Chapter 9 - The Woman Behind the Desk
After the wedding, Sophia became the chief operating officer of the legitimate Moretti Group.
She changed everything.
Employee protections.
Charity programs.
Independent audits.
No hidden accounts.
No secret rooms.
No criminal contracts.
The Moretti name slowly changed.
People who once feared it began to respect it.
Luca changed too.
He laughed more.
Stayed home longer.
Learned how to cook.
Badly.
Sophia teased him.
He didn't care.
One evening, they returned to the old office.
Her desk was still there.
"Why did you keep this?"
Luca smiled.
"Because this is where you said no to me."
She laughed.
"And you survived."
"Eventually."
He stood behind her.
"Do you remember what you told me?"
"No diamonds."
"No Monaco."
"No ordering me around."
He nodded.
"And you broke every rule."
She turned.
"I only broke one."
"Which?"
She wrapped her arms around him.
"I stopped pretending."
He kissed her.
Then a little girl ran through the office.
Lily.
Ethan's niece.
She held a drawing.
"Look!"
Sophia took it.
It was table 17.
Four people around a table.
Luca.
Sophia.
Ethan.
Lily.
Underneath were three words.
My safe family.
Sophia's eyes filled.
She hugged the girl.
May you like
Luca looked away for a moment.
He didn't want them to see his eyes.
