I blink. "What?"
"You brought me here for a reason." She turns back to me. "You told me about Luna. About Riccardo's son. About the orphanages you support." A small smile curves her lips. "I asked you for a job. For something to do. Something to earn."
Right.
The conversation from last night. Her request for independence. For purpose.
"You said you wanted to work," I say slowly.
"I did." She tilts her head. "Is this it? Is this what you had in mind?"
I look at the building beyond the fence. The children's home I've funded for three years. The place I've visited exactly twice because every time I come here, I see Riccardo's face in every child. See the son he never knew. The family he never had.
"If you want to do something," I say, "maybe you can start here."
Antonella's eyes light up. "Here? At the orphanage?"
"They always need volunteers." I force the words out past the tightness in my throat. "Help organizing clothes. Toys. Food donations. Administrative work. Whatever needs doing."
"You've done this before?"
"I've tried." I look away. "It's not easy for me."
The admission costs me. Admitting weakness always does. But Antonella doesn't pounce on it. Doesn't use it against me.
She just nods.
"You would do that?" My voice comes out rough. "You would come here? Work here? For me?"
"Not just for you." Antonella smiles. "For me too. I told you I wanted something of my own. Something to earn. This..." She looks at the building. "This matters. These children matter. And if I can help them while also helping you carry this weight?" She turns back to me. "That's exactly what I want."
"Antonella—"
"I would love to do this, Bruno." Her smile widens. "I would absolutely love it."
Before I can respond, she leans forward.
Her lips press against mine.
Soft. Warm. Brief.
This is something else.
Something tender.
Something that makes that pressure behind my eyes surge back with a vengeance.
And then she does something worse.
She wraps her arms around me.
An actual hug.
Her body pressed against mine. Her arms around my shoulders. Her face buried in my neck. Her warmth surrounding me completely.
I freeze.
When was the last time someone hugged me?
