Chapter 7 - My Wife’s Last Video
Elena’s recorded face looked tired but steady.
The timestamp was two days before the crash.
“I found payments from Harbor Redevelopment to seven companies that do not exist,” she said. “Anthony approved them. Vanessa created three. Daniel Shaw protected the property transfers by burying complaints.”
I gripped the edge of the desk.
Elena continued.
“They have stolen at least sixty-eight million dollars.”
Claire paused the video.
“Sixty-eight?”
Theo nodded slowly.
“That’s bigger than embezzlement. That’s organized fraud.”
“Keep playing.”
Elena looked down before continuing.
“There’s something Vincent doesn’t know. Anthony has been forging his signature for years.”
My stomach tightened.
“He’s been preparing to remove Vincent from Rossi Holdings using a competency clause in our father’s trust. If Vincent suffers a public breakdown, arrest, or medical event, Anthony can ask the board for emergency voting control.”
I stared at the frozen image of my wife.
The pasta.
The guards attacking me.
Thirty witnesses.
Police arriving immediately.
It had not been random cruelty.
Vanessa wanted me to explode.
She wanted video of me beating security men in a room full of guests.
I had given her almost exactly what she needed.
Claire said, “If she releases edited footage, it could support a claim that you’re unstable.”
My phone buzzed.
A news alert appeared.
ROSSI CEO ATTACKS STAFF DURING CHILD’S BIRTHDAY DINNER.
A video was already online.
It showed me slamming Marco across the table.
It did not show Vanessa dumping food on Sofia.
It did not show the letter.
It did not show Marco grabbing me first.
Anthony’s attorney filed an emergency motion with the board twenty minutes later.
Temporary removal of Vincent Rossi as CEO pending a mental-health and conduct review.
The vote was scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
May you like
Claire looked at the clock.
We had four hours.
