Chapter 6 - AN ENGAGEMENT MADE OF DEBTS
The watch belonged to Carlo Romano, Alessandro's father, dead for eight years. Its cracked face was unmistakable. Alessandro had broken it during an argument at a dock the summer Isabella vanished.
"My father told me she was working with our enemies," he said. "He showed me a document with her signature."
"Do you still have it?" Rios asked.
"In the family archives. Unless Enzo cleaned those out too."
Back at the estate, Victoria waited in the dining room with a lawyer and a stack of press releases. She had already sent guests a statement claiming Mara assaulted her and stole family property.
"Take it down," Alessandro said.
"My father says if you break this engagement, Sterling Capital will call in every outstanding loan," Victoria replied. "And your ports will close by Friday."
There it was: the reason he had accepted the engagement in the first place. Sterling financing had kept his legitimate businesses afloat while Enzo fed cash into projects no accountant could explain.
"You're using the staff as leverage too?" Alessandro asked.
"I'm being realistic. That girl came into this house knowing who she was. Ask her why she applied under the name Vale."
Mara stepped forward. "Because every application bearing the name Romano disappeared. Someone told employment agencies I was a thief."
Victoria's expression flickered. "That wasn't me."
"You knew my mother was buried here."
"I know what my father told me. I never saw a body."
"Then tell Rios what he said."
Victoria glanced at her lawyer, who shook his head.
Alessandro removed his engagement ring and set it on the dining table. "We're finished. And the press release comes down."
May you like
Victoria's phone vibrated. She read the screen and turned white.
"You should have waited," she said. "My father just bought the majority of your company's debt."
