Chapter 113 *
Third Person POV
The room went quiet. The only sound was Madison's crying.
Zinnia's phone buzzed. She looked at it. Her face went even paler.
"Richard. We have a bigger problem."
He looked up. "What?"
"The pro bono lawyers." Her voice was tight. "Seven of them have reached out to Scarlett Romano. They're offering to represent her for free."
"Free?" Madison's voice came out small. Broken.
Zinnia nodded. "They're calling it a public interest case. They want to make an example."
"What kind of example?" Madison asked. Her chest felt tight.
Zinnia looked at her. Really looked at her. "The kind that sends you to prison."
The word hung in the air like a bomb.
Prison.
Madison's legs gave out. She slid down the door. Sat on the floor.
"No." The word came out as a whisper. "No no no."
"That's not even the worst part," Zinnia continued. She was still staring at her phone. "Wolfe Global's legal department called. They're offering their services to Ms. Romano. Pro bono."
Maxwell's head snapped up. "What?"
"You heard me." Zinnia set her phone down. Her hand was shaking. "Wolfe Global. They want to help her sue us."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Madison watched Maxwell's face change. The anger drained away. Replaced by fear.
"Why would Wolfe Global care about some college kid?" Zinnia asked. "They're a Fortune 500 company. They don't do pro bono work. Ever."
Maxwell didn't answer. He just sat there. Staring at nothing.
"Richard?" Zinnia's voice got sharper. "What does this mean?"
"It means we're fucked," he said quietly.
Madison's heart was pounding. "What are you talking about?"
Maxwell turned around. His expression was different now. Almost resigned.
"You didn't just go after some random girl." His voice was flat. "You went after someone with protection. Real protection."
"I don't understand," Madison said.
Maxwell let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you don't. You're too busy living in your bubble to understand how this city really works."
"Wolfe Global doesn't show up for just anyone," he said. "That company is a front. Everyone who matters in this city knows it."
"The Wolfe family." Zinnia said. "The most powerful crime family on the East Coast."
Madison felt like she'd been punched in the stomach.
"They control everything," Maxwell continued. "Unions. Politicians. Judges. Half the NYPD is on their payroll."
Zinnia's face had gone white. "You think Scarlett's connected to the Wolfe family?"
"Has to be." Maxwell nodded. "There's no other explanation." He paced to the window. Back to the desk. He was moving like a caged animal.
Madison's stomach twisted. "So what do we do?"
"We?" Maxwell's voice was sharp. "There is no 'we' here. You did this. You own it."
"Richard." Zinnia's voice was pleading now. "She's our daughter."
"She's an adult who made adult choices." He turned away. "And now she's going to face adult consequences."
"I can't go to prison." Madison's voice broke. "Please. I'll do anything. I'll apologize. I'll pay whatever they want."
Maxwell stopped pacing. Looked at her.
"You really think money fixes this? You really think an apology makes this go away?"
"I don't know!" Madison was sobbing now. "I don't know what to do!"
The room went silent except for her crying.
Maxwell exchanged a look with Zinnia. Some wordless communication passed between them.
Finally, Zinnia spoke. "There might be one option."
Madison looked up. Hope flickered in her chest.
"We can't fight the Wolfe family," Zinnia continued. "That's not a fight we can win. That's not even a fight we should start."
"So what then?" Madison asked.
Maxwell answered. "The only way out is if Scarlett agrees to drop this. Accepts a settlement. Makes this go away quietly."
"But she won't talk to us," Zinnia said. "She blocked every number we have."
"We don't approach her directly." Maxwell walked back to his desk. Sat down. "We go through her family."
Madison blinked. "But the Romanos kicked her out. They hate her."
Maxwell shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Blood is blood. Especially in these families."
He pulled up something on his computer. "Scarlett Romano is still a Romano. That name carries weight in certain circles."
"You think they'll help us?" Zinnia moved closer to the desk.
"I think they'll be motivated to help themselves." Maxwell's fingers moved across the keyboard. "The Romano family doesn't want one of their own caught up in a public legal battle. Bad for their business. Bad for their reputation."
He picked up his phone. Started scrolling through contacts.
"Lorenzo Romano. The eldest son. We've done business before through the construction unions."
"Will he even take our call?" Zinnia asked.
Maxwell's smile was cold. "He will if I offer the right incentive. A generous settlement for his sister. Plus a 'consulting fee' for the family's trouble."
He paused. His smile widened slightly. "And maybe some favorable terms on those Brooklyn waterfront contracts his father's been eyeing."
He looked at Madison. His expression was ice cold.
"And you're going to do whatever they ask. Apologize. Grovel. Get on your knees if you have to."
Madison nodded. She was still crying but quieter now.
"The Romano family needs to see you're sincere," Maxwell continued. "They need to believe you're sorry. That you've learned your lesson."
He leaned forward. "Can you do that? Can you put on a convincing performance?"
Madison wiped her eyes. "Yes. I can do that."
"You better." Maxwell's voice was hard. "Because if this doesn't work, if the Romano family can't convince their daughter to drop this, then you're on your own."
"What do you mean?" Madison's voice cracked.
"I mean I won't protect you anymore." He stood up. Walked to the door. "I won't pay for lawyers. Won't use family connections. Won't lift a finger to help you."
He opened the door. Looked back at her.
"You made this mess. You clean it up. Or you go to prison. Those are your only options."
He walked out. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Zinnia sat down on the floor next to her.
"We'll fix this," she said quietly. "Somehow."
But her voice didn't sound convinced. Didn't sound like she believed her own words.
Madison closed her eyes.
This was supposed to be simple. Teach some country girl a lesson. Show her she didn't belong in their world.
Instead, she'd started a war with the most powerful crime family in New York.
And she was going to lose.