Chapter 17 - THE KINGDOM BEGINS TO FALL|
By Tuesday morning, the Moretti businesses were facing questions from banks, auditors, business partners, and legal representatives.
Some transactions were temporarily restricted while the institutions reviewed the disputed authorizations. Several partners demanded independent audits before agreeing to continue working with Alexander's companies.
The empire that had once appeared untouchable was suddenly vulnerable to something Alexander could not threaten into silence.
Paperwork.
Records.
Evidence.
He stood in his office while his advisers argued about the consequences.
“We need to reassure the partners,” one executive said.
“We need to identify every questionable transaction,” another replied.
“And what do we tell the press?”
Alexander looked at them.
“The truth.”
The room fell silent.
One adviser frowned.
“Sir, that could damage the company.”
“Lying about the documents will damage it more.”
For the first time, Alexander instructed his team to cooperate with an independent review rather than control the narrative.
It was not a heroic gesture. He was still trying to protect his business and himself.
But it was a necessary step.
Richard, meanwhile, had disappeared from his usual offices. His apartment was empty, and his personal assistant said he had canceled several meetings without explanation.
The investigators were informed through the proper channels.
Victoria did not celebrate.
A missing executive could complicate the inquiry and make it harder to recover records or establish what had happened.
She spent the afternoon meeting with her financial advisers to protect the assets that legally belonged to her. Her grandmother's estate had separate claims that would need to be resolved through the courts.
Nothing was automatically hers simply because a document suggested it.
But she finally had the resources and evidence to challenge the arrangement.
That evening, Alexander asked to meet her.
They sat in a conference room with Nathan present.
“I've authorized an independent audit,” Alexander said.
“Good.”
“I'll provide the records I have.”
“Good.”
He looked at her.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That I'm trying to fix this.”
Victoria folded her hands.
“Then fix it. Don't ask me to applaud you for doing what should have been done years ago.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I deserve that.”
She studied him.
“Do you?”
He looked up.
“I don't know how to answer that anymore.”
For the first time, Victoria saw a man who understood that being feared was not the same as being respected.
But she also knew that his regret did not erase his actions.
“I won't help you hide anything,” she said. “I won't make false statements. And I won't return to the marriage because you're afraid of losing your empire.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
He took a long breath.
“Yes.”
Their meeting ended without reconciliation.
Outside, Nathan told Victoria that the authorities had identified the company that controlled the receiving account for the disputed transfer. Its registration documents linked it to a business address used by Richard Cole.
A separate filing suggested that Richard had attempted to sell an interest in one of the old partnership properties shortly before the anniversary.
The sale had not been completed.
The paperwork contained a signature from a witness who had been present at the original Continuity Agreement.
A retired attorney.
The same attorney who had recently contacted Nathan.
When the attorney was reached, he confirmed that he had witnessed a document years earlier but denied witnessing the newly filed transfer.
Someone had copied his signature, too.
Victoria stared at the report.
Richard had not only tried to place responsibility on her.
He had been fabricating a paper trail around the old partnership, using the names of people who might challenge his control.
Then Nathan received another call.
The caller had located Richard.
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He was at a private airfield outside the city, preparing to leave Illinois.
And he had a briefcase containing original company records.
