Chapter 8
Two days later, Vittorio made the decision that cost him control.
At a special foundation board meeting, he voluntarily recused himself from the financial investigation.
He also agreed that neither Greco family members nor family employees would supervise the audit.
Anthony stared at him across the table.
“You understand what you’re doing?”
“Yes.”
“If the auditors find something involving you, you don’t get to bury it.”
“I know.”
Bianca’s empty chair sat beside Owen’s.
Claire’s had once been there.
The vote passed.
Margaret Sloan received unrestricted access to the foundation’s bank records, vendor contracts, archived emails and board systems.
Daniel warned Vittorio privately:
“This can expose mistakes that have nothing to do with Bianca.”
“Then expose them.”
That answer was easier to say than live with.
Within forty-eight hours, Margaret found sloppy approvals across years of foundation activity.
Vittorio had signed budgets without reviewing vendor detail.
Mark had processed payments because Owen was family.
Board members had accepted verbal explanations that should have been documented.
No single failure created the problem.
Dozens of small ones did.
Then Margaret requested Bianca’s archived foundation email account.
Bianca’s attorney objected.
The account belonged to the foundation, not Bianca personally.
The board authorized access.
That evening Bianca called Vittorio for the first time in three days.
He answered with Daniel beside him.
“You gave that accountant my emails?”
“Foundation emails.”
“There are private conversations in there.”
“Then your attorney can identify what’s privileged.”
Bianca’s breathing changed.
“Vittorio, some things Claire said when she was sick aren’t going to make sense.”
There it was again.
Claire.
Not Owen.
Not invoices.
Not money.
Claire.
“What are you afraid Margaret will find?”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Bianca did not answer.
Then she said something stranger.
“Ask Rachel what Claire kept in the blue binders.”
Vittorio looked toward Daniel.
Rachel had never mentioned blue binders.
Bianca disconnected.
Ten minutes later, Vittorio called Rachel.
She went quiet when he asked.
May you like
Finally she said:
“I thought Bianca destroyed them.”
