Chapter 24 - TALIA DOESN’T COME RUNNING BACK
Talia still did not return immediately.
Dominic expected Monday.
She chose the following month.
“Why?”
“I have a training course.”
“You can take it later.”
“I know.”
He stopped himself.
Old instinct.
Solve schedule with authority.
“Fine.”
Talia noticed.
“Good recovery.”
“Don’t enjoy this.”
“I do.”
She completed an advanced infant-development certification and a workshop on professional documentation in high-net-worth households.
Not glamorous.
Useful.
She also accepted temporary work with a family in Oak Park for three weeks.
Dominic disliked it.
Not because of jealousy.
Because Luca still looked for her.
Dr. Warren told him:
“Children survive caregiver transitions.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating inconvenience as emergency.”
Dominic almost fired her.
Then remembered why he hired professionals.
To hear things he disliked.
He kept her.
Luca adjusted.
He bonded more deeply with Dominic during those weeks.
That mattered.
Talia had warned him long ago that no nanny should become the only reliable regulator in a child’s life.
Now Dominic learned Luca’s bedtime routine himself.
Bath.
Two books.
The ugly stuffed dog.
Lights low.
No phone.
The first night took ninety minutes.
By week three, twenty-five.
Dominic discovered something humiliating.
Parenting required time more than competence.
He could not delegate time.
When Talia finally returned, Luca screamed with joy.
Dominic did not feel replaced.
That was his own progress.
Talia crouched.
“Hi, bug.”
Luca hugged her.
Then immediately turned and reached for Dominic too.
Both.
Not competition.
Bianca had never understood.
Dominic barely had.
Talia’s first day back began with a staff meeting.
Martin presented new reporting rules.
Ana asked:
“What if the concern is about Mr. Rinaldi?”
The room went silent.
Dominic was present.
Martin looked at him.
Dominic answered:
“Then independent counsel.”
Ana stared.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“What if you disagree?”
“Probably will.”
A few staff smiled nervously.
Dominic continued:
“The policy is not useful if it stops at me.”
Talia watched.
Professional change required humiliation sometimes.
Dominic was letting his own authority be named as a risk.
That mattered more than an apology.
After the meeting, he handed Talia a tablet.
“Your log.”
She checked permissions.
“Read-only family access?”
“Yes.”
“Correction history?”
“Yes.”
“External backup?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
“Anything else?”
“Coffee.”
“That isn’t in the contract.”
“Hostile workplace.”
He almost smiled.
Then became serious.
“Bianca wrote to you?”
“Yes.”
“You don't have to tell me.”
“I know.”
“Did you forgive her?”
“No.”
Dominic nodded.
“Me?”
Talia looked at him.
“Not the same question.”
“Why?”
“Because forgiveness isn't employment clearance.”
He waited.
Talia continued:
“I trust the new process more than I trust your instincts.”
Dominic accepted that.
“Fair.”
“Your instincts are improving.”
“High praise.”
“Don't ruin it.”
They walked into the living room.
Same marble.
Same sofa.
Same place Talia had been pushed.
She paused.
Dominic noticed.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
She looked around.
The room had not changed.
But she had.
Before, the mansion’s wealth made every decision feel larger than her.
Now she knew marble was just stone.
A famous surname was just a name.
Power mattered.
But it was not truth.
Luca crawled toward a box of toys.
Talia followed.
Work resumed.
Not as if nothing happened.
Because something had.
And everyone who remained in the house was required to live differently because of it.
May you like
That was more professional than pretending forgiveness erased design flaws.
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