Chapter 1 - the termination letter
The towering glass and steel facade of Moretti Plaza cut through the Manhattan skyline like a monument to absolute power. Inside, the central lobby was a breathtaking cavern of white Italian marble, soaring ceilings, and warm golden lighting. Security personnel in dark suits stood at every entrance, maintaining a silent, impenetrable ring around the heart of the billion-dollar corporation.
Through the front revolving doors walked Dominic Moretti.
Legendary, immensely powerful, and frighteningly calm, the fearsome Mafia boss and corporate titan commanded total reverence wherever he walked. He was tall, muscular, and ruggedly handsome, his dark hair neatly styled and his jaw framed by a light layer of stubble. Wears a perfectly tailored beige suit, an open-collar white dress shirt exposing his strong neck, a luxury wristwatch, and polished leather shoes. Beside him walked Marco DeLuca, Dominic’s loyal head of security, wearing a fitted black suit, crisp white shirt, dark tie, and polished shoes, his observant eyes constantly scanning the grand hall.
As Dominic stroled toward his private executive elevator, a tiny figure stepped directly out from behind a marble pillar, blocking his path.
It was six-year-old Lily Carter. Small, innocent, determined, and unusually fearless, the brave little girl wore a pale-yellow floral dress and simple shoes. Her soft brown hair framed fair, rosy cheeks, and in one arm she clutched a worn stuffed rabbit. In her other hand, she held a crisp, folded piece of paper.
Behind her, Marco instinctively shifted forward, but Dominic held up a single hand, stopping his head of security instantly.
Lily looked up at the broad, intimidating man, showing no fear whatsoever.
"Why did you fire my mom?" Lily asked bravely, her small voice ringing out across the vast, echoing lobby.
Dominic slowly crouched down in front of the little girl, bringing himself down to her eye level. He looked at her soft brown eyes, then reached out with his broad, manicured hand and gently took the paper from her fingers. He unfolded the official corporate document—a sudden termination notice from Moretti Group’s human resources division—and read it carefully.
His eyes locked onto the employee name listed near the top. His expression instantly shifted from calm detachment to deep, serious focus.
"What’s your mother’s name?" Dominic asked, his deep voice carrying a sudden, heavy gravity.
Lily hugged her stuffed rabbit tighter against her chest and looked directly into his eyes without flinching.
"Anna Carter," Lily answered cleanly.
Dominic froze. A sudden, chilling silence seemed to fall over his entire body as the name echoed in his mind.
He slowly stood up, turning his broad frame toward Marco. Handing the termination letter to his head of security, Dominic spoke in an ice-cold, lethal register that made the surrounding guards tense up.
"Find out who authorized this. Now," Dominic commanded.
The lobby went completely quiet. Security guards stopped in their tracks, and passing executives held their breath.
Before Marco could make a call on his radio, little Lily reached down and opened her small canvas backpack resting on the marble floor. She pulled out an old, weathered shoebox bound by a faded ribbon. She lifted the lid, revealing dozens of unopened, neatly stacked envelopes addressed to Dominic’s late father, the former head of the family.
"Mommy wrote these to the old Mr. Moretti," Lily explained, her innocent voice cutting through the heavy tension.
Dominic reached into the box, his thick fingers lifting the stack of historical letters. Underneath the envelopes rested a single folded document stamped with an official wax seal and bearing his late father's distinct handwritten signature.
May you like
Dominic opened the paper, reading the first few lines. As his eyes took in the contents, the color drained from his face, leaving his rugged features ghostly pale.
Lily looked up at him, her brown eyes bright and observant. "Mommy said someone was scared you’d find that."
