Chapter 8 - A FATHER WHO CHOSE WRONG
Cesare stared at his son for several seconds.
"You gave Vanessa voting control over your shares?"
Julian nodded once.
"For the merger vote. She said it would show the board we were united."
Marta swore under her breath.
Cesare stood.
"How much do you own?"
"Fourteen percent."
"And Ethan?"
"He represents two outside investment groups."
Marta's face tightened. "If those groups are shell entities tied to North Harbor, Vanessa may have assembled enough votes to force a sale."
Cesare understood at once.
Saturday's wedding was at the flagship Bellini Grand. A supposedly routine board meeting was scheduled that morning. It was a takeover.
"You handed her the knife," Cesare told Julian.
Julian looked sick. "I didn't know."
"You didn't want to know. There's a difference."
Julian's phone rang.
Vanessa.
Everyone looked at it.
Cesare said, "Answer. Speaker."
Julian did.
"Where are you?" Vanessa demanded.
"At the office."
"With your father?"
Julian hesitated.
Vanessa's voice softened instantly. "Baby, listen to me. Ethan made mistakes. I can fix them. But if your father gets the board involved, he'll destroy us. He'll take Elsie, your job, everything."
Julian shut his eyes.
Cesare watched him carefully.
Vanessa continued. "Come home. We'll get married Saturday. After that, nobody can separate us."
"What about North Harbor?"
Silence.
Then Vanessa said, "Who told you that name?"
Julian looked at Cesare.
"You just did."
The line went dead.
Nate's radio chirped again.
"We located Ethan's SUV at Pier Twelve. Driver's door open. No driver."
Erin stood abruptly. "He wouldn't leave the car unless--"
A second security officer interrupted from the doorway.
"Mr. Bellini, there's something else. Your townhouse alarm just triggered."
May you like
Cesare's blood turned cold.
Elsie was inside.
