Chapter 13 - Bianca’s Final Bargain
Ruby drove directly to Bianca’s apartment.
Not mansion.
Not estate.
Apartment.
Two bedrooms overlooking the river.
Bianca had sold almost everything.
Ruby knocked.
Bianca opened the door wearing slippers.
“You look angry.”
“The original contract.”
Bianca sighed.
“Dante told you.”
“Where is it?”
“Tea?”
“No.”
“Coffee?”
“Bianca.”
“Fine.”
She stepped aside.
Ruby entered.
The apartment smelled like lemon polish and old books.
Bianca walked to a cabinet.
She removed a sealed envelope.
Ruby stared.
“You kept it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Ruby laughed.
Bianca winced.
“Bad phrase.”
“Terrible phrase.”
“I am learning.”
Ruby took the envelope.
“Is this the original?”
“Yes.”
“Why does Dante think you plan to use it?”
“Because I told him I might.”
Ruby stared.
“Why?”
Bianca sat.
“The federal settlement does not resolve ownership of certain Gallagher shares.”
Ruby looked at the envelope.
“The trust.”
“Yes.”
“What does the contract do?”
“If enforced, it gives Dante’s marital estate claim over those shares.”
“Dante doesn’t want them.”
“No.”
“So destroy it.”
Bianca shook her head.
Ruby felt anger rise.
“Why?”
“Because if the shares remain unresolved, Carlo Vescari will try to seize them through old Moretti debt instruments.”
Ruby frowned.
“Carlo.”
“Yes.”
“The council leader.”
“He lost influence after the ledger publication.”
“But not everything.”
“No.”
Bianca folded her hands.
“The contract can block him.”
Ruby stared.
“So you want me to keep the thing that destroyed my marriage because it might protect my company.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Bianca sighed.
“You are stubborn.”
“Good.”
“Ruby.”
“No.”
She placed the envelope on the table.
“I will not build safety from the document that turned me into property.”
Bianca studied her.
Then nodded.
“I hoped you would say that.”
Ruby blinked.
“What?”
Bianca smiled faintly.
“Dante was right about you.”
“Did you manipulate me into coming here?”
“Yes.”
Ruby closed her eyes.
“Unbelievable.”
“I am old.”
“That is not a defense.”
“No.”
Bianca’s smile disappeared.
“I needed to know whether you would keep it for practical reasons.”
“And?”
“You won’t.”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Because Dante will be released in three weeks.”
Ruby froze.
“What?”
“His sentence was reduced after additional cooperation.”
“He didn’t tell me.”
“He does not know yet.”
Bianca looked at the contract.
“When he returns, Carlo will test him.”
Ruby felt cold.
“How?”
“Through you.”
“Again.”
“Yes.”
Ruby sat.
“I am so tired of men testing each other through me.”
Bianca smiled faintly.
“That is why I gave you the original.”
Ruby stared.
“What are you saying?”
“You decide what happens next.”
Ruby looked at the envelope.
For once, no one was moving her.
No one had hidden the document.
No one had signed on her behalf.
Choice felt heavier than she expected.
“What would happen if I burn it?”
Bianca answered immediately.
“Carlo may challenge Gallagher ownership.”
“What if I keep it?”
“You have leverage.”
“What if I publicly void it?”
Bianca’s eyes sharpened.
“You could.”
“How?”
“Mutual repudiation.”
“But Dante is incarcerated.”
“He can sign.”
Ruby stood.
“I want papers.”
Bianca smiled.
“I already had them drafted.”
Ruby glared.
Bianca shrugged.
“Old habits.”
Three days later, Ruby visited Dante.
She placed the repudiation agreement against the glass.
He read it.
Then looked at her.
“You want to void the contract publicly.”
“Yes.”
“It exposes more details.”
“Yes.”
“It could invite Carlo.”
“Yes.”
Dante smiled.
“What?”
“You sound like me.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes.
“Take it back.”
He laughed.
She tried not to.
Failed.
Dante signed the prison copy.
Ruby signed hers.
Their attorneys filed it.
Within six hours, media outlets reported that Dante Moretti and Ruby Gallagher had jointly renounced all rights created by their marriage acquisition agreement.
Carlo responded before sunset.
Gallagher Shipping received notice of litigation.
Exactly as Bianca predicted.
Ruby read it twice.
Then called Matteo.
“He moved.”
“I know.”
“What does he want?”
“Control of two terminals.”
“Can he win?”
“Maybe.”
Ruby hated that word.
Matteo continued.
“He’s using old debt notes Salvatore issued.”
“Were they legal?”
“Technically.”
“Valid?”
“Possibly.”
Ruby closed her eyes.
“Where is Dante?”
“Still inside.”
“For three more weeks.”
“Maybe sooner.”
Ruby frowned.
“What?”
Matteo hesitated.
“Nothing.”
“Matteo.”
“I’m learning bad habits from our mother.”
“What?”
“Dante is being released tomorrow.”
Ruby stood.
“Tomorrow?”
“He asked us not to tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t want you waiting at the gate out of obligation.”
Ruby stared at the phone.
“That idiot.”
“Family trait.”
Ruby hung up.
The next morning, she did not go to the prison.
She told herself that was choice.
At noon, she attended a board meeting.
At two, she argued with lawyers.
At four, she signed shipping contracts.
At six, she went home.
She opened her apartment door.
Stopped.
There was no one inside.
Of course.
She laughed at herself.
Then she saw the envelope on the floor.
No stamp.
No courier label.
Her name written by hand.
Ruby.
Dante’s handwriting.
She opened it.
One line.
I am free. I will not come to you unless you ask.
Ruby stared at the words.
Her chest hurt.
She picked up her phone.
Typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Deleted.
Then the apartment lights went out.
Ruby froze.
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
The door handle moved.
Ruby grabbed the nearest object.
A brass lamp.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Not Dante.
May you like
Carlo Vescari smiled.
“You and I need to discuss what your husband gave up.”
