Untitled Episode3
1057 Words
The Price of Protection
Early the next morning.
Adriana stood in her kitchen staring at the pot of oatmeal she had forgotten to stir. The spoon was still in her hand. The pale light from the window made everything look calm. Outside, the city sounded normal. Cars drove by. People talked. It was another ordinary morning.
But her life wasn't ordinary anymore. Yesterday, reporters showed up at her son's school. Yesterday everyone found out about Daniel. Same as yesterday, Luca Deveraux walked back into her life like a storm. Now everything was different.
She heard footsteps behind her.
"Mommy?"
Andriana turned around. Daniel stood in the doorway rubbing his eyes. His curly hair was messy. He held his green dinosaur tight.
"Morning sweetheart," she said gently.
Daniel climbed onto his chair. "Did the loud people go away?" he asked.
Andriana paused. "They probably went home at night."
"Why were they shouting our names?"
"They wanted to ask questions."
"About what?" he asked.
She forced a smile. "Things that grown-ups talk about."
Daniel thought about it. "Okay."
She put a bowl of oatmeal in front of him. "Eat before it gets cold," she said.
Daniel ate happily. He kept looking at the living room where the TV was. She noticed him. Her stomach felt tight. Kids always sense when something is wrong. She grabbed the remote. Turned on the TV. The news channel came on.
She regretted it immediately.
"...we are still talking about the Devereux scandal," the anchor said. "The woman seen with billionaire CEO Luca Deveraux has been identified as Andriana Vale, a journalist. People are saying that the child seen with them may be Devereux's hidden son—"
Adriana turned off the TV.
The sudden silence felt heavy.
Daniel looked at her. "Was that us?"
"No," she said quickly.
"They said your name."
Her fingers tightened around the remote. "Sometimes the news gets things wrong," she said.
Her phone buzzed. The screen showed a number. Her heart skipped a beat. Slowly she answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Vale."
The voice was calm. Deep. It was unmistakable.
Luca.
She turned slightly, so Daniel wouldn't hear her.
"What do you want?"
"I'm outside your building."
Her breath caught. "What?"
"You should look out the window."
A strange knot tightened in her chest. Andriana walked toward the living room. She pulled the curtain aside. Reporters filled the sidewalk. There were more than yesterday. Cameras. Microphones. Bright flashes of light.
Three black cars were parked near the entrance. Security guards stood beside them. Leaning against one of the cars was Luca Deveraux.
From the floor above she could recognize the tall figure in the dark suit. He looked completely calm.
"How did they find my address?" she whispered into the phone.
"They always do," Luca replied.
Outside, someone spotted movement in her window.
"Miss Vale!"
Several cameras turned toward the building. More voices joined in.
Adriana quickly closed the curtain. Her heart was pounding. Daniel appeared beside her. "What are they doing?" he asked.
"They're just talking," she said.
"Very loudly."
"Yes."
Another shout echoed from outside.
"Miss Vale!"
Daniel grabbed her hand. "Mommy, I don't like them."
Her chest felt tight.
"I know."
The phone was still pressed into her ear. "You see the problem," Luca said calmly.
"I saw the problem yesterday," she said.
"This will get worse," Luca said.
Andriana looked toward the apartment door. "They'll get bored eventually."
"They won't."
His certainty made her stomach twist.
"They'll follow Daniel," he continued. "To school. To the park. Everywhere."
Fear slipped quietly into her chest.
"You don't know that," she said.
"I do."
Before she could respond, a loud knock echoed through the hallway. Daniel jumped. Someone knocked again. Harder.
"Miss Vale!"
The voice came through the door. A reporter.
Adriana's pulse was racing. Daniel clutched her arm.
"Mommy?"
"It's okay," she whispered. The knocking continued.
"Miss Vale! We know you're inside!"
Another voice shouted. "Is Daniel the billionaire's heir?"
Daniel pressed closer to her. "What does heir mean?" he asked.
Her throat felt tight.
"Nothing important," she said.
Outside the door, footsteps moved in the hallway. More voices joined the shouting.
"They're scaring me," Daniel whispered.
Adriana closed her eyes briefly.
This was what she had feared for five years. The moment strangers invaded her child's life.
"They won't stop," Luca said quietly.
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Come downstairs."
"Walk into that?"
"My security will handle it."
"And what?"
"We leave."
"Where?"
"My house."
Adriana laughed bitterly. "Your house," she said.
"It's safe," he said.
"What about when the media finds it?"
"They won't get through the gates."
The knocking grew louder.
Daniel buried his face against her side. "I'm scared." Her heart broke. At that moment Adriana realized something. She could fight for her pride. She could fight Luca….. She couldn't fight the entire world alone.
"Why do you care?" she asked suddenly.
There was silence for a moment.
Then Luca answered. "Because he's my son."
The words felt heavy.
Daniel looked up at her. "What did he say?"
She swallowed.
"He said he wants to help."
Daniel thought about that.
"Is he nice?"
She hesitated. "I don't know."
Before she could say more, the building intercom buzzed loudly. "Miss Vale?" the manager's voice crackled.
"Yes?"
"There are reporters over the building entrance. I'm trying to keep them. They're refusing to leave."
Her stomach dropped further. "Thank you." The intercom clicked off.
Daniel whispered again. "Mommy?"
She looked down at him.
Those wide eyes trusted her completely. That trust made her decide.
She lifted the phone again. "We're coming down," she said quietly.
"I'll be waiting," Luca replied.
The call ended.
Adriana knelt in front of Daniel.
"We're going outside," she told him gently.
"To see my dad?"
She almost smiled. "Yes."
"Will the loud people be there?"
"Yes."
Daniel straightened his shoulders bravely. "That's okay."
"Why?"
"Because you're with me."
Her chest felt tight.
"Yes," she whispered. "I'm with you." She grabbed her coat. Daniels backpack. Then she held his hand.
The hallway outside the apartment door sounded chaotic. Voices. Footsteps. Cameras.
Andriana took one breath. This was no longer a life.
She thought this was a world of people, power, scandals and enemies. Whether she liked it or not she had just stepped directly into it.
Then she opened the door.
- Writer
