“Dad Said I’m the Housekeeper’s Daughter”—Then Grandpa Found the Paper That Could Destroy Them All

Cesare was out of his chair before the alert finished loading.

"Where's Rosa?"

Nate answered from the doorway. "She brought Elsie to the lobby because you said the meeting would be short. A woman in a catering uniform told Rosa you needed Elsie upstairs."

Julian went white.

"Vanessa."

But Vanessa was still in the boardroom.

Everyone turned toward her.

She smiled.

"I told you Ethan wasn't the only person who worked for me."

Cesare lunged forward, but a detective blocked him.

"Let us handle her."

"Handle my granddaughter first."

Security footage showed a woman in a cap leading Elsie through the loading dock into a delivery van.

Rosa was sobbing.

"She said Cesare had a surprise for Elsie. I believed her for ten seconds. Ten stupid seconds."

Cesare held her shoulders.

"This is not on you."

Julian looked at Vanessa.

"Where did they take her?"

Vanessa crossed her arms.

"I want immunity."

The detective laughed. "You're in no position to negotiate kidnapping."

"Then good luck finding her."

Julian stepped closer.

"Vanessa, she is seven years old."

"And worth hundreds of millions someday. Don't pretend your family doesn't understand leverage."

Julian's face twisted with disgust.

Cesare forced himself to think.

Elsie. Theater. Paper flowers. Places she knew.

Then he remembered something Ethan had said beneath the stage.

Saturday was the real money.

The wedding was scheduled at the Bellini Grand, but the rehearsal dinner had originally been booked at another family property: the abandoned Bellini Lyric Theater, closed for renovation.

He looked at Nate.

"The Lyric."

Nate understood immediately.

Cars were moving within two minutes.

As Cesare reached the elevator, Vanessa called after him.

"Cesare."

He turned.