Chapter 1

Elena's POV

"Luca, give me a straight answer in front of everyone. Do you acknowledge the agreement your father signed?" I picked up the settlement documents and handed them to the lawyer beside me. "The original agreement is attached at the back. Please review it."

Vivian Craig reached over and pressed her hand against the documents. "Stop using some old agreement to stall. We're here tonight to settle the money you owe the company!"

She pushed another document toward me. "Sign it. Return what you never should've taken, and we'll at least let you walk away with some dignity."

I glanced down at the document. They wanted me to return every last dollar of the dividends I'd received over the past three years.

"You used my money to run your business, and now you want me to pay it back?" I asked.

"Your money?" Vivian laughed and picked up the background check report from the table. "I looked into your records. You don't hold a single position in the group, and you've never attended a management meeting. What gives you the right to take 90% of the profits?"

The pages she'd presented contained nothing but the company's management structure. She'd conveniently left out the investment records and asset inventory that followed.

"Why don't you turn to the next page?" I looked her straight in the eye. "It clearly states who provided the money and the warehouses. Why don't you read that aloud for everyone?"

She snapped the report shut and set it back on the table. "Whatever Mr. Marino promised you in private, you know exactly what happened. Don't force us to expose it in front of everyone."

Someone at the head table set down their wineglass.

Vivian glanced at Luca Whitmore, and her confidence seemed to grow. "Marino is retired. Are you seriously going to use some shady affair with him as an excuse to keep bleeding the Whitmores dry?"

"So, because you can't produce any evidence, you've decided to spread rumors that I had an affair with him? Why don't you open the report and show everyone the investment records?" I pressed.

Her smile faltered.

Two executives beside her immediately jumped to her defense.

"Vivian is only trying to ensure the company operates fairly. Taking 90% of the profits was unreasonable from the start."

"If we're going to settle accounts, you should return all the excess money you've taken over the years."

I recognized both men. Their names appeared on the list of executives set to receive equity awards in the upcoming funding round.

I ignored them and took out my phone. "Then let's have Mr. Whitmore explain it himself."

Luca reached out and stopped me from making the call. "My father's retired. Stop using him to pressure me."

"Why are you so afraid to let him tell everyone whose money saved the Whitmores back then?" I asked.

"I've already told you. I'm in charge now, and I don't recognize anything he promised you!" He dropped the microphone onto the table with a dull thud. "I'm running this company now. It doesn't matter who you go to. You'll get the same answer."

I stared at him for a moment before lowering my gaze to the document.

Not only did they expect me to return all my dividends, but they also wanted me to surrender every right to future earnings and hand over the warehouses, leases, and management records. In exchange, they'd pay me a monthly allowance.

However, if I engaged in any conduct they deemed "damaging to the group's reputation," they could suspend those payments at any time.

I turned the document toward Luca and pointed to the section concerning the warehouses. "Are these yours too?"

He flipped straight to the last page. His signature was already at the bottom. "All you have to do is sign."

He gestured for the lawyer beside him to act as a witness.

I made no move to pick up the pen. "I only entrusted you with the warehouses for management and operations. Since when did they become your family's property?"

Luca tugged at his tie. "Those warehouses only became valuable because of the company's operations over the past ten years. You had nothing to do with that. Do you seriously think you can just take them back?

"Besides, the Morettis have made it clear. If we can't recover the dividends and warehouses, they won't invest a single dollar!

"Are you really going to let the entire company suffer just because you refuse to sign?"

"Why should I have to sacrifice my assets to fulfill the promises you made?" I questioned him.

Luca's voice suddenly rose. "How much did you even invest back then? Haven't you taken enough over the past ten years? All we're asking for now is a few warehouses.

"I personally secured deals with three companies this year. What have you done?

"While my team and I were working through the night, you were playing golf at your estate. What gives you the right to stand in my way now?"

"Because the assets you're giving away belong to me," I replied matter-of-factly.

His expression darkened, but he said nothing.

As I looked at him, I remembered Marino 10 years ago.

Back then, his entire fleet had been grounded. Creditors were at his door, and he couldn't even afford to pay his employees. He'd come to me with a list of unpaid wages and begged for help. He'd promised to agree to any terms as long as I kept the company afloat.

I paid off his debts, then provided the money and warehouses he needed to get operations running again.

The agreement stated in black and white that I was entitled to 90% of the returns. He hadn't raised a single objection when he signed it.

On the day he handed over control, he'd even reminded Luca in front of me that he was transferring only the company's management rights. Luca had no authority to dispose of any assets registered under my name.

Luca had readily agreed at the time. Yet now, whenever I mentioned his father, he grew impatient. He wouldn't even let me make a phone call to settle the matter.

I continued reading the document. The Morettis had already listed one of their companies as the receiving party. They'd even arranged to transfer my assets to someone else without so much as informing me.

"Are you done yet?" Vivian tapped the table and placed a check on top of the document. "Here's your allowance for the first month. It's more than enough to cover your expenses. The Morettis' representatives are still waiting. Stop wasting everyone's time."

I took out a copy of the repayment and transfer agreement and slipped it into my bag. Then I pushed the check back toward her. "Forget about getting my signature. I'm taking this copy with me. Let your father see what his wonderful son has been up to."

Vivian immediately pressed her hand against my bag. "Who said you could take that?"

"You just handed it to me. What's wrong with me taking it?" I shot back.

"That's company property!"

I pulled my bag away and stood up. Without another glance at her, I headed for the door.

Vivian immediately waved at the security guards. "She has company documents! Don't let her leave!"

Two security guards approached from the doorway.

Vivian pulled out her phone and instructed the finance department to suspend my dividend payments right in front of me. She then ordered them to revoke my company access credentials.

"Elena Dean, once you walk out that door, you'll never set foot in this company again. And you can forget about getting another cent from us!" she threatened.

I retrieved the document from my bag, photographed every page, and sent the pictures to my assistant. Then I sent him the banquet hall's address and asked him to pick me up.

Once I'd finished, I put the document back in my bag, slipped my phone into my pocket, and looked at Luca. "We'll settle the rest of the accounts in due time."

He let out a cold laugh. "You think everyone is going to keep handing you money for nothing, the way the Whitmores did?"

Luca pointed toward the door. "If you won't sign, then get out. Stop wasting our time."

I turned and walked toward the banquet hall exit.

Behind me, Vivian raised her voice. "If you walk out today, don't ever come crawling back to us!"

Luca slipped an arm around her and sneered, "Once she runs out of money, she'll come crawling back on her own."