Chapter 7 - The Grand Hotel Sit-Down
The Gold Room of the Grand Hotel was the traditional neutral ground for the syndicate—a massive ballroom featuring crystal chandeliers, gilded pillars, and heavy velvet draperies that had witnessed fifty years of fragile truces and bloody betrayals.
At precisely three o'clock, the heavy oak doors opened.
Don Vito Romano sat at one end of a long mahogany table, surrounded by six armed bodyguards. Sitting beside him, wearing a high-collared dark dress and looking utterly defeated, was Celeste Romano.
Luciano Costa walked into the ballroom first, looking lethal and magnificent in a three-piece charcoal suit.
Right beside him, her hand resting securely in the crook of his arm, was Chloe.
She looked breathtaking. She wore a deep wine-red velvet gown that draped magnificently over her full hips and bosom, her dark hair styled in soft waves over one shoulder. Around her neck hung the ancient Costa emerald necklace—a piece of jewelry worn only by the reigning matriarch of the house.
Don Vito stood up slowly, nodding his head in respect. "Don Luciano."
Luciano did not sit down. He remained standing at the head of the table, his hand resting on the back of Chloe’s chair as he pulled it out for her.
Chloe sat with complete grace, resting her hands on the polished wood, looking directly across the table at Celeste Romano.
"We are here to settle the Bellini territory dispute," Don Vito began, his voice gravelly. "Bellini’s foolish attack on your estate was an unsanctioned act of madness. The Romano family had no part in it."
"Your daughter brought Bellini the intelligence that encouraged his move," Luciano said coldly, his hazel eyes locking onto Vito. "She breached my gates and insulted my wife in my own home."
Don Vito turned his head, glaring sharply at Celeste. "Celeste."
Celeste swallowed hard, her hand trembling slightly as she stood up. She looked at Chloe—at the glowing, confident woman sitting under the protection of the undisputed king of the city, wearing the legendary emeralds that Celeste had dreamed of owning for a decade.
"I... I offer my formal apologies to Mrs. Chloe Costa," Celeste said, her voice barely audible. "My actions were... improper. I recognize her legitimate status as the matriarch of the Costa house."
Chloe looked at Celeste for three long seconds. She didn't gloat. She didn't smile.
"Accepted, Miss Romano," Chloe said calmly, her voice clear and absolute. "Provided the Romano family recognizes that any future interference in Costa affairs will be met with immediate and total retaliation."
Don Vito bowed his head deeply. "The Romano family recognizes the terms, Mrs. Costa."
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Luciano placed his hand over Chloe’s shoulder, his fingers resting warm against her collarbone.
"The meeting is over," Luciano announced.
