Chapter 7 - THE MOTHER WHO CHOSE HER SON
Bianca Rossi arrived at Rossi Tower believing Elena was still trapped beneath the Grand Alcazar.
That was the first advantage.
The second was that Stefano believed Julian had gone to the hospital.
The third was Camila.
She entered the board meeting in an emerald gown with a bandage across her forehead and took her usual place behind Julian’s empty chair.
Marco stared.
“You’re late.”
Camila smiled.
“Traffic.”
“Where’s Julian?”
“Panicking.”
“About?”
She leaned closer.
“Exactly what you wanted.”
Marco relaxed.
Across town, Julian, Elena, Dante and Evelyn entered Rossi Tower through Antonio Rossi’s private garage.
Elena wore a dark coat over borrowed clothing.
Her contractions remained irregular.
Dr. Chen had examined her again and warned that the baby could come tonight or two days from now.
Every medical instinct said hospital.
Every survival instinct said finish this first.
Julian hated it.
Elena insisted.
The board meeting began at seven.
Stefano sat at the head of the table.
“Due to extraordinary market conditions, we are accelerating final consideration of the Halcyon transaction.”
Three directors objected.
Stefano overruled them.
Marco presented the waiver carrying Julian’s signature.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Julian walked in.
Silence.
Marco’s face changed first.
Stefano recovered faster.
“Nephew.”
Julian dropped a folder onto the table.
“Move the vote.”
Stefano smiled.
“You authorized it.”
“No.”
He looked at every director.
“My credentials were used fraudulently.”
Marco laughed.
“That’s convenient.”
Camila spoke.
“He’s telling the truth.”
Marco turned.
The smile disappeared.
Camila placed a recorder on the table.
“I also have copies of the messages you deleted.”
Stefano’s expression darkened.
“You stupid girl.”
“Probably.”
Camila looked at Julian.
“But not stupid enough to die for you.”
Marco stood.
Security entered.
Dante appeared behind them.
Two guards immediately backed away.
They remembered him.
Stefano did too.
“Moretti.”
“Stefano.”
The room changed.
Then Elena entered.
The effect was instant.
Bianca gasped.
Marco went white.
Stefano did not move.
Elena removed her coat.
Her pregnancy was unmistakable.
One board member stood.
“My God.”
Another whispered:
“Elena?”
Stefano finally spoke.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
She looked directly at him.
“That is what everyone keeps telling me.”
Julian placed Schedule Nine on the table.
“The merger is frozen.”
Stefano shook his head.
“The succession review has not triggered.”
Elena touched her stomach.
“Yet.”
Marco snapped:
“The pregnancy isn’t verified.”
Julian turned slowly.
Every director heard the ugliness of the sentence.
Elena took out Dr. Chen’s certification.
“Thirty-four weeks, six days.”
Stefano looked toward Bianca.
That was when Julian understood.
His mother was not merely attending.
She was waiting for a signal.
“Mom.”
Bianca’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
“For which part?”
She stood.
“All of it.”
Stefano hissed:
“Sit down.”
Bianca ignored him.
“For eleven years, Stefano told me Antonio died because he tried to expose trust theft.”
Julian stared at her.
“You knew?”
“I knew Antonio was afraid.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened Elena.”
Bianca began crying.
“Yes.”
Elena’s face remained calm.
Bianca looked at her.
“I thought if you disappeared, Stefano would leave you alone.”
“You let me believe Julian was in danger every day.”
“I believed he was.”
“You let your grandchild be erased.”
Bianca’s voice broke.
“I chose my son.”
Elena nodded slowly.
“And I was supposed to accept that.”
“No.”
Bianca shook her head.
“No. You were never supposed to forgive me.”
The honesty silenced the room.
Then Bianca turned toward Stefano.
“But I am finished protecting you.”
She opened her purse.
A small digital recorder.
“I recorded him.”
Stefano’s face changed.
Bianca pressed play.
His voice filled the boardroom.
IF THE PREGNANCY SURVIVES, THE AUDIT OPENS.
Bianca:
THEN LET THE AUDIT OPEN.
Stefano:
YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT ANTONIO FOUND.
Bianca:
I UNDERSTAND ENOUGH.
Stefano:
NO. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I NEEDED YOU TO BELIEVE.
The recording continued.
Then came the sentence that changed everyone’s expression.
Stefano’s voice:
I DIDN’T KILL ANTONIO.
Bianca:
THEN WHO DID?
A long pause.
Stefano:
ASK MARCO.
Every head turned.
Marco stood.
“No.”
Stefano’s face twisted.
“You wanted the merger.”
“You’re lying.”
“You wanted your father’s debt erased.”
“Shut up.”
“You told Wells which medical records to alter.”
Marco lunged across the table.
Security grabbed him.
Julian stared at his cousin.
The man who had been his best friend.
His best man.
The person who had sat beside him when Elena vanished.
“Did you know?”
Marco struggled.
“Julian—”
“Did you know she was alive?”
Silence.
Julian stepped closer.
“Answer me.”
Marco’s eyes moved toward Elena.
Then her stomach.
“Yes.”
Julian looked as though he had been punched.
“For eight months?”
“Yes.”
“You watched me look for her.”
“Yes.”
“You told me to move on.”
Marco’s voice broke.
“I needed you functional.”
“For the merger.”
“Yes.”
Julian whispered:
“You introduced Camila.”
“Yes.”
“And my father?”
Marco stopped.
Stefano laughed bitterly.
“Tell him.”
Marco shook his head.
Julian grabbed his jacket.
“What happened to my father?”
Marco looked terrified.
Not of Julian.
Of someone else.
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
Again.
Elena stared.
The same sound as the hotel.
Dante turned toward the doors.
“Everybody stay inside.”
The lights died.
In darkness, a gunshot cracked.
Elena screamed.
Emergency lighting flashed on.
Marco lay on the floor.
May you like
Blood spread beneath him.
And Stefano Rossi was gone.
