Vanessa's Perfect Story
Chapter 06 - Vanessa's Perfect Story
Vanessa's first statement came through an attorney: Nicholas had been running recklessly; she had tried to stop him; the resulting fall was a tragic accident. Within forty-eight hours, the story had changed. She claimed Salvatore had become unstable during business negotiations and was misremembering what he saw.
Then private photographs of the Vance estate appeared online, accompanied by insinuations that the family's household staff were conspiring against her. Salvatore wanted to respond immediately. Dana advised restraint. Nicholas's privacy mattered more than winning a public argument.
Vanessa requested access to the boy through counsel. Given the allegations and the ongoing safety assessment, arrangements would be determined by the court and professionals rather than by Salvatore's personal anger. He supplied his account and complied with every request for evidence.
At home, he moved out of the master bedroom and set aside Elena's belongings for Nicholas to explore someday if he wished. He did not destroy photographs of Vanessa. He put them away. A child shouldn't have to live inside a parent's war.
His security chief reported that Dominic had tried to access the freight subsidiary's archive late at night. The access logs were preserved, and the company's compliance director was notified. Salvatore instructed Anton not to confront Dominic. Anton seemed surprised.
“We could bring him here, boss.”
“No,” Salvatore answered. “We spent too many years letting power replace accountability. Not this time.”
That evening, Nicholas asked why Vanessa was telling people he was a bad boy. Salvatore felt rage rise so quickly that he had to set down his cup.
“She is saying things that aren't true,” he answered. “Grown-ups sometimes tell the wrong story to protect themselves. That's never the child's fault.”
“Will everybody believe her?”
“Some people might. But the people keeping you safe are listening carefully, and we will keep telling the truth.”
Nicholas made a small sound. “I said sorry when I fell.”
“You didn't have to.”
The boy looked at his cast. “Sometimes saying sorry made her stop.”
Salvatore sat beside him. “You don't have to make yourself smaller so another person will be kind.”
May you like
For a long while, Nicholas studied the ceiling. Then he asked if tomorrow they could eat breakfast together, with orange marmalade like Elena used to serve.
Salvatore promised they could. This time he checked his calendar and canceled a meeting before making the promise.
