Chapter 11 - The Reward
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The dining room erupted into absolute chaos.
Guests scrambled from their chairs, shouting and rushing toward the doors, desperate to escape the estate before the violence began. Heavily armed security guards flooded into the room, securing the perimeter and separating the Bellini family members from the Moretti loyalists.
I stood frozen near the piano, my hands shaking violently. I had just started a mafia war over a piece of broken wood.
Luca didn't join the chaos. He let his men handle the crowd. He slowly turned his back on Vanessa and walked over to the piano.
He picked up the small, battered child’s bench and placed it gently in front of the keys. He set the gold locket carefully on top of the black lacquer.
Then, he turned and looked directly at me.
The terrifying syndicate boss was gone. In his eyes, I saw profound, overwhelming gratitude.
He walked over to me. I instinctively took a step back, still holding my cleaning rag, terrified I had overstepped my bounds.
“Emma,” Luca said softly.
“Yes, sir,” I whispered, keeping my eyes down.
“Look at me.”
I slowly raised my eyes to meet his.
“You stood up to the woman who fired you,” Luca said, his voice thick with emotion. “You stopped her from destroying the last piece of my mother I had left. And because you noticed a tiny blue ink stain, you saved my sister’s life.”
I swallowed hard. “I just... my mother repairs pianos, sir. You don't break something made with love.”
Luca smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his money clip. He didn't peel off a few bills. He handed me the entire thing. It was thick with hundred-dollar bills.
“That’s not a bribe to forget,” Luca said softly when I hesitated. “That’s to pay for your mother’s medical care. Every single cent of it.”
I stared at the money, tears finally spilling down my cheeks. “Mr. Moretti, I can't take this.”
“You will take it,” Luca insisted gently, pressing the money into my hand. “And tomorrow morning, you are no longer a maid in this house. You are the curator of my mother’s estate. You will oversee the restoration of this piano, and you will report directly to me.”
I looked at him, completely overwhelmed. I had risked everything to protect a memory, and in return, he had given me my life back.
“Thank you, sir,” I cried softly.
May you like
Luca nodded. He turned back to look at the piano, resting his hand on the dusty lid.
“No, Emma,” Luca whispered, listening to the sirens beginning to wail in the distance. “Thank you.”
