Chapter 4 - The Woman at the Golden Table
Two months later, Beatrice insisted Chloe attend her seventieth birthday dinner.
Not as staff.
As a guest.
The celebration filled Il Canto's grand ballroom.
Businessmen.
Judges.
Politicians.
Men who suddenly became quiet when Gabriel entered.
Chloe arrived in a simple black dress.
Gabriel noticed immediately.
“You're late.”
“I'm four minutes early.”
“You usually arrive twenty minutes early.”
“When I'm being paid.”
Beatrice approached and kissed Chloe's cheek.
You look beautiful.
“Thank you.”
Gabriel signed clumsily:
She does.
Chloe looked at him.
Gabriel realized what he'd done.
Beatrice smiled knowingly.
Chloe's cheeks warmed.
Before anyone could speak, Anthony approached.
“Boss.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“What?”
“Problem with the Brooklyn account.”
“Tonight?”
“Can't wait.”
Anthony glanced at Chloe.
“She shouldn't be here.”
Beatrice immediately signed something.
Chloe bit her lip.
Gabriel noticed.
“What did Ma say?”
“Nothing.”
“Chloe.”
“She said Anthony looks like a man who loses arguments with mirrors.”
Beatrice smiled sweetly.
Anthony's face reddened.
Then another man approached.
“Gabriel. Phone.”
Gabriel walked away.
Anthony leaned toward Chloe.
“You've become comfortable.”
“Excuse me?”
“You're a waitress.”
“Yes.”
“Remember that.”
Chloe stared at him.
“I remember every time someone asks me for another fork.”
Anthony's smile disappeared.
“You think being close to the old woman makes you important?”
Beatrice was watching.
Chloe saw her expression change.
Then Anthony said quietly:
“People who hear things they shouldn't don't last long around Gabriel.”
Chloe's pulse jumped.
“What exactly are you threatening?”
Anthony smiled.
“Nothing.”
Gabriel returned.
Anthony immediately stepped away.
“Problem?” Gabriel asked.
“No,” Chloe said.
Anthony answered simultaneously.
“No.”
Gabriel looked between them.
Before he could respond, Beatrice suddenly grabbed the table.
Her wineglass fell.
Chloe moved first.
“Beatrice?”
The older woman's face had gone pale.
Her breathing became shallow.
Gabriel rushed forward.
“Ma?”
Beatrice touched her chest.
Chloe caught her as her knees buckled.
“Call an ambulance!”
The ballroom erupted.
Gabriel dropped beside his mother.
“Ma. Look at me.”
Beatrice's eyes found him.
Her trembling fingers formed one sign.
Don't—
Then her hand fell.
Gabriel looked at Chloe.
“What did she say?”
Chloe's blood went cold.
“She said ‘don't.’”
“Don't what?”
“I don't know.”
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Across the ballroom, Anthony quietly slipped through a side door.
And Chloe saw him.
