Chapter 4 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE ENGAGEMENT
The engagement had been negotiated over six months.
The Costa family controlled shipping interests along the Chicago River and several major distribution routes.
The Marino family controlled warehouses, trucking contracts, and valuable property on the South Side.
Their alliance would consolidate both organizations.
Gabriel understood the financial benefits.
He also understood the danger.
Isabella's father, Lorenzo Marino, was ambitious.
Too ambitious.
And his daughter was not the harmless socialite she pretended to be.
That evening, Gabriel reviewed the engagement documents again.
Clara had prepared the original drafts.
Every clause was precise.
Every obligation clearly defined.
But something had changed.
A new provision appeared in the final version.
A transfer of operational oversight to Marino-appointed executives after the wedding.
Gabriel frowned.
He hadn't authorized it.
He called his attorney.
“Who added clause seventeen?”
A pause.
“Mr. Costa, that provision came from the Marino legal team.”
“Who approved it?”
Silence.
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“Find out.”
He ended the call.
Then opened Clara's resignation letter again.
May you like
For the first time, he wondered whether she'd been trying to tell him something.
And whether he'd been too arrogant to listen.
