Chapter 4 - SHADOWS IN THE BALLROOM
I lasted exactly three minutes inside the quiet lounge before my nerves got the better of me.
I couldn't just sit there while Luca walked into an ambush. I knew the internal dynamics of Castellani Holdings better than almost anyone—I handled his calendar, his encrypted correspondence, and his private balance sheets. The Morettis had been trying to squeeze Luca out of the riverfront shipping yards for six months. Sending an uninvited proxy to a high-society wedding wasn't a social call; it was a provocation.
Opening the lounge door, I slipped out into the corridor and moved toward the entrance of the Grand Ballroom.
The room was vast, filled with crystal chandeliers, towering floral arrangements, and hundreds of guests in formal wear. But near the grand staircase on the left side of the room, a noticeable pocket of silence had formed.
Luca stood in the center of that silence.
Opposite him was Julian Moretti—a cruel, sharp-featured man wearing a flashy velvet tuxedo. Julian was surrounded by three heavy-set men whose jackets bulged conspicuously at the waist.
"It's a public event, Castellani," Julian was saying loudly, a mocking sneer on his face. "Just paying my respects to the happy couple."
"You have five seconds to turn around and walk out," Luca replied calmly, his hands resting casually in his trousers pockets. He looked entirely unfazed, but I could see the tension in his broad shoulders. "If you make a scene at this wedding, Julian, I won't just ruin your night. I'll take your docks."
Julian sneered, his eyes darting around the room until they suddenly landed on me standing near the archway.
May you like
His eyes widened, fixed on the bright red dress.
"Well, well," Julian purred, stepping around Luca toward my direction. "Who is this gorgeous piece of art? I didn't know Castellani let his staff dress like royalty."