Chapter 7 - THE FIANCÉE'S LAST PERFORMANCE
Camila planned the announcement for Friday evening.
She booked the Costa ballroom, invited the senior executives, and prepared a speech describing her devotion to Vincent during his medical crisis. She would announce temporary leadership arrangements and a strategic partnership with the Romano group.
The guests arrived beneath chandeliers that had illuminated decades of Costa celebrations. Lorenzo stood beside the fireplace, smiling too often.
At eight thirty, Camila approached the microphone.
“Vincent would want us to be strong,” she began.
A voice answered from the doorway.
“Would he?”
The room went silent.
Vincent stood beneath the archway in a dark suit, Matteo at his side.
Camila gripped the podium.
Lorenzo took one step backward.
“Vincent?” she whispered.
He walked into the room. He was still weak, and every step cost him, but he refused to disguise it.
“I'm alive,” he said. “That appears to inconvenience several people.”
Camila recovered first.
“Oh, thank God.”
She hurried toward him with tears forming in her eyes.
Vincent held up a hand.
“Don't.”
She stopped.
“You were discussing transfer papers beside my bed,” he said. “I heard you.”
Her expression hardened. “You were unconscious.”
“No. I was pretending.”
The room erupted into murmurs.
Vincent turned toward the executives. “The documents circulated in my name are disputed. My attorneys have notified the board and law enforcement. No one should sign or destroy anything.”
Lorenzo moved toward a side door.
Two detectives entered the ballroom with uniformed officers. They approached him, identified themselves, and placed him under arrest on charges connected to the attempted murder after a judge issued the necessary warrant.
Camila stared at them.
“You can't do this.”
Detective Ellis turned toward her. “Ms. Vale, we need to speak with you about suspected conspiracy and forged corporate documents.”
Camila looked at Vincent.
“After everything I did for you?”
He thought of the years he had mistaken her attention for love and his own wealth for proof that he deserved it.
“Tell the truth,” he said. “For once.”
She was escorted out to be questioned, her engagement ring flashing beneath the chandelier.
The ballroom remained silent.
Vincent looked at the executives who had stayed.
“There will be no new boss appointed tonight,” he said. “There will be an audit. The businesses will operate under independent oversight while the legal process runs its course.”
A longtime associate stepped forward.
“You're giving everything away.”
May you like
Vincent met his eyes.
“No. I'm finally admitting what it cost.”
