What We Left in the Dark

Five

I take a deep breath before answering the call, hoping my voice sounds calm and unflustered despite the sudden jolt of adrenaline. "Hello, Luca. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly."

"Catalina, thank you for being available on such short notice," Luca's voice comes through the line, warm yet steady. "I apologize for interrupting your evening."

"No need to apologize," I reply, settling back into the cushions of my couch. "I'm glad you reached out. What details did we miss earlier?"

Luca hesitates briefly, the pause on the line thick with unspoken tension. When he finally speaks, his tone is more subdued, almost cautious. "There's something I didn't mention during our meeting—something I felt was too delicate to bring up in the office."

My heart skips a beat as I try to anticipate what he might say. "Go on," I encourage, keeping my voice level.

"There are some personal matters tied to the company," he continues. "Matters that could complicate the legal strategy depending on how they're handled. I didn't want to discuss it in front of anyone else, especially not in a formal setting."

I lean forward, the sense of professionalism momentarily slipping as curiosity takes hold. "Personal matters? How so?"

He sighs softly, as if choosing his words with care. "Gilded's success has attracted a lot of attention—some of it unwanted. There's been pressure from outside forces, particularly from my family and their... connections."

I can feel my pulse quickening, the professional distance I've worked hard to maintain beginning to blur. "And how do these connections impact Gilded's legal standing?"

"It's not just legal standing. It's... everything," Luca admits, his voice dropping lower. "My family has ties to certain... interests that could jeopardize the company if they come to light. And given who I am, there are expectations—expectations I'm not entirely comfortable with. But I can't ignore them."

I process his words carefully, the implications sinking in. This was more than just business—this was about family dynamics, hidden connections, and potentially dangerous entanglements. "Luca, if this is a conflict of interest, we need to address it head-on. Transparency is key in situations like this."

I pause for a moment, hesitant I may unlock a level of communication beyond professional. "You have to be totally honest with me. If not, I can't help you."

"I agree," he replies, his voice firm, yet there's an undercurrent of vulnerability that wasn't present earlier. "But it's not that simple. My brother, Giancarlo... he's deeply involved in the family's dealings. He's always been the one to handle those things, and I've distanced myself from that as much as possible. But it's becoming harder to keep those worlds separate."

Giancarlo. The name sends a shiver through me, a reminder of the man who had once held such a significant place in my life. "What does Giancarlo have to do with this?"

There's another pause, longer this time, before Luca speaks again. "He's been pressuring me to align Gilded with certain ventures that I'm not comfortable with. But refusing him is... complicated. You know how persuasive he can be."

I swallow hard, memories of Giancarlo flashing through my mind. He had always been charismatic, capable of convincing anyone to see things his way. But the idea that he might be involved in something unsavory, something that could endanger Luca's company, sends a chill down my spine. "Luca, I need to know exactly what we're dealing with here. If Giancarlo is involved, we need to consider every possible angle."

"I know," Luca says, his voice tight. "That's why I wanted to talk to you tonight. I trust you, Catalina. I trust that you can help me navigate this without letting it spiral out of control."

His words are laced with a sincerity that takes me by surprise. Despite the brief time we've known each other, there's an unspoken bond forming—a connection forged by shared challenges and the undercurrents of our past. But I remind myself that this is still a professional relationship, one that requires clear boundaries.

"I'll do everything I can to help you, Luca," I reply, keeping my tone steady. "But we need to proceed with caution. I'll need more details, and we'll have to involve my team in some capacity to ensure we cover all bases. This isn't something you should handle alone."

"I understand," he says, a note of relief in his voice. "I'll provide whatever information you need. I just... I didn't know who else to turn to."

The vulnerability in his words tugs at something deep within me, something I thought I had buried long ago. But I push those feelings aside, focusing on the task at hand. "We'll figure this out together," I assure him. "I'll set up a time for us to meet again, somewhere more private. We'll discuss everything in detail and come up with a strategy."

"Thank you, Catalina," Luca says softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

As we end the call, I'm left with a mix of emotions—concern for Luca, a lingering unease about Giancarlo, and an undeniable awareness of the growing risk surrounding this case.

As I set my phone down after the call, the room falls silent again, but my thoughts are anything but quiet. Luca's words replay in my mind, each one carrying a weight that I hadn't fully grasped in the moment. The tension in his voice, the mention of his brother, the complications he hinted at—they all swirl together, creating a storm of uncertainty.

I rise from the couch and begin to pace, trying to work off the nervous energy coursing through me. Luca's admission about his family's connections is alarming, but something else gnaws at me, a detail I almost missed in the rush of the conversation.

"You know how persuasive he can be."

The words echo in my mind, slowly sinking in. Luca said it so casually, as if it were a simple truth we both shared. But how could he know that? How could he know that I know Giancarlo to be persuasive?

I stop pacing, my heart pounding in my chest. Does Luca know about my past with Giancarlo?