Chapter 7 - The Confrontation
The long mahogany table in the estate's private boardroom was surrounded by twelve leather armchairs. Sitting around the table were the senior members of the Serrano family—uncles, elders, and major stockholders who controlled the family's global interests.
Dominic sat at the head of the table. Isabella took her seat directly to his right, her posture immaculate, her hands folded gracefully over her velvet lap.
Matteo sat at the opposite end of the table, flanked by two senior advisors. Celeste sat three chairs down, her head bowed, avoiding all eye contact with her brother.
"We are here to address a critical leadership motion," Matteo announced, tapping his cane twice against the hardwood floor to call the room to order. "Over the past year, Dominic's personal life has become a distraction to the family's business operations. His private choices have created friction, and his inability to maintain absolute control over his household has compromised our security."
One of the older uncles, Uncle Lorenzo, nodded slowly. "There have been rumors, Dominic. Pictures circulating. Talk of instability within your residence."
"Rumors carefully created and paid for by Matteo," Dominic replied calmly, resting his elbows on the armrests of his chair.
Matteo sneered. "Baseless accusations. The fact remains that under your current leadership, the board is divided. I have called for a vote of no confidence. Under Section 4 of our charter, if fifty percent of the voting shares support this motion, Dominic will be suspended from his executive position effective immediately."
Matteo looked around the room with supreme confidence. "I cast my twenty-five percent in favor. Uncle Lorenzo, your ten percent?"
"In favor," Lorenzo stated.
"Uncle Marco, your eight percent?"
"In favor," Marco agreed.
Matteo’s smile widened. That was forty-three percent. He turned his gaze directly onto Celeste.
"Celeste," Matteo said, his tone dripping with fake warmth. "Your six percent proxy vote will finalize this transition. Cast your vote."
Celeste’s hands were visibly shaking. She looked up slowly, her eyes darting from Matteo's cold, demanding face to Dominic's unreadable expression, and finally to Isabella.
Isabella looked back at her. There was no anger in Isabella’s eyes now—only a deep, quiet pity.
"Celeste," Isabella spoke up softly, breaking the protocol of the meeting. "You don't have to keep doing this."
Matteo slammed his cane onto the table. "Silence! The outsider has no voice in this council!"
"Let her speak!" Dominic roared, his voice hitting the room like a thunderclap. The sheer power in his voice forced Matteo back into his seat.
Isabella looked straight at Celeste. "He holds your debts over you, Celeste. He made you steal my privacy, made you write those hateful notes, made you tell me I was too fat, too ugly, too worthless to stand beside my husband. He turned you into a bully because he needed you to be weak. But if you vote with him today, you lose the only brother who ever protected you."
Celeste began to cry softly, covering her mouth with her trembling hand.
"Celeste!" Matteo threatened, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "Remember your obligations! If you break contract, your debts will be called in by midnight! You will lose everything!"
"She won't lose anything," Dominic said smoothly.
He motioned to Marcus, who stepped forward and placed a thick stack of legal documents right in front of Celeste.
"Your debts in Macau were fully paid off two hours ago, sister," Dominic said, his tone softening just a fraction. "I bought the shell company from Matteo's creditors. You owe him nothing. You never did."
Celeste stared at the documents in utter disbelief. She looked up at Dominic, tears streaming down her face. "Dominic... I... I was so scared..."
"I know," Dominic said gently. "Now make your choice."
Celeste turned her head toward Matteo. The fear that had consumed her for years seemed to evaporate, replaced by a sudden wave of righteous anger.
"My vote," Celeste said, her voice growing stronger with every word, "goes to my brother, Dominic Serrano."
Matteo’s face turned purple with rage. He slammed his fists onto the table, half-rising from his chair. "You foolish girl! You ruined everything!"
"The vote fails," Dominic announced calmly, standing up from his seat. "Forty-three percent is not enough, Matteo."
"It doesn't matter!" Matteo snarled, pointing a trembling finger at Dominic. "I still hold forty-three percent! I can block every motion you try to pass! I can grind this family business to a complete halt until you give in!"
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Dominic pulled a sleek silver flash drive from his jacket pocket and slid it across the long mahogany table. It stopped right in front of Uncle Lorenzo.
"Plug it in, Lorenzo," Dominic instructed.
