Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Smiled at My Desk
Lucia had been working for Lorenzo Vitali for nine years.
She knew his schedule.
His business partners.
His private meetings.
And every document that passed through his office.
I had trusted her.
She was the person who brought me coffee during my first week.
The person who taught me where Lorenzo kept his old contracts.
The person who smiled knowingly whenever I argued with him.
Now Isabella was claiming Lucia had been helping Adrian Bellini.
I felt sick.
"Lorenzo, are you sure?"
He looked at me.
"No."
I blinked.
He continued.
"We have an accusation. We need evidence."
For the first time, he wasn't rushing toward revenge.
He was thinking.
That made me respect him more than any display of power ever had.
Marco arranged a review of company access logs.
Within hours, investigators found that Lucia's credentials had been used to download sensitive files.
Including my personnel record.
My address.
Emergency contacts.
Everything.
I closed my eyes.
"She gave Adrian my information."
Lorenzo's face darkened.
"Yes."
Then Marco discovered something else.
The Calabresi contract I'd edited contained a hidden authorization for transferring millions to an offshore company.
The original document had been prepared under Lucia's account.
But the final approval required Lorenzo's signature.
And I had removed the clause before he could sign.
I stared at the screen.
"That's why they came after me."
Lorenzo nodded.
"You stopped the transfer."
"I thought it was just sloppy accounting."
His expression softened.
"You saved the company millions."
I laughed bitterly.
"And nearly got myself kidnapped."
He looked ashamed.
"Lily, I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"You didn't know."
"But I should've protected my employees better."
I studied him.
"Then protect them now."
He nodded.
"I will."
That afternoon, federal investigators questioned Lucia.
At first, she denied everything.
Then they showed her the access logs.
Her expression changed.
She began crying.
"Adrian threatened my brother."
The investigator leaned forward.
"Explain."
Lucia covered her face.
"He said if I didn't help him, my brother would disappear."
She admitted copying files, changing meeting schedules, and providing Adrian with confidential information.
But she insisted she hadn't known about the plan to frighten me outside my apartment.
Then she revealed something worse.
"Adrian planned to use Lily as leverage against Lorenzo."
My blood ran cold.
"Why?"
Lucia looked at me.
"Because he knew Lorenzo cared about you."
Lorenzo went completely still.
Lucia continued.
"He wanted Lorenzo to sign over his shipping shares."
I stared at her.
"And if he refused?"
She began sobbing.
"Adrian said Lily would disappear just like Isabella."
May you like
Then she whispered the final revelation.
"He already has someone inside Lorenzo's security team."
