Chapter 8
Rocco opened the company books to an independent forensic audit.
That alone would have caused outrage.
He went further.
He notified the board’s independent directors that documents bearing his apparent approval might have been falsified.
Claire made him understand exactly what he was doing.
“You are volunteering information that could create personal exposure.”
“I know.”
“Regulators could review your decisions.”
“I know.”
“Your family’s legitimate companies may lose contracts.”
“I know.”
“Adrian may retaliate.”
“He already chose his side.”
Claire paused.
“And Celeste?”
Rocco looked toward the engagement ring she had returned through her attorney that morning.
“She chose hers.”
The board placed Rocco on temporary voluntary leave from approval authority while the review occurred.
His own idea.
Several family members called it insanity.
One capo came to his house.
“You’re letting accountants decide whether you control your own company?”
“For now.”
“Your father would never—”
Rocco cut him off.
“My father is not raising Mia.”
The man stopped.
Rocco continued.
“My daughter was slapped because she saw something adults wanted hidden. I will not prove them right by hiding the next thing myself.”
The forensic firm imaged devices, reviewed printing logs, traced payments, and compared access records.
Rocco surrendered his work laptop and phone voluntarily.
Adrian did so under legal advice.
Celeste’s attorney initially resisted access to her devices, then negotiated a limited preservation protocol.
The process became irreversible.
Family secrets were no longer entirely family property.
That evening Rocco returned home and found Mia drawing at the kitchen table.
New glasses.
Purple frames.
She looked up.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“Celeste coming?”
“No.”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
She nodded and went back to coloring.
Rocco sat beside her.
He had spent four days tearing apart his professional life.
Mia only needed to know who was coming through the door tonight.
May you like
He watched her draw.
For once, that seemed like the more important form of security.
