Chapter 3 - DANTE REMEMBERS THE NAME
Dante Moretti had seen the name Elena Vale on invoices.
Years earlier, Moretti Hospitality had invested in Northline Performance Works after the company expanded into hotel entertainment and live-event production.
Dante did not manage creative staff.
He reviewed acquisition papers.
One memo included:
Key retained personnel:
Elena Vale — movement director and choreography specialist.
He remembered because Northline’s founder had said:
“If Vale leaves, half our complicated live work gets harder.”
Then Elena did leave.
Dante had never met her.
Now he stared at the woman barefoot in his ballroom.
“Elena Vale?”
Elena looked at him.
“Used to be.”
Isabella laughed.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
The orchestra leader, Martin Shaw, answered before Elena could.
“It means she trained half the dancers you hired tonight.”
Isabella’s face changed.
Several performers near the band looked toward Elena.
One whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Another smiled.
Sofia looked up at her mother.
“You trained them?”
Elena sighed.
“Some.”
Isabella recovered quickly.
“So she taught people to dance.”
She raised her glass again.
“That doesn’t mean she can beat me.”
Elena smiled.
“No.”
Then:
“It doesn’t.”
That answer frustrated Isabella.
She wanted arrogance.
Elena gave her fact.
Then Isabella stepped onto the floor.
“Good.”
May you like
She held out one arm.
“Then prove it.”
