Chapter 6: The Woman Behind the Smile
For the first time in my life, I understood what it felt like to be watched.
Not the ordinary kind.
Not the feeling of someone glancing at you in a crowded room.
This was different.
This was the knowledge that somewhere, someone knew where you were.
What you did.
What you remembered.
And what you were trying to uncover.
I sat in the passenger seat of Luca Moretti's car, staring through the window as Chicago disappeared behind us.
The city lights blurred together.
"You haven't spoken for twenty minutes.""
Luca's voice broke the silence.
I looked at him.
"I didn't realize you were counting.""
"I was.""
I looked back outside.
"Why?""
"Because when people go quiet after receiving a threat, they usually aren't calm.""
I almost smiled.
"Are you always analyzing everyone?""
"Yes.""
"That sounds exhausting.""
"It is.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked:
"Where are we going?""
"My office.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I need to review the original records.""
"With me?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
His hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
"Because someone has spent three years controlling the story of what happened.""
He glanced at me.
"And I don't believe they planned for you to remember.""
That sentence stayed with me.
Not because it was comforting.
Because it was terrifying.
Someone had erased pieces of my past.
And now those pieces were coming back.
Moretti Holdings looked even more intimidating in daylight.
The black glass tower seemed to disappear into the sky.
Three years ago, I had stood in that lobby.
I had walked through those doors.
And I remembered none of it.
That scared me more than I wanted to admit.
As we entered the building, employees immediately stepped aside.
Not because Luca demanded it.
Because they knew him.
Respect.
Fear.
Something in between.
I walked beside him, feeling completely out of place.
A housemaid walking into one of Chicago's most powerful companies.
People looked.
They tried not to.
But they did.
Luca noticed.
"You can ignore them.""
"I'm trying.""
"You are doing poorly.""
I looked at him.
"Was that a joke?""
A tiny movement appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Almost a smile.
"Maybe.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't know you knew how.""
"I don't.""
That actually made me laugh.
Quietly.
For the first time in days.
And Luca noticed that too.
Of course he did.
His private office was nothing like I expected.
I expected something cold.
Something designed to intimidate.
Instead, it was surprisingly simple.
Dark wood.
Bookshelves.
A large window overlooking the city.
No unnecessary decorations.
No signs of arrogance.
Just control.
Luca placed the folder on his desk.
"Sit.""
I did.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a file.
"This is everything we have on Victor Brooks.""
I looked at the amount of paperwork.
"That's everything?""
"Everything officially recorded.""
"And unofficially?""
His eyes met mine.
"That's what we're trying to find.""
He handed me a photograph.
Victor.
Three years younger.
Standing outside a building.
Not Moretti Holdings.
Somewhere else.
"Where is this?""
"A private investment office.""
I looked closer.
"And?""
"Victor met with someone there two days before he disappeared.""
"Who?""
Luca hesitated.
Then placed another photograph down.
My breath caught.
Vanessa.
She was younger.
But unmistakable.
She stood beside Victor.
Talking.
Smiling.
My fingers went cold.
"She knew him.""
"Yes.""
"How?""
"We don't know yet.""
I stared at the photograph.
The answer felt obvious.
But I didn't want to say it.
"She lied.""
Luca didn't respond.
"She knew Victor.""
"Yes.""
"She knew about the documents.""
"Yes.""
"She knew I was connected to all of this.""
His silence confirmed the worst.
I stood suddenly.
"Then why is she still in your house?""
Luca looked at me.
"Because until last night, I didn't know.""
"You knew she accessed the footage.""
"Yes.""
"And you're still waiting?""
His expression hardened.
"I don't act without knowing what I'm dealing with.""
I looked away.
That was the difference between us.
I reacted.
He calculated.
"I want to confront her.""
"No.""
The answer came immediately.
I looked at him.
"No?""
"No.""
"She hurt me.""
"I know.""
"She lied.""
"I know.""
"Then why can't I ask her why?""
His voice lowered.
"Because people who manipulate situations rarely reveal the truth when confronted.""
I crossed my arms.
"You're saying she won't admit it?""
"I'm saying she might tell you exactly what you want to hear.""
I hated that he was right.
Two hours later, we returned to the mansion.
Vanessa was waiting.
Of course she was.
She sat in the living room wearing a cream-colored dress, looking like someone who had spent the morning at a luxury spa instead of being investigated.
When she saw me beside Luca, her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Then anger.
Then the smile returned.
"Finally.""
She stood.
"I was wondering where you both disappeared to.""
Luca walked past her.
"Sit down.""
Her smile faded.
"Luca?""
"I said sit.""
Something in his tone made her obey.
I remained standing.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted answers.
Instead, I watched.
Because Luca was right.
People revealed more when they thought they were in control.
"Vanessa," Luca said.
She looked at him.
"Yes?""
"Why did you access security footage from three years ago?""
The room froze.
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely shocked.
Then she laughed.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
"I have no idea what you're talking about.""
Luca placed the tablet on the table.
The video appeared.
Her face changed.
Just for a second.
Then she recovered.
"That proves nothing.""
"It proves you accessed confidential records.""
"I was your fiancée.""
"That doesn't give you permission.""
Her expression hardened.
"You're accusing me because of her?""
She pointed at me.
I flinched.
Luca didn't.
"Careful.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You bring this woman into our lives, and suddenly everything is chaos.""
I stared at her.
"You knew my brother.""
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Vanessa's eyes moved toward me.
"What?""
"You knew Victor Brooks.""
Her face changed.
Not enough for someone else to notice.
Enough for me.
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
"I saw the photograph.""
"What photograph?""
"The one of you meeting him.""
Vanessa stood.
"Where did you get that?""
The question came too quickly.
Luca noticed.
I noticed.
Vanessa realized her mistake.
"I mean...""
But it was too late.
Luca stepped closer.
"You knew Victor.""
She looked at him.
"He was involved in business.""
"What business?""
"Private investments.""
"With my company?""
Her silence answered.
I felt sick.
Because the person who had hurt me had been sitting beside Luca all this time.
Wearing diamonds.
Planning a wedding.
Smiling at everyone.
"You knew what happened to me.""
My voice surprised even me.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Natalie—"
"No.""
I stepped forward.
"You knew I was being blamed.""
Her face became colder.
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
"You were never supposed to be involved.""
Those words froze the room.
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"What did you say?""
Vanessa realized immediately.
She had revealed too much.
"I meant—"
"No.""
Luca's voice was quiet.
"Finish the sentence.""
She looked at him.
Then at me.
And for the first time, I saw the real Vanessa.
Not the perfect woman.
Not the elegant fiancée.
Someone desperate.
"You should ask Natalie what she was doing at Moretti Holdings that night.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"She remembers more than she thinks.""
Luca turned toward me.
I shook my head.
"No.""
But my own voice sounded uncertain.
Because suddenly I remembered something.
A flash.
A hallway.
A voice.
A man's voice.
You need to sign this.
My head started pounding.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
Luca noticed immediately.
"Natalie?""
I closed my eyes.
Images came faster.
The elevator.
The folder.
Victor.
A second person.
Someone standing behind me.
Someone I couldn't see.
Then a voice whispered from somewhere deep in my memory.
A voice I hadn't heard in three years.
"Don't worry, Natalie. After tonight, nobody will remember what happened.""
My eyes opened.
And I looked at Vanessa.
Because I finally remembered one thing.
That night at Moretti Holdings...
I wasn't alone.
And the person standing behind me wasn't Victor.
It was someone else.
Someone who had been hiding in plain sight.
I whispered:
"Vanessa...""
Her smile disappeared.
Because she knew.
I remembered.
And then Luca's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
His expression changed.
"What happened?""
A pause.
Then:
"Send me the footage.""
He ended the call.
I looked at him.
"What is it?""
Luca stared at Vanessa.
Then at me.
"The security team found another video.""
My heart raced.
"What does it show?""
His answer was quiet.
"It shows who entered the room after you and Victor.""
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then Luca said:
"And Natalie...""
May you like
His eyes met mine.
"The person on that footage is someone you know.""
