Chapter 4 - The Price of Knowing His Name
Bellamy’s closed for two days.
Vincent paid the employees’ wages without telling Mia.
She discovered it anyway.
When she called him, he answered immediately.
“You paid everyone.”
“Hello, Mia.”
“Don't ‘hello, Mia’ me.”
Vincent leaned back in his office.
“How did you get this number?”
“Paul gave it to me.”
“Paul shouldn't have my number.”
“Vincent.”
“Yes.”
“You paid us.”
“The restaurant closed because of me.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because it was my responsibility.”
Mia became quiet.
Then:
“Are you safe?”
Vincent looked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan.
“Yes.”
“You hesitated.”
“I’m safe.”
“Good.”
A pause.
“Are you coming back?”
Vincent's eyes lowered.
“I don't think that's a good idea.”
Mia hadn't expected the answer to hurt.
“Why?”
“You've seen what happens around me.”
“I saw some cars.”
“You saw a small part of my life.”
“So show me the rest.”
Vincent stood.
“Mia.”
“What?”
“You don't understand what you're asking.”
“No. I understand exactly.”
Her voice softened.
“You spent three weeks trying to find out whether I would treat you differently after learning your name.”
Silence.
“Now you're treating me differently.”
Vincent had no response.
“Goodnight, Vincent.”
The call ended.
---
Three nights later, Bellamy’s reopened.
Mia kept glancing toward the corner table.
Empty.
At 9:00.
Empty.
At 10:00.
Still empty.
At 10:43, the bell rang.
Vincent entered.
Alone.
Mia stared.
“No security?”
“They're outside.”
“That counts.”
“Compromise.”
Mia walked toward him.
He stopped before reaching the corner table.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes.”
Vincent waited.
Mia waited.
Finally, he said:
“You could make this easier.”
“You're a billionaire. Work for it.”
Vincent almost smiled.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By disappearing?”
“Yes.”
“That's not protection. That's deciding for me.”
He absorbed that.
“You're right.”
Mia blinked.
“What?”
“You're right.”
“I need that recorded.”
“Mia.”
She smiled.
“Fine.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“This.”
He gestured between them.
“Be honest with someone when honesty gives them power over me.”
Mia's expression softened.
“Vincent, I don't want power over you.”
“I know.”
“That scares you more, doesn't it?”
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate.
Mia nodded toward his table.
“Sit down.”
“Why?”
“Because you're blocking my aisle.”
He laughed.
And just like that, the corner table became his again.
---
But the revelation created another problem.
People began recognizing Vincent at Bellamy’s.
Customers photographed him.
A gossip account posted a blurry image of Mia pouring his coffee.
The next morning, reporters appeared outside.
Paul rushed into the kitchen.
“Mia.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“There are photographers outside.”
“You're joking.”
“They know your name.”
Mia's face fell.
Her dream of a quiet café suddenly seemed very far away.
Vincent arrived twenty minutes later.
He entered through the kitchen.
Mia turned.
“This is exactly what you warned me about.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No.”
“Mia—”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't get to buy the restaurant, silence the reporters, or make everybody disappear.”
“I wasn't going to buy the restaurant.”
“You were thinking about it.”
Vincent paused.
“That isn't relevant.”
“You were!”
He almost smiled.
Then Mia became serious.
“I don't want your world swallowing mine.”
Vincent nodded.
“Then tell me what you want.”
“I want to work.”
“Okay.”
“I want to save for my café.”
“Okay.”
“And I want you to stop trying to fix everything.”
Vincent considered it.
“That one may be difficult.”
“Learn.”
For the first time in years, Vincent Romano accepted an order from someone who had absolutely no authority over him.
“All right.”
Mia smiled.
“Good.”
Then Vincent looked through the kitchen doorway at the reporters.
“But I am getting you out through the back.”
“Fine.”
“And someone is driving you home.”
“Vincent.”
“Compromise.”
Mia rolled her eyes.
“Fine.”
His smile returned.
But neither of them realized the photographs outside Bellamy’s had attracted attention from someone far more dangerous than a reporter.
Someone who had spent years looking for Vincent Romano's weakness.
May you like
And now he believed he had finally found her.
---
