Chapter 7 - Preemptive Strike
Elena Romano’s toxic little scheme didn't even make it past the planning stage.
By Tuesday morning, Marco walked into my study holding a printed transcript of intercepted burner-phone communications between Elena Romano and a well-known scandal blogger named Trent Briggs.
“Looks like the wasps are trying to sting one last time, Boss,” Marco said, dropping the transcript onto my desk.
I scanned the pages. Elena and Isabella were planning to plant a defamatory story claiming Sophia had masterminded the wedding cancellation as part of an extortion plot.
“Desperate people do desperate things,” I murmured, leaning back in my chair. “Did Trent Briggs bite?”
“He was going to,” Marco grinned. “Until I called him five minutes ago and reminded him that his publication is currently facing three active lawsuits for libel—all funded by Moreno Shipping. He politely declined the Romanos’ pitch and forwarded me their entire email correspondence.”
“Good,” I said. “Let’s not wait for them to throw the next punch. Let’s finish this once and for all.”
“What do you want to do?”
“File a counter-suit,” I said smoothly. “Aggravated extortion, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and corporate harassment on behalf of Sophia Carter. Attach the recorded transcripts of Elena trying to plant fake news. Let’s see how much they enjoy fighting federal defamation charges while their bank accounts are locked.”
Marco laughed darkly. “Consider it filed, Boss. The lawyers are already drawing up the paperwork.”
By noon, the legal sledgehammer dropped on the Romano penthouse.
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Federal marshals served both Victor and Elena Romano with formal civil suits totaling fifty million dollars in damages for targeted harassment and defamation of character against a private citizen—Sophia Carter.
The media frenzy reached fever pitch. Cable news networks ran non-stop coverage of the disgraced family’s legal collapse. The mighty house of Romano wasn't just crumbling; it was being legally pulverized into dust.
