Chapter 2 - THE MAFIA BOSS DISCOVERED MY EX-FIANCÉ HAD USED MY NAME TO STEAL FROM HIS COMPANY—BUT WHEN HE OFFERED TO PROTECT ME, I REFUSED TO BECOME ANOTHER WOMAN HE COULD CONTROL
The name Bellmont Heritage Consulting hit me like a punch.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Lorenzo remained silent on the phone.
Finally, he asked:
"Amelia?"
I swallowed.
"That company belongs to my ex-fiancé."
Silence.
Then Lorenzo said:
"What's his name?"
"Nathan Brooks."
I heard movement on the other end.
Then Lorenzo spoke to someone nearby.
"Caleb. Find everything on Nathan Brooks."
My stomach tightened.
"Lorenzo."
He returned to the phone.
"Yes?"
"Don't do anything reckless."
He paused.
"Define reckless."
I closed my eyes.
"Threatening him."
Silence.
"Sending men to his house."
Another pause.
"Breaking anything that belongs to him."
Lorenzo sighed.
"You're very specific."
"I've heard stories."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then said:
"Fair."
***
The next morning, I met Lorenzo at his downtown office.
Not alone.
I brought my attorney, Rebecca Shaw.
Lorenzo seemed surprised.
Then impressed.
"You brought counsel."
I nodded.
"Of course."
He smiled faintly.
"Smart."
***
His office occupied the top floor of a glass tower overlooking the Chicago River.
Everything was expensive.
Polished.
Controlled.
But I barely noticed.
My attention was on the documents spread across the conference table.
Several invoices.
Payment approvals.
Digital signatures.
My name.
Again and again.
***
Rebecca reviewed the records carefully.
Then looked at me.
"Did you authorize these?"
"No."
She nodded.
"Did you ever work for Bellmont Heritage Consulting?"
"No."
"Did Nathan have access to your professional credentials?"
I hesitated.
"Years ago."
Lorenzo looked up.
I continued.
"We shared a home office when we were engaged."
Rebecca nodded.
"Did he ever use your computer?"
"Yes."
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
I looked at him.
"Don't."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Whatever you're thinking."
For a moment, he stared.
Then smiled faintly.
"I was thinking we need a forensic examination."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Good."
***
The investigation began immediately.
Rebecca arranged for an independent digital-forensics specialist to review the records.
Lorenzo authorized an internal audit.
The company preserved relevant emails, approvals, and transaction logs.
And I provided documentation showing where I had been when several disputed approvals were made.
***
Within days, the evidence became troubling.
Nathan had apparently used an old digital certificate associated with my professional account.
Several approvals had been submitted from devices I didn't recognize.
The invoices described restoration consulting services.
But the work had never been performed.
***
I sat in Rebecca's office staring at the report.
"How much?"
She hesitated.
"Approximately six hundred eighty thousand dollars."
I felt sick.
"Six hundred eighty thousand?"
She nodded.
"Potentially more."
I looked away.
For years, Nathan had told me I wasn't ambitious enough.
Now he had apparently used my professional identity to move enormous amounts of money.
***
That evening, Lorenzo called.
"How are you holding up?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Terribly."
He was quiet.
Then said:
"Would you like company?"
I hesitated.
"Maybe."
He paused.
"I can come by."
I looked around my apartment.
It was small.
Comfortable.
Filled with books and plants.
Nothing like his penthouse.
I swallowed.
"Okay."
***
Lorenzo arrived carrying takeout.
No bodyguards entered.
No expensive gifts.
Just food.
I stared.
"What's this?"
He smiled.
"Dinner."
I looked at the bags.
"From where?"
"A little Italian place in River North."
I laughed.
"Of course."
He frowned.
"What?"
"Even your takeout sounds expensive."
He smiled.
"Would you prefer pizza?"
I grinned.
"Honestly?"
He laughed.
"Next time."
***
We ate at my kitchen table.
For the first time, Lorenzo seemed almost ordinary.
He asked about my work.
My family.
My favorite books.
The places I wanted to travel.
I learned that he loved jazz.
Hated flying.
And had once wanted to become an architect.
I stared.
"Seriously?"
He nodded.
"My father had other plans."
I looked at him.
"What happened?"
He smiled sadly.
"I inherited responsibilities."
I nodded.
He continued.
"Some of them I should have refused."
***
For a moment, the room grew quiet.
Then I asked:
"Do you regret it?"
Lorenzo looked toward the window.
"Sometimes."
I studied him.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Because power changes the way people treat you."
I nodded.
He continued.
"People agree with you."
"They flatter you."
"They tell you what they think you want to hear."
I smiled faintly.
"Sounds exhausting."
He laughed softly.
"It is."
***
We sat quietly.
Then he looked at me.
"That's why I noticed you."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Because I walked away?"
He nodded.
I smiled.
"That's a terrible reason to like someone."
He laughed.
"Maybe."
I looked at him.
"You don't even know me."
His expression softened.
"I'm trying to."
***
Over the following weeks, we grew closer.
Lorenzo invited me to dinner.
I accepted.
Sometimes.
Other times, I refused because I had work.
He never complained.
That surprised me.
***
One evening, he called while I was reviewing drawings.
"Amelia."
"Yes?"
"Would you like to have dinner tomorrow?"
I glanced at my schedule.
"I can't."
Silence.
Then he said:
"Another night?"
I smiled.
"Friday."
He laughed softly.
"Friday it is."
***
My friends were fascinated.
Especially Claire, who had been with me at the beach.
She called one afternoon.
"You're dating Lorenzo Duca?"
I sighed.
"We've had dinner."
She laughed.
"Amelia."
"What?"
"He's Lorenzo Duca."
I smiled.
"Yes, Claire. I've heard."
She lowered her voice.
"Are you serious about him?"
I hesitated.
"I don't know."
She was quiet.
Then asked:
"Do you like him?"
I looked toward the window.
I thought about his laughter.
His patience.
The way he listened.
The way he never made me feel foolish for asking questions.
I smiled.
"Yes."
***
But the investigation into Nathan continued.
And the more we discovered, the more complicated the situation became.
***
One afternoon, Rebecca called.
"Amelia, we found something."
I sat down.
"What?"
"A second company."
My heart tightened.
"Connected to Nathan?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
"And to someone inside Duca Holdings."
I stared.
"Who?"
Rebecca paused.
"The project director."
My stomach dropped.
"Michael Grant?"
"Yes."
***
Michael Grant had overseen the Ashcroft restoration for two years.
He was demanding.
Arrogant.
And constantly changing budgets.
But I had never imagined he might be involved in fraud.
***
The next morning, Lorenzo called an emergency meeting.
Michael arrived looking irritated.
Nathan's name was mentioned.
Michael's expression changed.
Lorenzo watched him carefully.
Then asked:
"Did you approve payments to Bellmont Heritage Consulting?"
Michael hesitated.
"Some."
"Why?"
"Specialized consulting."
Lorenzo leaned forward.
"Show me the work."
Michael looked down.
Silence.
Then Lorenzo said:
"You're suspended pending the investigation."
Michael stood.
"You can't do this."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"I just did."
***
The company referred the matter to authorities.
Michael retained counsel.
Nathan stopped answering calls.
And the investigation expanded.
***
Then something frightening happened.
I returned home one evening and found my apartment door slightly open.
My heart stopped.
I stood in the hallway.
Then backed away.
I called the police.
And Lorenzo.
***
Officers arrived first.
They checked the apartment.
Nothing obvious had been stolen.
But my desk had been disturbed.
Several folders were missing.
And my laptop had been moved.
***
Lorenzo arrived twenty minutes later.
His expression was dark.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head.
"No."
He looked toward the apartment.
"You're not staying here tonight."
I stared.
"Lorenzo."
He turned.
"It's not safe."
I swallowed.
"I know."
He stepped closer.
"Come to my house."
I hesitated.
He noticed.
Then stopped.
"Or I can arrange a hotel."
I looked at him.
For a moment, I remembered Nathan.
The way he used to make decisions for me.
The way he insisted he knew what was best.
I took a breath.
"I'll choose."
Lorenzo nodded.
"Of course."
***
I stayed with Claire that night.
Lorenzo didn't argue.
He arranged for my attorney to receive the police report.
Then asked whether I wanted additional security.
I agreed to temporary measures while the investigation continued.
***
Two days later, Nathan contacted me.
He sent a message.
We need to talk.
I stared.
Then forwarded it to Rebecca.
She advised me not to respond directly.
***
That evening, Lorenzo called.
"Amelia."
His voice sounded tense.
"What happened?"
He hesitated.
"There's something you need to know."
My heart pounded.
"What?"
"Michael Grant has been cooperating with investigators."
I swallowed.
"And?"
Lorenzo's voice hardened.
"He says Nathan wasn't acting alone."
I stared.
"Who else?"
Silence.
Then Lorenzo said:
"My cousin."
My stomach dropped.
"Who?"
"Stefano Duca."
***
I knew the name.
Stefano was Lorenzo's younger cousin.
A polished businessman.
A familiar face at charity events.
Someone who had appeared beside Lorenzo in countless photographs.
I swallowed.
"Why would Stefano be involved?"
Lorenzo was quiet.
Then said:
May you like
"Because he wants control of the company."
END OF CHAPTER 2
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