Chapter 7 - The Don's Feast
That evening, Lorenzo brought Clara to Il Corvo, his private rooftop restaurant overlooking the twinkling skyline of downtown Chicago.
The entire establishment had been cleared out. Soft jazz played from gold speakers, candlelight danced across crisp white tablecloths, and the smell of roasted garlic, truffle oil, and prime rib filled the air.
Clara sat across from Lorenzo, wearing a simple black silk slip dress that hugged her frame.
For the first time in years, she didn't feel self-conscious about ordering food.
When the waiter arrived, Clara paused, looking at the menu. For three years with Dominic, she had ordered light salads and steamed vegetables, constantly feeling his judgment every time she reached for bread.
Lorenzo noticed her hesitation.
He leaned across the table, taking the menu from her hand, and looked at the waiter.
"Bring us the porterhouse steak for two," Lorenzo ordered smoothly. "The roasted potatoes with rosemary, the lobster risotto, the garlic butter asparagus, and a bottle of '82 Barolo."
Clara looked at him, surprised. "Lorenzo... that’s a massive amount of food."
Lorenzo smiled—a real, genuine smile that softened the harsh edges of his handsome face.
"I love a woman with a healthy appetite, Clara," Lorenzo said softly, resting his hand over hers on the table. "I want you to eat. I want you to drink. I want you to enjoy every single second of your life without ever feeling like you need to apologize for existing."
Clara felt a lump form in her throat. She looked down at her hands, tears pricking her eyes.
"What is it, sweet Clara?" Lorenzo asked softly, his thumb caressing her knuckles.
"Dominic used to tell me..." Clara whispered, her voice cracking slightly, "that if I ate too much, I wouldn't fit into his social circle. He made me feel like I was taking up too much space."
Lorenzo’s amber eyes flared with a sudden, dangerous fire, but his touch remained infinitely gentle.
"Dominic Rossi is a small man who lives in a small world," Lorenzo said, his voice dropping into a deep, intense vow. "You don't take up too much space, Clara. You fill the room with life. You are magnificent, smart, powerful, and breathtakingly beautiful. Never let a boy who couldn't handle your power make you feel small again."
May you like
Clara looked into his eyes, feeling the sheer weight of his sincerity.
When the food arrived, they ate, laughed, and drank wine under the stars. For the first time in her life, Clara felt completely seen, completely wanted, and completely safe in the arms of a man whom the entire city feared.
