Chapter 2 - THE SIGNATURE OF RUIN
The silence in the grand dining room was absolute.
Not a single silver fork touched a porcelain plate.
Not a whisper echoed against the vaulted ceilings.
Arthur Vance swallowed hard.
"Let's not lose our heads," he stammered.
Luca Moretti did not blink.
"Answer my question, Arthur."
The quiet deadliness made guests lean back.
"What have you been having me sign?"
Arthur looked toward Vanessa.
She dug her manicured fingers into the mahogany.
"He's just tired," Vanessa forced a laugh.
"Thousands of pages of corporate housekeeping."
Luca stepped between them.
"My estate goes to my daughter and my mother."
"And that's what we were updating!" Arthur cried.
Luca picked up the leather portfolio.
His thumb flipped to the back annexes.
His eyes scanned the fine print.
"A guardianship transfer," Luca whispered.
Arthur flinched.
"Full legal custody of my ten-year-old daughter to Vanessa."
Murmurs erupted across the hall.
Rebecca wept into her palms.
"And a residential reassignment clause," Luca continued.
"Declaring my mother legally incompetent."
Arthur dropped his pen.
"You wanted my house empty," Luca said coldly.
He loomed over Vanessa.
"You wanted my mother gone and my daughter out of the way."
"That's insane!" Vanessa shrieked.
She pointed a shaking finger at me.
"This little nobody! This paid servant!"
Luca ignored her insults.
He called out into the foyer.
"Marcus."
A towering man stepped from the shadows.
"Boss?"
"Escort Mr. Vance to his office. Confiscate everything."
Arthur was dragged away whimpering.
Vanessa's breath came in ragged gasps.
"Your father's distribution lines will be ruined," she spat.
"He signed a non-interference pact," Luca replied.
"And the wedding is canceled."
Vanessa's face twisted with venom.
"Marcus. Put her belongings in garbage bags."
"Gladly."
She was hauled backward out the doors.
Luca dropped heavily to his knees before his mother.
Teresa cupped his face with wrinkled hands.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"You brought the right person inside," she whispered.
Luca turned his dark eyes toward me.
"Where is my daughter right now?"
"Upstairs in her room, sir."
He turned and strode toward the staircase.
May you like
"Lock down the estate!"
I hurried up the stairs behind him.
