Chapter 9 - The Takeover
The following morning, an emergency shareholder summit of the Moretti Hospitality Group was convened at the grand glass tower in downtown Manhattan.
Victoria Moretti sat at the head of the boardroom table, flanked by Julian Vance and Mario Rosetti’s corporate attorneys. She held a smug, victorious smile, believing the warehouse fire had broken Dominic’s financial leverage.
"Dominic has failed as CEO," Victoria announced to the gathered board members. "His personal life has compromised our security, and the destruction of the Brooklyn warehouse has cost us thirty million dollars. I call for an immediate vote to strip him of his executive power!"
The boardroom doors flew open.
Dominic walked into the room, wearing a flawless charcoal suit, his presence commanding absolute silence. But he was not alone.
Walking right beside him, carrying a heavy leather briefcase, was Penelope Hayes.
Victoria scoffed. "You brought your waitress to a board meeting, Dominic? How pathetic."
"She's not my waitress, Victoria," Dominic said smoothly, taking his seat at the opposite end of the table. "She is the Vice President of Corporate Operations for Moretti Hospitality."
Penelope stepped forward, opening her briefcase and distributing thick legal dossiers to every board member at the table.
"In those binders," Penelope spoke, her voice ringing clear, confident, and formidable across the room, "you will find the forensic financial records proving that Victoria Moretti and Julian Vance embezzled forty-five million dollars from the company’s expansion fund to pay off Mario Rosetti’s illegal gambling debts."
Victoria stood up, her face turning ghastly pale. "This is a lie! Forged documents!"
"They aren't forged, Victoria," Penelope continued, stepping right up to her side of the table. "I personally traced the offshore wire transfers through shell accounts in the Cayman Islands over the last forty-eight hours. The Federal District Attorney’s office has already verified the digital signatures."
The board members gasped, furiously scanning the documents. The tide of power shifted instantly.
"Furthermore," Dominic added, his voice dripping with icy triumph, "federal marshals are waiting in the lobby to arrest Julian Vance and Mario Rosetti for arson, corporate extortion, and fraud."
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The double doors opened, and federal agents stepped into the room. Julian Vance tried to bolt toward the side exit, but was immediately tackled to the floor and handcuffed. Victoria collapsed into her chair, sobbing hysterically as she was placed under arrest.
The board members immediately raised their hands in a unanimous vote, solidifying Dominic’s absolute control over the empire and confirming Penelope’s executive position.
