Chapter 2 - The Mask Falls
The crowd gasped in collective horror. The "dirty mechanic" wasn't a technician at all. He was Leonardo Vance, the legendary ghost designer who had spent the last decade off the grid, engineering Ferrari’s most secret, revolutionary hypercars behind closed doors in Maranello. He rarely allowed himself to be photographed, preferring the scent of motor oil and burnt rubber to red carpets and press conferences.
Julian’s breath hitched in his throat. His expensive silk tie suddenly felt like a hangman’s noose tight around his neck. "C-Chief Architect? But... he was down in the undercarriage pit! He was covered in dirt!"
"I don't design cars on a computer screen in a penthouse suit, Julian," Leo said, stepping closer to the manager until they were nose-to-nose. "I build them with my hands. I test them in the dirt. I know every flaw, every sound, every heartbeat of these machines. And today, I came here unannounced to personally inspect the first customer unit before delivery."
Leo reached up and slowly wiped a smudge of black axle grease off his cheek, his cold blue eyes locking onto Julian’s terrified gaze.
"You pushed me against my own creation," Leo murmured softly. "You told me I belong cleaning bathrooms."
"Mr. Vance, please!" Julian fell to his knees, sweat pouring off his forehead and ruining his crisp white collar. "I didn't know! I was just trying to protect the image of the brand! The VIP clients—they don't like seeing... dirty people near the luxury vehicles! I was doing my job!"
"Protecting the image?" Leo laughed—a dry, bitter sound. "You don't care about the brand. You care about commission. And you just physically assaulted the man who holds ninety percent of the patents for the car you are standing next to."
Leo turned to Bellini, who was still trembling. "Marco."
"Yes, Mr. Vance! Whatever you need!"
"Cancel all pending orders in this dealership for the next six months. Lock the doors. And fire this coward immediately. But don't let him leave the premises just yet."
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"Why?" Julian sobbed, looking up from the floor. "I was fired! What else do you want from me?!"
Leo leaned down, whispering so only Julian could hear: "Because you didn't just push a mechanic today, Julian. You pushed the man who owns the land this dealership is built on."
