The following morning, everyone packed their luggage and set off for Milan.
Aurelia's hometown.
A city that held fragments of her childhood, buried memories, unanswered questions... and perhaps the truth behind Matthew Reynolds' mysterious death.
The journey took nearly one and a half an hours. By the time they reached Milan, exhaustion had already begun settling over the group. From the airport, they took another cab to the hotel Vincent had booked—a luxurious five-star property located conveniently close to LuminaVital Group's headquarters and, coincidentally, only a short drive from Aurelia's home.
It wasn't difficult to guess who was happiest about that.
Nor was it difficult to identify who looked like he wanted nothing more than to collapse onto a mattress.
Austin.
Vincent informed everyone that they had exactly two hours before leaving for their scheduled meeting with LuminaVital's CEO.
The team dispersed without another word.
Austin disappeared into his room and was asleep within minutes.
Evelyn enjoyed a long shower before curling up on the bed for a short nap.
Carl somehow managed to combine both activities and was snoring before his hair had completely dried.
As for Vincent and Aurelia...
Their priorities couldn't have been more different.
After freshening up, Aurelia headed straight for the hotel's restaurant.
Travelling always made her hungry.
Meanwhile, Vincent changed into his workout clothes and spent the next hour in the hotel's fitness centre, refusing to let a business trip interrupt his daily routine.
Two hours later, everyone gathered in the lobby exactly on time.
Vincent looked around at his team with quiet satisfaction.
"Punctual. I like that."
Carl stretched lazily.
"I deserve appreciation just for waking up."
"You deserve another nap," Evelyn replied dryly.
The group laughed before stepping outside.
There was one thing everyone had unconsciously accepted during the trip—
Without Aurelia, they were practically helpless.
She was the only one fluent in Italian.
Every conversation, every document, every interview depended on her.
They hailed a cab, and within twenty minutes, the towering glass façade of LuminaVital Group came into view.
The modern headquarters reflected the afternoon sunlight so brilliantly that it almost looked untouched by the countless corporate secrets hidden behind its walls.
Austin stared up at the building.
"So..."
He adjusted the strap of his bag.
"Think today's the day we finally meet our villain?"
Carl shrugged.
"If it's that easy, I'll personally nominate Vincent for Detective of the Year."
Vincent chuckled softly.
"Let's avoid deciding who's guilty before we've even asked a single question."
Everyone nodded.
Whatever answers awaited them inside, assumptions weren't going to solve the case.
Only evidence would.
"Ready?" Vincent asked.
A chorus of confident "Yes!" followed.
Together, they stepped inside.
The lobby was elegant yet minimalistic, with polished marble floors, soft lighting, and employees moving briskly between departments.
A receptionist greeted them politely before confirming their appointment.
"You must be from the Montclair Group."
Vincent nodded.
"We are."
"Mr. Perene has been expecting you."
Moments later, a member of the administrative staff escorted them towards the elevators.
"The executive offices are on the tenth floor."
As the elevator doors slid open, a middle-aged gentleman in a tailored navy suit stood waiting with a warm smile. Beside him was a younger man carrying a tablet.
The gentleman stepped forward first.
He greeted everyone warmly in Italian before gesturing toward the conference room down the corridor.
Vincent looked sideways at Aurelia.
"Translation?"
A faint smile crossed her face.
"He's welcoming us and says it'll be more comfortable to continue our discussion inside the conference room."
"Sounds good to me."
The team followed Enzo through the hallway.
The conference room overlooked Milan's skyline, offering a breathtaking view through floor-to-ceiling windows. A long walnut conference table occupied the centre of the room, already prepared with bottled water, notebooks, and neatly arranged files.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Vincent offered a courteous smile.
"Mr. Perene, thank you for making time for us."
He paused before introducing the others.
"I'm Vincent Montclair, CEO of Montclair Law Firm."
He gestured toward each member of the team.
"This is Miss Aurelia Vale, our interpreter for today's meeting. Beside her are Evelyn, Austin, and Carl."
Aurelia translated the introduction fluently into Italian.
Enzo smiled warmly.
He spoke for nearly half a minute before finishing with an apologetic expression.
Instead of translating every sentence word for word, Aurelia waited until he had completely finished.
"He says it's a pleasure to meet all of us. He remembers me from when my father worked here years ago."
For just a fraction of a second, her smile weakened.
"He also apologises that their conference interpreter couldn't make it today, so he's grateful I'll be translating."
She hesitated.
"And... he's asking what brings us to LuminaVital."
She intentionally left out one sentence.
Enzo had also mentioned the unfortunate incident involving her family years ago.
Some memories weren't worth translating.
Vincent noticed the slight pause but chose not to question it.
Instead, he leaned forward.
"Please tell him we're investigating the case involving Matthew Reynolds."
Aurelia relayed his words in Italian.
The room became noticeably quieter.
Enzo's expression shifted from welcoming host to attentive executive.
When Aurelia finished speaking, he listened carefully before responding.
His brows drew together in genuine surprise.
Again, Aurelia allowed him to finish before translating.
"He says he wasn't aware Matthew's family had filed a legal complaint against the company."
She glanced briefly at her notes.
"He also says Matthew's family had already received compensation according to company policy because Matthew died while performing his official duties."
She looked back at Vincent.
"And... he finds it difficult to imagine how a traffic accident could have been planned."
Austin opened his notebook.
"Please tell him we're still investigating all possibilities."
Aurelia translated.
"We'd also like to understand Matthew's most recent business trip."
Enzo nodded immediately.
He spoke only one short sentence this time.
"What would you like to know?"
Instead of looking toward Vincent, Aurelia took the initiative.
She calmly asked about the duration of Matthew's visit, who accompanied him, the purpose of the trip, and whether Enzo had noticed any unusual changes in Matthew's behaviour.
The CEO listened patiently before answering in detail.
Everyone remained silent while Aurelia focused entirely on his explanation.
Only after he had finished did she turn back toward the team.
"He says there wasn't actually a joint business trip."
She paused to organize the information.
"Matthew came to Italy alone for one of his routine quarterly visits. Since he managed the California branch, visiting headquarters every three months was part of his responsibilities."
She continued,
"The purpose was to review products, discuss ongoing projects, and meet several long-term business clients before returning to California."
Then she added the final part.
"According to him, Matthew behaved normally throughout the visit."
Before anyone could speak again, Enzo casually turned his head toward the young man standing beside him.
He asked Marco if he had noticed anything unusual.
Marco adjusted the knot of his tie before answering.
His thumb tapped repeatedly against the edge of the tablet in his hand.
Only then did he respond.
"No."
It was a simple answer.
Yet somehow...
It didn't feel simple at all.
A brief silence settled over the conference room.
Vincent leaned back in his chair, his fingers rhythmically tapping against the polished walnut table. He hadn't expected the first round of questions to expose the truth. If Matthew Reynolds had truly been murdered, no one sitting in this room would confess within the first ten minutes.
Instead of speaking, he observed.
Enzo remained composed, meeting everyone's gaze without hesitation.
Marco, however, was another story.
Though he stood quietly behind the CEO, his grip on the tablet had tightened noticeably. Every few moments his thumb brushed anxiously against its edge, and whenever Matthew's name surfaced, his eyes instinctively drifted towards Enzo before quickly looking away.
Vincent noticed.
Across the table, Evelyn noticed it too.
Austin silently uncapped his pen.
Carl folded his arms, watching the exchange with unusual seriousness.
Breaking the silence, Vincent looked towards Aurelia.
"Please ask Mr. Perene about Matthew's role within the company."
She translated the question smoothly.
Enzo answered immediately, speaking with the confidence of someone recalling an employee he genuinely respected.
Aurelia listened without interrupting, waiting until he had finished before turning back to the team.
"Matthew supervised the California branch. Visiting Milan every three months was simply part of his responsibilities. He attended product briefings, financial reviews and strategic planning meetings."
She paused briefly.
"According to Mr. Perene... Matthew was one of the company's finest executives."
Vincent rested both elbows on the conference table.
"May I ask something else?"
After Aurelia translated, Enzo nodded politely.
"Of course."
"You've described Matthew as one of your best executives."
"I have."
"Then I imagine losing him must have affected the company considerably."
For the first time since the meeting began, Enzo's professional smile faded.
He clasped his hands together before answering.
"It did."
Aurelia translated after he had finished.
"He says Matthew wasn't easy to replace. He understood both the European headquarters and the California branch better than most employees. Losing him wasn't just a professional loss—it was a personal disappointment as well."
Vincent acknowledged the response with a slow nod.
"So... this particular trip wasn't unusual?"
"No," Aurelia translated after listening to Enzo once more. "It was part of Matthew's regular schedule."
Austin glanced at Vincent.
Vincent understood immediately.
Time to become more specific.
"Please ask him whether Matthew seemed different during that visit."
Aurelia translated.
"Worried. Distracted. Nervous. Anything at all."
Enzo frowned thoughtfully.
He remained silent for several seconds before replying.
When Aurelia turned back towards the team, she simply said,
"He doesn't recall anything unusual."
Before anyone could continue—
"It wasn't."
Marco's voice interrupted the room.
Everyone turned.
It was the first time the assistant had spoken without being addressed.
His answer had come almost too quickly.
Vincent's attention shifted entirely towards him.
"You met Matthew personally?"
Marco nodded.
"Yes."
"For how long?"
He adjusted his tie before replying.
"A few hours... we worked together during his visit."
"What exactly were you working on?"
"Routine reports."
"What kind of reports?"
Marco's fingers tightened around the tablet.
"...Sales."
Barely two seconds passed before he answered.
Yet those two seconds echoed loudly inside Vincent's mind.
Lawyers learned early in their careers that hesitation often revealed more than words ever could.
Austin quietly underlined Marco's name inside his notebook.
Evelyn casually adjusted her glasses, though her attention never left the assistant.
Austin leaned towards Carl and whispered,
"He looks more nervous than students waiting outside an examination hall."
Carl pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing.
The slight cough that escaped him fortunately went unnoticed.
Vincent, meanwhile, remained composed.
"Would it be possible for us to examine Mr. Reynolds' travel records?"
Aurelia translated.
"Hotel reservations, visitor logs, meeting schedules—anything related to his stay in Italy."
Enzo looked towards Marco.
"Could you arrange that for them?"
Marco nodded immediately.
"I'll be right back."
As the conference room door closed behind him, silence returned once more.
This time, Vincent's attention drifted back to Enzo.
The CEO slowly exhaled.
Vincent almost dismissed the sigh. Meetings often exhausted executives, especially when investigators started asking difficult questions.
Yet something about it lingered in his mind.
Not fear.
Not relief.
Fatigue.
The kind that came from carrying something heavy for a long time.
While Marco was away retrieving the documents, Vincent decided to ask one final question.
"Would you describe your relationship with Matthew as strictly professional..."
He paused just long enough for Aurelia to translate.
"...or did he have access to confidential company matters?"
Enzo didn't answer immediately.
He thought about it before speaking.
Aurelia listened attentively.
"He says Matthew was among the very few employees who had access to confidential operational information because of his position."
She continued,
"According to him, only Matthew and his personal assistant, Marco, were trusted with certain internal company matters."
Before Vincent could ask another follow-up question, the conference room door opened again.
Marco returned carrying a thick blue folder.
He placed it neatly in front of Vincent.
"I've brought everything we have regarding Mr. Reynolds' visit."
Without saying another word, he stepped back beside the CEO.
Vincent opened the folder.
Inside were copies of Matthew Reynolds' itinerary.
Arrival in Milan.
Factory inspection.
Product development meeting.
Conference with long-term clients.
Business dinner.
Departure back to California.
Everything appeared perfectly documented.
Almost...
too perfect.
Austin pulled the folder closer and began examining each page with meticulous attention. One by one, the team leaned in.
Hotel reservations.
Meeting schedules.
Factory inspection reports.
Client appointments.
Restaurant bookings.
Every document was dated, signed, and neatly filed.
Austin flipped to the final page before looking up.
"No missing dates."
Evelyn scanned another sheet.
"No cancelled meetings either."
Carl frowned as he compared the itinerary with the visitor log.
"Everything is... perfect."
He looked towards Vincent.
"Almost too perfect."
No one disagreed.
In investigations, perfection often invited more suspicion than disorder.
While Austin continued reviewing the documents, Aurelia's attention wandered elsewhere.
She wasn't looking at the paperwork.
She was watching Enzo.
Every single time Matthew's name was mentioned, his eyes instinctively shifted towards Marco.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then they returned to Vincent.
It happened once.
Then again.
And again.
The movements were so subtle that anyone else might have dismissed them.
But Aurelia didn't.
She quietly made a mental note of it.
Vincent finally closed the folder.
The soft thud echoed across the conference room.
"One last question."
Aurelia translated.
"If Matthew had survived the accident, would he have been considered for any promotion or greater responsibility within the company?"
Enzo smiled faintly.
Not proudly.
Almost... regretfully.
He answered without consulting Marco this time.
Aurelia listened before translating.
"He says the Board had already decided to recommend Matthew for the position of Regional Director of North American Operations next year."
Silence settled over the room.
Austin slowly lowered his pen.
Even Carl's playful expression disappeared.
Regional Director.
That wasn't just another promotion.
It was one of the most influential positions within the company's North American operations.
Matthew Reynolds wasn't merely an employee.
He had been on the verge of becoming one of LuminaVital Group's most trusted executives.
Vincent slowly leaned back in his chair.
His mind immediately began fitting the pieces together.
A respected executive.
Access to confidential company information.
A major promotion approaching.
A fatal accident.
Coincidence...
or motive?
No conclusion could be drawn yet.
But the list of possibilities had certainly grown longer.
Vincent rose from his seat first.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Perene."
After Aurelia translated, Enzo stood as well and extended his hand.
"It was our pleasure."
He shook hands with each member of the team before adding something in Italian.
Aurelia smiled politely.
"He says if we require any further documents or assistance, LuminaVital Group will cooperate fully with the investigation."
"Please thank him on our behalf."
She did.
The meeting had officially come to an end.
As everyone gathered their belongings, Marco offered Vincent a courteous smile.
It looked convincing enough.
Until Aurelia happened to glance back.
Marco wasn't looking at Vincent.
Nor at Enzo.
His eyes were fixed on the investigation folder tucked beneath Austin's arm.
The moment he realised Aurelia had noticed...
He immediately looked away.
Neither of them said a word.
The elevator doors slid shut.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Only the quiet hum of the descending lift filled the silence.
Then Carl released an exaggerated breath.
"I swear..."
He pressed a hand dramatically against his chest.
"I forgot how to breathe in there."
Austin laughed.
"I honestly thought you were about to accuse Marco halfway through the meeting."
"I was considering it."
Evelyn folded her arms.
"Marco definitely wasn't acting normal."
Vincent smiled faintly.
"Or..."
Everyone looked at him.
"...he was simply nervous because five investigators walked into his workplace asking questions about a dead colleague."
Nobody argued.
That was equally possible.
Aurelia finally broke the silence.
"So you don't think Marco did it?"
Vincent slipped both hands into his coat pockets as they stepped out of the building.
"I think he's hiding something."
He paused, watching employees continue entering and leaving LuminaVital as though it were any ordinary afternoon.
"But hiding something doesn't automatically make someone a murderer."
The team exchanged thoughtful glances.
Outside, Milan welcomed them with a cool evening breeze carrying the aroma of freshly brewed espresso from a nearby café.
The bustling streets looked peaceful.
Ordinary.
Completely unaware of the mystery slowly unfolding behind the glass walls of the building they had just left.
A taxi pulled up beside them.
One by one, they climbed inside.
As the vehicle merged into Milan's evening traffic, Vincent looked back through the rear window.
The towering glass façade of LuminaVital Group shimmered beneath the setting sun, reflecting golden streaks across its windows as though nothing unusual had happened inside.
Yet Vincent couldn't shake the feeling that someone in that building had lied to them.
Not a blatant lie.
Something quieter.
Something carefully concealed beneath rehearsed answers and polite smiles.
He didn't know who.
Not yet.
But he was certain of one thing.
The truth hadn't been left behind in California.
It was here.
Somewhere in Milan.
Waiting to be uncovered.