He Sent Me Away So I Took His Crown Chapter 14
After joining Reed’s company, I first had to undergo six weeks of independent evaluation.
The committee reviewed my prior bloodline systems, financial records, and client access. They even rejected two of my expansion proposals outright.
Elias did not attend the scoring sessions.
“If you get this job, you should know it wasn’t handed to you by me,” he said.
It was a strange feeling, to be assessed so seriously and also be allowed to fail.
One week before the Moretti tribunal, the evaluation ended.
I didn’t ask for the result in advance.
That morning, Elias and I drove back to Chicago.
The hearing was set in a chamber beneath a church in the old district. It belonged to no single family, and everyone entering the underground hall had to surrender their weapons at the door.
Gathered at the foot of the stone steps were the five Moretti district leaders, witnesses from two allied families, and advisers sent by the Bellandis.
Luca stood on the steps, looking much thinner.
Vittorio had already formally stripped him of his authority over the racing business, handing daily operations to an old district leader outside the line of succession.
He was no longer wearing the black coat with the Moretti crest, only a dark suit that hung looser than it once had.
There was no signet ring on his right hand.
Bianca stood beside him.
The Bellandi auction houses had been mostly shut down, but she still clung to Luca’s arm as though it were the last territory willing to shelter her.
When she saw me step out of the car, Luca took a step forward.
“Elena.”
Bianca immediately tightened her grip on his arm.
“The advisers said we should go inside.”
I didn’t stop.
Elias didn’t pull me toward him. He only held his hand out where I could see it.
I reached out and took it myself.
As I passed Luca, I heard his breath catch.
But that no longer had anything to do with me.