Chapter 3 - The Price of a Name
Alessandro sat opposite Enzo.
Clara remained between them.
Her father looked at her lip again.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“It’s a split lip, Dad.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I’m fine.”
Alessandro turned to Enzo.
“My daughter disappeared four years ago.”
“I didn’t disappear.”
“You changed your number.”
“You had people tracking the old one.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You had two men outside my college dorm.”
“Because of who I am.”
“Exactly.”
Enzo listened silently.
Clara looked at him.
“This is why I left.”
Enzo frowned.
“You walked away from all of it?”
“The house. The money. The guards. Everything.”
“For a waitress job?”
“For choice.”
Alessandro leaned back.
“And how did that choice work tonight?”
Clara’s eyes flashed.
“Don’t.”
“I warned you the world was dangerous.”
“No. You taught me your world was dangerous, then tried to convince me I couldn’t survive outside it.”
Enzo looked down.
Clara noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Say it.”
He met her eyes.
“You were right.”
“About?”
“If I hadn’t known your father’s name…”
He paused.
“I don’t know if I would have apologized properly.”
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
Enzo continued.
“That’s the problem.”
Clara hadn’t expected that.
Neither had her father.
Enzo leaned forward.
“I saw a missing watch and someone without power. I decided that made her guilty.”
“You decided more than that,” Alessandro said.
“Yes.”
The answer came immediately.
“I did.”
Alessandro studied him.
“What are you offering?”
“Whatever Clara asks.”
Clara laughed.
“I’m not selling forgiveness.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“Then stop talking like this is a business settlement.”
Enzo nodded.
“What do you want?”
Clara thought.
Then she said, “Peter gets fired.”
From outside the room came a faint movement.
Peter had clearly been listening.
Enzo nodded.
“Done.”
“No.”
Enzo frowned.
“You just said—”
“I want him fired for allowing staff to be mistreated, not because I’m Viti’s daughter.”
Enzo understood.
“Done.”
“Second, every employee here gets a written policy. Nobody gets searched without consent or lawful authority.”
Enzo nodded.
“Done.”
“And security cameras cover every service corridor.”
“Done.”
“And you pay for tonight’s staff wages. Everyone. You shut down their workplace over your mistake.”
Enzo almost smiled.
“Done.”
Clara pointed at him.
“And stop saying ‘done’ like you’re buying groceries.”
For the first time, Alessandro’s mouth twitched.
Enzo noticed.
“Was that almost a smile?”
“No.”
“It was.”
Alessandro’s expression went flat again.
“Continue.”
Clara sat back.
“That’s all.”
Her father stared at her.
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“He struck you.”
“And I’m deciding what happens next.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
That sentence landed harder than shouting could have.
Finally he nodded.
“Your decision.”
Clara looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Don’t make me repeat it.”
Enzo stood.
Alessandro immediately looked up.
Enzo extended his hand—not to Alessandro.
To Clara.
She stared at it.
“What?”
“My apology doesn’t require you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“But I owe you one without excuses.”
He lowered his hand when she didn’t take it.
“I was arrogant. I was angry. I abused the power I had in that room. Your father’s identity doesn’t change what I did.”
Clara watched him carefully.
“And?”
“And I’m sorry.”
She nodded once.
“Better.”
Alessandro stood.
“We’re leaving.”
Clara sighed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The royal plural.”
“You need somewhere safe tonight.”
“I have an apartment.”
“I’ve seen the building.”
Clara froze.
“You what?”
Alessandro realized his mistake.
“Dad.”
“I had someone verify—”
“You tracked me?”
“Only recently.”
Clara grabbed her coat.
“You lasted twelve minutes.”
“Clara.”
She walked out.
Alessandro started after her.
Enzo caught his arm.
The room instantly changed.
Alessandro looked down at Enzo’s hand.
Enzo released him.
“She asked you to let her choose.”
Alessandro stared at him.
“You are the last man alive who should lecture me about respecting my daughter.”
Enzo nodded.
“Fair.”
Then Clara screamed from the hallway.
“Both of you stop talking about me like I’m not standing ten feet away!”
They turned.
She pointed toward the exit.
“I’m going home.”
Alessandro opened his mouth.
“Alone.”
He closed it.
Clara looked at Enzo.
“And you?”
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Good.”
She walked out.
Enzo watched the door close.
Alessandro studied him.
“Don’t.”
Enzo looked over.
“Don’t what?”
“Whatever you’re thinking.”
Enzo glanced toward the door again.
“I think your daughter is terrifying.”
Alessandro almost smiled.
May you like
“She gets that from her mother.”
---
