Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN WHO WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE FOUND
Julian did not continue to his suite.
He stood beneath the Baccarat chandeliers and watched Elena push the cleaning cart away from him.
Every instinct in his body screamed at him to follow her.
Camila tightened her fingers around his arm.
“Julian, don’t.”
He pulled his arm free.
“Elena.”
She kept walking.
“Elena.”
This time, she stopped.
But she did not turn around.
Julian crossed the polished lobby until only a few feet separated them.
“I asked you where you went.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Only for a second.
Then she turned.
“I heard you.”
“Then answer me.”
“I don’t owe you an answer.”
Julian stared at her.
Eight months ago, Elena Rossi had been the woman who knew exactly how he took his coffee.
The woman who left handwritten notes inside his suitcase before business trips.
The woman who used to fall asleep with her head against his shoulder during long drives.
Now she looked at him as if every memory between them had been buried.
His gaze fell again to her stomach.
Elena noticed.
Her hand moved instinctively over it.
That tiny gesture nearly destroyed him.
“How far along are you?”
Her expression changed.
Barely.
But Julian saw it.
Fear.
“Don’t.”
“One question.”
“Julian.”
“How far along are you?”
Camila appeared behind him.
“This is humiliating.”
Julian ignored her.
Elena looked toward the concierge.
“Mr. Bellini, I need to return to work.”
The concierge shifted uncomfortably.
“Of course.”
Julian turned toward him.
“No.”
The man froze.
Julian lowered his voice.
“She isn’t going anywhere until I understand what’s happening.”
Elena’s eyes flashed.
“You don’t own this hotel.”
“No.”
Julian stepped closer.
“But I know the man who does.”
For the first time, Elena looked genuinely alarmed.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Use your name to corner me.”
Something in the accusation stopped him.
Elena pushed the cart forward.
Julian caught the handle.
She immediately recoiled.
Not dramatically.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
But Julian noticed.
His hand slowly left the cart.
“Elena…”
“Don’t touch anything around me.”
Her voice had dropped to a whisper.
“Please.”
That word was worse than anger.
Julian stepped back.
Camila folded her arms.
“This is ridiculous.”
Elena glanced at her.
Then she looked at Julian.
Something passed across her face.
Pain.
It disappeared immediately.
“I hope you enjoy your stay, Mr. Rossi.”
She walked toward the staff corridor.
Julian followed.
Camila grabbed him again.
“Are you seriously leaving me standing here?”
He looked at her.
“My wife disappeared eight months ago.”
“And?”
“And I just found her.”
“Pregnant with someone else’s child.”
Julian went still.
Camila realized too late what she had said.
“That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it?”
She softened her voice.
“She left you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“She vanished.”
“I know.”
“She never called.”
“I know.”
“She never came home.”
“I know.”
Camila stared at him.
“Then what exactly are you trying to prove?”
Julian looked toward the staff door Elena had disappeared behind.
“I don’t know yet.”
He pulled out his phone.
“But I’m going to find out.”
He called his assistant.
Matteo answered immediately.
“Mr. Rossi?”
“I need something.”
“Of course.”
Julian lowered his voice.
“Find everything you can about Elena Rossi during the last eight months.”
Silence.
Matteo had worked for Julian for eleven years.
He knew better than to ask unnecessary questions.
But this time he did.
“Your wife?”
“Yes.”
“I thought—”
“So did I.”
Julian looked toward the staff corridor.
“She’s at the Grand Alcazar.”
Another silence.
“Are you certain?”
“I’m looking at the hallway she just walked into.”
Matteo’s voice changed.
“I’ll start immediately.”
“Employment records.”
“Yes.”
“Bank accounts.”
“Yes.”
“Travel.”
“Yes.”
“Medical records if legally accessible.”
“I’ll see what can be obtained.”
“And Matteo?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“Anyone?”
“Especially my family.”
Matteo understood.
“I’ll contact you personally.”
Julian ended the call.
Camila stared at him.
“You’re investigating her?”
“I’m finding out what happened.”
“She cheated on you and ran away.”
Julian looked at her sharply.
“You don’t know that.”
Camila gave a humorless laugh.
“She’s pregnant, Julian.”
He said nothing.
Camila leaned closer.
“You haven’t seen her in eight months.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“I can count.”
“Then stop pretending.”
He turned away.
“I’m not pretending anything.”
But Camila’s words had struck exactly where she intended.
Eight months.
Elena looked at least seven months pregnant.
Possibly more.
Julian tried to remember the final weeks before she disappeared.
Their marriage had been strained.
His father had suffered a heart attack.
His younger brother, Luca, had created a financial scandal inside Rossi Development.
Julian had spent nearly every waking hour working.
Elena had repeatedly asked him to come home earlier.
He rarely had.
Then one night, she disappeared.
Her clothes remained in the closet.
Her jewelry remained in the safe.
Her passport was gone.
Her phone was found two days later beside a road outside Milan.
There had been no note.
No explanation.
Nothing.
His mother had been the one to tell him to stop searching.
“If Elena wanted to be found, she would contact you.”
Julian had hated those words.
Eventually, he had believed them.
Now he wasn't sure of anything.
A hotel security officer approached.
“Mr. Rossi?”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Bellini asked me to escort you to your private dining room.”
“I’m not having dinner.”
Camila stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.”
Julian looked at the officer.
“Where are the employee offices?”
“I’m afraid guests aren’t permitted—”
Julian’s phone vibrated.
Matteo.
That was fast.
Julian answered.
“What did you find?”
“Something strange.”
“How strange?”
“Mrs. Rossi is employed at the Grand Alcazar under the name Elena Moretti.”
Julian frowned.
“Moretti?”
“Her mother’s maiden name.”
“When did she start?”
“Seven months ago.”
One month after disappearing.
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“Where was she during the missing month?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Keep looking.”
“There’s something else.”
Julian waited.
Matteo spoke carefully.
“Her salary is being deposited into an account at Banca Lombarda.”
“So?”
“The account isn’t hers.”
Julian’s entire body went rigid.
“Whose is it?”
“I’m tracing it.”
“Why would her salary go into someone else’s account?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
“I will.”
Julian ended the call.
Camila watched his expression.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Julian.”
“I said nothing.”
He walked toward the elevators.
“Where are you going?”
“To my room.”
Camila followed.
“Finally.”
“No.”
He pressed the elevator button.
“You’re going home.”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“I’ll have a car take you.”
“You invited me here.”
“That was before I found my missing wife cleaning the lobby.”
Camila stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re throwing me out because of her?”
“I’m asking you to leave because I need answers.”
Camila stepped closer.
“Be careful.”
Julian’s eyes hardened.
“Is that a warning?”
“It’s advice.”
The elevator opened.
Camila entered.
Julian did not.
She turned.
“You’re going to humiliate yourself for a woman who abandoned you.”
The doors began closing.
Julian held her gaze.
“Maybe.”
Then the doors shut.
He stood alone.
For the first time that evening, the lobby noise returned around him.
Glasses clinked.
Guests laughed.
A pianist played near the bar.
Everything looked normal.
Julian knew it wasn't.
Twenty minutes later, he was inside the hotel manager’s office.
Alessandro Bellini looked terrified.
“Mr. Rossi, I assure you that Elena has always been treated professionally.”
“I didn’t ask how she was treated.”
Julian sat across from him.
“I asked who hired her.”
Bellini hesitated.
“Our housekeeping director.”
“Name.”
“Claudia Vieri.”
“Who approved the employment?”
“Human resources.”
“Show me the file.”
“I can’t provide confidential employee records.”
Julian leaned back.
“You’re right.”
Bellini blinked.
Julian stood.
“I’ll ask Elena.”
Relief crossed the manager’s face.
Then Julian added,
“And tomorrow morning, I’ll ask the owner why an employee’s wages are being deposited into an account she doesn’t own.”
Bellini’s relief vanished.
Julian noticed.
There.
A reaction.
“You know.”
Bellini looked down.
“Know what?”
“That something is wrong.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Julian stepped closer to the desk.
“You looked afraid when I mentioned the account.”
Bellini swallowed.
“Mr. Rossi…”
“Who is taking her money?”
“I cannot discuss—”
“Who?”
Bellini’s hands trembled.
That frightened Julian more than any answer could have.
The office door suddenly opened.
Elena stood there.
Her face was pale.
“What are you doing?”
Julian turned.
“Getting answers.”
“You need to leave.”
“Not until—”
“Julian.”
Her voice broke.
Just once.
“Please.”
Bellini rose quickly.
“I’ll give you privacy.”
“No.”
Elena’s response was immediate.
Bellini stopped.
She looked at him.
“Stay.”
Julian felt another warning move through him.
Elena did not want to be alone with him.
Why?
“Elena.”
He softened his voice.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
Her eyes filled with something he couldn’t identify.
“I know.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“Then who?”
Silence.
Julian waited.
Elena looked toward Bellini.
Then toward the security camera mounted above the office door.
Julian followed her gaze.
And suddenly understood.
Someone could be watching.
He walked to the camera.
Elena’s face changed.
“Don’t.”
Julian reached up.
He unplugged it.
Bellini nearly jumped from his chair.
“Mr. Rossi!”
Julian turned back toward Elena.
“Now answer me.”
Her breathing had changed.
“Elena, who are you afraid of?”
She stared at him.
Then she whispered,
“You should never have come here.”
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“That’s the point.”
“What does that mean?”
Elena’s eyes moved toward the door.
“You have to leave tonight.”
“No.”
“Julian.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
For the first time, her cold mask disappeared.
“Listen to me.”
Her voice shook.
“If you ever loved me, take your girlfriend and leave this hotel.”
“Why?”
“Because they know you saw me.”
Julian’s blood went cold.
“Who?”
Elena opened her mouth.
Footsteps sounded outside.
She froze.
The door opened.
A woman in a black housekeeping supervisor’s suit entered.
She was perhaps fifty.
Tall.
Severe.
Silver streaks ran through her dark hair.
Her name badge read CLAUDIA VIERI.
Her gaze went immediately to Elena.
“Elena.”
Elena straightened.
“Yes, Ms. Vieri?”
“You’re needed downstairs.”
Claudia looked at Julian.
Then at the disconnected camera.
Her smile was thin.
“Is there a problem?”
Julian stared at her.
“No.”
Claudia nodded.
“Good.”
She looked at Elena.
“Come.”
Elena moved toward the door.
Julian caught her eyes.
She gave the smallest possible shake of her head.
Don't.
He let her go.
Claudia followed.
At the doorway, she paused.
“Mr. Rossi?”
Julian looked at her.
“I hope you enjoy your stay.”
Then she smiled.
And left.
Bellini exhaled.
Julian slowly turned toward him.
“Who is she?”
“Our housekeeping director.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Bellini looked at the unplugged camera.
Then he whispered,
“You didn’t hear this from me.”
Julian waited.
Bellini leaned forward.
“Claudia Vieri didn’t hire your wife.”
“Who did?”
Bellini swallowed.
“The order came from Milan.”
Julian’s heart began pounding.
“From whom?”
Bellini looked him directly in the eyes.
“Rossi Holdings.”
Julian stopped breathing.
His own company.
Someone inside his own family business had known exactly where Elena was.
May you like
For seven months.
And they had made sure Julian never did.
