The Waitress Called Off The Deal
Chapter 2 - The Deal Victoria Needed
Victoria followed Sofia into the private dining room.
Richard arrived seconds later.
“What did you tell her?” he demanded.
Sofia placed the Moretti bottle on the table.
“Nothing she wasn't going to learn eventually.”
Victoria looked between them.
“What is happening?”
Richard forced a laugh.
“She’s bluffing.”
Sofia opened her handbag.
She removed a thin folder.
Victoria recognized the logo on the front.
Hale Hospitality Group.
Her family's company owned luxury hotels and restaurants across three states.
For six months, Richard had been negotiating what he called the most important acquisition in company history.
Moretti Vineyards.
If successful, Hale Hospitality would receive exclusive distribution rights to Moretti wines throughout its entire hotel network.
Richard told Victoria the agreement would increase the family's valuation by nearly forty million dollars.
They needed it.
What Victoria didn't know was that Hale Hospitality was drowning in debt.
Richard had hidden it.
Sofia knew.
She opened the folder.
“Your husband offered seventeen million for my winery.”
Victoria nodded.
“He said you accepted.”
“I never did.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Sofia—”
She raised one hand.
“You offered seventeen million using financing your company doesn't have.”
Victoria turned toward her husband.
“What?”
Richard's jaw tightened.
Sofia continued.
“Then someone submitted documents claiming Moretti had already accepted the acquisition.”
Victoria stared at her.
“I signed those.”
Sofia looked surprised.
“You?”
“Richard told me they were preliminary partnership documents.”
Richard went pale.
Sofia pushed one page toward Victoria.
It transferred licensing rights for the Moretti name to a holding company.
Victoria read the company name.
Hale Meridian LLC.
She frowned.
“I've never heard of this.”
Sofia watched Richard.
“I have.”
It belonged to Richard.
Not Hale Hospitality.
If the transaction succeeded, Moretti's most valuable trademarks would have moved into Richard's private company.
Then Hale Hospitality would purchase them from him at an inflated price.
Richard would make millions.
Victoria finally understood.
“This wasn't an acquisition.”
Sofia shook her head.
“It was theft.”
Richard slammed his hand onto the table.
“Enough!”
Sofia didn't flinch.
Victoria did.
For years, Richard had controlled every major financial decision in their marriage.
She enjoyed the lifestyle.
The private clubs.
The dresses.
The drivers.
She never asked where the money came from.
Until now.
“Richard,” she whispered, “how much debt are we in?”
He said nothing.
Sofia answered.
“More than twenty-six million.”
Victoria slowly sat down.
The woman she had humiliated five minutes earlier knew more about her marriage than she did.
