Chapter 2 - The Man at the Door
Matteo turned.
His security chief, Gabriel Russo, stepped into the kitchen and closed the door behind him.
Gabriel was forty-two, broad-shouldered, and one of the few people who could enter Bellandi House without being announced.
He looked at the key in Matteo’s hand.
“You got my message.”
“You said Hale knows about Nora.”
“He asked about her.”
“When?”
“This afternoon.”
Matteo’s expression darkened.
“Why wasn’t I informed immediately?”
“Because until twenty minutes ago, we thought he was only asking whether Bellandi House employed a Nora Bennett.”
“And now?”
Gabriel placed a thin folder on the counter.
“Now we know why.”
Inside were copies of shipping invoices.
Christopher Hale’s name appeared on none of them.
But his company did.
Hale Logistics.
Matteo flipped through the pages.
Bellandi shipping containers had been rerouted through a warehouse in New Jersey without authorization.
Locker 17 contained the original manifests.
Documents capable of proving somebody within Matteo’s organization had been skimming shipments and laundering money through Hale Logistics.
Christopher had been involved.
Possibly deeply.
“What does Nora know?” Gabriel asked.
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“She dated him.”
“That doesn’t mean he confessed financial crimes over dinner.”
“You’d be surprised what men confess to women they underestimate.”
Matteo looked toward the hallway.
Nora’s expression from ten minutes earlier returned to him.
He made me feel like taking up space was something I should apologize for.
Christopher had underestimated her.
Matteo suspected that was a mistake.
Gabriel tapped the key.
“If Hale thinks she knows about locker 17, tomorrow’s dinner may not be a coincidence.”
“It’s her sister’s engagement dinner.”
“I know.”
Matteo’s eyes sharpened.
“How do you know?”
“I investigated her after you told me she was accompanying your grandmother to medical appointments.”
“That was seven months ago.”
“Security procedure.”
“You investigated her family?”
“Basic background.”
Matteo closed the folder.
“You’ll reopen it.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Quietly.”
“And nobody approaches Nora.”
“You volunteering to attend her family dinner may complicate quiet.”
Matteo looked at him.
Gabriel sighed.
“I’ll handle it.”
Nora knew none of this when she woke the next morning.
Her concerns were far more ordinary.
Specifically, clothing.
She stood in front of her apartment mirror wearing a dark green dress Emily had insisted she buy six months earlier.
It fell below her knees and fit her body instead of attempting to hide it.
Christopher had hated it.
He once told her the color “drew attention.”
Nora had put it in the back of her closet.
Now she stared at herself.
Then at her phone.
Emily had sent seventeen messages.
The newest read:
YOU FOUND SOMEONE???
Nora typed:
Yes.
Three dots appeared immediately.
WHO?
Nora hesitated.
Then:
Matteo Bellandi.
The phone rang within two seconds.
Nora answered.
“You’re lying,” Emily said.
“Good morning.”
“Matteo Bellandi?”
“Yes.”
“The Matteo Bellandi?”
“I assume there is only one.”
“The hotel man?”
“Among other things.”
“The man Dad calls ‘that suspicious billionaire’?”
“That’s him.”
Emily became silent.
Then:
“Are you sleeping with your boss?”
Nora nearly dropped the phone.
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
“I believe I would know.”
“Why is he pretending to be your boyfriend?”
“That remains an excellent question.”
Emily made a sound between laughter and panic.
“Mom is going to lose her mind.”
“Please prevent that.”
“I cannot control weather systems.”
“Emily.”
“Fine. I’ll warn her you’re bringing someone.”
“Do not tell her who.”
“Why?”
“Because she’ll Google him.”
“She’s going to Google him anyway.”
Nora closed her eyes.
At Bellandi House that afternoon, Matteo was absent.
Nora told herself she was relieved.
She was not.
She polished silverware twice.
Rearranged flowers that did not need rearranging.
At five-thirty, the head housekeeper, Mrs. Alvarez, approached.
“Nora.”
“Yes?”
“You may leave.”
“My shift ends at six.”
“Mr. Bellandi instructed that you finish early.”
Of course he had.
Mrs. Alvarez studied her.
Nora tried to look innocent.
Mrs. Alvarez had run Bellandi House for fourteen years.
She could detect secrets through concrete.
“Do you have plans?”
“Family dinner.”
“With Mr. Bellandi?”
Nora stared.
Mrs. Alvarez smiled faintly.
“I have managed this house longer than you’ve owned that expression.”
“He’s pretending to be my boyfriend.”
Mrs. Alvarez’s smile vanished.
Nora immediately regretted explaining.
“Pretending?”
“For one evening.”
“I see.”
“You sound like you see far too much.”
Mrs. Alvarez adjusted Nora’s sleeve.
“Mr. Bellandi does many things.”
Nora waited.
“Pretending badly is not one of them.”
Before Nora could ask what that meant, Mrs. Alvarez walked away.
At six twenty-five, Nora descended the mansion’s main staircase.
She had changed into the green dress.
Her hair was pinned in a soft bun, though several curls had escaped around her face.
Matteo stood near the foyer.
For the first time since Nora had known him, he was not dressed entirely in black.
His suit was charcoal.
His shirt remained black.
Some habits apparently survived romantic fraud.
He looked up.
Then stopped moving.
Nora became instantly self-conscious.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“That generally means something.”
Matteo walked toward her.
“The dress suits you.”
Nora glanced down.
“Christopher hated it.”
“Then his judgment is worse than I thought.”
She smiled despite herself.
Matteo offered his arm.
Nora stared at it.
“We haven’t left the house.”
“I’m practicing.”
“Right.”
She placed her hand lightly against his arm.
Her heart responded with unnecessary enthusiasm.
Outside waited a dark sedan.
One sedan.
Nora looked at him approvingly.
“You followed instructions.”
“I’m capable of growth.”
Gabriel sat behind the wheel.
Nora frowned.
“You have a chauffeur?”
“Gabriel is security.”
“You promised no bodyguards.”
“I promised no convoy.”
“You are exploiting technicalities already.”
“An important relationship skill.”
Gabriel coughed suspiciously from the front seat.
The drive took forty minutes.
Matteo asked questions.
Names.
Parents.
Emily’s fiancé, Daniel.
Aunts.
Uncles.
Christopher.
“What should I know about him?” Matteo asked.
Nora looked out the window.
“He likes winning conversations.”
“How?”
“He pushes until you defend yourself. Then he acts like your reaction proves you’re unstable.”
Matteo nodded once.
“What does he want from you now?”
“Probably nothing.”
Matteo did not look convinced.
Nora turned toward him.
“You’re taking this very seriously.”
“You asked me to be convincing.”
“I expected hand-holding, not tactical preparation.”
“That can be arranged.”
Nora looked at his hand resting between them.
Matteo looked too.
Neither moved.
After a moment Nora said, “Maybe later.”
His eyes flicked to hers.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Something about the answer stayed with her.
When they turned onto her parents’ street, Nora’s stomach tightened.
Cars lined the curb.
Warm lights glowed from the Bennett house.
She suddenly felt sixteen again.
Too big.
Too loud.
Too noticeable.
Matteo must have felt the tension in her hand because he spoke quietly.
“Nora.”
She looked at him.
“You do not have to prove anything tonight.”
She swallowed.
“That defeats the purpose.”
“No. You came here because your sister matters. Everything else is noise.”
Nora stared.
“You’re unexpectedly good at this.”
“I told you.”
The car stopped.
Gabriel remained behind the wheel.
Matteo exited and came around to Nora’s side.
He opened her door.
She stepped out.
Then she saw Christopher.
He was standing beside the front steps.
Vanessa was nowhere in sight.
Christopher looked almost exactly as Nora remembered.
Expensive coat.
Perfect hair.
Confident smile.
Until he saw Matteo.
The smile disappeared.
Matteo noticed.
Nora noticed Matteo noticing.
Christopher recovered quickly.
“Nora.”
She straightened.
“Christopher.”
His gaze moved toward Matteo.
Then down to Nora’s hand resting against Matteo’s arm.
“Who’s this?”
Matteo answered before Nora could.
“Matteo.”
Christopher gave a short laugh.
“Bellandi?”
“Yes.”
Recognition flashed across Christopher’s face.
But it was not celebrity recognition.
It was fear.
Nora felt Matteo become still beside her.
Christopher extended his hand.
“Christopher Hale.”
Matteo looked at the offered hand.
Then at Christopher.
“I know.”
Christopher withdrew it slowly.
Nora’s pulse quickened.
Something was wrong.
Her father opened the front door.
“Nora!”
The family moment temporarily broke the tension.
Her mother appeared behind him.
Then Emily.
Emily saw Matteo and mouthed something Nora was grateful not to hear.
Within minutes they were inside.
Introductions happened.
Her father became suspicious.
Her mother became delighted.
Emily became entertained.
Matteo handled all three effortlessly.
When Nora’s mother asked how they met, he answered:
“She told my grandmother no.”
Everyone stared.
Nora groaned.
Matteo continued.
“My grandmother wanted to climb a ladder. Nora refused to move it closer.”
Her father laughed.
Nora’s mother smiled.
“And that was romantic?”
“I respected her courage.”
Nora looked at him.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Dinner began.
Matteo sat beside Nora.
Christopher sat across from them.
Vanessa eventually arrived late and kissed Christopher’s cheek.
Christopher barely reacted.
His attention stayed on Matteo.
That bothered Nora.
Christopher had always been competitive.
But this looked different.
He looked nervous.
Halfway through dinner, her mother asked Matteo about business.
Christopher suddenly interrupted.
“Shipping must be complicated these days.”
Matteo’s fork paused.
Nora noticed.
“Yes,” Matteo said.
“I’ve done some logistics consulting.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Christopher’s eyes sharpened.
Nora looked between them.
“Have you two met?”
“No,” Christopher said quickly.
Matteo took a sip of water.
“Not formally.”
Christopher changed the subject.
After dinner, people spread through the house.
Emily dragged Nora toward the kitchen.
“What is happening?”
“Which part?”
“The part where Matteo Bellandi looks at you like nobody else exists.”
“He is acting.”
Emily stared.
“Is he?”
“Yes.”
“Nora.”
“One night.”
Emily lowered her voice.
“Christopher has been watching him all evening.”
“I know.”
“Do they know each other?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
Nora opened her mouth.
A voice came from behind them.
“Can I borrow Nora?”
Christopher.
Emily’s expression hardened.
“No.”
Nora touched her sister’s arm.
“It’s fine.”
Christopher walked toward the rear hall.
Nora followed only far enough to remain visible from the kitchen.
“What do you want?”
He folded his arms.
“Bellandi?”
“Yes.”
“You’re dating him?”
“That’s what I said.”
“How long?”
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“Then this conversation is wonderfully unnecessary.”
She turned.
Christopher caught her wrist.
Nora froze.
“Let go.”
His fingers loosened immediately.
“I’m trying to help you.”
“I survived your last version of help.”
His face tightened.
“You don’t know what kind of man he is.”
“And you do?”
Christopher glanced toward the dining room.
“Stay away from him.”
Nora almost laughed.
“You spent a year telling me no successful man would want someone like me. Now one shows up and suddenly you’re worried about my safety?”
“This isn’t jealousy.”
“Good.”
“It’s a warning.”
“Why?”
Christopher stepped closer.
“Because Bellandi doesn’t do anything without a reason.”
Nora’s smile faded.
“What reason would he have?”
Christopher looked at her for a long moment.
Then he whispered:
“Ask him about locker seventeen.”
Nora stopped breathing.
Her memory flashed to the silver key.
Christopher saw recognition cross her face.
His expression changed.
“You’ve seen the key.”
Nora backed away.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Christopher suddenly looked terrified.
“Then forget I said anything.”
He walked away.
Nora stood motionless.
Behind her, a floorboard creaked.
She turned.
Matteo stood at the end of the hallway.
His face revealed nothing.
Nora did not know how much he had heard.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She wanted to say yes.
Instead:
“What is locker seventeen?”
Silence.
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
Nora stared at him.
“You know exactly what I mean.”
Before he could answer, Gabriel appeared inside the front doorway.
He should have been outside.
He crossed the room quickly.
“Matteo.”
Matteo looked at him.
Gabriel held up his phone.
“There’s a problem.”
“What?”
Gabriel’s eyes moved briefly toward Nora.
Then back to Matteo.
“Locker seventeen was opened ten minutes ago.”
Nora’s blood went cold.
Gabriel continued.
“And the security camera shows who opened it.”
He turned the phone around.
Matteo looked at the screen.
His face changed.
Nora stepped closer.
May you like
Then she saw the person in the photograph.
It was her sister.
