Chapter 5 - The Collapse of an Illusion
Four weeks later.
The headquarters of Caruso Design Group was in a state of absolute chaos.
The federal copyright injunction had landed on Dominic’s desk like a mortar shell. The news had broken across the global fashion industry: Caruso Design Group Sued for Stolen Bridal Line by CEO's Estranged Wife.
Major department stores in Milan, Paris, and Tokyo cancelled their pre-orders. The board of directors had called three emergency meetings in forty-eight hours.
Dominic sat in his corner office, staring at a framed photograph on his desk. It was a picture taken four years ago on a quiet beach in Montauk. Nora was laughing, her dark hair blowing across her face, holding a toddler Eli in her arms.
She wasn't wearing diamonds. She was wearing an oversized sweater and a bright, radiant smile that Dominic hadn't seen in three years.
He touched the glass frame with his thumb.
How had he become this monster?
When had he traded the soft, honest warmth of his marriage for the cold, hollow applause of socialites and corrupt business partners? He had spent five years convincing himself that he was building an empire for Nora and Eli—protecting them, shielding them from his family's dark underworld history.
In reality, he had turned his home into a golden prison and himself into the warden.
The office door opened, and Arthur Vance walked in, looking pale.
"Dominic," Vance said softly. "The board is demanding that we settle with Mrs. Caruso out of court. They want us to pay her off—fifty million dollars, maybe seventy-five—if she drops the injunction and releases a joint statement."
Dominic turned his head slowly. "Pay her off?"
"It’s the only way to save the spring collection, Dominic," Vance insisted. "If the injunction holds, the entire winter line is scrap metal. We lose eighty million dollars in production costs alone."
Dominic stood up, his tall frame looming over the attorney.
"She doesn't want fifty million dollars, Arthur," Dominic said, his voice flat and dead. "She never cared about the money. She wanted my respect. She wanted my trust. And I gave her a hand across the face."
Vance swallowed hard. "Then what do you want to do?"
"Issue a press release," Dominic commanded.
"Stating what?"
"Stating that Caruso Design Group is officially canceling the 'Winter Rose' collection," Dominic said, each word heavy with absolute finality. "State that an internal investigation revealed the designs were used without the permission of the original artist, Nora Bennett. We will offer a full, public apology to Mrs. Bennett, and we will absorb all financial losses."
Vance stared at him in horror. "Dominic, if you do that, the stock will crash! The Moretti family will pull their banking support! You could lose control of the company!"
"I don't give a damn about the company," Dominic said, stepping out from behind his desk and pulling his coat off the rack. "Where is she?"
May you like
Vance hesitated. "Our investigators found her address two days ago, Dominic. But... she’s protected by a high-profile legal team. If you go there with bodyguards or force your way in—"
"I'm going alone," Dominic said quietly, slipping his arms into his coat. "Cancel all my appointments for the next month."
