Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF BECOMING BETTER
The arrests should have ended everything.
Instead they exposed it.
Gallagher’s financial records implicated businessmen, union officials, police officers, and two judges.
News vans surrounded Giovanni’s.
Reporters discovered Clara’s name.
WAITRESS AT CENTER OF ORGANIZED CRIME INVESTIGATION.
Clara hated every second.
Then an old video appeared online.
Dominic insulting her.
Someone had recorded their first confrontation.
Millions watched.
Clara’s humiliation became entertainment.
Comments flooded social media.
Some defended her.
Others repeated Dominic’s insults.
The worst part was seeing herself in that moment again.
Standing there pretending words didn’t hurt.
Dominic watched the video once.
Then smashed his phone.
Victor raised an eyebrow.
“That helped.”
“Get me another.”
“You’ll smash that too.”
“Probably.”
That evening Dominic held a press conference outside Russo Properties.
Clara discovered it on television.
Dominic stood before dozens of cameras.
A reporter asked whether the video was authentic.
“Yes.”
“Did you call Ms. Jenkins those things?”
“Yes.”
“Was the video manipulated?”
“No.”
“Do you regret it?”
Dominic looked directly into the camera.
“Yes.”
He did not mention attraction.
He did not claim they had been flirting.
He did not say Clara was secretly amused.
He simply said, “I humiliated an employee because I believed power gave me permission to be cruel. It didn’t.”
Clara stopped breathing.
Dominic continued.
“Ms. Jenkins defended herself when nobody else in that room did. Any embarrassment belongs to me.”
Then he walked away.
No dramatic speech.
No request for forgiveness.
Clara turned off the television.
Her mother sat beside her.
“He’s trying.”
“I know.”
“That worries you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Clara looked toward the window.
“Because hating him was easier.”
Three days later, Dominic came to Giovanni’s.
Alone.
No Victor.
No reserved booth.
No expensive suit.
Just black pants, a white shirt, and a healing wound.
Paulie stared nervously.
Dominic waited near the entrance.
Clara approached.
“What are you doing?”
“Having dinner.”
“You own six restaurants.”
“I like the ribeye.”
“You threatened to burn this one down.”
“I’ve matured.”
She almost smiled.
“Table?”
“Wherever you have one.”
Clara deliberately seated him beside the kitchen doors.
Worst table in the restaurant.
Dominic said nothing.
She brought a menu.
“What can I get you?”
“Medium rare.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Water.”
Clara stared.
He stared back.
“Careful,” she said. “We have a history.”
“I remember.”
She walked away smiling.
At closing time, Dominic remained.
Clara approached.
“We’re closed.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To ask you something.”
She crossed her arms.
“Ask.”
“Dinner.”
“You just ate.”
“With me.”
Clara’s expression changed.
“A date?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Dominic nodded.
“Okay.”
She blinked.
“That’s it?”
“You said no.”
“You’re not going to threaten me?”
“No.”
“Buy the restaurant?”
“No.”
“Kidnap me?”
“Tempting, but no.”
She laughed.
Dominic stood.
“Goodnight, Clara.”
He reached the door.
“Dominic.”
He turned.
“Ask me again someday.”
His face softened.
“How long?”
“That isn’t how someday works.”
For the next month, he did not ask.
He simply appeared.
Sometimes for lunch.
Sometimes coffee.
He tipped normally.
He spoke politely to everyone.
When a customer mocked another waitress’s weight, Dominic did not threaten him.
He calmly asked Paulie to remove the customer.
Clara watched from across the room.
People can perform goodness, she reminded herself.
But performances become exhausting.
Dominic kept going.
Then Clara received a call from Ohio.
Her mother’s insurance had denied an extension of physical therapy.
Clara sat in the restaurant office fighting tears.
Four thousand dollars.
Again.
Dominic found her there.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He waited.
She hated that he had learned patience.
Finally she explained.
Dominic’s first instinct was obvious.
He wanted to pay.
Clara saw it on his face.
“Don’t.”
His mouth closed.
“I mean it.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want your money.”
He nodded.
“What do you want?”
“A system where normal people don’t have to beg rich criminals for medical bills.”
Dominic leaned against the desk.
“That may take longer.”
She laughed.
Then he asked, “Can I make a phone call?”
“No paying.”
“No paying.”
“What kind of call?”
“My legitimate company has an employee health foundation. Giovanni’s employees could qualify if Paulie joins the restaurant partnership program.”
Clara narrowed her eyes.
“You’re finding a loophole.”
“Yes.”
“For everyone?”
“Every employee.”
“Not just me?”
“Not just you.”
Clara considered it.
“That’s annoyingly decent.”
“I’m having a difficult month.”
She smiled.
Dominic smiled back.
Then the office door opened.
Victor entered holding an envelope.
His expression killed the warmth instantly.
“What now?” Dominic asked.
Victor handed it to Clara.
Inside was a photograph.
Dominic and Clara leaving the restaurant.
A red X had been drawn across Clara’s face.
On the back:
YOUR FATHER TOOK MINE.
NOW I TAKE HIS DAUGHTER.
Clara looked at Dominic.
“Leo?”
Victor shook his head.
“Leo is in federal custody.”
“Then who?”
Victor placed another photograph on the desk.
A young woman with red hair.
Dominic went pale.
Clara had never seen him afraid before.
“Who is she?”
Dominic whispered one name.
May you like
“My sister.”
---
Related Stories
