Chapter 16 - THE VOICE ON THE RECORDING|
The ballroom erupted in confusion.
Guests turned toward the screens. Security rushed to the control booth, while the foundation's director demanded that the presentation be shut down. Dante remained still beside Sofia, watching the image of his father's car appear again and again.
The photograph was followed by a document listing payments from Ashford Medical Holdings to companies connected to Vittorio Ferrara.
Then came the audio.
Michael's voice filled the room.
“You can't tell the board. They'll take everything.”
Vittorio answered.
“They'll take what you stole.”
The recording continued for several seconds before cutting off.
A wave of whispers moved through the crowd.
Senator Graff reached for the microphone.
“This material has not been verified. It is irresponsible to broadcast private allegations at a charitable event.”
Dante stepped forward.
“The original files have been provided to independent investigators. The recording is undergoing authentication. No one here is being asked to reach a verdict tonight.”
Vivienne looked furious.
“Then why show it?”
“Because your organization spent years using this room to build a reputation that protected the people responsible.”
A woman near the stage began recording on her phone. Others followed.
Vivienne turned toward Sofia.
“You did this.”
“No,” Sofia replied. “I asked questions. The evidence did the rest.”
The foundation director ordered the screens turned off. This time, they obeyed. But the damage was done. Guests were already calling attorneys, journalists, and board members. The senator's public relations team began moving him toward a private exit.
Before he reached it, Henry Whitcomb approached with two investigators.
“Senator Graff, we need to speak with you about the hospital records and your office's access to a storage facility connected to Michael Ferrara.”
Graff stiffened.
“I will speak with my counsel.”
“Of course. We can arrange that.”
Vivienne attempted to leave through the opposite door, but another investigator approached her.
“Ms. Ashford, we have a warrant for records held by your company.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“We are.”
For the first time since Sofia had met her, Vivienne had no audience she could charm into agreement.
Dante watched the room with a strange, exhausted expression.
“It's happening,” Sofia whispered.
“Yes.”
“Are you all right?”
He took a moment before answering.
“No.”
She did not tell him to be strong. She did not tell him that everything would be fine. She simply stayed beside him while the room that had once celebrated his family began to turn against it.
Then a man approached them from the crowd.
He was in his sixties, with a neatly trimmed beard and a dark suit. Sofia recognized him as a board member of the Ferrara medical holdings.
“Dante, you need to stop this before it destroys the company.”
“The company will survive an audit.”
“Not if you hand everything over to the authorities. You will expose the entire organization.”
“If the organization is built on stolen money, it deserves to be exposed.”
The man leaned closer.
“You're making a mistake for a woman you barely know.”
Dante's gaze hardened.
“Don't speak about her as if she's a weakness.”
“Then stop acting as though she can save you.”
Sofia stepped forward.
“He doesn't need me to save him. He needs to decide what kind of man he wants to be.”
The board member looked at her with contempt.
“And you think you can teach him?”
“No,” she said. “I think he can learn.”
Dante dismissed the man with a glance.
After the crowd began to disperse, he and Sofia stepped onto the terrace overlooking the city. The winter air was sharp, and the noise of the ballroom faded behind the glass doors.
“You stood in front of all of them,” Dante said.
“So did you.”
“You didn't have to.”
“Neither did you.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“I spent years believing that fear was the only thing keeping my family safe.”
“And now?”
“Now I think fear was what kept us blind.”
Sofia's expression softened.
“Then keep looking.”
He reached for her hand.
This time, he did not hesitate.
But before either of them could speak, Marcus appeared at the terrace entrance.
“Boss. We have a problem.”
Dante released Sofia's hand and turned.
“Vittorio?”
“Gone. His office is empty, his phone is off, and the private plane he uses for business has filed a flight plan.”
“To where?”
Marcus looked at the report.
“An unknown destination. But he left a message.”
Dante's face went still.
“What message?”
May you like
Marcus swallowed.
“He says if you want the truth about your father's death, you should ask your mother what happened after the crash.”
