Chapter 6 - The Wedding She Chose
Three weeks later, Clara returned to the Obsidian Lounge.
The room went silent again.
But this time, it wasn’t because Lorenzo Moretti had entered.
It was because Clara Vance had.
Julian nearly dropped a bottle.
“You came back.”
“I work here.”
“Worked.”
Clara frowned.
“What?”
Julian pointed toward the VIP booth.
Lorenzo was sitting there.
She marched across the room.
“You fired me?”
“No.”
“Henderson’s gone and payroll says my employment status changed.”
“I promoted you.”
“To what?”
“Owner.”
Clara stared.
“You bought the club?”
“I already owned the building.”
“Of course you did.”
“I purchased the operating company.”
“And?”
“Fifty-one percent belongs to you.”
Clara went completely still.
“No.”
Lorenzo sighed.
“There it is.”
“You cannot give me a nightclub.”
“Apparently I can. Matteo checked.”
“I don’t want charity.”
“It isn’t.”
“What is it?”
“An investment.”
“In me?”
“Yes.”
Clara studied him.
“Why?”
“Because the first thing I ever saw you do was choose an elderly stranger over the most powerful man in the room.”
He stood.
“I own buildings, shipping companies, restaurants and things we won’t discuss tonight.”
“Probably wise.”
“But I don’t know how to make this place better.”
“And you think I do?”
“I know you do.”
Clara looked around the room.
The same velvet.
Same crystal.
Same tables.
But Henderson was gone.
The employees looked less frightened.
She looked back at Lorenzo.
“Forty-nine percent.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“You keep fifty-one.”
“Why?”
“So when something breaks, technically it’s your problem.”
Lorenzo laughed.
“Deal.”
Then he pulled something from his pocket.
Clara immediately pointed at him.
“No.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“That’s a ring.”
“It is.”
“Lorenzo.”
“The first proposal was business.”
She folded her arms.
“And this one?”
He placed the ring on the table.
No kneeling.
No audience.
No command.
“Clara Vance, I’m asking because I love you.”
She stopped breathing.
Lorenzo continued.
“You owe me nothing. Your debt is gone whether you marry me or not. The club remains yours. Maya’s education and medical care are secured because I promised they would be.”
His eyes held hers.
“If you say no, I walk out that door and never ask again.”
Clara looked at the ring.
Then at him.
“You’d really leave?”
“Yes.”
“You wouldn’t send men to bring me back?”
“No.”
“Buy another debt?”
“No.”
“Snap your fingers?”
Lorenzo winced.
“I deserved that.”
“Yes, you did.”
He waited.
Clara made him wait longer.
Finally, she picked up the ring.
Lorenzo’s breathing stopped.
“One condition.”
“Anything.”
“Never mistake protecting me for controlling me.”
“I won’t.”
“And Maya chooses her own future.”
“Yes.”
“And if you ever snap your fingers at a waitress again—”
“I’ll lose the finger?”
Clara smiled.
“We’re learning.”
She held out her hand.
“Yes.”
For perhaps the first time in his life, Lorenzo Moretti looked completely stunned.
“You’re sure?”
Clara laughed.
“You finally get a yes and you argue?”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Then Clara kissed him.
The Obsidian Lounge erupted.
Julian shouted from behind the bar.
“I KNEW IT!”
Clara broke the kiss.
“No, you didn’t!”
“I absolutely did!”
Lorenzo leaned toward her.
“He didn’t.”
May you like
“I know.”
For once, the most dangerous man in New York was smiling where everyone could see him.
