Chapter 14 - THE LAWYER AT THE WEDDING|
We returned to Chicago with Sofia and her foster parents.
Giovanni insisted that Sofia remain with Claire until they could arrange a safe, gradual introduction. He did not want to tear her away from the only parents she remembered.
That decision surprised me.
I had expected him to demand custody immediately.
Instead, he asked Claire what Sofia needed.
"Routine," she said. "Her school. Her friends. Time to understand what is happening."
Giovanni nodded.
"Then that's what she'll have."
I watched him from across the room.
The man who had ordered armed men into an estate was now listening carefully to a woman's description of a five-year-old's bedtime routine.
It was the first time I had seen him look like a father rather than a boss.
But there was still the matter of Richard Moretti.
Giovanni's security team confirmed that Moretti had attended Sophia's wedding. He had been seated near Tyler's business associates.
I remembered seeing an older man in a gray suit speaking with my father.
"Why would my father know him?" I asked.
Giovanni looked up.
"Your father?"
"Richard Moretti spoke to him during the reception. I assumed he was a guest from Tyler's side."
Giovanni called Marco.
"Find out why Moretti was at that wedding."
Within an hour, Marco returned with a file.
Richard Moretti was not simply a lawyer. He had been the legal adviser to Giovanni's father for decades. He had handled the false birth certificate, the payments to the hospital, and the transfer of Isabella's property.
He also represented a private investment company that had recently given Tyler's business a substantial loan.
I stared at the documents.
"Tyler is connected to him?"
"Financially," Giovanni said.
"How much money?"
"Enough to make Tyler dependent on him."
I thought of the way Tyler had behaved at the wedding. His confidence. His cruelty. His sudden fear when he recognized Giovanni.
"Did Tyler know who you were?"
"Yes."
"Then why did he let me dance with you?"
Giovanni considered the question.
"Perhaps he thought it would help him."
"Help him how?"
Marco opened another document.
Tyler's company had been attempting to secure a logistics contract from a Fioraldi subsidiary. The loan from Moretti's investment firm was conditional on Tyler gaining access to the contract.
If Tyler could introduce Giovanni to the right investors, Moretti would receive a share of the profits.
The arrangement had been hidden behind several companies.
I felt sick.
"My ex-husband was using me."
"Possibly."
"He saw me sitting alone and knew you were watching. He wanted me to look desperate."
Giovanni nodded.
"Or he wanted you to approach me."
I remembered Tyler asking me to dance. The public insult. The way he had called Lily a mistake.
It might not have been spontaneous cruelty.
It might have been a performance.
I called my father.
He answered cheerfully.
"Jessica! How is everything? Your mother was asking about you."
"Why did Richard Moretti speak to you at the wedding?"
A pause.
"Who?"
"Richard Moretti. The man in the gray suit."
"Oh. He's a business acquaintance of Tyler's."
"Why was he asking about me?"
My father sighed.
"Jessica, don't start another argument. Tyler said he was concerned about you."
"Concerned?"
"He said you were struggling financially. He thought perhaps someone could help you find a better position."
I closed my eyes.
"Did he tell you about Giovanni?"
Another pause.
Then my father said something that made my stomach turn.
"He said you were likely to embarrass the family if you got involved with the wrong people. We were trying to protect you."
I ended the call.
Giovanni watched me.
"Your family has been speaking to Moretti."
"Apparently."
"Then we need to know what they told him."
Before I could answer, my phone rang again.
It was Sophia.
Her voice was shaking.
"Jess, I need you to come home."
"What happened?"
"Tyler is here. He's telling everyone you're involved with a criminal. And Mom says you need to apologize."
I stared at the phone.
May you like
Then Sophia whispered:
"Jessica, he has Lily's school records."
