Chapter 4 - THE MORETTI RETALIATION
Three days passed in relative tranquility inside the mansion, but in the dark underbelly of the city's political and criminal networks, a storm was brewing.
Salvatore Moretti, Bianca's father and a powerful elder in the syndicate, was furious. The public cancellation of the high-profile engagement had humiliated his family, causing his stock prices and political standing to plummet.
Inside the Rossi estate's executive study, Dominic sat behind his desk, reviewing financial reports. Matteo stood across from him, looking grim.
"Salvatore has called an emergency meeting of the Commission for tomorrow night," Matteo reported. "He’s claiming you breached the peace agreement by insulting his daughter and severing the alliance without cause."
Dominic didn't look up from his papers. "Let him call the Commission. Salvatore thinks he can use old tradition to force my hand."
"He's also making inquiries about Skylar," Matteo added carefully.
Dominic's pen stopped moving. He slowly raised his head, his dark eyes locking onto his security chief. "What kind of inquiries?"
"He knows she was the maid who intervened. He’s telling people that a low-class servant manipulated you and your mother into breaking the contract. He wants her brought before the Commission to testify about what happened in the conservatory."
Dominic's jaw tightened, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes. "Salvatore wants to humiliate her publicly to regain face."
"It's a trap, Don Rossi," Matteo warned. "If Skylar stumbles under questioning from the elders, Salvatore will use it to claim your mother is incompetent and that you are making irrational decisions based on the influence of a servant."
Dominic stood up, walking over to the window. Outside, he could see Carmela and Skylar walking along the stone path in the rose garden. Skylar was wearing one of the new soft gray sweaters, holding an umbrella over Carmela to shield her from the afternoon drizzle. She was laughing at something Carmela said—a genuine, warm laugh that reached all the way up to her eyes.
Dominic realized, with a sudden sharp clarity, how much light Skylar had brought into the gloomy, tense mansion in just three short days. His mother hadn't had a single episode of confusion since Skylar took over her care.
"Schedule the Commission meeting for tomorrow at eight," Dominic commanded quietly.
"Sir?" Matteo looked surprised. "You're agreeing to bring her?"
"No," Dominic said, turning around with a cold, terrifying smile. "I'm not bringing a maid to defend herself. I am bringing my mother's personal companion as an honored member of the Rossi household. And if Salvatore Moretti utters one disrespectful word to her, I will tear his empire down piece by piece."
Later that evening, Dominic visited the east wing.
He knocked on the open door of the sitting room. Skylar was sitting on the sofa, reading a book aloud to Carmela, who was resting her head on a plush pillow.
"Dominic," Carmela murmured, sitting up.
"Mother. Skylar," Dominic acknowledged, walking in. He handed a dark velvet box to Skylar.
Skylar looked at him, confused. "What's this, Mr. Rossi?"
"Open it."
Skylar unlatched the silver clasp and opened the lid. Inside lay a breathtaking necklace—a delicate platinum chain suspending a teardrop-shaped sapphire surrounded by small diamonds.
Skylar gasped, nearly dropping the box in her lap. "Mr. Rossi, I... I can't take this! This looks insanely expensive!"
"It belonged to my grandmother," Dominic said calmly. "Tomorrow evening, there is a formal gathering of the city's executive council. You and my mother will be attending with me."
Skylar's heart skipped a beat. "Me? At an executive council meeting? But sir, I don't know how to act at those things! I'm clumsy! I'll drop something or say the wrong thing—"
"You saved my mother," Dominic interrupted softly, stepping closer to her. He reached down, taking the sapphire necklace from the box, his fingers brushing against her skin as he leaned in to clasp it behind her neck.
May you like
Skylar held her breath, her skin burning where his warm fingers touched her collarbone.
"You don't need to perform for anyone, Skylar," Dominic whispered near her ear. "Just stand beside my mother, wear the sapphire, and let them see who holds the true heart of this family."
