Chapter 9 - The Question Luca Could Not Answer.
Luca had negotiated acquisitions worth hundreds of millions of dollars without losing his composure.
He could not answer a six-year-old boy standing in dinosaur pajamas.
Noah waited.
Nia rose from the table, but she did not rescue Luca from the question.
That mattered.
Luca crouched so he was closer to Noah's height.
I didn't know you were here.
Noah frowned.
Mom knew.
Yes.
Why didn't she tell you?
Nia's face tightened.
Luca chose each word carefully.
She tried to tell me.
Some adults made mistakes and stopped the message from reaching me.
Noah looked at Nia.
Did Grandma Rosa do that?
No.
Nia answered immediately.
Noah looked back at Luca.
Your mom?
The directness of children left nowhere to hide.
Luca nodded once.
It looks like she was involved.
Noah considered that for several seconds.
Is she mean?
Luca almost laughed from the sadness of the question.
She made a very wrong choice.
That is something I have to deal with.
Noah twisted the paper boat in his hands.
Do you have another family?
No.
Nia looked at him sharply because Claire existed, and Noah noticed the glance.
Luca corrected himself.
I was planning to marry someone, but that plan has changed.
Because of us?
No.
Luca answered quickly.
Because adults need to be honest about what they feel, and I wasn't honest enough before.
Nia's expression shifted at that.
Noah looked unconvinced but accepted the answer for the moment.
Can Lily know too?
Yes.
Nia took Noah upstairs and returned ten minutes later.
Luca was still sitting at the kitchen table.
You handled that better than I expected.
That might be the lowest compliment I've ever received.
It was still a compliment.
A fragile silence settled between them.
Luca looked toward the stairs.
I want to know them.
Nia sat down slowly.
Wanting it is the easy part.
I know.
They have school, routines, friends, fears, favorite foods, and six years of life that did not include you.
You cannot arrive with gifts and expect that to become a relationship.
I don't want to do that.
Then what do you want?
Luca thought before answering.
A chance to show up consistently.
Nia watched him for a long time.
That answer seemed to frighten her more than a grand promise would have.
She finally nodded.
One hour Saturday afternoon.
At the park.
No staff, no photographers, no family members.
Luca agreed to every condition.
The next morning, however, the Moretti family made consistency much harder.
Evelyn called an emergency board meeting and attempted to remove Luca temporarily as chief executive, citing personal circumstances affecting company stability.
The motion shocked even directors who usually supported her.
Luca entered the boardroom five minutes after the meeting began.
Victor sat at the far end of the table.
Claire's father was present by video because his investment group held a significant stake.
Evelyn looked at Luca without apology.
This is not personal.
Luca placed the paternity report on the table.
Everything you have done has been personal.
Several directors exchanged glances.
Evelyn's face remained composed.
Private family matters are now affecting shareholder value.
Because someone from your office gave false information to the press.
Evelyn denied it.
Luca connected his laptop to the room display and opened Claire's old response-plan document.
The creation date appeared on the screen.
Six years earlier.
The boardroom went silent.
Luca then showed the false exclusion report and the payment to Caleb Reed.
Evelyn's confidence finally cracked.
You have no proof I authorized that payment.
Victor spoke from the far end of the table.
I do.
Everyone turned.
Victor placed a signed ledger on the table.
Evelyn's face changed completely.
Luca looked at his father.
Victor opened the ledger to a marked page.
Next to the North Harbor payment was a handwritten authorization code.
Victor pointed to it.
The code belonged to Evelyn's private office.
Evelyn stood.
This meeting is over.
Luca remained seated.
May you like
No, Mom.
For the first time in seven years, you don't get to decide when the conversation ends.
