Page 53 of Enzo

“The replacement would be indistinguishable—” the man in the hard hat says.

“No.”

“But, Mr. Valizar, it will cost three times as much and people won’t notice.”

“I didn't ask what it would cost. I want the originals preserved.” Luca’s voice is deep and rich, carrying easily above the noise.

“Yes, sir.” The man takes the tile and leaves.

I'm about to step forward and introduce myself when Luca turns around.

“Mr. Knight.” He doesn’t hold out his hand for me to shake, and for a moment I don’t know how to react. It's rare for me to be thrown off guard by somebody, but I am by this man.

“Mr. Valizar.” I don’t give him my hand to shake either.

It's then that I see that he has a scar. He makes no attempt to hide it. He's younger than I expected. Given the mystery surrounding him, and the awe with which people speak his name, I always expected him to be older, more like Father. But this man looks like he's in his early thirties, maybe.

His hair is dark and short, and he’s dressed impeccably in a dark suit. His face would have been almost too perfect were it not for the scar that cuts across one side of it.

“You found me.”

That’s a nod to his secrecy. To the way he keeps himself out of the public eye.

I gesture around me. “Strange place to have a meeting, especially given that we were both in Venice a few days ago.”

“Why did you keep the clock?”

The clock?

It takes a few seconds, but I know what he’s talking about. The abandoned depot Knight Enterprises acquired. The very first solo project I worked on.

A large four-faced station clock had once hung above the original central concourse. It had survived. It had been hidden and forgotten, but that didn't make it worthless. When we uncovered it, above a false ceiling, it was filthy and corroded. It hadn't worked in years. The project manager wanted it removed. Restoring it would cost more than replacing it.

I wanted to keep it.

“Because it belonged there.”

I’m struck by his question. I’m the one who usually watches others. How they talk, and stand, the words they speak, but Luca seems to be as observant as I am. I sense that he’s been studying me.

“The project is yours, if you want it.”

“What project?”

“Something similar to the old, abandoned depot you restored.”

He’s offering me a project, just like that? Based on what? A clock? This can’t be real. I’m convinced there’s been a misunderstanding.

Though, if he’s being serious, I likely won’t turn down whatever it is, as long as it’s legal. The chance to work on something for Luca Valizar is an opportunity not to be turned down, but I’m flying completely blind.

Everything about this is strange.

This man has given me barely no information. We’re having a meeting standing up without a desk, without contracts, without paper, in the middle of ruins.

I look around me. “You want to discuss this here, now?”

He looks at his watch. “I need to be somewhere in five. There’s no obligation, Mr. Knight. I’ve visited the depot you restored, many times.”

“Was that why you invited me to the ball in Venice?”