0046 - Something for the Doll

Luca’s POV

Alex got down from the car first.

He didn’t say much at first. He just gave that look he always gave when his mind was scanning every corner. His eyes moved around like he was expecting trouble. He leaned toward the two guards we brought along.

“If anything feels off,” he told them in a low voice, “call immediately. Don’t wait.”

They nodded without speaking.

I stepped out of the car slowly, adjusting my jacket. The sun wasn’t too hot, but there was this heaviness in the air.

I looked at Alex. “Why are you acting like we’re about to walk into a cartel meeting?” I asked him in Italian.

He didn’t smile. “I’m just being careful, boss. We could be walking into a trap right now.”

I shook my head. “If it was, I would’ve known before I even got out of the car.”

Still, Alex stayed alert.

We entered the building. A young beautiful woman at the front desk stood up as soon as she saw us. I felt as if the lipstick she had on was too much like she lacked moderation.

She gave a polite smile. “Mr. De Rossi, we've been expecting you. Please follow me.”

I nodded. She led the way, and we followed.

The building was quiet. Polished floors. Cool air. The kind of place that was trying to look modern and expensive. It didn’t smell like dust or old money. It smelled like glass and ambition.

We reached a wide conference room on the third floor. The doors opened, and I saw them waiting.

Two young men.

And one older face I knew very well.

“Giorgio,” I said as I stepped in.

He stood and smiled. “Luca. It’s been too long.”

“It has,” I replied.

He gave a small laugh. “I suppose that’s a good thing. You’ve been staying out of trouble.”

I gave a lazy smirk. “Or maybe I’m just hiding it better.”

We shook hands, and he motioned to the seat at the head of the table. I took it. Alex didn’t sit. He stood behind me like a shadow, arms crossed.

“Let’s get to it,” Giorgio said. “These are the two young men I mentioned. They have something to show you.”

The boys stepped forward. Their nervousness was so obvious. They greeted me. One of them tried to say something in Italian. I didn’t respond. Just looked at him until he stopped.

Giorgio cleared his throat. “Mr De Rossi’s time is not to be wasted. Please, get right into it.”

They nodded quickly.

Then came their pitch.

It was a tech idea. Something about apps, about secure transactions and user growth. I listened. They fumbled with words a few times. One of them forgot a figure. The other one spoke too fast.

But I saw what they were trying to build. It wasn’t bad. Not bad at all.

Giorgio asked the questions. He leaned forward, interested. He was sharp. Always had been. The boys answered as best as they could. Not confident, but not clueless either.

I let them talk.

Then I leaned back in my chair.

“How much?” I asked.

They paused, unsure who should speak. One of them opened his mouth, started to give a long explanation.

“Stop,” Giorgio said. “He asked how much. Not why.”

They looked down for a second. Then they gave the number. One million dollars.

I nodded. “I’ll give it to you.”

Their eyes lit up.

“And fifty percent more in fact,” I added.

They smiled now.

“But,” I said, “I want fifty-one percent of the business.”

Their faces changed.

“That’s more than half,” one of them said.

“That means we lose control,” the other whispered.

“That means you get a future,” Giorgio said. His voice was calm but firm. “And you’re lucky to get that.”

They looked at each other, then back at the table.

I didn’t press them. I just waited.

Finally, one of them nodded. “Okay. Yes.”

“Good,” Giorgio said. He told them to wait outside for a few minutes. They left the room quietly.

I turned to him. “You believe in these guys?”

“I do,” he said.

“I’m only doing it because of you Guorgio,” I told him. “So if it goes bad, it’s on you. So it better be worth it.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

I didn’t need him to explain. He knew what that meant.

There was a pause.

“I might need you for something else soon,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow. “Something else?”

“I want to set up a business for Maria.”

He looked confused. “Maria…?”

He turned to Alex.

Alex gave a small nod. “It’s still in the works. You’ll understand soon.”

Giorgio looked between the two of us and said nothing.

“I want something clean,” I added. “Something smart. If it’s not too much trouble, help us think of something.”

“Of course,” he said. “I’d be glad to.”

I stood. “Then we’ll talk soon.”

Giorgio stood too. “Anytime.”

I didn’t look back when I left the room. I already had what I came for.

And I had something else now too.

An idea that maybe, just maybe, I could give Maria her own world.