Chapter 4 - My Ex-Husband Came Aboard
Elias arrived at four.
Damiano wanted to refuse him entry.
I didn't.
“Let him aboard.”
My brother stared at me.
“Why?”
“Because running away from uncomfortable conversations is how I got here.”
“You didn't run.”
“Yes, I did.”
Damiano studied me.
Then nodded.
“Ten minutes.”
“Twenty.”
“Twelve.”
“Damiano.”
“Fine. Fifteen.”
Elias entered the salon alone.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked uncertain.
His eyes found mine.
“Serena.”
“Elias.”
Damiano remained nearby.
Elias glanced at him.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No,” Damiano said.
I almost smiled.
“Damiano.”
My brother reluctantly walked toward the terrace.
“Fifteen minutes.”
The door closed.
Elias looked around.
“So this is your family.”
“Yes.”
“You never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
I considered the question.
“Because when I met you, you didn't know my surname.”
“You were Serena Vale.”
“My mother's maiden name.”
“You lied.”
“I changed my name legally before we met.”
“That's not what I mean.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“Four years, Serena.”
“Yes.”
“I told you everything.”
“No, Elias.”
He stopped.
“You told me everything you were proud of.”
His expression tightened.
“Why hide this?”
“Because I wanted one thing in my life that wasn't influenced by Moretti money.”
“Our marriage?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now it's over.”
He looked away.
“I made a mistake.”
There it was.
Three days after the divorce.
I folded my arms.
“Which mistake?”
“Signing those papers.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know—”
He stopped.
I waited.
His face changed as he realized what he had nearly said.
“Because you didn't know who my father was?”
“No.”
“Because you didn't know Damiano would kneel?”
“No.”
“Because you didn't know my family could save your harbor project?”
“Serena, stop.”
“Then give me a reason that existed Thursday.”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came.
I nodded.
“That's what I thought.”
Elias lowered his voice.
“I was arrogant.”
“Yes.”
“I stopped seeing you.”
“Yes.”
“I let Claudia and Leonard convince me—”
“No.”
That surprised him.
“Don't blame them.”
“They influenced me.”
“You let them.”
He looked down.
I continued.
“You were my husband. You lived with me. You woke beside me. You had four years to decide whether I mattered.”
His voice dropped.
“You mattered.”
“But not enough.”
Silence.
Then Elias did something unexpected.
He didn't argue.
“No,” he said.
I looked at him.
“Not enough.”
The terrace door opened.
Damiano appeared.
“Time.”
Elias ignored him.
“What happens to the project?”
I almost laughed.
“You really want to ask me that now?”
“No. But hundreds of my employees depend on it.”
That answer, at least, was honest.
I walked to the table and lifted the Voss proposal.
“The project isn't dead.”
Elias stared.
“Voss is.”
“What?”
“The structure is rotten, not the underlying opportunity.”
“You'd still consider it?”
“Under new terms.”
“Why?”
“Because your employees didn't divorce me.”
Damiano smirked.
Elias stared at me for a long moment.
“What terms?”
“Full audit. Voss Capital removed. Independent environmental review. No fabricated projections.”
“Agreed.”
“And Mercer Group contributes real equity instead of borrowed leverage.”
He hesitated.
“That's substantial.”
“Then walk away.”
“No.”
I handed him the folder.
“One more condition.”
“What?”
“You don't negotiate with Damiano.”
Elias glanced at my brother.
“Who, then?”
“Me.”
Damiano's smile appeared immediately.
Elias looked stunned.
“You?”
I held his gaze.
“You wanted an ambitious woman.”
Then I opened the salon door.
May you like
“Congratulations.”
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