Chapter 7 - The Second Time Carlo Entered the Pantry

Luca reached the pantry first.

Carlo stood inside.

Gabriel Bellini to me.

Carlo Moretti to everyone else.

Same face.

Same hands.

Same man who had shoved me into the shelf.

Now he held no weapon.

Only a file.

Dominic's men surrounded him.

Luca stopped in the doorway.

"Put it down."

Carlo looked at him.

"Cousin."

Luca's face did not change.

"Do not call me that yet."

Carlo put the file on the counter.

Vanessa arrived behind Luca.

"Gabriel."

Carlo looked at her.

His face softened.

For one second, he was her brother again.

"I'm sorry."

She shook her head.

"You hurt Olivia."

"I know."

"You came back."

"I needed the file."

Luca stepped closer.

"Which file?"

Carlo opened it.

The Crane acquisition.

Original.

Luca frowned.

"You stole it from my office."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because if you signed it, Richard's trust became part of the merger."

Richard arrived.

"Carlo."

Carlo looked at him.

"Tell him."

Richard closed his eyes.

Luca stared.

"Tell me what?"

Carlo laughed bitterly.

"The trust is not twenty-eight percent."

Vanessa frowned.

"What?"

Carlo continued:

"It's forty-six."

Silence.

Luca turned to Richard.

The older man said nothing.

Vanessa whispered:

"Dad."

Richard looked at her.

"I'm sorry."

Her face collapsed.

Carlo continued:

"Twenty-eight percent in Vanessa's name."

"Eighteen percent in mine."

Luca stared.

"Your name."

"Gabriel Bellini."

"Fake identity."

"Yes."

Luca understood.

If the acquisition closed, nearly half the company would be tied to a trust controlled by Richard's children.

Luca looked at Richard.

"You built a controlling block."

Richard whispered:

"To keep Marco out."

"And then kept it."

"Yes."

Carlo said:

"He was never going to give it back."

Richard snapped:

"I was waiting until it was safe."

Carlo laughed.

"Safe for who?"

The room went silent.

Luca looked at Carlo.

"Why hurt Olivia?"

His face changed.

"I panicked."

"Wrong answer."

Carlo looked at me.

I stood behind Dominic.

He said:

"I thought she had the office key."

"I did not."

"I know."

"After."

"Yes."

I stared at him.

"You could have asked."

He looked ashamed.

"I did."

"No."

I shook my head.

"You demanded."

Luca watched.

Carlo said:

"I'm sorry."

I answered:

"That doesn't undo it."

He nodded.

"I know."

Luca asked:

"Did Vanessa tell you the camera would be off?"

Carlo looked at her.

Then back.

"No."

Vanessa froze.

Luca frowned.

"Who did?"

Carlo looked at Richard.

The older man went pale.

Vanessa stared.

"Dad?"

Richard whispered:

"I disabled it."

Silence.

Luca's face hardened.

"Why?"

"Because I knew Carlo was coming."

"You planned the break-in."

"No."

"I planned for him to retrieve the contract."

Vanessa stepped away from her father.

"You knew he was going into the pantry."

"I thought Olivia would be at dinner setup."

I laughed bitterly.

"So I was an inconvenience."

Richard closed his eyes.

Carlo said:

"She was never supposed to get hurt."

Luca looked at both men.

"Stop saying that."

They went silent.

Dominic took Carlo's file.

Then said:

"There's another document."

He handed Luca a photocopy.

Shareholder agreement.

Signed by Salvatore.

Richard.

And Marco.

Luca frowned.

Date:

Thirteen years ago.

Clause:

If Salvatore became incapacitated or disappeared, shares held in trust would temporarily pass to Luca at age thirty-five.

Luca stared.

"I'm thirty-nine."

Richard said nothing.

Carlo whispered:

"You should have received them four years ago."

Vanessa looked at her father.

"You hid this."

Richard nodded.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because Marco came back."

Luca's eyes narrowed.

"When?"

"Four years ago."

"Where is he?"

Richard looked at Carlo.

Carlo answered:

"I know."

Everyone turned.

Carlo looked at Luca.

"My father is alive."

Luca's jaw tightened.

"Where?"

"St. Louis."

"And Salvatore?"

Carlo's face changed.

"I don't know."

Luca stared.

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Carlo continued:

"But Marco does."