"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 youshould 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 torattle 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."
