Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Came Back
Three months later, I returned to the Moretti estate.
Not as a maid.
I wore a navy dress, carried a leather folder, and entered through the front door for the first time in my life.
Matteo met me in the foyer.
“Well, look at you.”
“Don’t start.”
“I said four words.”
“Three too many.”
He grinned.
“Carmine’s in the kitchen.”
I stopped.
“The basement kitchen?”
“Apparently he’s cooking.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is. We lost a saucepan.”
I walked downstairs.
The kitchen had changed.
New lighting.
New equipment.
Employment-rights notices on the wall.
Actual time clocks.
Pay records.
The door stood open.
Carmine was at the stove.
Black shirt.
Sleeves rolled.
Tattoos visible along his forearms.
He looked up.
Then froze.
“Claire.”
“Carmine.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Matteo said you needed help.”
“Matteo lies.”
“I know.”
From the hallway Matteo shouted, “I can hear you.”
Carmine closed his eyes.
“Go away, Matteo.”
Footsteps retreated.
I looked at the stove.
“What died?”
“Risotto.”
“I see.”
“I followed instructions.”
“Clearly the instructions offended you.”
He laughed.
It was the first time I had heard him laugh properly.
I put my folder on the table.
“I have something for you.”
He opened it.
Documents for the nonprofit I had created with part of the settlement recovered from Salvatore’s network.
The Evelyn Carter Foundation.
Legal support for families facing abusive medical debt.
Carmine read silently.
Then looked up.
“You named it after her.”
“Yes.”
“What do you need?”
“A donor.”
“How much?”
I gave him the number.
“Done.”
“No.”
He frowned.
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“You were going to say done.”
“Yes.”
“I want legitimate money.”
He stared.
“That was unnecessarily insulting.”
“Was it inaccurate?”
He considered.
“No.”
I smiled.
“The new Moretti Logistics company passed the audit?”
“Three times.”
“Then the foundation will accept a donation from that company.”
“How generous.”
“I have standards.”
“I noticed.”
Silence settled between us.
Not uncomfortable.
Different.
His eyes moved to my throat.
The bruises were gone.
“Rocco took the plea deal,” he said.
“I heard.”
“Twenty-two years.”
“And Salvatore?”
“Trial begins next month.”
“Are you testifying?”
“Yes.”
“That could make enemies.”
“I already had enemies.”
“More?”
“Probably.”
I sighed.
“You’re terrible at reassurance.”
“So I’ve been told.”
He turned off the stove.
“Claire.”
Something in his voice changed.
“Yes?”
“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you.”
I immediately raised a finger.
“If this is about donating another building—”
“It isn’t.”
He looked nervous.
Carmine Moretti.
Nervous.
That was genuinely terrifying.
“I didn’t ask while you worked here because you worked for me.”
I stared.
“And I didn’t ask while the investigation was active because you were dependent on my cooperation.”
My heartbeat changed.
“And I didn’t ask after you quit because I thought you needed space.”
“You’ve apparently thought about this.”
“Every day.”
The room suddenly felt very small.
“What are you asking?”
“Dinner.”
I blinked.
“That’s it?”
His eyebrows lifted.
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. You gave a speech.”
“I prepared.”
“You prepared to ask me to dinner?”
“Yes.”
“That’s strangely adorable.”
His expression became offended.
“Never call me adorable.”
I laughed.
He stepped closer but left space between us.
“Dinner, Claire.”
“Is that an order?”
His expression immediately changed.
“No.”
I watched him.
“Then ask correctly.”
He exhaled.
“Claire Carter, would you have dinner with me?”
“Somewhere public?”
“Anywhere you choose.”
“No bodyguards at the table?”
“They’ll be across the street.”
“Carmine.”
“Half a block.”
“Carmine.”
“One discreet security professional.”
I smiled.
“Fine.”
His face softened.
“That’s a yes?”
“That’s a yes.”
Behind us came a metallic crash.
We both turned.
Matteo stood in the doorway holding the ruined saucepan.
“I knew it.”
Carmine pointed.
“You’re fired.”
Matteo nodded.
“See you tomorrow.”
And walked away.
I laughed so hard my ribs would have hurt three months earlier.
May you like
This time they didn’t.
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