Chapter 2 - THE VIDEO THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Luca Moretti had watched men lie while staring directly into his eyes.
He had seen business partners betray lifelong friendships.
He had survived threats, extortion attempts, and enough violence to understand that loyalty was often a performance.
But nothing prepared him for the video on Emma Carter's flash drive.
The recording began inside the estate's private library.
Bianca stood near the fireplace, holding a phone.
Her voice was unmistakable.
"Once Luca signs the Bennett acquisition, the money becomes untraceable."
A man answered through the speaker.
"And his companies?"
Bianca smiled.
"They'll be yours within six months."
Luca went completely still.
The recording continued.
The man asked, "What about the maid?"
Bianca laughed.
"She's nobody. If she hears anything, I'll make sure she disappears."
Emma lowered her eyes.
Luca's jaw tightened.
"Who is the man?"
Emma shook her head.
"I don't know."
Bianca suddenly stepped forward.
"That recording is edited!"
Luca looked at her.
"Then you can explain that to investigators."
Sophia began crying.
"Bianca, tell him."
Bianca turned sharply.
"Shut up!"
Luca noticed.
Sophia wasn't crying because she feared arrest.
She was terrified of Bianca.
He looked toward Emma.
"How did you get this?"
Emma hesitated.
"The library security system was malfunctioning. I was asked to check the control panel because I used to work with computers."
Luca frowned.
"You repaired my security system?"
"Only the recording unit."
"Why?"
"Because the maintenance company said the replacement would take two weeks."
Luca looked toward Vincent.
"Did you authorize that?"
Vincent nodded.
"Yes, sir. Emma had already helped us recover several corrupted inventory files."
Luca stared at his maid.
Six months she'd worked inside his home.
Six months she'd been treated as someone whose only responsibility was polishing furniture.
And she'd quietly repaired systems his expensive contractors couldn't fix.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Emma gave a tired smile.
"You don't usually ask the housekeepers about their hobbies."
The truth landed harder than Luca expected.
He looked away.
She was right.
Then the video resumed.
Bianca opened a folder.
Inside were documents bearing the Moretti family crest.
She held one page toward the camera.
"The transfer is already arranged," she said.
The man's voice became clearer.
"And Luca's signature?"
Bianca smiled.
"He doesn't know he's already signed it."
Luca felt his stomach turn.
"What?"
Emma paused the recording.
"There's another file."
She opened a scanned document.
A corporate authorization.
Dated two weeks earlier.
Signed by Luca Moretti.
Except Luca had never seen it.
He examined the signature.
It looked perfect.
Too perfect.
He turned toward Bianca.
"You forged my signature?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Luca stepped closer.
"Who did?"
Bianca's lips trembled.
Then Sophia whispered something.
"Bianca, please. Tell him before they find out about the hospital."
Luca stopped.
"What hospital?"
Sophia covered her mouth.
Bianca stared at her with pure hatred.
Luca looked between them.
Then Emma opened another file.
A photograph appeared.
Bianca stood outside a private medical facility in Greenwich.
Beside her was a man in a dark suit.
Luca recognized him immediately.
His younger brother.
May you like
Adrian Moretti.
The man who had supposedly died five years earlier.
