Chapter 13
Angelina
It’s been three months since Dez dropped to one knee in a circle full of rose petals and asked me to marry him. Three months since I'd said yes to the most insane, impulsive, perfect decision of my life. And in a few days, I'd be walking down the aisle.
My phone buzzed with a text from Dez.
My Man, My Man, My Man
How's your day going?
Good. Trying to finish everything before I leave for two weeks.
Two weeks in Santorini. Just you, me, and a private villa with no interruptions.
Heat flooded through me at the promise in those words. Our honeymoon. Fourteen days of sun and sea and Dez's undivided attention.
I couldn't wait.
Focus, Moretti. Some of us have actual work to do.
Soon you’ll be one, too.
I could practically hear the smug satisfaction in his voice.
Dinner tonight? I want to go over the seating chart one more time.
You mean you want to make sure all the dangerous criminals are seated far enough apart that they won't start a war during our reception?
Exactly. See you at seven?
See you at seven.
I set my phone down and forced myself to focus.
The projections looked good. Actually, better than good.
In the three months since my engagement, I'd been quietly but methodically strengthening Castellano & Co.
New product lines in development that aligned with my vision instead of my uncle's cost-cutting measures.
Key hires in positions that had been deliberately kept empty or filled with Vincent's people.
Contracts renegotiated to favor quality over profit margins.
And most importantly, a paper trail. A clear, documented record of every decision I'd made, every change I'd implemented, every way I'd been steering the company back to my mother's original vision.
Because after I returned from my honeymoon, I was going to fire Vincent DeLuca.
The thought made my pulse quicken with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
Dez had the evidence of embezzlement ready.
His lawyers had the termination documents prepared.
His father had given his blessing which, in Moretti terms, meant Vincent wouldn't survive any retaliation attempts.
I was protected. The company was protected. All I had to do was execute.
A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in," I called.
My assistant, Maya, one of my new hires, sharp and loyal and everything Vincent's picks had never been, poked her head in.
"Ms. Castellano, your uncle is here to see you."
Of course he was.
Vincent had been acting increasingly erratic over the past three months.
Ever since news of my engagement had spread through the company, he'd been trying to make major plays.
Pushing projects through without my approval.
Attempting to hire people for positions I hadn't authorized.
Trying to shore up his power base before it crumbled beneath him.
He could feel the pressure of what my engagement meant and like a mouse scurrying for food, he was trying to get his allegiance in order.
I'd shut down every single attempt. Mouse traps everywhere. Snap!
"Send him in," I said, straightening in my chair.
Maya nodded and disappeared. A moment later, Vincent walked in. He was in his late fifties, with graying hair and a smile that had never reached his eyes. He'd been handsome once, I supposed, but years of greed and ambition had hardened him into something cold and unattractive.
"Angelina." He sat in one of my guest chairs without being invited. "We need to talk."
"About?"
"About the Marchetti contract. You rejected the terms I negotiated."
"Because the terms were terrible." I pulled up the file on my screen. "They wanted us to reformulate our entire lip care line using cheaper ingredients. That's not happening. Plus, some of their suggestions were products not approved by the FDA. We will not be doing that."
"It would save us thirty percent on production costs—"
"And destroy our reputation." I met his eyes. "Castellano & Co. built its name on quality. We don't compromise on ingredients, and we don't cut corners. You know this. Honestly, I’m appalled that you suggested it."
"Your mother would have considered it."
"My mother would have laughed them out of the building." I leaned back in my chair. "The answer is no, Vincent. Find another vendor who fits the qualification or drop the project entirely. "
His jaw tightened. "You're being unreasonable."
"I'm being protective of my company. Keeping us on brand and reinforcing how things are."
"Our company." His voice went hard. "I've been here for twenty years, Angelina. I helped your mother build this from nothing."
"And I'm grateful for that." I kept my tone neutral, professional.
"But times change. The company is evolving. We're focusing on quality and innovation, not cost-cutting and mass production. Also, since you’ve been here all those years, then you should know the rules and I shouldn’t have to remind you of them. "
"You're focusing on playing house with your mobster boyfriend." He leaned forward, his expression ugly. "That's what this is really about, isn't it? You're so busy planning your wedding to that Moretti boy that you can't see what's actually good for business."
The dismissal in his voice when he said ‘that Moretti boy’ made anger flash through me.
But I kept my expression calm. "My personal life is none of your concern and doesn’t take precedence in this conversation."
"It is when it affects my company."
"Your company?" I smiled, cold and sharp. "That's interesting. Because the last time I checked, I'm the CEO. My name is on the door. I took over when my mother passed, not you."
"With conditions." His eyes glittered. "Conditions you're only meeting because you found someone desperate enough to marry you on a deadline."
The words hit like a slap, but I didn't flinch.
"Desperate or not, I'm meeting them." I stood, signaling the meeting was over. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have actual work to do. Soon, I'll be on my honeymoon. Which means get used to the new direction this company is taking. We’re not back peddling, Vincent."
"Angelina—"
"That's all I have to say. Close the door on your way out."
He stood slowly, his face flushed with anger.
For a moment, I thought he might actually say something—might drop the pretense and show me exactly what he thought of me and my engagement and my changes to his carefully ill laid plans.
But he didn't. He just walked out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frame.
I waited until his footsteps faded, then let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
Maya appeared seconds later. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I sat back down, forcing my hands to stop shaking. "Make a note, Vincent DeLuca just tried to push the Marchetti contract again. Document the conversation and add it to the file."
"Already done. I was listening on the intercom." She smiled grimly. "Just in case."
"Thank you." I looked at my assistant, really observed her. "Maya, when I get back from my honeymoon, things are going to change. Significantly. I need to know I can count on you."
"You can." Her voice was firm. "Whatever you need, Ms. Castellano."
"Good." I pulled up another file. "Because I'm going to need someone I trust running point while I handle the transition."
Understanding dawned in her eyes. "You're firing him."
"Among other things." I showed her the list I'd been compiling.
"These are the people who need to go when Vincent goes.
His hires, his loyalists, the ones who've been undermining my authority.
I need you to start preparing exit packages.
Severances, good references, no drama. We're going to do this cleanly and professionally. "
Maya took the list, scanning it quickly. "This is almost a third of the management team.
"I know. Which is why I've been recruiting." I pulled up another file. "These are the people I want to bring in. I've already made informal offers, pending final approval. They're ready to start as soon as positions open up."
"You've been planning this for a while."
"Three months." Since the day Dez had shown me the evidence of Vincent's embezzlement and I'd realized things weren’t ever going to get better if I didn’t step up and fix them. "I'm rebuilding Castellano & Co. from the ground up. Making it what it was always intended to be."
Maya smiled. "Your mom would be proud of you."
The words hit harder than I expected, making my throat tight.
"I hope so," I said quietly.
My phone buzzed with another text from Dez.
My Man, My Man, My Man
Your uncle just left the building. He looked pissed. Everything okay?
I smiled. Of course Dez had someone watching the building. Of course he knew exactly when Vincent came and went.
Everything's fine. He tried to push a bad contract again. I shut him down.
That's my girl. Want me to have a conversation with him?
No. I can handle him. But thank you for offering to break his kneecaps.
I was thinking more like a stern talking-to, but I like your version better.
I laughed, the tension from Vincent's visit finally easing.
I'd fire Vincent, clean house, and take back my company once and for all.
But first… a wedding. I pulled up the final to-do list Gianna had sent me this morning.
Seventy-three items, color-coded by priority and deadline.
My sister-in-law-to-be was terrifyingly organized.
But as I worked through the list, confirming final details and checking off completed tasks, I felt excitement building. This was really happening. I was about to walk down the aisle toward Dez. Toward my future. Toward everything I'd been too afraid to want until he'd shown me it was possible.
My phone buzzed again.
My Man, My Man, My Man
Stop working and go home. You need rest before the wedding.
It's only three PM.