Dante looked almost amused.
“She’s an adult.”
Then he turned back to Clara.
“The decision is hers.”
Three words.
The decision is hers.
Clara could not remember the last time anyone had said something like that in front of her family.
Madison shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.
Clara, tell him no.”
Clara looked at her sister.
Madison actually expected obedience.
Even now.
Especially now.
Clara felt the strangest calm settle over her.
“I’ll hear the offer.”
Madison’s champagne glass struck the table too hard.
Richard went pale with anger.
Evelyn turned away as though refusing to witness the scene could erase it.
Dante nodded once.
“Tomorrow.
Ten o’clock.”
Clara glanced down at her uniform.
“I may need something different to wear.”
For the first time, the corner of Dante’s mouth moved.
“Wear whatever makes you difficult to underestimate.”
Then he turned to Richard.
“My office will contact yours if I remain interested in the harbor project.”
“If?” Richard asked.
Dante glanced toward Madison.
“Character is part of due diligence.”
He walked away.
People moved aside for him again.
This time their attention did not follow only Dante.
It remained on Clara.
That was almost harder to endure than being ignored.
But she endured it.
She had become good at enduring things.
The difference was that this time she was choosing what came afterward.
Richard waited until Dante was several yards away before turning on her.
“You will fix this.”
Clara shook her head.
“No.”
“You will meet with Romano, you will reassure him, and you will make clear that Madison leads the project.”
“No.”
His disbelief deepened with each answer.
“You live in my house.”
“Not after tonight.”
Evelyn spun back toward her.
“Clara, don’t be theatrical.”
Clara reached into the pocket of her uniform and removed the small key to the staff locker where she had left her coat and bag.
There was nothing theatrical about the gesture.
That was what frightened them.
“I’ll collect my things.”
Madison scoffed.
“And go where?”
