Who We Were Before

Chapter 20

4 months later

Lorenzo

I've started doing a little digging on Luca, what I found out doesn't make sense. He's been wiring $10,000 every month to a private account. Does he have a hidden mistress? That can't be it though. I've had someone secretly watch him and every month he would make 1-2 phone calls on a burner phone, every time the conversation was under two minutes. I decided to bug his house last week to see if I can catch one of these secret conversations, so far there's been nothing.
Even though it's been almost three years since Aella's been gone I haven't brought another woman to my bed. I don't think I could stand a touch that wasn't hers. There has been times when I went to bars women would try to touch me or flirt with me but a death glare from me has them running away. I've been taking care of my own needs, jacking off to Aella's pictures. There's no need for me to have someone else.

There's a knock on my door, Taylor lets himself in.
"Sir you have a board meeting in 10 minutes." I raise my eyebrows in surprise, I don't remember there being a board meeting today.
"Who called for a meeting?" I asked.
"It was Jefferson sir." Motherfucking Jefferson, he's an old fuck who used to run the business with Papà. He actually used to be COO until he started slacking off and I had him demoted, Tom replaced him and took over his position and is doing a fine job of it.
"I'll be there." I dismiss him from the room.

I'm in the boardroom, all the shareholders of the company sit around me. Papà sits on my right and Luca sits on my left.
"Is there a reason why I wasn't notified of a board meeting until last minute." Irritation makes my body tense, old fuck Jefferson speaks up.
"I was the one that actually scheduled it, you see about three years ago you've started neglecting your duties. Missing meetings having Tom deal with negotiations, staying in your office all day. You've put the company in jeopardy of million dollar losses." After he finishes talking he smirks as if he proved a point.
"So today right here right now we're going to vote to either have you removed from your position or if you can keep it." This motherfucker's been conspiring against me, I can't deal with this shit right now. I look around the room and see a majority of the people here I know won't vote against me.
"Jefferson you can't do this." Papà said in outrage. I glance at Luca and it looks like he's enjoying the show, idiot always liked drama.
"Oh but I can old friend, you made it possible for anyone working in the company to have the same opportunities as anybody else, say if I were a janitor here and had concerns I could call for a meeting. Owning a percentage of the company doesn't matter isn't that what you said "Equality for all"." He does air quotes with his fingers I'm guessing Papà said something similar to him when he used to run the business. This bitter old man has nothing better to do does he? Instead he's trying to remove me from my seat.
"Alright let's get to voting than, all in favor of removing me from my position raise your hand." Jefferson and two others raise their hands, his face turns red from embarrassment. You should've thought this through old fuck. It looks like he thought he gained enough supporters but I know everyone here who didn't raise their hand are smart enough not to fuck with me.
"Ok, all in favor of having me stay as CEO raise your hand." Everyone raises their hands but Jefferson and his two buddies.
"I guess that's it, meeting over." I see Jefferson stand up clearly outraged by the outcome.
"Jefferson you're relieved from your position, the same goes for you two." I point at him and the other two, they shake their head disappointment on their faces. That's what you get when you side with the losing team.
"You can't do this Lorenzo." Jefferson sputtered.
"Oh but I can, if you know what's good for you never show your face here again or else." I threatened him.
"Did you just threaten me?" He asked. I look to Luca and Papà.
"Did I threaten him?" I asked them.
"No I never heard a threat leave your mouth." Papà said. Jefferson knowing he lost marches out the room.
"Well that was a fucking waste of time." Luca said.
"Figlio, I'm proud of you, there will always be someone who is jealous of what you have and try to backstab you, like today. I thought Jefferson was a good man" Papà shakes his head in disappointment.
"Alright I'm out of here, I got somewhere to be." Luca promptly turned and walked off, where is he going?
"I'll see you tomorrow figlio." Papà exits the room. I gotta follow Luca.