Chapter 3 - The New HorizonBy late afternoon, the boardroom was empty.
The security guards had cleared out the last of Reeve’s legal team. The federal investigators had finished copying the servers.
Adriano was gone—escorted out through the private service elevators to face a grand jury and a very long, very quiet prison sentence. Bianca Ricci had already packed her bags from Apartment 6B after her corporate allowances were instantaneously wiped out by the trust’s freezing orders.
Bella stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive office, looking out over Boston Harbor as the sun finally broke through the gray clouds, painting the water in brilliant shades of gold and amber.
The door opened softly.
Don Matteo entered, walking with his cane, carrying a small porcelain cup of tea. He set it on the mahogany desk before stopping beside her.
“The board has officially ratified the emergency proxy,” Matteo said quietly, looking out at the harbor. “You are now the interim chairwoman of Moretti Atlantic Holdings, holding absolute voting rights until your son comes of age.”
Bella rested one hand gently on her swollen stomach, feeling her son kick in reassurance.
“I didn't want an empire, Don Matteo,” Bella whispered. “I just wanted a family.”
“I know, my child,” Matteo said, his stern voice softening just a fraction. “Some men are builders. And some men are just caretakers of what others built. My son forgot which one he was. But you... you remembered.”
He patted her shoulder gently and turned toward the door.
May you like
“Rest, Bella. Tomorrow, we start rebuilding.”
Bella nodded. She looked out at the vast horizon, her heart no longer heavy, knowing that the empire—and her son’s future—was finally safe.
