Page 115 of The Wrong Vintage
“No, she doesn’t.” But neither does Alba know about Matteo’s health. That is a closely-guarded secret, known only by Cesare, Renzo, and me.
She leans back, her hands resting on the velvet-covered armrests of her chair. “What exactly are you afraid of?”
Alba has a way of talking that is both soft and challenging. She’s an adept executive. Cesare is crazy if he thinks his daughters aren’t going to take over the House of Alighieri and remain just family figureheads on the board giving control to their spouses and waiting to have sons who will take over.
“Your father will remove Alessia as winemaker.”
She nods slowly. “And?”
“He’ll fire me.” I shrug. “I don’t have much pull with the board…not yet.”
Her shoulders shift as she folds her arms—a stance not of rebellion, but of deep consideration. “Papà has the influence he has because he has been leading the House of Alighieri for nearly five decades.Butthe family trust is where theactualpower lies. Don’t let anyone, not even Papà, tell you otherwise.”
Most privately owned companies, such as the House of Alighieri, are held by atrust di famiglia, a holding structure governed by strict Italian family trust law.
Like most trust families, the House of Alighieri's board has Cesare as chairman, the patriarch, and, in practice, the ultimate authority.
I am the executive director on the board, an expendable entity. As CEO, I am only an employee. A very well-paid one, yes, and a board member by appointment. But I don’t own a single speck of dirt.
I serve at the pleasure of the trust.
Ilario Russo is the independent trust lawyer. I like him because he’s completely no-nonsense and dedicated to the trust and its ethos. However, from what I have experienced, he appears to let Cesare make decisions as he sees fit.
Rainer Mancini is the Chief Financial Oversight Director. He previously led Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and is completely on Cesare’s side, even if the man committed murder.
The Alighieri daughters hold a seat each on the board, but they have relinquished control by granting their father their proxy. I think it was done when they were young, and that has continued out of habit…or respect.
With a board that is definitely skewed on Cesare’s side, I am not winning many battles. In time, I hope to replaceRainer and maybe have the trust lawyer on my side, but right now….
“The trust is on your father’s side,” I remind her.
She flicks her gaze toward me, humor tugging at her mouth. “Are they? I know Rio, and he’s on the side of the trust, not Papà. And in any case, Rio’s the man my father pretends not to fear—and absolutely does.”
This is new information for me.
“In other words”—she leans forward, drops her voice—“power in families like ours doesn’t come from shouting the loudest. It comes from who controls the trust—and who’s brave enough to use it.”
“I know what the legalese is, Alba, I also know what your father is capable of and so do you.”
Her eyes betray a flicker of disapproval at my statement, but she doesn’t interrupt.
“He ended Philip Barbieri’s career because he questioned a distribution deal,” I continue, voice low. “Made Italy too small for him. Forced him to sell at a loss.”
Alba’s jaw tightens, the candlelight casting shadows under her cheekbones.
“He pushed Vittorio Serra into early retirement by leaking doubts about his judgment,” I add. “Ruined his reputation. No lawsuits, just pressure applied until the man collapsed.”
“That was years ago,” she murmurs.
“He hasn’t softened,” I counter. “He’s only learned to make it look cleaner.”
She lets out a groan of frustration, and I see the real Alba who Alessia says gets frustrated when she thinks something is unfair.
“You’re not wrong,” she fumes. “But you’re also not…whollyright.”
I frown, leaning forward. “Meaning?”
Her fingertips touch the rim of her wine glass. The wine inside shimmers like garnets in the glow. “You’re thinking like someone who believes power only exists where it’s exerted. But we have power, too, Nico. We just don’t like using it.”
