Chapter 15 - The Deposition|
By the sixth month of Elena’s pregnancy, the civil lawsuit filed by Moretti Infrastructure against Caruso Development Group reached the deposition phase.
Nico Caruso’s legal team had fought viciously to prevent Elena from attending the proceedings in person, citing her medical condition. But Elena insisted on being present.
She sat at the long mahogany conference table in a high-rise law office, dressed in a tailored gray suit that comfortably accommodated her broad bump.
Across the table sat Nico Caruso.
Stripped of his tailored bravado and sleek public relations team, Nico looked remarkably smaller. His eyes were dark, his collar slightly loose, every movement micro-managed by three defense attorneys sitting beside him.
Nico’s lead attorney leaned into his microphone. "Ms. Marlowe, we are here today to establish whether you had any direct interactions with Mr. Caruso prior to the gala on April 12th."
"None," Elena answered smoothly.
"And yet your partner, Mr. Moretti, launched a multi-front commercial attack against Caruso Development within hours of your hospital admission. Would you agree his actions were driven by personal vendetta rather than legitimate business interest?"
Elena leaned forward slightly, resting her hands calmly over her stomach.
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"Mr. Caruso paid two thousand dollars to a twenty-three-year-old server to poison a glass held by a pregnant woman," Elena stated, her voice quiet, clear, and utterly lethal. "He did it to rattle a competitor. What you call a 'personal vendetta,' any sane person calls basic accountability."
Nico shifted uncomfortably in his chair, looking away from her steady gaze.
