Chapter 17 - Elena Packed Her Suitcase
Six months after Mia climbed into Luca’s chair, Elena packed two suitcases.
She did it quietly.
That did not help.
Mia walked into the bedroom.
“Why clothes?”
Elena stopped folding.
“We’re moving.”
Mia’s face fell.
“Where?”
“I found an apartment.”
“Here?”
“In town.”
“Uncle Luca coming?”
“No.”
Mia stared at her.
Then sat on the floor.
“No.”
Elena sighed.
“Mia.”
“No moving.”
“We talked about having our own place.”
“I didn’t.”
“You’re three.”
“Almost four.”
“That doesn’t improve your argument.”
Mia crossed her arms.
“I’m boss.”
Elena laughed despite the ache in her chest.
“You are absolutely not using that forever.”
“Yes.”
A knock came.
Luca.
Of course.
Mia ran toward him.
“Mommy is making bad rules.”
Luca looked at the suitcases.
His expression changed.
“You’re leaving.”
Elena nodded.
“You got an apartment?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I signed yesterday.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I’m telling you now.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“No.”
Mia pointed at her mother.
“Tell her no.”
Luca looked at Mia.
“I don’t get to tell your mother no.”
Elena’s eyes softened.
Six months earlier, his answer would have been entirely different.
Mia frowned.
“But you boss.”
“So is she.”
Mia looked betrayed by this constitutional crisis.
“I’m bigger boss.”
Luca nodded solemnly.
“Obviously.”
Mia walked away muttering to her rabbit.
Luca looked back at Elena.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“I really don’t.”
“The investigation is finished.”
“Mostly.”
“Victor pleaded guilty.”
“Yes.”
“Celeste too.”
“Yes.”
“The companies are clean.”
“Cleaner.”
“Thomas’s name is cleared.”
“Yes.”
“So Mia and I don’t need protection anymore.”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“You think that’s why I asked you to stay?”
“It started that way.”
“And now?”
Elena folded a sweater.
“Now it’s complicated.”
“Why?”
She laughed quietly.
“You really want me to explain emotions to you?”
“Apparently.”
“You’re exhausting.”
“I’ve heard.”
She sat on the suitcase.
“This house isn’t mine.”
“It could be.”
The words came too quickly.
Both froze.
Elena looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Luca, a man who negotiated hundred-million-dollar deals without blinking, suddenly seemed unable to speak.
“It means…”
He stopped.
Elena waited.
“It means Mia has a room here.”
“She has a room in half this mansion.”
“That is the household staff’s fault.”
“You bought her a miniature desk.”
“She needed workspace.”
“She colors.”
“Serious work.”
Elena smiled.
Then became serious again.
“Luca.”
He looked at her.
“I don’t want to stay because I’m grateful.”
“I don’t want that either.”
“I don’t want people thinking the maid became some charity project.”
His expression hardened.
“You were never charity.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“That’s why I need to leave.”
Luca was genuinely confused.
Elena continued.
“I need to know I can choose you without needing you.”
The room went silent.
He heard the words.
Then heard them again.
“Choose me?”
Color touched her cheeks.
“That part was not supposed to come out first.”
A slow smile appeared on Luca’s face.
Elena pointed at him.
“Do not look pleased.”
“Impossible.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He stepped closer.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“I have wanted to ask you to dinner for four months.”
“You eat dinner with us every night.”
“A dinner where Mia doesn’t put peas into my water.”
“She did that once.”
“Three times.”
“Fine.”
He took another step.
“A real dinner.”
Elena looked at him.
“Why didn’t you ask?”
“You were living in my house, working for my family and dependent on company wages.”
Her expression softened.
“You thought it would put pressure on me.”
“Yes.”
“You actually learned something.”
“Painfully.”
She laughed.
“So let me move.”
He did not like the idea.
That was obvious.
But he nodded.
“Okay.”
“And after I move…”
“Yes?”
“You can ask.”
Luca smiled.
Mia suddenly appeared in the doorway.
“Ask what?”
Elena groaned.
“Nothing.”
Luca crouched.
“Your mother says I’m allowed to ask her something after you move.”
Mia considered.
“Ask now.”
“Mia.”
“What?”
Luca looked at Elena.
She shook her head.
He ignored her.
“Elena Bennett.”
“Don’t.”
“Would you have dinner with me Friday?”
She stared at him.
Mia whispered loudly, “Say yes.”
Elena laughed.
“Yes.”
Mia cheered.
Luca stood.
“Good.”
Elena folded her arms.
“Where?”
“Somewhere without strawberries.”
Mia gasped.
“I’m not going?”
“No.”
Her face became horrified.
Elena kissed the top of her head.
“You’re staying with Mrs. Alvarez.”
Mia glared at Luca.
“This is bad order.”
“I’ll survive.”
Two days later, Elena and Mia moved into a sunny apartment fifteen minutes from the estate.
Luca helped carry boxes despite three employees insisting they could do it.
That night the mansion felt too quiet.
He walked into his office.
The enormous black leather chair sat empty behind the marble desk.
On the blotter was a piece of paper Mia had secretly left behind.
A drawing.
Three figures holding hands.
A tall dark-haired man.
A woman.
A tiny blonde child.
Above them was a crooked yellow sun.
Beneath the picture Mia had dictated words to Mrs. Alvarez, who had written them carefully.
NO MORE SAD HOUSE.
Luca sat down.
He stared at the drawing longer than he had ever stared at any contract.
Then he placed it inside the top drawer.
Not because it was confidential.
May you like
Because it was the most valuable thing on his desk.
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