Chapter 9 - The Boardroom
The top floor of the Moretti Logistics building in downtown Chicago was a masterclass in modern power—floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking Lake Michigan, polished black granite floors, and a thirty-foot conference table made of dark Brazilian walnut.
Seated around the table were fourteen of the most powerful corporate executives, attorneys, and logistics directors in the Midwest.
At the head of the table sat Luca Moretti, looking like a king presiding over his court.
To his right sat Eleanor Moretti, sharp, poised, and radiating aristocratic elegance.
And to his left—in the seat previously reserved for the chief legal counsel—sat me.
I wore my pale blue suit, my leather portfolio open before me, my tablet displaying the redrafted trust management structure.
The meeting had been going on for an hour. The primary topic: the formal stripping of the Bellini family's commercial shipping contracts and the redistribution of those assets to the Moretti Charitable Trust.
At the far end of the table, Arthur Pendelton—a senior board member who had been a close ally of Vanessa's father—cleared his throat nervously, adjusting his gold spectacles.
"Mr. Moretti," Pendelton spoke up, his voice hesitant. "While we fully support the severance of ties with the Bellini firm following recent... events... some members of the board are concerned about placing forty percent of the trust's voting shares under the sole direction of a new... non-corporate director."
He shot a subtle, skeptical glance toward me.
The temperature in the boardroom dropped instantly.
Several board members shifted uncomfortably in their leather chairs, sensing the sudden danger.
Luca didn't raise his voice. He leaned forward slowly, resting his thick forearms on the walnut table, his storm-gray eyes locking onto Pendelton like a sniper finding his target.
"Speak clearly, Arthur," Luca said, his tone dangerously smooth. "Are you questioning the competence of my executive director?"
Pendelton swallowed hard, a drop of sweat appearing at his hairline. "I... I am merely pointing out that Miss Bennett does not possess a corporate logistics background, Mr. Moretti. Given the high stakes—"
"Miss Bennett," Eleanor interrupted, her voice ringing sharp and clear across the granite floor, "possesses something that half the people in this room lack: absolute loyalty, unbreakable courage, and flawless moral character."
"Furthermore," Luca added, his voice cutting through the room like a steel cable, "Miss Bennett personally dismantled an infiltration plot that would have cost this firm two hundred million dollars and destroyed my family. Her decision-making under pressure is superior to anyone sitting at this table."
Pendelton turned red as a beet. He shrank back into his chair, bowing his head. "Of course, Mr. Moretti. My apologies. I meant no disrespect."
"If anyone else on this board has a question regarding Miss Bennett's authority," Luca said, sweeping his dark gaze across the fourteen intimidated executives, "now is the time to speak."
Silence fell over the boardroom. Not a single man or woman dared to blink.
"Good," Luca said, standing up. "The motion passes. Meeting adjourned."
The board members practically scrambled to gather their papers and exit the room, offering polite, hurried bows to Eleanor and me as they filed out into the hallway.
Within two minutes, the grand boardroom was empty, leaving only Luca, Eleanor, and me standing by the high glass windows overlooking the blue expanse of Lake Michigan.
Eleanor stood up with her cane, looking at me with a mischievous smile. "You handled that magnificently, my dear. You didn't say a word, and you already have them terrified of you."
I laughed softly, closing my portfolio. "I think Luca did most of the terrifying, Mrs. Moretti."
"He was just being protective," Eleanor said, squeezing my hand gently. "I'm going to head down to the car. My driver is waiting. Are you two coming?"
Luca walked over, his dark eyes fixed on me. "We'll be down in a few minutes, Mother. I need to review one final document with Sophie."
Eleanor offered us a knowing wink and walked out of the boardroom, her cane clicking softly against the granite.
Once the door slid shut, Luca walked up behind me as I stood looking out over the city skyline. He reached out, his broad arms sliding around my waist, pulling me back gently against his hard chest.
I leaned back into his warmth, letting out a long, contented breath.
"You were terrifying in there," I whispered, turning my head slightly to look at him.
"Nobody disrespects you, Sophie," Luca murmured into my hair, his hands resting gently over my waist. "Not in my house, and certainly not in my boardroom."
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"I could get used to this," I teased softly, resting my hand over his on my stomach.
"Good," Luca whispered, turning me around in his arms so I was facing him. He looked down into my eyes with an intensity that made my heart leap. "Because I have no intention of ever letting you go."
