entered my study between eleven and midnight. And nobody tells Bellini what we're doing."
He ended the call.
Then looked at Alessia.
"One more question."
"Yes?"
"Did Evelyn give you anything?"
Alessia hesitated.
Dante noticed.
"What?"
She reached into her apron pocket.
And removed a folded piece of paper.
"She slipped this into my hand before Bellini found me."
Dante unfolded it.
Three words were written across the page.
ASK ABOUT MARIA.
His expression changed.
Alessia felt her stomach sink.
"Mr. Moretti?"
Dante stared at the note.
Then whispered, "Maria was my sister."
---
That evening, Maria, the young housekeeper who had packed Alessia's suitcase, arrived at the library.
She looked terrified.
"I'm sorry, Miss Romano."
Alessia stood.
"Why?"
"Mrs. Conte told me you were stealing. She said if I didn't pack your belongings, I'd lose my job too."
Dante watched silently.
Alessia approached the girl.
"Did you see me steal anything?"
Maria shook her head.
"Then why didn't you say so?"
Tears filled the girl's eyes.
"My mother needs dialysis. I can't lose this job."
Alessia felt her anger dissolve.
She understood desperation.
Too well.
Dante stood.
"Maria, you will not be punished for telling the truth."
The young woman began crying.
After she left, Alessia turned toward him.
"Your employees are frightened of losing everything."
He looked at her.
"I can see that."
"Then you haven't been looking closely enough."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Dante didn't answer immediately.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
Alessia stared.
She had expected anger.
Instead, the most feared man in Chicago accepted the criticism without raising his voice.
But the moment ended when Rocco entered.
His expression was grave.
"Boss, we checked the recordings."
Dante looked up.
"And?"
Rocco hesitated.
"The study camera was disabled at eleven seventeen."
Alessia felt cold.
"By whom?"
Rocco placed a printed access report on the table.
May you like
The authorization code belonged to Dante Moretti.
---
