Chapter 8 - The Eighteen Million Dollar Fee Changes Everything
The Northstar agreement had never been approved by Luca.
Vanessa had negotiated through intermediaries.
She claimed she was merely exploring options for the family.
Northstar executives believed she had Luca’s authority.
Emails showed her using phrases like:
LUCA IS ALIGNED.
THE TIMING DEPENDS ON HIS HEALTH.
That last sentence became important.
Vanessa’s attorney argued it referred to Luca’s existing symptoms, not a
plan to cause them.
Investigators did not assume otherwise without evidence.
But the eighteen-million-dollar fee created a clear financial motive.
Emma learned about it only later.
At the time, she was more worried about losing her job.
The mansion had become a crime scene.
Staff schedules changed.
Guests gossiped.
Reporters waited outside.
Emma asked the house manager whether she should return to work.
Luca answered personally.
“Yes.”
She looked surprised.
“You stopped me from eating that plate.”
“I did my job.”
“No. Your job was housekeeping.”
Emma braced for offense.
Instead Luca said:
“You did more because something was wrong.”
He offered her a bonus.
Emma declined the first amount.
It was enormous.
She accepted a smaller emergency payment after Dominic explained it
could help with her father’s care without tying her to the
investigation.
She insisted it be documented as a discretionary employee award.
Luca almost smiled.
“You don’t trust gifts.”
May you like
“I trust receipts.”
For the first time in days, he laughed.
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