Chapter 5 - The Five-Year Ghost
Five years later.
London in late autumn was draped in a soft, silver rain.
Inside a high-end art gallery in Mayfair, polished concrete floors reflected abstract oil paintings that sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Collectors, critics, and wealthy patrons milled about holding flutes of champagne.
At the center of the gallery stood the artist—a woman dressed in a sleek, tailored black jumpsuit with her dark hair swept up in a sophisticated chignon.
Giana Vance.
In five years, she had built an international reputation under her mother's maiden name, creating haunting, large-scale canvases that captured light breaking through shadows. She was richer now through her own talent than she had ever been as Luca's wife.
"Mummy!"
A lively five-year-old boy came running from the private office at the back of the gallery. He wore a miniature wool suit, his dark hair messy, his deep brown eyes glittering with excitement.
"Leo, slow down!" Julian called out fondly, coming out behind him carrying a drawing pad.
Giana knelt down immediately, opening her arms as Leo collided into her. She wrapped her arms around his warm frame, kissing his cheek repeatedly as he giggled.
"Uncle Julian let me draw on the big tablet!" Leo beamed, holding up a crude digital drawing of a knight fighting a dragon.
"Did he now?" Giana smiled warmly, ruffling his hair. "And did you thank him?"
"Thank you, Uncle Julian!" Leo called out proudly over his shoulder.
Julian walked over, standing beside Giana with an affectionate smile. Over the last five years, Julian had served as Giana’s business partner, protector, and Leo’s father figure, though he and Giana had kept their relationship strictly platonic out of mutual respect and shared survival.
"The exhibition is officially a sell-out," Julian informed her in a low tone. "The Tate modern bought the center piece. We've raised over two million for the children's hospital."
"Good," Giana said, standing up and holding Leo's small hand in hers. "Then we can leave for the villa in Tuscany on Friday as planned."
"Giana..." Julian’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming cautious. He reached into his jacket and pulled out an invitation printed on heavy cream cardstock. "There's something you need to see."
Giana frowned, taking the invitation. "What is this?"
"The International Real Estate Summit at the Savoy tonight," Julian explained grimly. "I was reviewing the attendee list for security purposes. The Bellini Enterprise group sent a delegation."
Giana’s heart skipped a beat, but her face remained an impassive mask. "Luca is in London?"
"No. His chief operating officer is attending," Julian said. "Luca hasn't left Chicago in years, according to my contacts. But... Vanessa is here."
Giana looked down at the gold lettering on the card. The name Vanessa Bellini was printed near the top of the board of directors list.
Bellini. She had married him after all.
"It doesn't matter," Giana said smoothly, handing the invitation back to Julian without a tremor in her fingers. "Vanessa means nothing to me. Luca means nothing to me. We leave for Italy on Friday."
Suddenly, Leo tugged on her sleeve. "Mummy, look! That tall man in the car outside is watching us."
Giana’s body went completely rigid. She turned slowly toward the grand floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the gallery.
May you like
Parked across the rain-slicked street was a dark silver Bentley. The rear window was rolled down an inch. Through the glass, two dark, hollow eyes were staring directly at her—and then shifted down to lock onto the five-year-old boy standing at her side.
It was Luca.
