Chapter 2 - The Name Dominic Recognized
The name was Gabriel Russo.
Beatrice read it twice.
Then a third time.
Dominic saw the color leave her face.
“What did Arthur send you?”
She locked the screen.
For the first time since he had taken her hand, she lied.
“Nothing important.”
Dominic studied her.
He knew.
She could see that he knew.
Yet he did not demand the phone.
“All right.”
That somehow made the lie feel worse.
Security began moving guests toward the exits. The scandal had transformed the gala into controlled chaos. Phones were everywhere. Within minutes, the engagement video would be online.
Beatrice looked at Dominic.
“You called me your fiancée.”
“Yes.”
“You realize people recorded that.”
“Yes.”
“And tomorrow every newspaper in New York will say I stole my stepsister’s fiancé approximately thirty seconds after exposing her affair.”
“I didn't say you stole me.”
“That distinction may be too subtle for the internet.”
A faint almost-smile touched his mouth.
“Probably.”
She stared.
“Is anything funny tonight?”
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because you’re angry now.”
“So?”
“It suits you better than ashamed.”
The words stopped her.
Dominic offered his jacket.
She looked down at her stained dress.
“I don't need—”
“It isn't about hiding you. You're cold.”
She was.
Beatrice accepted it.
The jacket smelled faintly of cedar and expensive soap.
They moved toward a private corridor.
Dominic’s security chief, Marco Bellini, intercepted them.
“We found the source of the video.”
Beatrice stopped.
Marco held up a flash drive.
“Uploaded directly to the ballroom system from Senator Davenport’s office.”
“Arthur?” she whispered.
Marco shook his head.
“His access credentials. Doesn't prove he did it.”
“Chloe said I switched it.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Which means she knew someone had switched it before anyone told her how the video appeared.”
Beatrice understood.
“She expected another video.”
“Or knew this one existed.”
Dominic took the drive.
Marco glanced at Beatrice.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“The original file was created three months ago.”
Three months.
Long before the engagement gala.
Someone had been recording Chloe and Liam.
“Who?”
“We're working on it.”
Beatrice remembered Arthur’s message.
Come alone.
Dominic noticed her looking toward the elevators.
“You want to go upstairs.”
“My stepfather asked to speak with me.”
“Alone?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
“No.”
Her head snapped toward him.
“You said I could make my own choices.”
“You can. And I can tell you when one is dangerously bad.”
“Arthur raised me.”
“Arthur just disappeared after seeing an object connected to your mother.”
“That doesn't make him dangerous.”
“No. His security team shutting down every camera on the executive floor three minutes ago does.”
Beatrice stared at him.
“How do you know that?”
“I own the company that installed the system.”
Of course he did.
“Who exactly are you?”
“Tonight?”
His expression was dry.
“Apparently your fiancé.”
She almost laughed despite herself.
Almost.
Then she remembered Gabriel Russo.
“Did your father have a brother?”
Dominic became still.
“Why?”
“Just answer me.”
“One.”
“What was his name?”
Dominic’s face changed.
“Gabriel.”
The hallway suddenly felt too narrow.
“What happened to him?”
“He disappeared twenty-eight years ago.”
“Was he married?”
“No.”
“Children?”
“None that anyone knew about.”
Her heart pounded.
Dominic watched her carefully.
“Beatrice.”
She pulled out her phone.
Showed him Arthur’s photograph.
Dominic said nothing for several seconds.
“That’s Gabriel.”
“You’re sure?”
“He was my godfather.”
Her legs weakened.
Dominic caught her elbow.
“My mother knew him.”
“Yes.”
“The baby in the other photograph could be me.”
“Yes.”
“And if Gabriel was my father…”
Dominic finished quietly.
“You and I are family.”
Beatrice stared at him.
Then his eyes narrowed.
“Which means the engagement announcement ends immediately.”
Despite everything, a hysterical laugh escaped her.
“Wonderful. My fake engagement lasted nine minutes and somehow became incestuous.”
Dominic actually laughed.
One short sound.
Then the elevator doors opened.
Arthur stood inside.
Alone.
“Beatrice.”
Dominic moved forward.
Arthur raised a hand.
“I need five minutes with my daughter.”
“Then speak here.”
Arthur looked at Beatrice.
“If you want the truth about Gabriel Russo, come with me.”
Beatrice’s breath caught.
Dominic’s eyes hardened.
“You knew Gabriel.”
Arthur ignored him.
“Beatrice?”
She looked between them.
Then stepped into the elevator.
Dominic caught the door before it closed.
“Five minutes.”
Arthur’s expression tightened.
Dominic looked at Beatrice.
“If you want out, call me.”
She nodded.
The doors closed.
Arthur pressed the button for the forty-second floor.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Beatrice said, “Was Gabriel my father?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
“Then why did you send his photograph?”
“To get you away from Dominic.”
“Why?”
“Because the Russos destroy everything they touch.”
“You let Chloe marry one.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
Arthur said nothing.
The elevator climbed.
“Did you know Dominic’s father?”
“Yes.”
“My mother?”
“Obviously.”
“Did they know each other?”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother worked for them.”
Beatrice froze.
“Doing what?”
Arthur looked at her.
“She kept their books.”
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened onto Arthur’s private office floor.
Darkness.
“Why are the lights off?”
Arthur stepped out.
“They shouldn't be.”
Beatrice remained inside.
“Dad?”
For the first time in years, the childhood word escaped naturally.
Arthur turned.
Something in his face softened.
“Bea, whatever happens next, remember that I did love you.”
Cold moved through her.
“What does that mean?”
A sound came from inside his office.
A drawer closing.
Arthur went pale.
“Stay here.”
He walked toward the door.
It was already open.
Beatrice followed despite herself.
The office had been searched.
Documents covered the floor.
Arthur crossed to his safe.
Empty.
“No.”
“What was inside?”
Arthur turned.
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“That your mother didn't die in an accident.”
Beatrice stopped breathing.
Behind them, the elevator chimed.
Someone had arrived.
Arthur whispered one word.
“Run.”
The elevator doors opened.
A woman stepped into the darkness.
May you like
Beatrice saw her face.
And every memory she had of her mother suddenly became impossible...
