Chapter 3

My father took almost a minute to answer.

“Elena. I’m about to go into a meeting.”

“Why is Bianca’s name on my European proposal?”

A pause. Then the patient voice he used when he had already decided something.

“I meant to tell you.”

“You meant to tell me after it was done.”

“You already run our most profitable legitimate accounts. You have a future with Luca. Bianca needs a foothold.”

“It’s my work.”

“And she’s your sister.”

I sat on a bench outside a pharmacy. My ankle had begun to swell inside my boot.

“I spent six months on that application. I built those forecasts. You can’t just hand her my career.”

“This is one contract, Elena.”

“One I earned.”

His patience vanished.

“Her father was on my payroll. Her mother was at that warehouse because of us. They went back for you when they could have saved themselves.”

“Were you there?”

“What?”

“When they went back. Did you see them?”

The silence changed.

“Bruno gave me the report,” he said. “Bianca told your mother she saw them go inside. What exactly are you suggesting?”

Bruno had been his security chief. In our house, his word had been as good as a photograph.

“I’m asking whether anyone ever checked.”

My mother came on the line.

“How dare you.”

“Mom—”

“Your father carried two coffins because you came home alive. I held that little girl while she screamed for her mother. We promised she would never have less than you.”

For the first time, I heard the promise clearly.

Not that Bianca would be cared for.

That anything I had and she wanted would become an injustice they had to correct.

“Giving her the same chances isn’t the same as giving her my work.”

“You’ll inherit this family. She knows that. Do you have any idea how that feels?”

“I know how it feels to be your daughter only when she doesn’t need something.”

“Enough. Carlo chairs the consortium. I’ve spoken to him. The place is Bianca’s.”

“Then at least read the fire records when our attorney sends them.”

“We’re not putting that child through an interrogation because you’re jealous of a contract.”

She ended the call.

A message from my estate manager arrived while I was putting away the pharmacy receipt.

The event has been canceled. Luca’s men have left, and our security team is back on duty. The remaining stock is locked away for supervised collection.

I replied.

Keep the wedding arrangements on hold, too. Don’t accept instructions from anyone else.

Luca called before I could put my phone away.

“Your mother’s in tears.”

“I’m sure she is.”

“Are you really questioning how Bianca’s parents died?”

“Have you ever questioned it?”

“Elena.”

The way he said my name made it a warning.

“I’ve requested the original file. There are things in it that don’t match.”

“We can look at it when everyone’s calm.”

“You mean after she gets the contract.”

“I mean you’re hurt and looking for someone to blame.”

I stared at the pharmacy doors. An elderly man held them open for a woman with a cane. Such an ordinary kindness. Nobody asking what she had done to deserve it.

“Why does helping her always require taking something from me?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“I’m trying to settle an obligation. You’re the woman I want beside me for the rest of my life. I thought you understood the difference.”

“I do understand. You assume I’ll stay no matter what you do.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Then tell my parents to return my application.”

His voice hardened.

“We’re getting married next month. You’ll have access to more than that consortium could ever give you.”

“I don’t want access through you. I want what I earned.”

“Then the wedding waits.”

I stopped breathing for a second.

He continued before I could answer.

“If this is how you’re going to treat Bianca, we postpone it until you can apologize. I won’t start our marriage with our families at war.”

“All right,” I said.

“Elena—”

“I won’t apologize to Bianca. If that’s your condition, cancel the wedding.”

“Will you let me finish?”

I ended the call.

Then I opened Adrian Keller’s last email. He had offered me a position at his logistics firm in Vienna months earlier. I had asked him to wait until after the wedding, and he had left the offer open.

The employment agreement was still attached.

I entered Monday as my start date, signed it on my phone, and sent it back.

I’m accepting the position. My flight is already booked. Please let me know what you need before I arrive.

His reply came while I was waiting for the cab back to my hotel.

Monday works. I’ll have the apartment ready.

I sent him my arrival time, then put my phone away.