Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT ALEXANDER LOST HIS EMPIRE
The investigation into Sophia's finances exposed more than stolen money.
It revealed connections between several Moretti businesses and a network of illegal transactions Alexander had allowed his associates to manage without oversight.
Federal investigators began asking questions.
Business partners withdrew.
Accounts were frozen.
Several senior employees cooperated with authorities.
Within months, Alexander's empire began collapsing.
He had spent years believing power meant never having to explain himself.
Now every decision required an explanation.
Every document mattered.
Every lie had a cost.
One evening, Marco found him alone in his office.
“Boss.”
Alexander looked up.
“What?”
“There's a problem with the South Side accounts.”
Alexander laughed bitterly.
“There's always a problem.”
Marco hesitated.
“Should I call the men?”
Alexander looked toward the window.
He knew what Marco meant.
Threats.
Pressure.
Violence.
The old solutions.
He closed his eyes.
“No.”
Marco stared.
“Boss?”
“Call the attorneys.”
Marco nodded slowly.
Alexander looked at the photograph on his desk.
Claire and Ethan at the lake.
Ethan was laughing.
Claire's hair was blowing across her face.
Alexander remembered taking that picture.
He remembered thinking he had everything.
Now he understood he'd possessed the appearance of a family without doing the work required to keep one.
He picked up the photograph.
May you like
And whispered, “I'm sorry.”
But there was nobody there to hear him.
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