Chapter 66 False Witness
Matteo
I didn’t even look at Valentina or Rosco.
Didn’t need to.
I could feel her pulse thudding beneath that calm exterior—like a drumbeat under silk—and Rosco’s tension was already a steady hum behind me, ready to detonate if I gave the word.
But this wasn’t the place for detonations. Not yet.
I pushed back my chair slowly, let the legs scrape against the tile just enough to drag attention back where it belonged—me. Then I looked the manager in the eye and gave him the kind of smile that’s got ice packed behind it.
“She’s clearly upset,” I said, still seated. “And this isn’t the right venue for a discussion like this. Maybe we should speak somewhere more… private.”
The manager—middle-aged, sweating like a whore in church—nodded way too fast. “Of course. Right this way, sir.”
Maria opened her mouth like she wanted to toss another grenade, but I rose before she could lob it. I didn’t so much as glance in her direction as I followed the manager past the stunned diners, ignoring the stares and whispers that trailed behind me like oil slicks on water.
I heard Rosco mutter, “Guess we’re staying for lunch, huh?”
And Valentina? Cool as frost. My good little actress. She didn’t speak. Didn’t need to. I felt her watching. Measuring.
Good.
Let her see what happens when someone tries to make a move against me.
The manager’s office was small and sterile. A desk, two chairs, a filing cabinet. No windows. No witnesses.
Perfect.
Maria walked in behind me, puffed up like she was about to receive a goddamn award.
The manager shut the door with a soft click, then cleared his throat. “Why don’t we all sit down and—”
“No.”
I stayed standing.
Maria froze.
The manager did, too.
I let the silence stretch.Then I stepped back and turned to the manager. “You have cameras in this place?”
He nodded.
“Good. Pull the footage. I didn’t touch her. I’ve got two witnesses at the table, and I’m guessing your security system will confirm it. Do it now.”
“The system is in another room, I’ll go there to review it.”
I stepped back and motioned him to walk through the door. After he walked out and the door clicked shut behind him, I stepped toward Maria, slow and deliberate, keeping my voice low and casual—dangerously casual.
“You want to play games in public?” I asked. “Fine. But you’re not going to like how this one ends.”
She blanched, that cocky expression flickering for just a second.
I leaned in. Close enough that she could smell the warning coming off me.
“You forget who the fuck you’re dealing with, Maria.”
Maria crossed her arms, but her hands were shaking. “You think you can scare me?” she hissed.
I smiled. “No. I know I can.”
Maria’s jaw twitched. “You always clean up your messes this well?”
I turned back to her, slow. “You call this a mess?”
She flinched.
“Maria, you could’ve walked away with ten years of cushion,” I said, voice like cut glass. “A trust fund. A severance package. Enough to buy your own damn restaurant if you wanted.”
I took another step forward.
“But you chose this. You chose war. Over what? Pride?”
She swallowed, and for the first time, I saw her hesitate.
I dropped my voice to a near whisper. “You think it ends with some petty HR complaint and a free appetizer? No. Now, it’s personal. And trust me—you don’t want to be on the wrong side of me when it gets personal.”
The manager return and looked like he wanted to crawl under the desk. “Mr. Genovese, I reviewed the footage and it appears you are correct, you did not touch her.”
I gave Maria a pointed look but didn’t say a word.
“Maria,” the manager addressed her, “I’m afraid with this stunt I’m going to have to let you go.”
Maria’s lips parted. She wanted to argue.
But even she knew—she wasn’t winning this round.
I turned to the manager and said, “no, I don’t want her fired over this. It’s clear that she is just a bit out of sorts after having lost her employment with my company.”
The manager and Maria both gave me surprised looks.
I continued, “Maria is just having a rough day and can use a little compassion.”
The manager finally said, “ok but if there’s any more out burst from you from this point on,” shaking a finger at Maria, “you won’t get another chance.”
“Yes sir”
“Now I’m going to return to my wife to have that lunch with her that I promised.” And I turned and left out of the office.
A few minutes later Maria returned to our table and quietly poured our wine like nothing ever happened.
After she left the table, Valentina turned to me to speak but Rosco beat her to it.
“So you let her off the hook?”
“Absolutely not. What do you take me for? She needs to be and will be dealt with, but I made sure the manager thinks there’s zero bad blood between Maria and I in case anyone comes questioning her disappearance.”
I took a slow sip of the wine Maria had just poured, eyes still fixed on the curve of her retreating back.
“She won’t try that again,” I said evenly, not looking at either of them.
Valentina set her glass down, the stem clicking softly against the table. “You’re sure?”
I finally looked at her. “She just found out there’s a line she should never cross. And that I’ll let her walk right up to it before I bury her underneath it.”
Rosco gave a low whistle. “Damn. That was smooth as hell. You really had me going for a minute. I thought you were going soft.”
I arched a brow. “Soft doesn’t win wars.”
Valentina tilted her head. “So, what now?”
“Now we eat,” I said simply, picking up my fork and knife and cut a slice of steak. “Because I’m starving, and because we’re going to sit here like nothing happened. We’ll finish our wine. Smile for the security cameras. And when we leave here we will have a new afternoon directive.”
I glanced toward the kitchen doors, where Maria disappeared.
Tick tock, sweetheart.