Chapter 8: The Man I Was Supposed To Meet
The room went silent after I said it.
Not the uncomfortable silence from an argument.
Not the tense silence before a confrontation.
A different kind.
The kind where everyone realizes something has changed.
Luca Moretti stared at me.
For the first time since I met him, he looked like he didn't know what to say.
"You met me?""
His voice was quiet.
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
The memory was there.
Somewhere.
Buried under three years of confusion and fear.
"I don't know.""
"That is not possible.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because I would remember.""
The certainty in his voice hurt.
Because he was right.
A man like Luca Moretti didn't forget meetings.
He didn't forget faces.
He didn't forget important moments.
But I remembered something he didn't.
And that scared me.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Interesting.""
Nobody looked at her.
Luca's eyes stayed on me.
"What do you remember?""
I closed my eyes.
The room faded.
And for a second...
I was back there.
Three years earlier.
The elevator doors opened.
I was standing inside Moretti Holdings.
I remembered the feeling now.
The cold air.
The polished marble floor.
The way everyone looked like they knew exactly where they belonged.
Except me.
I was holding a folder against my chest.
My hands were shaking.
I had received a message.
Not from Victor.
Not from Vanessa.
From someone else.
A number I didn't recognize.
*Come alone. It's about your brother.*
I had almost ignored it.
Almost.
But then another message came.
*If you want to know why Victor disappeared, come to Moretti Holdings.*
So I went.
Because Victor was my brother.
Because despite everything he had done, I still wanted to believe there was an explanation.
I walked into the lobby.
I asked for Luca Moretti.
The receptionist looked surprised.
"Do you have an appointment?""
I opened my mouth.
I didn't.
But then I heard a voice behind me.
"She does.""
I turned.
A man stood there.
Not Luca.
Someone older.
Someone I didn't recognize at the time.
But now...
I remembered.
The confidence.
The expensive suit.
The way people moved aside for him.
"Luca is expecting her.""
That was the lie.
The first lie.
I opened my eyes.
Everyone was watching me.
"Someone told me Luca was expecting me.""
Luca's expression changed.
"Who?""
I shook my head.
"I didn't know his name then.""
"But you know now?""
I looked at him.
"Your uncle.""
The words landed heavily.
Daniel immediately looked at Luca.
Vanessa said nothing.
Because even she knew this was no longer about her.
Luca walked away from the desk.
"My uncle never worked at Moretti Holdings.""
I frowned.
"But he had access.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Luca didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Who is he?""
I asked.
Luca looked toward the window.
Then finally said:
"Marco Moretti.""
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way Luca said it did.
Like it carried years of history.
"Your uncle.""
"Yes.""
"What happened to him?""
Luca's jaw tightened.
"He died.""
My heart stopped.
"When?""
"Three years ago.""
The same year.
The same night.
I stared at him.
"What?""
"He disappeared from the company before his death became public.""
"Why?""
"Because he was under investigation.""
I felt sick.
"Investigation for what?""
Luca looked at the documents.
"The same thing Victor was involved in.""
The room became colder.
"Financial fraud.""
I sat down slowly.
"So your uncle used me.""
"Possibly.""
"And Victor?""
Luca didn't answer.
But I knew.
Everyone had been connected.
Victor.
Vanessa.
Marco.
And me.
A person who didn't even know the game she was playing.
Daniel left to investigate the archived messages.
Vanessa remained in the office.
But something had changed.
She wasn't controlling the room anymore.
She was trapped inside it.
Luca looked at her.
"You knew about Marco.""
Vanessa looked away.
"I knew of him.""
"That's not an answer.""
"It is the truth.""
"You worked with him.""
"No.""
"Then why did he use you?""
That made her look at him.
A flicker of anger appeared.
"You think I wanted to be involved?""
Luca's expression stayed cold.
"Didn't you?""
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely hurt.
"I was trying to protect myself.""
I almost laughed.
Everyone said that.
Everyone who caused damage.
Everyone who hurt others.
They were always protecting themselves.
Vanessa noticed my expression.
"You think I'm the villain.""
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know anymore.
Three years ago, she had lied to me.
She had manipulated me.
But now I wondered how much of the story I actually knew.
"I think you knew more than you admitted.""
Her eyes met mine.
"That's fair.""
The honesty surprised me.
"I was afraid.""
I frowned.
"Of what?""
"Marco.""
The room went still.
Luca looked at her.
"Explain.""
Vanessa sat down.
For the first time, she looked exhausted.
"Marco was obsessed with control.""
"He was family.""
"He was dangerous.""
Luca's expression hardened.
"You are talking about my uncle.""
"I know exactly who I am talking about.""
She looked at him.
"Everyone saw him as a businessman. A mentor. A respected member of the family.""
She looked down.
"But behind closed doors, he was different.""
Luca said nothing.
"He knew how to make people feel trapped.""
I thought about the messages.
The threats.
The missing memories.
"What did he do to me?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You were never supposed to be hurt.""
I stared.
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"No.""
She sighed.
"It doesn't.""
A long pause.
Then:
"Marco needed someone outside the company.""
"For what?""
"To move information.""
My stomach dropped.
"The file.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes.""
"What was in it?""
She looked at Luca.
"Proof.""
"Of what?""
"That Marco had been stealing from the company for years.""
Nobody moved.
Luca's face became unreadable.
"And Natalie had the proof.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Yes.""
"I don't remember.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
Her eyes softened.
"Because you were scared.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What happened?""
Vanessa looked toward the rain-covered window.
"Marco found out you had the file.""
A chill moved through me.
"He knew?""
"Yes.""
"What did he do?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then said:
"He convinced you that you were helping Luca.""
My breathing stopped.
"What?""
"He told you Luca was investigating Victor. He told you the file would clear your brother.""
I closed my eyes.
And suddenly another memory came.
Marco's voice.
Calm.
Friendly.
You want to save your brother, don't you?
My fingers shook.
"I trusted him.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Everyone did.""
The office door opened.
Daniel rushed inside.
His expression was serious.
"Sir.""
Luca looked at him.
"What?""
"We found the original message.""
"From Natalie?""
Daniel nodded.
"But that's not the only thing.""
He placed a tablet on the desk.
"The message was deleted from her phone.""
My stomach tightened.
"By who?""
Daniel looked at Luca.
"The deletion was done remotely.""
"Can you trace it?""
Daniel hesitated.
"We already did.""
The room became silent.
Luca stepped closer.
"Who?""
Daniel looked at me.
Then answered:
"The command came from inside the Moretti estate.""
My blood turned cold.
"Someone here?""
Daniel nodded.
"And there's more.""
He turned the tablet around.
A security record appeared.
A person entering my room.
Not tonight.
Earlier.
While I was sleeping.
Luca's face darkened.
"When?""
Daniel answered:
"Last night.""
I stared at the screen.
The camera angle showed the person's back.
But I recognized the movement.
The way they walked.
The way they carried themselves.
No.
It couldn't be.
Then the person turned slightly.
Just enough.
My heart stopped.
Because the person who entered my room...
was someone I had trusted.
Someone who had helped me.
Someone who had been standing beside Luca the entire time.
I whispered:
"Daniel...""
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked at me.
"What?""
I pointed at the screen.
My voice barely worked.
"That's you.""
The room exploded into silence.
Daniel stepped back.
"No.""
Luca looked between us.
"Daniel.""
"I didn't do that.""
But the footage was clear.
The person entering my room had Daniel's face.
Daniel's clothes.
Daniel's access code.
Then the screen changed.
A new message appeared.
One sentence.
*You are looking for the wrong enemy.*
And beneath it...
A name.
Not Marco.
Not Victor.
Not Vanessa.
May you like
A name I had never expected to see.
*Luca Moretti.*
