Chương 5 - THE VOTE
The meeting took place forty-eight hours later.
No ballroom.
No wedding flowers.
Just a dark conference room overlooking the Chicago River.
Five voting groups.
Ferreri on one side.
Lorenzo on the other.
Wheelchair visible.
No attempt to hide it behind a table.
Bianca’s abandonment had become public gossip.
Ferreri expected Lorenzo defensive.
Instead Lorenzo opened with:
“My wedding failed.”
Several men shifted uncomfortably.
Ferreri smiled.
Lorenzo continued:
“You all know.”
A pause.
“So let’s save time.”
He placed financial records on the table.
“Vittorio Ferreri used an eight-point-four-million-dollar debt belonging to my former fiancée’s brother to coerce her into leaving.”
Ferreri laughed.
“Absurd.”
Lorenzo placed Bianca’s affidavit beside it.
Then security footage.
The Ferreri car.
Payment records.
Paolo’s sworn statement.
The smile disappeared.
Lorenzo continued:
“Two years ago, a company tied to Ferreri paid money to the family of the driver involved in the crash that injured me.”
Nobody moved.
Ferreri leaned back.
“Careful, Lorenzo.”
“Very.”
The Bellandi representative asked:
“Are you alleging attempted murder?”
“No.”
That surprised everyone.
“I am presenting evidence that has been transferred to investigators.”
Different.
Stronger.
Ferreri said:
“This is what grief looks like when a man cannot accept his bride rejected him.”
There it was.
Lorenzo looked at him.
Not angry.
Almost curious.
“You still think the chair embarrasses me more than your crimes embarrass you.”
Silence.
Ferreri’s face tightened.
Lorenzo continued:
“I cannot stand.”
He tapped one wheel lightly.
“We have established that.”
Nobody breathed.
“I can still read a balance sheet.”
Enzo almost smiled.
“And yours is terrible.”
The vote proceeded.
Ferreri lost.
Three to two.
The Bellandis sided with Vitali.
Not because Lorenzo looked strong.
Because Ferreri’s network now represented unacceptable legal exposure.
Boring corporate logic.
Ferreri hated it.
As everyone stood to leave, Ferreri approached Lorenzo.
“You think this ends anything?”
“No.”
“You should have stayed home after the accident.”
Lorenzo looked up.
“You first.”
Ferreri smiled coldly.
Then left.
Sofia waited outside.
“How’d it go?”
“I won.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“You asked.”
“No.”
She leaned down slightly.
“I asked how it went.”
Lorenzo understood the difference.
He thought.
“I hated every second.”
“Better answer.”
Then she pushed the elevator button.
He raised an eyebrow.
“I can reach it.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“I was closer.”
Simple.
No performance.
Lorenzo found himself watching her too long.
Sofia noticed.
“Problem?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
He almost said you.
Instead:
“Nothing.”
Coward.
May you like
Interesting development.
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