Chapter 8

Dino's POV

I sat in my office, staring blankly at the stack of papers in front of me. Guilt and surprise twisted in my chest as I replayed the scene of Eloise storming out. I shouldn't have done the interview. The moment I saw her name on the application, I should have stepped back, let someone else handle it. But no I had to know. I had to see her.

I hissed under my breath, dragging a hand through my hair. "Stupid," I muttered, the word tasting bitter on my tongue.

My fingers drummed against the desk tap, tap-tap tap, an unconscious rhythm that only stopped when I realized what I was doing. It was a habit I hadn’t thought about in years, one that took me straight back to high school. To her.

I exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair. The memory of Eloise running out of the lunch gathering the other day hit me like a slap. That was my fault too. I’d been cold, distant, maybe even smug. It was automatic, a reflex from the past. But watching her face crumble, even for a moment, had stirred something I hadn’t expected.

Regret.

I shook my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. How could I explain myself? Was there even a way? Could I undo years of torment with a few words, or was it too late for redemption?

She probably hated me and she had every right to. The scars I left weren’t just on her skin; they were on her spirit. I saw it in her eyes during the interview, the way her composure cracked every time I pressed her. It wasn’t fair. None of it was.

I swiveled my chair toward the window, staring out at the city skyline. “What the hell are you doing, Dino?” I muttered. The man I was now wasn’t the boy I used to be, but how could I convince her of that when I couldn’t even forgive myself?

A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

Lila, my assistant, stepped in, holding a folder. “Sir, the next candidate is ready.”

I waved her off. “Reschedule it.”

She blinked, surprised. “But—”

“Reschedule it,” I repeated, more firmly this time.

As she left, I sighed again, the silence in the office louder than ever. Eloise Carter. The girl I hurt, the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about. And now, the woman I wasn’t sure I deserved to know.

I left the office earlier than usual, my mind a chaotic whirlwind of guilt and confusion. The day had been exhausting, but it wasn’t the workload that drained me, it was Eloise. Her presence was like a mirror, reflecting back all the things I’d tried to bury over the years.

By the time I got home, I was already dreading any interaction with my family. The last thing I needed was Luca’s teasing or Dad’s endless questions about the company. I just wanted to be alone.

I headed straight to my room, shutting the door behind me with a soft click. Tossing my jacket onto the chair, I sank onto the edge of my bed, rubbing my temples. Finally, some peace at least for a moment.

But of course, the universe wasn’t done with me yet.

The door swung open without warning, crashing against the wall.

“Dino—”

“C’mon, Luca,” I snapped, turning to glare at my younger brother. “How many times do I have to tell you to knock? You can’t just barge in like that.”

Luca leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed and a mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Last I checked, you don’t bring any girls home, so what’s the big deal? Hiding something?”

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “What do you want, Luca? I’m not in the mood for this.”

“Dad wants to see you in the library. Said it’s important.”

I frowned, my irritation momentarily replaced by curiosity. “Did he say why?”

“Nope,” Luca said, shrugging. “Just that it couldn’t wait. So you might wanna hurry up before he starts yelling.”

I sighed, standing up and grabbing my jacket. “Fine. Tell him I’m coming.”

Luca smirked, stepping aside to let me pass. “Good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

Ignoring him, I made my way downstairs to the library. The Alessandro estate was as grand as ever, its opulence almost suffocating. Marble floors, towering chandeliers, and walls lined with priceless art, Dad had spared no expense in building his empire, and our home was a testament to that.

When I reached the library, I paused outside the door, taking a deep breath. Whatever Dad wanted, it wasn’t going to be a casual chat. It never was.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The room smelled of leather and old books, its dark wood paneling adding to the heavy atmosphere. My father sat behind the massive oak desk, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the desk lamp.

“Dino,” he said, looking up as I entered. “Sit.”

I obeyed, sinking into one of the chairs opposite him. “Luca said you wanted to see me.”

He leaned back, steepling his fingers. “I heard about the incident with Miss Carter today.”

My chest tightened. “How?”

“Let’s just say I have my ways,” he said, his tone cool and measured. “Care to explain what happened?”

“There’s nothing to explain,” I said quickly, trying to sound nonchalant. “She didn’t like how the interview went and walked out. That’s it.”

Dad raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Is that really all there is to it?”

“Yes,” I lied, meeting his gaze head-on.

For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then Dad sighed, leaning forward. “What happened in high school, Dino?”

I froze, the question hanging in the air like a thundercloud. My throat felt dry, but I kept my face blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said evenly.

“Don’t play dumb,” he said, his tone sharp. “Eloise Carter. She was the child you bullied in school, wasn’t she?”

I stiffened, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. How did he know?

“I didn’t—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Don’t lie to me,” he snapped. “You think I don’t know about the incident with the locker? The way you humiliated her?”

My jaw clenched, and I looked away, unable to meet his piercing gaze.

“Do you think I built this empire by ignoring details?” he continued, his voice calm but laced with authority. “When you brought her into your office, I did my homework. I couldn’t afford not to.”

The room felt stifling. I could feel his judgment bearing down on me, along with the weight of my own guilt. “It was a long time ago,” I muttered. “I was a stupid kid—”

“A stupid kid who caused real damage,” he interrupted. “Do you have any idea what she went through because of you?”

My chest tightened. I didn’t need him to tell me. The look in Eloise’s eyes earlier had said it all.

“Look,” I said finally, my voice low. “I know I screwed up. But I’ve changed. I’m not that kid anymore.”

He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You’d better hope that’s true,” he said quietly. “Because if you think you can sweep this under the rug, you’re mistaken. Whatever happens between you and Eloise, you need to face it head-on. You owe her that much.”

Dad leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he watched me intently. “You owe her that much. Give her the job.”

I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said firmly. “Offer her the position she came for. She’s qualified, isn’t she?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts, Dino. She walked into your office, and you let her walk out. That was your mistake. Fix it.”

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw the determination in his eyes. This wasn’t a suggestion; it was an order.

“And one more thing,” Dad continued, his voice dropping to a lower, more serious tone. “I don’t want Anne to know about this. It would devastate her to find out that my son, her future stepson was the one who made her daughter’s life a living hell.”

My stomach churned. “I understand,” I muttered.

“You’d better,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “Anne has been through enough. I won’t let her suffer because of your past mistakes. You’ll handle this quietly, and you’ll make things right with Eloise. Am I clear?”

“Crystal,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Good.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. “This isn’t just about the job, Dino. It’s about accountability. If you want to prove that you’ve really changed, now’s your chance.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. He was right. Avoiding Eloise wasn’t going to solve anything.

“Don’t make me regret trusting you with this,” Dad added, his tone sharp.

“I won’t,” I said, rising from my seat.

“See that you don’t,” he replied, his gaze following me as I walked out of the library.

As I shut the door behind me, a wave of unease washed over me. Giving Eloise the job was the right thing to do, but it meant she’d be in my orbit every day. How was I supposed to face her knowing what I’d done?

And how was I going to stop her from hating me even more than she already did?

But was an apology enough to fix the mess I’d made?