Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO CONTROLLED THE RECORDS|
Simone Bellini had worked for Adriano for eleven years.
He knew the billionaire's schedule, handled his correspondence, arranged private meetings, and maintained the files that kept the Castellano empire running. He was discreet, efficient, and rarely involved himself in family arguments.
Adriano had always considered him indispensable.
Now he wondered whether indispensability had become Simone's greatest advantage.
"Sir," Simone said when he entered the office, "you requested the original trust agreement."
Adriano gestured toward the chair.
"I did."
Simone placed a folder on the desk.
"The original document is stored with the family attorney. This is the most recent copy."
Adriano opened it.
Several pages were missing.
"Where are the amendments?"
"They were filed separately."
"By whom?"
Simone hesitated.
"Your father."
"After his death?"
"No, sir. Before."
Adriano turned to the final page.
A clause authorized the trust administrator to approve medical expenses if the principal became temporarily incapacitated.
The principal was Adriano.
The administrator was Simone.
And the clause allowed the administrator to assume certain responsibilities without requiring Adriano's direct signature.
"Why was this never explained to me?"
Simone remained composed.
"Your father believed you would eventually need assistance managing the estate."
"Did he say when?"
"No."
Adriano looked at the missing pages.
"Then retrieve the full agreement."
Simone nodded.
As he reached the door, Adriano asked one more question.
"Have you ever authorized an afternoon beverage to be prepared in my office?"
Simone stopped.
"I arrange many household services, sir."
"That wasn't my question."
"No. I have not."
Adriano held his gaze.
"Good."
Simone left.
Marcus entered a moment later.
"Sir, I checked the trust's payment records. Simone authorized six payments to a medical consulting company over the past year. The company is registered to an address used by Dr. Ferro."
Adriano's expression hardened.
"Can you prove they were connected to the substance found in the tumbler?"
"Not yet. But the dates overlap with the changes in your prescription."
Adriano walked toward the window.
"What if Simone has been using the trust to pay for the medical treatment he claims I'm receiving?"
"Then he may have created a financial arrangement designed to conceal something."
Adriano turned.
"Find out whether he benefits if I'm declared incapacitated."
Marcus opened another folder.
"The trust allows the administrator to act on your behalf if two physicians certify that you cannot reliably manage your affairs. If that happened, Simone would retain control over the day-to-day financial accounts until a replacement trustee was appointed."
"And who chooses the replacement?"
"The family council."
Adriano almost laughed.
The family council consisted of three people: his aunt, his attorney, and Valentina's uncle, who had been invited to join after the engagement was announced.
If Adriano became incapacitated, the people closest to him would decide who controlled his empire.
He had spent twenty years making himself indispensable.
Someone had built a plan to make him unnecessary.
At dinner, Nina quietly approached his chair.
"Sir?"
Adriano lowered his voice.
"What is it?"
She opened her notebook to a page filled with dates.
"Mr. Simone came into your office three times last week. Every time, he left carrying a cup."
Adriano looked at her.
"Did you see what was in it?"
"No. But he used to bring papers. Now he brings cups."
It was a small observation.
An ordinary change in routine.
But it might have been the most important clue he had received all week.
Adriano closed the notebook gently.
"Thank you, Nina."
May you like
Then he called Marcus.
"From this moment forward, Simone is not to enter my office without another person present."
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