Chapter 16 - Questions Without Answers
1699 Words
The flight back to Italy was unusually quiet.
Unlike their trip to Rome, no one joked.
No one teased Sienna about Alex.
Even Zara, who usually found something to laugh about, spent most of the journey staring out the window.
Kai sat across from Sienna, occasionally glancing at her.
She looked exactly as she always did.
Calm.
Composed.
Reading another report on her tablet.
But he knew her well enough to notice the difference.
She hadn't turned a single page in over twenty minutes.
She wasn't reading.
She was thinking.
About the article.
About Lorenzo's phone call.
About what awaited her at the office.
Kai finally broke the silence.
"You don't have to carry this alone."
Sienna looked up.
"I'm not."
"You know what I mean."
She closed the tablet.
"I've done nothing wrong."
"I know."
"So does Father."
Kai wasn't as confident.
"The board may not see it that way."
"They don't have to."
She answered calmly.
"They only need evidence."
"And there isn't any."
Kai wished he shared her confidence.
Business wasn't always about evidence.
Sometimes...
Perception was enough to destroy someone's reputation.
...
Several hours later...
The De Luca Holdings headquarters came into view.
The moment their car entered the underground parking garage, Sienna noticed something unusual.
Reporters.
Dozens of them.
Security guards struggled to keep them outside the main entrance.
Camera flashes lit up the glass walls of the building.
Zara frowned.
"They're actually here?"
Kai sighed.
"They're faster than I expected."
The chauffeur stopped the car near the executive entrance.
Before anyone could open the door, Lorenzo's personal assistant hurried over.
"Miss De Luca."
"The Chairman is waiting."
Sienna nodded.
"I'll go directly to him."
Kai stepped out beside her.
"I'll come."
The assistant shook his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"The Chairman specifically requested Miss De Luca."
Kai looked at Sienna.
She gave him a small nod.
"It'll be fine."
He wasn't convinced.
But he let her go.
...
The Chairman's office occupied the entire top floor.
As always...
The room was immaculate.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Milan's skyline.
Bookshelves lined one wall.
Family photographs occupied another.
Most of them were old.
Taken long before Sienna joined the company.
Lorenzo stood by the window with his hands behind his back.
He didn't turn immediately when she entered.
"You've grown."
Sienna blinked.
"...Father?"
"When you first joined this company..."
"You were afraid to speak during board meetings."
"I remember."
"Now..."
"You stand before international investors without hesitation."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I'm proud of that."
Only then did he turn around.
His expression became serious again.
"Sit."
She obeyed.
Lorenzo placed a folder on the desk.
Inside were printed copies of the article.
Along with every photograph.
He slid them toward her.
"What do you see?"
She studied them carefully.
"Photographs."
"What else?"
"Nothing inappropriate."
He nodded.
"I agree."
Another pause.
"But the board won't."
Sienna remained silent.
Lorenzo continued.
"Whether we like it or not..."
"You're my daughter."
"You're also Executive Director."
"People will always question your decisions."
"They'll assume you've received special treatment."
"They'll assume every success was handed to you."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You cannot give them another reason."
"I understand."
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"You don't."
He sighed quietly.
"This isn't about Alex Bellucci."
"It's about perception."
"If shareholders begin believing personal relationships influence company decisions..."
"They'll lose confidence."
"And confidence..."
"...is worth more than money."
Sienna nodded slowly.
"I understand now."
Lorenzo watched her for several moments.
Then...
"I trust you."
She looked surprised.
"I know you."
"You wouldn't risk this company."
Relief flickered briefly across her face.
"But..."
Lorenzo added.
"The board has requested an emergency meeting tomorrow morning."
"They'll ask questions."
"You'll answer them."
She nodded once.
"I will."
...
Outside the office...
Adrian stood near the executive elevators.
He wasn't alone.
Daniel approached nervously.
"Sir..."
Adrian didn't look at him.
"What?"
"The article spread faster than expected."
"Good."
"But..."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"What if Miss De Luca explains everything?"
Adrian smiled.
"She will."
Daniel frowned.
"Then why aren't you worried?"
Adrian finally looked at him.
"Because people rarely remember explanations."
"They remember headlines."
Daniel's expression slowly changed.
Realization.
Adrian adjusted his suit jacket.
"Tomorrow..."
"The board won't be asking whether she's innocent."
"They'll be asking whether she's distracted."
"And once that question exists..."
"It never completely disappears."
He walked away.
Leaving Daniel standing alone.
For the first time...
Even Daniel began wondering if Adrian had planned far more than anyone realized.
_______
The following morning...
De Luca Holdings felt different.
The usual chatter that filled the executive floor had disappeared.
Employees greeted one another quietly before hurrying to their offices.
News traveled fast in the corporate world.
And scandals...
Traveled even faster.
As Sienna stepped out of the elevator, conversations immediately stopped.
Several employees lowered their eyes.
Others smiled politely.
A few simply stared.
She acted as though she hadn't noticed.
"Good morning, Miss De Luca."
"Morning."
"Good morning."
She acknowledged each greeting with the same calm expression before walking toward the boardroom.
Kai was already waiting outside.
He held two cups of coffee.
One for himself.
One hot chocolate for her.
"I figured you'd forget breakfast again."
She accepted the cup.
"Thank you."
He studied her face carefully.
"How are you holding up?"
"I've had worse mornings."
He smiled.
"I don't know whether that's comforting or worrying."
Before either of them could continue...
The boardroom doors opened.
Lorenzo stepped out.
"They're ready."
...
The boardroom was unusually crowded.
Every director was present.
Even members who rarely attended emergency meetings had flown in overnight.
At the far end of the polished table sat Lorenzo.
To his right...
Adrian.
His expression was calm.
Almost sympathetic.
Sienna disliked that expression more than open hostility.
"Please sit."
She took her seat.
The room fell silent.
One elderly director cleared his throat.
"Miss De Luca..."
"I'll be direct."
"Are you involved in a romantic relationship with Mr. Alex Bellucci?"
Several pairs of eyes fixed on her.
Sienna didn't rush her answer.
"No."
The director nodded.
"The photographs suggest otherwise."
"They suggest nothing."
"They show two executives speaking."
Another board member leaned forward.
"Did Mr. Bellucci arrange your accommodation in Rome?"
"Yes."
"The same accommodation provided to every summit guest."
A few directors glanced at one another.
Another question came.
"Have you accepted gifts from him?"
Sienna thought briefly.
"He gave me market reports that benefited the France project."
"They were also distributed to several summit participants."
"And outside business?"
"No."
The questioning continued.
For almost forty minutes.
Every photograph.
Every conversation.
Every rumor.
She answered each one without raising her voice.
Without becoming defensive.
Simply...
With facts.
When the final question ended...
Silence filled the room.
Lorenzo looked around the table.
"Does anyone have evidence of misconduct?"
No one answered.
"Does anyone have evidence that Miss De Luca compromised company interests?"
Again...
Silence.
Finally...
Sir Matteo, the oldest member of the board, spoke.
"I don't."
Another director nodded.
"Neither do I."
One by one...
The others quietly agreed.
Only Adrian remained silent.
Lorenzo looked at him.
"Mr. Moretti?"
Adrian smiled politely.
"I have no evidence."
The words were correct.
Yet something about them felt...
Calculated.
Lorenzo stood.
"Then this matter is closed."
The sound of chairs scraping against the floor echoed through the room as the meeting ended.
...
Outside...
Kai immediately stood.
"Well?"
Sienna exhaled softly.
"It's over."
He smiled in relief.
"I knew it."
"For now."
She added.
Kai's smile faded.
"What do you mean?"
"They cleared me."
"They didn't clear the rumors."
Before Kai could ask another question...
Zara hurried toward them, almost out of breath.
"Sienna!"
"What happened?"
"You need to see this."
She handed over her phone.
The same article from yesterday had been updated.
**BOARD QUESTIONS CHAIRMAN'S DAUGHTER OVER ROME SUMMIT PHOTOS**
Below it...
A single sentence stood out.
**Although no misconduct was found, sources say concerns remain over professional boundaries.**
Kai groaned.
"They're making it sound like you were guilty."
"They always were."
Sienna replied quietly.
"The truth doesn't generate as many clicks."
She handed the phone back.
"We have work to do."
Zara stared.
"...That's it?"
"What else should I do?"
"Get angry?"
"I don't have time."
She walked toward her office.
Leaving Kai and Zara standing behind.
Zara shook her head slowly.
"I don't know whether she's incredibly strong..."
"...or incredibly stubborn."
Kai smiled faintly.
"I think she's both."
...
Meanwhile...
Across the city...
Alex sat in his office reading the very same article.
Marco stood nearby.
"The board meeting has ended."
"And?"
"They found no wrongdoing."
Alex nodded once.
"As expected."
"But the media..."
Marco hesitated.
"They're refusing to let the story die."
Alex closed the tablet.
"They won't."
"Not until they find something new."
He stood and walked toward the window.
"Which means..."
"They'll start looking harder."
Marco frowned.
"What should we do?"
Alex's reflection stared back at him through the glass.
"Nothing."
Marco looked surprised.
"Nothing?"
"If I publicly defend her..."
"They'll say I'm protecting her."
"If I deny the rumors..."
"They'll create new ones."
"So..."
"What then?"
Alex smiled slightly.
"We let Sienna do what she does best."
Marco understood immediately.
"Prove them wrong."
"Exactly."
At that same moment...
Someone knocked on Alex's office door.
"Come in."
A young assistant entered carrying a sealed envelope.
"This arrived by courier, sir."
"There was no sender."
Alex opened it.
Inside...
Was a single photograph.
Unlike the ones published online...
This one had been taken from another angle.
Hidden in the background...
Barely visible...
Was Adrian.
Holding a camera.
Alex's smile disappeared.
His eyes hardened.
"So..."
He murmured.
"It was you."
He carefully placed the photograph back into the envelope.
Then looked at Marco.
"Find out everything."
"Everything about Adrian Moretti."
"I want his financial records."
"His business dealings."
"His contacts."
"If he's willing to play games..."
Alex's voice became dangerously calm.
"...then let's see how well he plays when someone knows all the rules."
Marco nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, sir."
For the first time...
Alex wasn't investigating out of curiosity.
He was investigating to protect someone.
And Adrian had no idea...
He had just attracted the attention of the one man in Europe who never lost.
- Writer
