Chapter 4 - The Penthouse Sanctuary|
The private elevator rose smoothly to the top floor of the Aurelia Grand. Ava sat on the velvet bench inside, her hands still clutching Niko’s heavy coat around her shoulders.
Marco stood quietly near the door controls, his arms crossed over his chest.
“He doesn't usually intervene,” Marco said softly, breaking the silence.
Ava looked up, startled. “What?”
“The Boss,” Marco explained, looking at her through the mirror wall. “Niko Moretti doesn't interfere in family drama. But when he saw the black rose on that key... everything changed.”
“Why?” Ava asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Did he know my mother?”
Before Marco could answer, the elevator chimed and opened directly into a sprawling, sunlit penthouse suite overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
Niko was already there, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a glass of amber liquid. He had removed his tie, his shirt collar slightly unbuttoned.
“Leave us, Marco,” Niko instructed without turning around.
Marco bowed his head and stepped back into the elevator, the doors sliding shut behind him.
Ava stood near the entrance, suddenly hyper-aware of the massive, luxurious space around her. She felt small, frayed, and exhausted.
Niko turned to face her. He walked across the hardwood floor, stopped two feet away, and pulled the tiny gold key from his pocket.
“Where did your mother get this, Ava?” he asked gently.
Ava swallowed hard. “She carved it herself before she died. She told me if I ever felt completely lost, I should look for the black rose. But I never knew she hid a real key inside the hem of my gown.”
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Niko looked at the key, a dark, heavy emotion flickering across his sharp features.
“Your mother didn't just carve a key, Ava,” Niko revealed softly. “She carved the access key to my family's private vault.”
