Chapter 12 - THE BOARDROOM
Vittorio entered the boardroom at 8:58. “Matteo. You look well.” Matteo answered, “I slept beautifully.” Vittorio’s smile did not move.
Bianca was not present.
Neither were Elena or Mia.
At least that was what Vittorio believed.
Rachel attended as outside counsel.
Three independent directors joined by video.
Dominic’s retired security officers controlled the floor.
Vittorio placed a red folder on the table.
“Shall we begin?”
Matteo looked at it.
“Same folder?”
A flicker.
Gone instantly.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Rachel distributed a motion to delay the Arclight acquisition pending fraud review.
Vittorio laughed.
“This is theatrical.”
Matteo leaned back.
“You should see the wedding.”
The board secretary called the meeting to order.
Before the first vote, Matteo said, “I have one question.”
Vittorio sighed.
“Of course.”
“Who is Adrian Moretti?”
Silence.
Vittorio’s face did not change.
“No idea.”
Matteo slid Marco’s photograph across the table.
Vittorio glanced down.
Then back up.
“You dragged the dead into a board meeting?”
“No. You did.”
Rachel introduced the Arclight ownership trail.
Lantern House transfers.
The forged documents.
The emergency proxy.
Vittorio did not panic.
He smiled.
“You have accusations. Not proof I ordered anything.”
Matteo nodded.
“Fair.”
Then the boardroom speakers came alive.
Paul Vescari’s recorded statement played.
Vittorio’s jaw tightened.
That was the first crack.
The second came when Elena entered.
Not in uniform.
She wore a simple navy suit borrowed from Sofia.
Mia stayed safely upstairs.
Vittorio stared at her.
“You.”
Elena met his eyes.
“My husband kept records.”
Vittorio laughed.
“Your husband stole from this family.”
Elena’s face went still.
Then Matteo said, “Say that again.”
Vittorio looked at him.
Matteo’s phone was recording openly now.
Vittorio realized too late.
He stood.
“This meeting is over.”
The boardroom doors locked.
Dominic stepped forward.
“No, sir.”
Vittorio looked around the room.
Then smiled.
“You think Bianca is your witness?”
Matteo said nothing.
May you like
Vittorio’s smile widened.
“She was never yours to begin with.”
