Chapter 5 - The Queen of RivertonThree months later, the corporate landscape of Riverton had undergone a seismic shift.
The old guard—the corrupt city councilmen, the old-money families who hid behind charity galas while funding illicit syndicates—had either been swept up by federal indictments or quietly absorbed into the new corporate ecosystem.
And at the center of it all sat Valente-Hayes Global Logistics.
The new corporate headquarters occupied the entire top floor of the tallest glass tower downtown. The office was minimalist, sleek, and bathed in natural light.
Sloan sat behind an oversized mahogany desk, wearing a sharp, tailored slate-grey pantsuit, reviewing a string of digital acquisitions across her dual monitors.
The glass partition outside her office didn't feature a secretary. It featured armed security and a digital gold plaque reading: Sloan Valente-Hayes, Chief Executive Officer.
The heavy double doors swung open without a knock.
Dante walked in, carrying two cups of espresso from the corner cafe she liked. He set one down on her desk, leaning over to press a warm kiss to the side of her neck.
“You’re working too hard, miele,” Dante murmured, his hands resting on her shoulders, massaging the tight muscles. “The dock expansion in Newark can wait until tomorrow.”
“It’s not the docks,” Sloan sighed, spinning her chair around to face him. A small, genuine smile played on her lips. “I’m reviewing the quarterly profit margins from the former Bellamy real-estate portfolio. Turns out, Carter’s father was hiding twenty million in undeclared assets in upstate New York.”
Dante raised an eyebrow, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “And what are you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to liquidate it, buy out our remaining debt to the European syndicates, and invest the rest into building a scholarship fund for women in forensic accounting.” She paused, looking up at him through her lashes. “Think your criminal associates will approve?”
“My associates,” Dante chuckled, pulling her up out of her chair and wrapping his arms around her waist, “learned three months ago not to question anything the Queen of Riverton decides to do.”
Sloan rested her hands against his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart.
May you like
“Queen?” she murmured playfully. “I thought I was just your accountant.”
“You started as my accountant,” Dante whispered, leaning down until his lips brushed hers. “Now, you own everything that matters.”
