Chapter 6 - EVELYN’S ULTIMATUM
News of Marcus Vance’s sudden arrest rocked the Chicago financial sector before the morning markets even opened.
Headline articles flashed across Bloomberg terminals and financial blogs.
MORETTI GLOBAL CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ARRESTED FOR FRAUD AND FORGERY.
Evelyn Shaw stormed into Luca’s private office at Moretti Global headquarters by 9:00 AM.
She didn't wait for his secretary to announce her.
She pushed open the heavy glass doors, her face flushed with anger.
“Have you lost your absolute mind, Luca?” Evelyn demanded, slamming her leather handbag onto his desk.
“Arresting Marcus publicly without consulting me?”
“Do you have any idea what this does to our stock value?”
“The board is in a panic!”
Luca didn't look up from his tablet.
He continued reviewing legal documents regarding Marcus’s offshore accounts.
“Marcus committed federal crimes against my family, Evelyn,” Luca replied coldly.
“He’s going to prison.”
“Your family?” Evelyn scoffed, crossing her arms.
“What family are you talking about?”
“Us! We are getting married in four months!”
“Or have you forgotten that little detail while you've been obsessing over your ex-wife and her bastard children?”
Luca’s head snapped up.
His dark eyes fixed on Evelyn with a ferocity that made her instinctively step back.
“Never call my children that again, Evelyn.”
“Your children?” Evelyn’s voice shrilled, disbelief cracking her polished composure.
“You actually believe those twins are yours?”
“You let a bitter ex-wife wave two kids in front of your face at a restaurant and you’re ready to blow up your entire life for them?”
“They are mine,” Luca said quietly, each word weighted with absolute certainty.
“I have the DNA test results right here.”
“I know they are mine.”
“And I know why our marriage broke apart.”
Evelyn stared at him, her chest heaving as realization dawned upon her.
“So that’s it,” she whispered, her voice dropping into a venomous hiss.
“You’re throwing me away for Nia Carter.”
“After everything I’ve done to polish your image, to stand beside you, to help you conquer Chicago.”
“You’re going crawling back to her like a whipped dog.”
“I’m not crawling back to anyone, Evelyn,” Luca stood up slowly, buttoning his suit jacket.
“Our engagement is over.”
“My attorneys will handle the return of the ring and the cancellation of the venue reservations.”
“You cannot do this to me, Luca Moretti!” Evelyn screamed, tears of rage springing to her eyes.
“I will ruin you!”
“I will take half of everything in the prenuptial settlement!”
“There is no prenuptial settlement clause for abandoned engagements, Evelyn,” Luca said with icy calm.
“And if you attempt to launch any smear campaign against me or Nia, my legal team will bury you so deep in litigation you’ll never see daylight again.”
“Get out of my office.”
May you like
Evelyn grabbed her bag, her eyes blazing with pure hatred.
“You’ll regret this, Luca,” she hissed, turning on her heel and storming out, slamming the glass doors hard enough to rattle the frame.
