Chapter 5 - THE DEED TO THE SOUTH SIDE BAKERY
“A what?” Vanessa demanded, her perfectly arched eyebrows pulling together in confusion. The wealthy guests at the table shifted. Several of the bankers leaned forward, their eyes suddenly locked on the wine-stained paper in Luca’s hand. “A bearer bond,” Luca repeated. He held the paper up to the light of the crystal chandelier. Even stained with red wine and covered in a child’s red crayon, the official seal of the United States Treasury was unmistakable. “These haven’t been issued since the 1980s,” Luca explained, his voice ringing with absolute authority. “They are unregistered. Whoever physically holds the paper owns the money. And this particular bond is worth five hundred thousand dollars.” The dining room erupted into shocked whispers. Vanessa took a step back, her red satin dress suddenly looking less like armor and more like a target. “That’s impossible,” she stammered. Luca turned to Uncle Michael. “Michael, Leo said he found this in a wooden box with beads?” Michael’s heavy shoulders tightened. He reached into his corduroy jacket and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. He opened the lid. Inside lay a delicate, dark wood rosary. “It belonged to your mother, Luca,” Michael said softly. “When she died, she left this box with Teresa. Teresa gave it to me to keep safe when Leo was born.” Teresa nodded weakly from her chair, her hand still resting over her heart. “Elena told me there was an emergency fund hidden inside,” Teresa whispered. “But we never found it. We thought she meant the rosary was spiritually valuable.” “She hid the bond underneath the velvet lining,” Luca realized. He looked down at Leo, who was watching him with wide, curious eyes. “And Leo pulled the lining loose to find drawing paper.” Luca smiled. A real, genuine smile. He knelt down and ruffled Leo’s messy hair. “You just saved Aunt Teresa’s bakery, buddy,” Luca said. He stood up and slapped the bearer bond down on the table, right on top of Vanessa’s eviction notice. “The debt is paid,” Luca said to Vanessa. “With interest.” Vanessa stared at the bond. Her hands were shaking. “You can’t do this,” she hissed. “My father’s company…” “Your father’s company is bankrupt, Vanessa,” a new voice interrupted. Everyone turned toward the head of the table. Arthur Sterling, the CEO of the largest commercial bank in Chicago, stood up from his chair. He had been perfectly silent the entire night, sipping his champagne. Now, he placed his napkin on the table. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Sterling?” Vanessa gasped. Sterling adjusted his glasses. “I didn’t want to say anything during an engagement dinner,” Sterling said dryly. “But since the engagement is off… Bellini Acquisitions is insolvent, Ms. Bellini. Your father leveraged his entire portfolio on commercial real estate that plummeted in value last month. The only reason my bank hasn’t called in his loans is because he assured us he was merging his assets with the Moretti estate tomorrow morning.” The truth hit the room like a physical blow. Vanessa hadn’t just been hiding Luca’s family out of snobbery. She wasn’t just trying to cover up an old theft. She was desperate. She needed Luca’s money to save her family from total ruin. “You used me,” Luca said quietly. “You were marrying me to pay off your father’s debts.” Vanessa’s facade finally shattered completely. Tears of humiliation welled in her eyes. “I was trying to survive, Luca!” she screamed, her voice shrill and ugly. “You think you’re so righteous? Your money is built on blood! My father did what he had to do to win, and so did I!” “Daniel,” Luca said, not taking his eyes off her. The head of security stepped forward. “Escort Ms. Bellini to the door.” Vanessa backed away as Daniel approached. She looked wildly around the room, hoping one of the wealthy guests would defend her. But the billionaires and politicians were already turning their backs. In their world, bankruptcy was a contagious disease. “Don’t touch me!” Vanessa spat at Daniel. She grabbed her designer purse and threw her silk coat over her arm. She stopped in the doorway, glaring back at Luca. “This isn’t over, Luca. My father has friends. Powerful friends. You humiliate us tonight, and he will burn this city down to get back at you.” Luca didn’t flinch. “Let him try.” Vanessa spun on her heel and stormed out, her heels clicking angrily down the marble hallway. The heavy front doors of the mansion slammed shut, echoing like a gunshot through the silent house. The tension in the dining room slowly began to deflate. Teresa Romano buried her face in her hands, weeping silently with relief. Michael placed a heavy, comforting hand on her shoulder. Luca took a deep breath. He turned to the twenty-eight guests still sitting at his table. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Luca said, his voice returning to its calm, commanding tone. “I apologize for the disruption. Please, enjoy the rest of the wine. But I’m afraid the formal dinner is cancelled.” The guests didn’t argue. They murmured polite excuses, gathering their coats and standing up. Within ten minutes, the dining room was completely empty of billionaires, bankers, and politicians. The only people left were Luca, Teresa, Michael, little Leo, and me. I started to gather the dirty wine glasses, keeping my head down. My hands were shaking from the adrenaline. “Emma,” Luca said. I stopped, a crystal glass in each hand. “Yes, sir?” “Leave the glasses.” I swallowed nervously. “I should clean up, Mr. Moretti. The floor is stained.” “Leave it.” He walked over to me. He was taller than I realized, his broad shoulders blocking out the light from the chandelier. He looked down at me, his dark eyes intense and searching. “You saw the ticket,” Luca said. “You knew what it was. And you stepped in front of thirty of the most powerful people in Chicago to stop her.” I looked down at my sensible black shoes. “I know what it’s like to be sent away, sir,” I said quietly. “Nobody spoke up for me. I couldn’t let that happen to Leo.” Luca stared at me for a long moment. Then, without a word, he reached out and gently took the crystal glasses from my hands, setting them back on the table. “You don’t work in the dining room anymore, Emma,” Luca said. My heart dropped into my stomach. I was fired. I had crossed a line, and now I was losing my job. “I understand, sir,” I whispered, fighting back tears. “I’ll pack my things.” “You misunderstand me,” Luca said softly. I looked up. “My sister’s son is going to live in this house starting tonight,” Luca said. He gestured toward Leo, who was currently sitting on the floor, happily playing with the empty velvet ring box Vanessa had left behind. “He needs someone who will protect him. Not a maid. A guardian. I want you to be his head governess. Double your current salary. Full benefits. And a private suite on the second floor.” I stared at him, completely stunned. “Mr. Moretti… I don’t know what to say.” “Say yes.” Before I could answer, a loud, violent crash echoed from the front foyer. The sound of shattered glass and splintering wood. Daniel’s voice shouted a warning, followed instantly by the terrifying crack of a gunshot. We all froze. “Get down!” Luca roared, shoving me and Teresa behind the heavy mahogany table. Michael grabbed Leo, shielding the boy’s body with his own. Heavy, aggressive footsteps marched down the marble hallway. A man walked into the dining room, stepping over the broken glass. He held a silver revolver in his hand, the barrel still smoking. It was Marcus Bellini. Vanessa’s father. And he wasn’t alone.
