Chapter 11
Alessandro wanted Damien brought to him.
For approximately ten seconds.
Then he looked across the kitchen at Livia.
She was drawing with Rosalie at the table.
One side of her hair was still noticeably shorter.
That sight changed the decision.
Alessandro called Evelyn instead.
“Give them everything.”
“The business records?”
“Everything.”
“The old vehicle records too?”
“Yes.”
“And the assault at the wedding?”
Alessandro understood what she meant.
His punch.
His slap.
“Yes.”
Evelyn paused.
“That exposes you too.”
“I know.”
He ended the call.
Rosalie watched him from across the room.
“You’re not going after him?”
“No.”
She seemed surprised.
Alessandro almost told her that once, Damien would have disappeared from every place he knew before sunset.
Instead he looked at Livia.
“I’m trying something different.”
The consequences began immediately.
Damien was removed from every Rizzano business operation.
Bank access was suspended.
Contractors were instructed not to accept his authority.
Daniel replaced every temporary guard.
Michael began reviewing years of vendor payments.
The scale of Damien’s betrayal grew.
He had not stolen enough to destroy the company.
That had never been his main goal.
He had used money to purchase loyalty.
Small favors.
Private bonuses.
Jobs for relatives.
Debts quietly paid.
Damien had spent years making himself necessary.
Then he had told everyone Alessandro trusted him.
Because Alessandro did.
Bianca requested another meeting.
This time Alessandro refused.
She sent a voice message instead.
“I know you hate me.”
He almost deleted it.
Then he listened.
“I didn’t know Elena was going to drive the car that night. Damien told me he would handle everything. I thought he meant the business problem.”
Bianca paused.
“And yes, I met you because he wanted me to. But that isn’t why I stayed.”
Alessandro stopped the message.
He did not need the rest.
Livia looked up from her drawing.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Can Rosalie come to dinner?”
Alessandro looked at the maid.
Rosalie seemed startled.
“She works here,” Livia explained. “She always eats later.”
Alessandro realized he had lived in the same house with Rosalie for almost three years and had no idea where she normally ate.
“Of course.”
Rosalie hesitated.
May you like
Then sat.
For the first time in years, Alessandro began noticing the difference between having people around him and actually knowing them.
