Chapter 6 - The Betrayal Inside Romano GroupNew York greeted Adrian with headlines.
ROMANO GROUP BOARD CALLS EMERGENCY MEETING
BILLIONAIRE HEIR FACES CORPORATE COUP
ADRIAN ROMANO'S LEADERSHIP QUESTIONED
The board meeting began at nine.
Marcus Kane sat at the center.
Nine directors surrounded him.
Adrian entered with Simone, Jonathan, Daniel, and Marco.
Every conversation stopped.
Marcus smiled.
“You came.”
Adrian sat.
“You invited me.”
“I didn't expect you to bring your employee.”
Simone looked at him.
Marcus laughed.
“My apologies. Former employee.”
Adrian leaned back.
“She is my partner.”
Simone glanced at him.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Business partner?”
Adrian did not blink.
“Not only that.”
The room fell silent.
Simone stared at him.
Marcus smiled thinly.
“You're distracted.”
“No.”
“You have been for weeks.”
Marcus tapped a folder.
“We are removing you as chief executive.”
The vote began.
Seven hands rose.
Adrian's eyes hardened.
Marcus smiled.
Then Simone stood.
“Before you vote, I'd like to submit a document.”
Marcus frowned.
She placed the trust agreement on the table.
Everyone stared.
“What is that?”
“The Carter-Romano Family Trust.”
Marcus went pale.
Adrian watched him.
Simone continued.
“You were aware this existed.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Jonathan stepped forward.
“I was the original legal custodian.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“You're supposed to be dead.”
Jonathan smiled.
“I've heard that before.”
The room erupted.
Simone submitted evidence of shell companies, false transfers, offshore accounts, and illegal corporate manipulation.
Every transaction pointed toward Marcus.
Adrian finally understood.
Marcus had been siphoning money for years.
The two hundred million missing from his father's era were merely the beginning.
But Marcus wasn't acting alone.
Three board members were involved.
Security personnel were involved.
Even one of Adrian's former attorneys was implicated.
The coup collapsed in forty minutes.
Marcus was arrested before lunch.
But Elliot Vance remained free.
That evening, Adrian stood alone on the penthouse balcony.
Simone joined him.
“You should sleep.”
“I can't.”
“You haven't slept properly in three days.”
“Neither have you.”
She leaned against the railing.
“You saved my life.”
“You saved mine.”
She looked at him.
“How?”
“You gave me a reason to care what happened tomorrow.”
Silence.
He turned toward her.
“I love you.”
Simone's breath caught.
Adrian continued.
“I don't know when it happened.”
“Probably earlier than you think.”
He smiled.
“Probably.”
She looked away.
“I love you too.”
Adrian pulled her into his arms.
For the first time, the penthouse felt like home.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Your father didn't die from natural causes.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“He was poisoned.”
The line went dead.
Simone saw his face.
“What happened?”
Adrian stared into the darkness.
“My father was murdered.”
Jonathan heard the statement from the doorway.
His expression changed.
“I always suspected.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Do you know who did it?”
Jonathan nodded.
“I know who ordered it.”
“Who?”
Jonathan's eyes moved toward Simone.
“Her aunt.”
Simone froze.
“I don't have an aunt.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“You do.”
May you like
He whispered the name.
“Claudia Carter.”
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