Chapter 4 - The Boardroom of KingsAt 10:00 AM the following morning, the sun broke over the Chicago skyline, painting the glass towers in bright, golden light.
A sleek black sedan arrived at my apartment building, delivering a beautiful white box containing an immaculate cream wool coat, tailored trousers, and a soft cashmere sweater provided by Roman's estate team.
An hour later, I stepped through the grand, marble-arched lobby of the Moretti Tower in downtown Chicago.
The fifty-story skyscraper was the global headquarters of Moretti Real Estate and Logistics—a multi-billion-dollar empire that controlled commercial ports, luxury towers, and transit networks across four states.
An executive private elevator whisked me directly to the top floor.
When the heavy bronze doors parted, I walked into a breathtaking executive suite featuring floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows overlooking Lake Michigan.
Sitting around a long mahogany conference table were six senior corporate executives, three legal partners, and Roman Moretti.
Roman wore a bespoke navy suit, his posture tall, proud, and commanding. When he saw me step into the room, he immediately stood up from his leather armchair, stopping the corporate presentation mid-sentence.
The six executives stood up instantly, bowing their heads in deep, quiet respect as Roman guided me to the head of the mahogany table.
"Gentlemen," Roman announced, his baritone carrying clean and absolute through the quiet hall. "This is Megan Vance. As of nine o'clock this morning... she is the Chief Executive Director of our newly acquired hospitality group."
I froze mid-stride, my hazel eyes widening in absolute shock. "Roman... what?"
Roman picked up a leather-bound folder from the table, handing it to me.
"Yesterday afternoon, Moretti Real Estate acquired forty commercial dining properties across the Midwest," Roman revealed smoothly, a faint, proud smile touching his lips. "Including the complete physical assets of Laura. We are converting the downtown location into a high-end, ethical culinary foundation designed to employ single mothers and provide living wages."
Tears welling in my eyes, I looked down at the certified legal document.
My name was printed in bold gold ink across the primary executive line: MEGAN VANCE — CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
"You... you bought forty restaurants for me?" I whispered, my voice trembling with raw emotion.
"I bought them because you have integrity, Megan," Roman corrected softly, stepping closer, his large hand gently wrapping around mine over the leather binder. "You know what it means to care for people when no one is watching. That is the only qualification that matters in my empire."
The six executives applauded warmly, their faces filled with genuine admiration for the woman who had brought their cold, terrifying boss back from the edge of death.
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the boardroom were thrown open.
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Marco stepped into the room, his dark face tight, grim, and pale.
"Boss," Marco reported quietly, holding up an encrypted satellite tablet. "We have a breach. Victor Vance’s secondary strike team just executed a asset seizure claim against our South Side shipping terminal."
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