The headlines were merciless.

"Heiress Gambles Rossi on Reckless Plan."

"Couture to Chaos. Can Elena Rossi Be Trusted with Legacy?"

"Moretti Silent as Rossi Stumbles."

Elena slammed the morning paper onto her desk so hard the porcelain cup of espresso rattled. Rage clawed at her throat, but beneath it pulsed something deeper, the helplessness of being trapped in a storm she had not conjured.

The restructuring plan was not even finalized. She had circulated it only to her inner circle, ...