Chapter 6 - ADRIAN BECAME TOO SICK TO LEAD
Three weeks later, Adrian collapsed again.
Publicly.
Board meeting.
Glass of water.
Half a sentence.
Then down.
This time it was staged.
No drug.
No risk.
Only theater.
Dante hated how convincing Adrian was.
“You look dead.”
“Thank you.”
“Not compliment.”
Ambulance.
Hospital.
Statement.
Mr. Moretti has suffered a serious medical event.
Vincent arrived first.
Crying.
Excellent performance.
He called family counsel within an hour.
Dr. Reynolds supplied the first incapacity certification.
Forged in the sense that Adrian was perfectly conscious in a private hospital wing watching the whole thing.
Second physician was scheduled the next morning.
Handpicked by Vincent.
Then the trust countdown began.
Except Vincent did not wait thirty days.
He petitioned for emergency temporary authority based on “immediate corporate risk.”
Too eager.
Perfect.
He called board members.
Moved funds.
Tried suspending Adrian’s restructuring team.
Attempted accessing sealed offshore account data.
Every move documented.
Then he made his biggest mistake.
He entered Adrian’s study personally.
Dante watched through hidden camera.
Vincent opened a locked drawer.
Removed old trust seals.
Copied signatures.
Then approached Titan.
The dog stood.
Growled.
Vincent froze.
“Stupid animal.”
Titan stepped forward.
Vincent backed away.
He pulled a small canister from his coat.
Pepper spray.
Dante’s hand tightened.
Adrian watched from the remote feed.
“Now?”
Dante asked.
“No.”
Vincent aimed.
Then stopped.
Maybe remembered cameras.
Maybe remembered Titan’s teeth.
He retreated.
Adrian’s voice turned cold.
“Now.”
Security entered.
Not to arrest Vincent.
Only to escort him from the study on the excuse that the dog was agitated.
Vincent believed he had escaped consequence.
Good.
He returned to his office.
Called his attorney.
Then Reynolds.
“Move tomorrow.”
Audio recorded under warrant.
Reynolds answered:
“You said thirty days.”
Vincent:
“We don't have thirty.”
There.
Then:
“If Adrian wakes clear-headed, this all dies.”
Reynolds asked:
“What do you want?”
Vincent answered:
“Finish it.”
The room around Adrian became silent.
No ambiguity left.
Dante looked at him.
“Enough?”
May you like
Adrian’s face became stone.
“Yes.”
