The Manager Who Already Knew
Chapter 02 - The Manager Who Already Knew
Emilio denied it for eleven minutes.
That was how long Elina let him.
After Adrian left, Leo still crying in his father’s arms, Elina followed her manager into the wine office and closed the door.
“You knew.”
Emilio began stacking invoices that did not need stacking.
“Knew what?”
“Do not insult me.”
He stopped.
Elina pointed toward the bar.
“That woman looks like me.”
“Yes.”
“Same birthday.”
Emilio said nothing.
“Same hospital.”
Still nothing.
“Emilio.”
He closed his eyes.
“Sofia came here often.”
“That is not an answer.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“It is the beginning.”
Elina crossed her arms.
“Then start properly.”
Emilio had known Sofia Valenti for six years.
Not socially.
The restaurant had belonged to Sofia’s adoptive father before he sold it to a holding company.
She still came once a month.
Sat at the bar.
Ordered sparkling water.
Sometimes brought Leo after he was born.
Three months before her death, she showed Emilio a photograph.
Elina’s staff ID photo.
Elina went cold.
“Mine.”
“Yes.”
“How did she get it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did she say?”
Emilio looked down.
“That she thought you were her sister.”
Silence.
Elina laughed once.
A bad sound.
“I don’t have a sister.”
“That is what I told her.”
“You knew my family?”
“No.”
“Then why did you tell her anything?”
“Because she was frightened.”
Elina’s anger shifted.
“What about?”
“She had been looking into her birth records.”
“Why?”
“Medical history.”
Leo’s.
A pediatric specialist had asked about inherited heart conditions.
Sofia requested sealed adoption records.
That was how everything began.
Elina stared.
“She was adopted?”
“Yes.”
“Adrian knew?”
“He knew she was adopted. Not what she found.”
“What did she find?”
Emilio looked toward the door.
Elina almost laughed.
“Everybody in this city looks at doors before telling the truth.”
“Good habit.”
“Not tonight.”
He sighed.
“Sofia’s original hospital record listed twin pregnancy.”
Elina stopped breathing.
“One infant placed for adoption.”
“And the other?”
“No placement record.”
“What name?”
“Baby Girl Valdez.”
Her knees weakened.
Valdez.
Not a coincidence.
Elina’s mother, Teresa Valdez, had always told her the labor had been difficult.
That Elina spent two days in neonatal care.
That her father left before she was born.
No twin.
No adoption.
Nothing.
“She thought we were twins.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t she contact me?”
“She was going to.”
“When?”
Emilio’s face changed.
“The week she died.”
Elina sat.
Seven months ago.
She remembered that week.
Nothing special.
Double shifts.
A shutoff warning from the electric company.
Her mother’s old ring sold to cover rent.
Somewhere nearby, a woman with her face had been deciding how to say hello.
“How did she die?”
Emilio looked at her.
“Car accident.”
Elina caught the hesitation.
“What?”
“That is the official version.”
“Emilio.”
“Sofia believed somebody had falsified the birth records.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she?”
“I said I don’t know.”
She stared.
He corrected.
“She suspected someone connected to the St. Agnes adoption program.”
Better.
Elina stood.
“I’m going home.”
“Don’t.”
She froze.
Emilio’s face had gone pale.
“What?”
“Stay somewhere else tonight.”
“Why?”
“Sofia asked me to tell you something if Adrian ever noticed.”
Elina’s skin tightened.
“What?”
“Do not go home alone.”
Silence.
“You waited until now?”
“She told me only if he noticed.”
“That is insane.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Adrian noticing me make me unsafe?”
“I don’t know.”
There it was again.
The city’s most powerful man apparently knew less about his dead wife than a restaurant manager.
That frightened her more than if he had known everything.
Adrian stood near the empty dining room when they emerged.
Elina stopped.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My son hasn’t stopped crying.”
That was almost funny.
Then Adrian looked at Emilio.
“And because Nico told me Emilio lied about never seeing you before.”
Nico, the taller guard, remained near the entrance.
Emilio’s face tightened.
Adrian continued.
“Sofia left him a note before she died. It was delivered by her attorney after the funeral.”
Elina turned.
“What note?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Not after. Before. It was delivered after the funeral.”
“What did it say?”
“If you ever meet a woman named Elina Valdez, do not let my family find her first.”
The room went silent.
Elina felt cold.
“What family?”
“Sofia’s adoptive family.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
There it was again.
The city’s most powerful man apparently knew less about his dead wife than a restaurant manager.
That frightened her more than if he had known everything.
Adrian held out one card.
“Come somewhere secure tonight.”
Elina stared.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Nico looked surprised.
Adrian did not.
“Why?”
“Because I met you twenty minutes ago.”
“Fair.”
“I don’t know if you’re the danger Sofia meant.”
His face changed.
“Also fair.”
Good.
Elina looked at Emilio.
“I’m staying at your sister’s.”
Emilio nodded immediately.
“Maria’s place is above the bakery.”
Adrian said:
“My people can watch the street.”
Elina looked at him.
“No.”
He stopped.
Not accustomed to that word.
She continued.
“If I see black SUVs outside, I leave.”
A pause.
“Understood.”
That surprised her.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT WALKING PAST THE PHOTOGRAPH.
Below it:
A picture of her apartment door.
Taken from inside the hallway.
Elina stopped breathing.
Adrian saw her face.
“What?”
She showed him.
His expression changed.
The second message arrived.
A photograph.
Her bedroom.
Drawers open.
Mattress lifted.
Someone was inside her home.
Looking for something.
Elina’s hands began shaking.
Then a third message.
One sentence.
SOFIA FOUND OUT TOO LATE.
Adrian looked at it.
The grief left his face.
Something colder replaced it.
Elina noticed and stepped back.
“Don’t.”
His eyes moved to her.
“Don’t what?”
“Turn into whatever everyone is afraid of.”
Silence.
Emilio stared.
Nico stared.
Adrian looked at Elina for a long moment.
Then pulled out his phone.
Not to call gunmen.
“Police.”
She exhaled.
“Good.”
The first useful choice had been made.
Then Adrian’s phone rang before he could dial.
He looked at the screen.
His mother.
Celeste Valenti.
Adrian answered.
She did not say hello.
Her voice carried through the quiet room.
“Where is the waitress?”
Elina went cold.
Adrian looked slowly toward her.
May you like
His mother had never met Elina.
At least that was what everyone had believed.
