Chapter 8 - The Morning After
At 9:00 AM the following morning, sunlight broke through the grey Manhattan cloud cover, washing the glass skyscrapers in bright, warm golden light.
In the main conference room on the 40th floor of the Moretti Tower overlooking Central Park, twenty board trustees sat around a massive oval glass table.
They were nervous, uncomfortable, and desperately trying to look innocent. News of Marcus Vale’s sudden, total financial ruin and exile had already spread through the city’s elite whisper networks like wildfire. Nobody knew the exact details, but everyone knew one thing: Adrian Moretti was on a warpath.
The double glass doors of the conference room swung open.
Adrian Moretti walked in first, wearing a dark navy suit, his expression imposing and absolute.
Right behind him walked Sofia. She looked breathtaking in a sharp, ivory-white tailored suit, her dark hair styling flawless, her eyes clear and commanding.
And walking right beside Sofia, carrying a leather briefcase containing the restored foundation deeds, was Lily Carter.
Lily wore a sharp black blazer, tailored trousers, and a silk blouse that Sofia had helped her choose that morning from an exclusive Manhattan boutique. Her hair was styled in a sleek, professional ponytail, and she walked with her head held high, completely unbothered by the intimidating gaze of twenty powerful executives.
Adrian took his seat at the head of the table.
Sofia took the seat directly to his right—not as a guest, not as a passive observer, but as the Executive Co-Chair of the Moretti Family Foundation.
Lily pulled out a chair beside Sofia, opening her tablet and adjusting a microphone on the table.
The room was utterly quiet.
Adrian looked around the table, his grey eyes locking onto each trustee one by one.
"Gentlemen," Adrian spoke up, his voice resonating through the high-grade acoustics of the room. "Before we begin today's agenda regarding the ten-million-dollar renovation budget for the Moretti Community Theater, I have an important administrative announcement."
He gestured toward Lily.
"This is Miss Lily Carter," Adrian declared. "She is the newly appointed Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Moretti Group and the personal executive liaison to Co-Chair Sofia Moretti."
A few trustees nodded politely, though confusion lingered in their eyes.
"Moving forward," Adrian continued, his tone turning into pure steel, "every proposal, every contract, every email, and every property report submitted to this board must be delivered directly to Miss Carter twenty-four hours in advance."
He paused, leaning forward over the glass table.
"And if any member of this board attempts to speak over my sister, answer a question on her behalf, or pretend she is not sitting in this room..." Adrian’s voice dropped into a terrifyingly calm register, "...that person will be removed from the board, stripped of their shares, and personally investigated by my private audit team."
A collective gulp echoed down the left side of the table.
Sofia leaned forward, resting her elbows on the glass. Her hands began to move—clean, powerful, expressive signs that filled the visual space of the room with absolute authority.
Lily didn't wait. She leaned toward her microphone, translating Sofia’s words with calm, unflinching precision:
"The Co-Chair says..." Lily’s voice sounded over the boardroom speakers, clear and authoritative, "We will begin today's meeting by reviewing the complete termination of the Vanguard real estate development contract. Please turn to page one of your packets."
Across the table, twenty men immediately scrambled to open their folders, their hands trembling slightly as they looked up at Sofia.
Sofia glanced at Lily out of the corner of her eye.
Lily caught her look and gave her a small, quick sign under the table, using two fingers:
“You look like a boss.”
Sofia signed back instantly, her eyes sparkling with laughter:
May you like
“I am the boss. You’re just my translator.”
Lily smiled, turned back to her tablet, and kept reading.
