The Moretti Estate
1494 Words
The Moretti estate came into view just as the sun was beginning to set.
I had spent most of the drive staring out the window, watching the busy streets of New York.
When the car finally passed through the tall iron gates, I couldn’t help staring.
The estate was enormous.
It wasn’t just another expensive house. Everything about it felt carefully guarded. Security cameras were positioned around the property, and several men in suits stood near the entrance. Even the silence felt different, as if everyone here knew better than to make noise.
I had to remind myself to relax.
I was supposed to be Clara Bennett, a woman who had just lost her father and had nowhere else to go. I couldn’t exactly walk into the Moretti estate looking like someone who had been trained to notice every security detail.
The car stopped in front of the house, and I stepped out after thanking the driver. A man approached to take my suitcase, and I followed him toward the entrance.
Before we reached the door, it opened.
A woman stood there with a warm smile.
“You must be Clara.”
“Yes.”
She walked toward me and took both my hands gently.
“I’m Selena. It’s so lovely to finally meet you. Come inside, You must be exhausted.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Moretti.”
She immediately shook her head.
“No, no. You can call me Selena.”
I smiled. “Okay. Selena.”
“Much better.”
She studied my face for a moment, and her expression softened.
“I imagine you’ve had a difficult few weeks.”
I lowered my gaze.
She didn’t ask me to explain. Instead, she gave my hands a reassuring squeeze before leading me inside.
The interior of the house was just as impressive as the outside, but before I could take much of it in, I noticed the man standing near the fireplace.
He was older, probably in his fifties, with grey beginning to show in his hair. He wore a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows. Nothing was threatening about his expression, yet I immediately understood why the people around him seemed so careful.
He didn’t need to raise his voice to command attention.
His eyes settled on me.
“You’re Daniel Bennett’s daughter.”
“Yes, sir.”
He studied me for a moment before walking over.
“Your father helped this family years ago. At a time when he could have walked away, he didn’t.”
I remained quiet.
“I haven’t forgotten that.”
The certainty in his voice made it clear he wasn’t just saying it. He meant it. Somehow, it sounded like a promise.
“You’ll stay here.”
I immediately shook my head. “Sir, I don’t want to impose. I can find somewhere else—”
He raised one hand, stopping me without saying a word.
“You won’t be imposing.”
His tone wasn’t harsh, but there was no room for an argument either.
“This is my house. If I say you’re welcome here, then you’re welcome.”
I swallowed. “Thank you, sir.”
He nodded. “You’ve lost your father. You shouldn’t have to worry about where you’re going to sleep on top of everything else.”
Selena touched my arm.
“He’s right.”
I looked between them before giving a small smile.
“I appreciate it.”
“Good.”
He turned toward the staff member waiting nearby.
“Take her things upstairs,” He commanded before making his way upstairs.
“Yes, sir.”
The man picked up my suitcase. Before I followed him, a cheerful voice came from the staircase.
“Is that her?”
I looked up and saw a young woman coming downstairs, smiling as she approached us.
“I’m Alessia.”
“Clara.”
“I know.”
A small laugh escaped her. “I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. My parents told me about your father.”
I gave her a polite nod. “I didn’t know he knew your family so well.”
“He did,” Selena said. “They go way back.”
I was about to say something else when Alessia suddenly linked her arm with mine.
“Come on. I’ll show you your room.”
I glanced at Selena. She gave me an encouraging nod.
“Go with her.”
As Alessia led me upstairs, she talked almost the entire way.
“So, how are you feeling?”
“Honestly? I'm a little overwhelmed.”
“That makes sense. The first time I came back here after being away for a year, I got lost.”
I laughed. “You got lost in your own house?”
“Don’t judge me, the estate is just too big.”
She opened a door at the end of the hallway.
“This is yours.”
I stepped inside and immediately stopped.
The room was beautiful, with large windows overlooking the gardens and furniture that looked far too expensive for me to touch.
“Alessia…”
She laughed. “What?”
“This is a guest room?”
“Unfortunately.”
I looked at her.
She grinned. “What? You expected a small room with one bed?”
“I expected something normal, this is so beautiful”
“You like it?”
“I love it.”
“Good. Because I helped choose it.”
She sat on the edge of the bed while I looked around still amazed.
“I’m really sorry about your father,” she said after a moment.
My smile faded. “Ohhh…Thank you.”
“My parents said he was a good man.”
I looked down feeling uncomfortable while fidgeting with the hem of my top.
“Well, you’re here now. So you don’t have to deal with everything alone.”
“I don’t want to depend on your family.”
“Then don’t. Stay until you’re ready to leave. Work, study, whatever you want. Just don’t convince yourself you’re a burden.”
“You sound like your mother,” I commented, making my way to the wardrobe.
She gasped dramatically. “Don’t tell her that.”
I laughed, forgetting about my worries from a few minutes ago.
She stood and glanced at the clock.
“Dinner is at eight, you should come downstairs.”
“I’ll be there, thank you.”
She made her way to the door, turned, and gave me a small smile before stepping out.
I closed the door and stood quietly for a moment, letting everything sink in.
I had expected the Moretti estate to feel cold and unfamiliar. Instead, Selena had welcomed me without hesitation, Victor had made it clear that I was protected under his roof, and Alessia had already started treating me like someone she had known for years.
It should have made me feel comfortable.
Instead, it reminded me how dangerous my situation was.
By the time I came downstairs for dinner, Selena, Victor, and Alessia were already seated.
I took the empty seat beside Alessia.
Victor looked at me and asked.
“Do you like the room? If not, I can arrange for the room to be changed.”
“Ohh…I love it sir, thank you very much.”
“You don’t have to be thanking us, this is the little we can do after what your dad has done for this family.”
“I still..,” I hadn’t finished what I was about to say when the dining door was pushed open.
We all turned our heads toward the door and saw Leo walking in.
He had changed from whatever he’d been wearing earlier. His black shirt was neatly fitted, the sleeves rolled to his forearms, and his expression was as unreadable as ever.
He didn’t glance my way.
He greeted his father with a brief nod before turning to his mother.
“Evening.”
“Evening, how was work,” Selena said.
“Fine.”
Victor looked at him.
“Sit down. Your food is getting cold.”
He sat down without saying another word.
I kept my eyes on my plate, pretending not to notice him.
Alessia looked at me with an exaggerated expression.
“See what I mean?”
For the first time that evening, Leo’s eyes shifted toward me.
Our eyes met briefly.
There was no warmth in his expression. No curiosity either.
Just a cold, unreadable look before he turned away.
Later that night, I changed and climbed into bed.
The room was completely silent.
I reached for my phone to check the time.
11:58 p.m.
I was about to turn it off when it vibrated in my hand.
A message but I didn’t recognize the number.
Vescari: Don’t get comfortable, Clara. Remember why you’re there.
My fingers froze around the phone.
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