Chapter 12 - THE NIGHT CHLOE WALKED OUT OF LAURA
A year after the alley, I resigned.
Dominic read my letter twice.
Then:
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I got another job.”
Silence.
“Where?”
“A hotel group.”
“Which?”
“None of your business.”
His face darkened.
Then softened.
“You’re right.”
Progress.
I had accepted a junior compliance position with a legitimate hospitality company.
Less glamorous than Laura.
Smaller salary initially.
Better future.
No mafia boss upstairs.
Dominic looked at the resignation date.
“Thirty days.”
“Contract.”
“I remember.”
I expected the month to become uncomfortable.
It did not.
He trained a replacement.
I documented systems.
No sabotage.
No guilt.
On my final night, the entire staff gave me a cake.
It said:
GOOD LUCK ESCAPING US.
Paulie bought it.
Obviously.
Sam came.
Victor came.
Even Dominic’s aunt Teresa.
Dominic stayed in the back.
After everyone left, I found him in the private dining room.
Same table where I once confronted him about payroll.
“You’re leaving.”
“Yes.”
“I dislike it.”
“I know.”
“Still going?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
Then handed me something.
Not money.
The original napkin from the diner.
The one he slid toward me when he bought my debt.
Write down your address.
My handwriting still there.
I stared.
“You kept this?”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Liar.
I folded it.
Then handed it back.
“No.”
His face changed.
“I don’t want the beginning framed like something romantic.”
Silence.
“You bought my debt because I had no good options.”
“I know.”
“You helped us.”
“Yes.”
“But I was terrified.”
His eyes lowered.
“I know.”
I continued:
“If there’s ever anything between us, it starts after tonight.”
No debt.
No employment.
No apartment leverage.
Nothing.
Dominic looked at me.
Then slowly tore the napkin in half.
Then again.
Dropped it into the trash.
“Better?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
“Can I ask you something now?”
I knew.
“Maybe.”
“Dinner.”
I smiled.
“You didn’t even wait five minutes.”
“I waited a year.”
Fair.
“When?”
“Friday.”
“I have class.”
“Saturday.”
“Sam has basketball.”
“Sunday.”
“You’re persistent.”
“I have been called worse.”
I said yes.
Then walked out of Laura.
Not escaping.
Leaving.
Huge difference.
Outside, Sam waited beside the car.
Dominic did not provide it.
I had bought a used Honda myself.
Ugly.
Reliable.
Mine.
Sam climbed in.
“Are you dating Dominic?”
I nearly drove into a mailbox.
“No.”
“You like him.”
“You are ten.”
“Eleven.”
“Worse.”
He grinned.
Then said:
“Dad would hate him.”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
Pause.
“Mom?”
I thought of the mother Sam barely remembered.
“She would probably ask whether he treats me well.”
“Does he?”
I looked back at Laura.
Dominic stood behind the window.
Not following.
Not ordering.
Waiting.
“He’s learning.”
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
For one terrifying second, old fear returned.
Message:
MS. BENNETT, WE FOUND ANOTHER ACCOUNT IN YOUR FATHER’S NAME.
May you like
I stopped breathing.
The past was not finished.
