Chapter 14 - THE RECORDING|
The recording appeared online before noon.
It showed Matteo in a private office, speaking to an unknown man.
"If anything happens to my child, I will burn this entire organization to the ground."
The clip lasted eleven seconds.
By the afternoon, the Balori Foundation's board had received a formal complaint accusing Matteo of threatening investors and misusing company resources.
News outlets repeated the same headline.
BALORI HEIR AT CENTER OF FAMILY POWER STRUGGLE.
Catherine watched the report from the secure office while Agent Lawson reviewed the original file.
"They edited it," Catherine said.
"Yes."
The full recording showed Matteo speaking after a security threat against Catherine. The sentence had been taken out of context, and the man's question had been removed.
"Can you prove it?"
"We're examining the metadata."
Matteo paced beside the desk.
"Enzo wants the trustees to remove me before the vote."
"Then we need to get ahead of him," Catherine said.
He stopped.
"How?"
"By showing them the financial records. If we prove the development money was diverted, the vote becomes irrelevant."
"Some of those trustees are involved."
"Then we make it impossible for them to pretend they don't know."
Gabriel entered with a folder.
"There's a problem. Enzo has scheduled an emergency board meeting for tonight. He's claiming Matteo is mentally unstable and that the trust requires immediate intervention."
Catherine looked at the calendar.
"That gives us six hours."
"Less," Gabriel said. "The press conference begins at five."
Matteo turned to Catherine.
"You don't have to attend."
She met his gaze.
"I know."
"I don't want you exposed to another public humiliation."
"Then don't make decisions for me based on what you fear."
He lowered his eyes.
"You're right."
She stood.
"I'm going to speak at the meeting."
Matteo immediately shook his head.
"No."
Catherine waited.
He heard himself.
His expression changed.
"I mean—I don't want you to have to do that."
"That is different."
"I know."
She picked up the ledger.
"I was an accountant before I was your wife. I understand these transactions better than anyone in that room. If Enzo wants to call me unstable, he can do it while I explain exactly where the money went."
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"Your father would be proud."
Catherine swallowed the emotion that rose unexpectedly.
"I hope so."
They spent the next three hours preparing a presentation. Agent Lawson verified the records, while Daniel Cross agreed to provide a statement about the hidden adoption and the missing trust documents.
At 4:40 p.m., the group entered the Balori Foundation headquarters.
Reporters crowded the lobby.
Matteo walked beside Catherine without touching her.
Inside the boardroom, Enzo sat at the head of the table. The trustees watched with expressions ranging from curiosity to open hostility.
Enzo smiled.
"Mrs. Balori. I wasn't aware you had been invited."
"I wasn't aware you had been appointed guardian of my unborn child."
The room went silent.
Enzo's smile vanished.
Matteo took his seat.
Catherine placed the ledger on the table.
"I'm here to discuss the missing forty million dollars."
Enzo laughed.
"This is a private board meeting, not a courtroom."
"Then you shouldn't mind if the records are examined privately."
She connected her laptop to the screen.
The first transfer appeared.
Then the second.
Then the third.
One trustee began to sweat.
Another whispered to his attorney.
Enzo stood.
"These documents are stolen."
Agent Lawson entered through the rear door.
"They are evidence obtained through a lawful investigation."
Enzo's face changed.
Catherine continued.
"Every transfer corresponds to a property acquisition. Every acquisition was approved using an authorization code that I never issued."
She displayed the final transfer.
"And the person who ordered the funds moved was—"
The screen went black.
A power failure.
Then the emergency lights came on.
Enzo stood beside the exit, holding a small remote.
He looked directly at Catherine.
"You should have stayed home."
May you like
The doors locked.
And smoke began pouring beneath the boardroom entrance.
