The executive boardroom occupied the entire top floor of Gio's business headquarters.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, sunlight reflecting off steel and glass towers stretching toward the horizon.
The room itself was a statement.
Not extravagant.
Powerful.
A twenty-foot walnut conference table sat at the center surrounded by executives, analysts, legal advisors, division presidents, and board members responsible for overseeing a business empire spread across multiple continents.
By the time Giovanni entered, every seat was occupied.
Conversations died immediately.
Not because anyone ordered silence.
Because Giovanni De Luca had that effect on people.
He walked toward the head of the table in a three-piece suit that fit him perfectly, his expression calm, composed, unreadable.
A man who looked more like old money royalty than someone who had spent the better part of the previous night dismantling an enemy.
Liam sat three seats away already scrolling through reports on his laptop.
Dom occupied his usual position near the legal team.
Giovanni took his seat.
"Good morning."
The greeting was simple.
The response was unison.
The effect was immediate.
The quarterly review began.
The CFO stood first.
A nervous habit made him adjust his tie before speaking.
"Consolidated revenue closed at fourteen-point-eight billion dollars this quarter. That's an eleven-point-four percent increase year-over-year."
A chart appeared on the screen.
"Net operating profit closed at three-point-nine billion."
Several board members nodded.
Strong.
Very strong.
The CFO clicked to the next slide.
"Hospitality exceeded projections by twelve percent. Real estate by nineteen percent. Logistics by sixteen percent."
"Technology?" Giovanni asked.
The CFO glanced down.
"Eight percent growth."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Giovanni leaned back slightly.
"Why?"
The CFO swallowed.
"Our European expansion was slower than anticipated."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
The room stiffened.
Giovanni folded his hands.
"The expansion performed exactly as projected."
Nobody spoke.
"You lost margin."
The CFO froze.
A few executives exchanged glances.
YOU ARE READING
His greatest love.
RomanceGiovanni De Luca is the wealthiest man in the business world... and the most feared name in the underworld and the business world. Dr. Pierce isn't just a surgeon - she's the best the world has ever seen, a miracle worker with a scalpel and a spine...
