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Chapter 6
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He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 10
When Layla learned Angelo had finally handed back his seal, she made a scene.She didn't break anything.She just sat with him in their room, and for the first time, they had a vicious argument."You're just accepting this?""You're throwing away twelve years of connections?"Angelo gave her one answer."They weren't mine to keep."Layla fell silent.The next day, she packed and returned to the Gallo family.Before she left, she came to see me one last time.She stood in my doorway, looking far less confident than she had on her wedding day."You're really not taking back those three deeds?"I shook my head."I gave them to you. They're yours.""If you sold them too cheaply, that's your loss."She blinked.She probably hadn't expected me to let that go.She still had to repay the fifty million.As for her ledger claiming I owed a hundred and fifty million, I had a copy sent to the Gallos.I had one reason.I wanted her parents to see how, in four days of marriage, their daughter had ne
He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 9
That night, Angelo came to see me alone.Layla wasn't with him.He brought no engagement letter, no contract.He simply sat across from me, silent for a long time.I finally spoke first."What do you want to ask?"He stared at the family seal on the table."What were those twelve years to you?""You were my deputy."He laughed bitterly."A deputy with a one-year term?""Yes.""So Mother didn't make this up to keep you happy?""No."Angelo closed his eyes for a moment."But Mother told me to go through the ceremony with you every year."I thought back, and the memory came to me."She wasn't wrong."He looked up."What do you mean?""To me, it was a ceremony.""Because every year for twelve years, I wanted to choose you."He went still.I pushed the old register Enzo had found across the table.Every January 2, headquarters had issued a new commission."All you saw was me stamping a page.""What you didn't see was Enzo spending the next three days renewing your authority in every contrac
He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 8
I thought Layla might finally settle down after everything that had happened.Instead, she invited the Dravens over.Just after noon, as I finished reviewing the day's family ledger, a servant came to the front hall with a message."Mrs. Draven is here with her second son, Pascal."I rubbed my forehead."Who invited them?"The servant said nothing.The answer was obvious.When I reached the front room, Layla was chatting warmly with Mrs. Draven.On the table lay a fresh copy of the engagement letter I'd torn up."There you are, Vittoria."Layla waved me over with a smile."You were just upset the other day. The Dravens have made a generous offer. At least meet the man."Mrs. Draven looked uncomfortable.Pascal rose at once."Miss Gallo, let me ask you something first.""Has Vittoria herself agreed to this marriage?"Layla's expression shifted."It's an alliance between families. Why would the bride's opinion matter?"I ignored her."I haven't agreed."Pascal immediately took back his c
He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 7
Angelo was silent for a long time.Once some of the elders had left, he asked me into a side room."Vittoria, let's speak privately."I agreed.Twelve years together deserved at least one conversation.Angelo shut the door and came straight to the point."I was wrong about the Romano rules.""But replacing me overnight may not be good for the family."That made more sense than anything Layla had said.I let him go on."I built the cargo fleet myself.""The Dons in the other territories know me, not a name on a document.""You can cancel my seal today.""But a seal won't replace the relationships I've spent twelve years building."I nodded."So?"He looked directly at me."Renew my appointment for one more year.""Forget the permanent contract.""I'll keep Layla in line.""When you've found someone who can truly replace me, I'll go."He said it calmly.It didn't sound like a threat.It sounded like a statement of fact.And that was the problem.He still thought I'd have no choice but to
He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 6
Layla drew a shaky breath.She finally understood the trouble she and her husband were in, but she wasn't ready to give up."What's there to review?""Angelo has run this family for years. When has he ever made a mess of it?"I nodded."We'll count what he's done for the family first. Then we'll count what the two of you have done these past few days."Angelo met my eyes."Vittoria, I have nothing to hide.""Good."I had Enzo open last year's master ledger.To his credit, Angelo hadn't used his position to tamper with family assets.Net profit across the Romano businesses was up fifteen percent from the year before.He'd even recovered several difficult debts. The elders nodded as they read through the details.I closed the first volume."Angelo handled the family and its businesses well. He'll be paid every dollar he's earned."Layla seized on that."You hear that?""The Romanos made all this money because of Angelo.""So what if his appointment has expired? Can this family function w
He Thought He Could Take My Place Chapter 5
"We're skipping the formality this year."The hall fell silent.Angelo stared at me for several seconds. Then understanding seemed to dawn, and his brow tightened."Vittoria, don't let a personal grudge get in the way of family business."Layla stood up, too."Seriously? I set a few limits, and now you're making a scene in front of the elders?""Angelo has spent twelve years working for this family. You think everyone will accept you dropping him just like that?"She wasn't entirely wrong.Angelo hadn't kept his position for twelve years on the Romano name alone.He was good at what he did.Enzo didn't rush to defend me. He looked at Angelo."You think the family seal is just a formality?""At least it hasn't made the Romanos a single extra dollar," Angelo said, his voice low."Fine."Enzo nodded."Let's test that."He'd barely finished when a subordinate hurried in."Urgent report from the south docks. A shipment of contraband sails today. We need two million dollars in working capita
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