Hannah read the paragraph again.
Then a third time.
Giovanni Moretti waited without interrupting her.
The restaurant was silent except for the faint hum of refrigeration behind the bar and the ticking of an old clock somewhere beyond the kitchen doors.
The folder between them suddenly felt heavier than paper should.
“This translation is wrong,” Hannah said.
Giovanni’s expression did not change.
“How wrong?”
“Wrong enough that I wouldn’t sign this Monday.”
For the first time since she had entered Rossini’s, Giovanni leaned forward.
Hannah pointed to the French paragraph.
“The English version says Ashford Holdings assumes liability for compliance penalties connected to shipments they control.
The French language says almost the opposite.
It gives them the right to transfer those penalties to Moretti Imports under certain circumstances.”
She flipped backward several pages, comparing sections.
“It’s buried here too.
Different wording, same effect.”
Giovanni watched her eyes move over the document.
“You’re certain?”
“I’m fluent, Mr.
Moretti.
Not psychic.
Have your lawyers verify it.”
Something almost like amusement touched his face.
“Giovanni.”
“I’m not calling you Giovanni five minutes after discovering you investigated my mother.”
“Fair.”
He took out his phone.
Hannah expected anger.
Instead, his voice became colder and quieter.
“Franco.
Stop the Ashford signing.
Nobody executes anything Monday morning.
Send the French annex to outside counsel tonight.”
A pause.
“No.
Do not tell the Ashfords why.”
He ended the call.
Hannah pushed the folder away.
“If this is some test to convince me I deserve the job, don’t.”
“It wasn’t a test.”
“Then why was the contract here?”
“I was reviewing it before you arrived.”
“And you just happened to open it to the French section?”
Giovanni’s gaze sharpened.
“I was told you speak five languages.
I wanted to know if the résumé was accurate.”
Hannah almost laughed despite herself.
“So it was a test.”
“A very short one.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
She believed him.
The man sitting across from her was still frightening.
Hannah had spent enough years working around wealthy families to recognize ordinary power: money, introductions, lawyers, employees who answered before the second ring.
Giovanni carried something different.
