Page 79 of Enzo

“Yes, you did.” She nods. “You did that, Enzo. Don’t try to diminish it.”

I run my fingers over the mask and that evening in Venice immediately resurfaces in my mind. I remember Molly in her vibrant yellow dress. Molly with her crooked eyelashes. Molly and her canapés.

“You see the beauty in things,” she continues. “How you brought that space to life …”

“It’s no big deal. You do one development and the others just get easier.”

She surveys me. “You should acknowledge your victories, Enzo.”

I don’t say a word, but I can’t help thinking how unsettling this must be for her. But now that she’s here, I can't leave her to fend for herself.

I walk over to the window and look down. The crowd outside seems bigger. We’re so high up, I can’t see much, but I can see there’s a mass of below. I can just about make out the security barriers.

It's still crazy out there. I thought this had died down, but Molly coming here will re-ignite interest.

“Did you hear what they said?” I ask her.

Fear creeps back into her eyes. “Dancing in Venice …”

We stare at one another as the realization hits. Another video is now circulating, and this time it has both of us. A video one of the onlookers must have taken. I was so absorbed in the dancing that I didn’t even notice.

The door bursts open and I look up to see Father's face as he storms in. He's followed quickly by the rest of my brothers.

“We had a board meeting!” he cries. “The company is dealing with a media crisis and you go running out, for what?”

He stops just short of Molly, his eyes going over her from head to toe like he doesn't know what to make of what he's seeing. “What is this?”

“This is … Molly.”

My gaze bounces between my brothers in their dark bespoke suits and Molly standing there like a rich sunset glowing in the middle of my office space.

“What in God's name—” Father starts to say. Then, “Is this her?” His tone is full of such derision, it makes me flinch. I position myself between Molly and Father.

“Don't be so rude,” Rio says.

“Hi, I'm Molly.” Her voice comes out from behind me, a little timid. A little shy. Unfortunately, she’s completely failed to read the room, or my father's expression, or his tone. She moves to my side, then wipes her hand on her dress before holding it out for Father to shake.

He doesn’t take it.

I grit my teeth, feeling bad for her, for this situation.

“What’s that, dude?” Rio asks, staring at the mask in my hand.

It’s too late to even hide it.

“I wanted to return it to him,” Molly explains.

My brothers snigger.

Jett sighs. “You've got to be kidding me.”

“Dude, dude.” Rio's laughing so much he can barely talk. “A mask?”

Dex chortles, arms folded, the widest grin on his face. Zach stares at it in disbelief.

“Back to the boardroom,” Father orders, and leaves, but no one follows him.

“Enzo?”