Chapter 9 - THE KITCHEN NIGHT
The kitchen confrontation started because Luca brought home revised transfer documents.
Not a simple quitclaim deed.
A package.
It would transfer Harper Storage into a newly formed LLC.
Jessi would receive a membership interest.
The LLC would then grant the lender a mortgage and assignment of rents.
Luca called that fair.
“You’re not giving it away.”
“You’re encumbering it.”
“We both own the LLC.”
“Who manages it?”
Luca hesitated.
Jessi looked at the page.
Manager:
Luca Romano.
“No.”
Wendy said:
“Stop being dramatic.”
Emma was coloring at the kitchen table.
Jessi told Luca:
“Not in front of her.”
He ignored that.
The argument escalated.
Emma started crying.
Luca picked her up.
At first Jessi thought he was moving her away from the papers.
Then he stepped beside the stockpot.
And transformed a financial argument into something no refinancing package could explain away.
Wendy had helped arrange the signing dinner.
She brought wine.
Printed duplicate copies.
Told Luca:
“Keep her calm.”
In her mind, they were finishing paperwork.
That changed when Emma began crying.
Wendy later insisted:
“I never thought he would use the child.”
Jessi believed her.
Mostly.
But Wendy also did not move when Luca picked Emma up.
She froze.
Then told herself:
May you like
He’s bluffing.
That thought became her excuse for doing nothing during the longest seconds of the night.
