Chapter 10 - The Boardroom Raid|
By three o'clock that afternoon, the fallout expanded beyond the hospital walls.
From the hospital’s private conference room, Raphael dialed into an emergency video meeting with the Board of Directors of Moretti Infrastructure Group.
On the screen were seven figures, including CFO Grace Bell and Raphael’s older sister, Lydia Moretti—a sharp, no-nonsense woman who managed the company’s port operations.
"Lenders are calling," Grace Bell reported nervously. "Caruso’s public relations proxies have been dropping subtle hints to the financial press all morning. Rumors that Raphael is emotionally unstable, that Elena’s collapse was a public overdose, and that the board is looking into emergency succession."
Raphael’s expression was ice. "Nico is trying to force a stock run before the New Jersey terminal contract is awarded."
"Can we prove Caruso is behind the leak?" Lydia asked, leaning into her camera.
"Not yet," Catherine chimed in from off-screen.
"Then we don't sling mud back," Lydia decided instantly. "Grace, release a statement confirming our liquidity positions. State clearly that Raphael remains in full operational control."
She looked directly at her brother through the monitor. "Raphael, you look like you want to murder someone. Wipe that off your face before you talk to the press."
"I’m not talking to the press," Raphael growled.
May you like
"Good," Lydia replied. "Let the legal team execute forensic audits on every vendor linked to the New Jersey project. If Caruso used a shell company to pay off the gala staff, he used shell companies to grease municipal palms too."
Elena watched from the doorway as Raphael slowly nodded in agreement. The billionaire was learning to yield—not out of weakness, but out of absolute strategic necessity.
