Chapter 7 - The Downfall of the House of Cards
Two weeks later.
The boardroom on the eightieth floor of Marchetti Tower had been transformed into something resembling a tribunal.
There were no media cameras, no public announcements, and no stock tickers running across the walls. Just twenty senior partners, the head of internal compliance, two federal investigators specializing in corporate extortion, and Lucas Marchetti sitting at the head of the long mahogany table.
Eleanor Marchetti sat at the opposite end. Her posture was still rigid, her designer suit still immaculate, but the air of untouchable invincibility had completely vanished from her eyes. Standing beside her, pale and shaking, was Isabella Romano.
“The internal audit of the 2019 asset reallocation funds has been completed,” the chief compliance officer announced, sliding a thick dossier across the table toward Eleanor. “It appears that several multi-million-dollar trust disbursements were diverted through shell corporations controlled by Miss Romano, with signatures authorized under your personal executive seal, Eleanor.”
Eleanor didn't look at the dossier. She kept her cold, unflinching gaze fixed on Lucas.
“You are tearing apart your own family over a dying girl from Queens,” Eleanor said, her voice dripping with aristocratic contempt. “Your father would be ashamed of you.”
“My father built this company on loyalty and strength, not extortion and kidnapping,” Lucas replied, his voice terrifyingly calm. He stood up slowly, resting his palms on the edge of the table.
“As of this morning,” Lucas continued, “the Marchetti family trust has been restructured. Miss Romano’s employment is terminated effective immediately, and her financial accounts have been frozen pending federal wire fraud indictments.”
Isabella let out a sharp gasp, collapsing back into her chair as the two federal agents standing near the door stepped forward, placing cold steel handcuffs around her wrists.
“And you, Eleanor,” Lucas turned his gray eyes toward his stepmother. “You will retain your title on paper, but your voting shares are hereby revoked, your access to corporate security is cancelled, and you will vacate the penthouse by midnight.”
Eleanor’s face hardened into a mask of pure venom. “You can’t exile me, Lucas. I made you who you are.”
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“You made a monster,” Lucas corrected softly. “And today, I’m finally putting him to sleep.”
Without waiting for her reply, Lucas turned and walked out of the boardroom, leaving his stepmother surrounded by the very empire she had sacrificed their humanity to protect.
