Chapter 16 - The Real Enemy at the Table
The final family meeting occurred on a Sunday.
Diego chose Sunday because his father had forbidden business discussions on Sundays.
It felt appropriate to break one harmless tradition after dismantling so many harmful ones.
Claudio arrived first.
Marco came next.
Aunt Teresa entered wearing black as though attending a funeral.
Perhaps she was.
Cecilia was absent by court order.
Valli remained in custody.
Fausto joined by video from Switzerland, where he had finally begun treatment.
Sofia sat beside Diego.
Not behind him.
That detail upset Teresa immediately.
“Why is she here?”
Diego looked at Sofia.
“Would you like to answer?”
Sofia smiled.
“I enjoy watching rich families argue.”
Claudio laughed.
Teresa did not.
Diego opened the meeting.
“Ramos Holdings as it existed is finished.”
Teresa gasped.
Claudio remained quiet.
Marco had already guessed.
Diego continued.
“The hotels remain operating under independent management. The shipping companies will be sold. Security divisions will be dissolved or transferred subject to review. Property holdings will be reorganized.”
“And our shares?” Teresa demanded.
“Whatever survives legal settlement remains according to ownership.”
“You're dismantling generations.”
“Yes.”
“You have no right.”
“I have every legal right.”
“Antonio would be ashamed.”
Diego looked at his father's portrait.
“Probably.”
Teresa stared.
He continued.
“The Ramos Foundation will receive a major portion of my personal assets.”
“For what?”
“Medical rehabilitation programs, support for families affected by organized crime, and scholarships.”
Claudio looked at Sofia.
She looked equally surprised.
Diego had not told her everything.
“And the villa?” Claudio asked.
“Stays in the family trust for now.”
Teresa relaxed slightly.
Diego added, “Most of it will be converted into a residential rehabilitation center.”
Her expression collapsed again.
“What?”
“The east wing and guest buildings.”
“You're turning Villa Ramos into a hospital?”
“Partly.”
“This house is our heritage!”
“So were the lies. I'm keeping fewer of those too.”
Marco covered a smile.
Claudio actually laughed.
Teresa stormed out.
The door slammed.
Silence.
Then Claudio said, “That went better than expected.”
Sofia nodded.
“She didn't throw anything.”
“Growth.”
Diego looked at his brothers.
Brothers.
The word still felt strange when it included Marco.
“You both retain whatever assets survive your legal situations.”
Marco shook his head.
“I don't want Ramos money.”
“It's partly yours.”
“No.”
“Think before answering.”
“I have.”
Marco looked around.
“I spent years entering this family under a false name. I don't need another identity attached to money.”
“What will you do?”
“Testify. Finish the case. Then maybe leave Italy.”
Claudio asked, “Where?”
“Somewhere nobody knows my father.”
Claudio grimaced.
“You'll need to be more specific now.”
They laughed.
Small.
Awkward.
Real.
After the meeting, Diego remained at the table with Sofia.
“You didn't tell me about the rehabilitation center.”
“I wanted to be sure.”
“It's a good idea.”
“Fausto suggested it.”
“Will you run it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I have absolutely no medical qualifications.”
“You ran an empire without moral qualifications.”
He looked offended.
She smiled.
“Too soon?”
“Probably.”
Sofia became quiet.
“What will you do?”
Diego had been avoiding that question.
For fourteen years, every morning had begun with work.
Meetings.
Accounts.
Threats.
Negotiations.
Security.
Power was not simply something he owned.
It structured time.
Without it, hours felt enormous.
“I don't know.”
Sofia smiled.
“You've said that more in two weeks than probably your entire adult life.”
“I'm trying new things.”
“Try vacation.”
“I dislike beaches.”
“Mountains.”
“Too much walking.”
“You're difficult.”
“So I've heard.”
She reached for his hand.
No signet ring.
Diego had placed it in his father's archive.
He no longer wanted to wear a symbol that made Claudio jealous, Valli obsessive, and himself responsible for ghosts.
Sofia noticed immediately.
“Where is it?”
“Stored.”
“Why?”
“I don't need it.”
She nodded.
That might have been more important than dismantling the company.
Later that afternoon, Diego received permission to visit Valli in custody.
Sofia disliked the idea.
“So don't come.”
“I'm definitely coming.”
“Sofia.”
“You fired me. Remember?”
He surrendered.
Valli entered the interview room in prison clothes.
Older.
Smaller.
Still proud.
His eyes moved to Sofia.
“The maid.”
“Sofia,” Diego corrected.
Valli smiled.
“You changed everything.”
“No,” Sofia said. “You failed.”
His smile disappeared.
Diego sat.
“Why did you send the evidence against my father?”
“To hurt you.”
“It didn't.”
“Liar.”
“It hurt. That's different.”
Valli leaned forward.
“You think giving away money redeems you?”
“No.”
“You think cooperating with prosecutors changes what you are?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Diego considered.
“Because I don't need redemption from you.”
Valli stared.
“I spent years wanting your family to feel what mine felt.”
“And did it work?”
Silence.
“Your son hates you,” Diego continued. “Cecilia testified against you. Claudio is repairing what he can. My father's secrets are public. I'm still here.”
Valli's jaw tightened.
“You lost your empire.”
Diego looked at Sofia.
Then back.
“I lost the part that made me think the empire was my life.”
That answer enraged Valli more than any threat could have.
Because revenge required the victim to remain attached to what was taken.
Diego no longer was.
As they left, Sofia asked, “Did that help?”
“No.”
“Then why go?”
“To see whether I still hated him.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Very enlightened.”
“I said I'm changing. Not becoming a saint.”
She laughed.
In the parking lot, Diego stopped.
“Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“You called yourself the maid in there.”
“So?”
“You're not.”
“What am I?”
He looked at her.
His answer frightened him.
He said it anyway.
“The person I want beside me.”
Sofia became still.
“That sounds suspiciously serious.”
“It is.”
“You're terrible at this.”
“Yes.”
“Keep going.”
Diego took both her hands.
“When everything ends—the court, the investigations, the press—stay.”
“At the villa?”
“With me.”
Her eyes softened.
“Are you asking me to move in?”
“Eventually.”
“Terrible proposal.”
“It's not a marriage proposal.”
“Good, because I would've said no.”
Diego blinked.
Sofia laughed.
“Relax.”
“I wasn't—”
“You looked terrified.”
“I've faced guns with less anxiety.”
“That may be something to work on.”
He pulled her closer.
“What would make you say yes?”
“To moving in?”
“To anything.”
She thought.
“Ask because you want a future. Not because I was the only person who stayed during the worst part of your past.”
Diego absorbed that.
Fair.
Painful.
Wise.
“Then I'll wait.”
Sofia kissed his cheek.
“Good.”
For once, patience did not feel like a strategy.
May you like
It felt like hope.
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