Chapter 5 - The Confession in the BasementThe security holding room in the basement of the Duca Tower was windowless, sterile, and smelled faintly of floor wax and ozone.
When Alessandro pushed the heavy steel door open, Elena was sitting in a metal chair with her arms crossed over her trench coat. Two large security guards stood near the door, their expressions grim. Elena’s hair was slightly disheveled from the rain, but her eyes burned with the same toxic malice I had seen in the laundry room.
When she saw me standing behind Alessandro, a sharp, ugly laugh escaped her lips.
“Look who decided to bring her billionaire babysitter along for protection,” Elena mocked, standing up slowly.
Alessandro stepped forward, his massive presence instantly filling the small room and cutting off any further taunts.
“You were fired, Elena, and your access credentials were revoked forty-eight hours ago,” Alessandro said, his voice dangerously smooth. “Sending threatening text messages to my staff constitutes harassment. Continuing to loiter on private property constitutes trespassing. Shall I call the NYPD right now, or would you prefer to explain why you’re risking a prison sentence just to send a text message?”
Elena’s defiant smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but then she squared her shoulders, a manic glint appearing in her eyes.
“You think you’re so smart, Alessandro,” she spat, dropping the formal title entirely. “You think you’ve cleaned house, don't you? You think getting rid of me solves everything?”
“It solves the problem of you stealing from my accounts,” Alessandro replied coldly.
“Money?” Elena laughed hysterically. “You think I care about petty cash? You’re blind, Duca. You’ve been blind for years. Look at her!” She pointed a shaking finger straight at me. “Ask her who she really is! Ask her why she chose this building, this penthouse, out of all the properties in Manhattan!”
My heart slammed against my ribs. The room spun slightly.
Alessandro turned his head slowly, looking down at me with a questioning gaze. “What is she talking about?”
I couldn't breathe. My throat closed up entirely. Memories I had buried deep down—memories of a rain-soaked night eighteen months ago, of a desperate promise made in a dimly lit office blocks away from here—suddenly flooded back.
“I didn't choose this building by accident,” I whispered, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.
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Alessandro’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
“Tell him!” Elena shrieked, a triumphant, unhinged smile spreading across her face. “Tell him why you applied for this specific job! Tell him whose daughter you really work for!”
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