Chapter 6 - The Manager's Panic
The cinematic stillness of the moment was aggressively shattered by the sound of rapid, panicked footsteps echoing across the polished black marble.
Marco, his tailored charcoal-gray suit looking suddenly frantic, rushed toward the booth. His sharp jaw was clenched, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool air conditioning of the luxury restaurant.
"I am so incredibly sorry, Mr. Russo!" Marco interrupted loudly, his voice tight with forced authority. He glared venomously at Maya. "This waitress is clumsy and completely out of line. Let go of the child's hand immediately, Maya! You are fired! Get out of my restaurant right now!"
Maya flinched, the threat of losing her bakery savings hitting her like a physical blow. She tried to gently pull her hand away, but Sophia’s tiny fingers gripped her even tighter.
Dante didn't even turn his head to look at Marco.
"Silence," Dante commanded. The single word wasn't a yell, but it carried such a terrifying, lethal weight that Marco instantly froze in his tracks, his face draining of all color.
Dante shifted his piercing pale-gray eyes back to the angelic little girl hiding behind Maya's black skirt. The billionaire crouched down slightly, his massive shoulders softening as he looked at his daughter.
"Sophia, tesoro," Dante whispered gently, ignoring Marco completely. "Why are you holding her hand?"
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Sophia peeked out from behind the deep-emerald waitress apron. She didn't look at her father. She pointed a tiny, trembling finger directly across the table.
👉 Sophia was pointing right at the man who had been humiliating Maya all night.
