CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN – THE CORPORATE SIDE OF THE MAFIA

The event was held in a luxurious hotel ballroom, filled with men and women in expensive attire. As Alessandro guided her through the crowd, Joan was struck by how different this felt from the family gala. Here, Alessandro seemed even more in his element, greeting people with warm handshakes and engaging in rapid-fire discussions about market trends and investment opportunities. "Alessandro!" a voice called out. They turned to see a distinguished-looking man approaching. "So glad you could make it. And who is this lovely lady?" "Thomas," Alessandro said warmly, "allow me to introduce Dr. Joan Keppler. Joan, this is Thomas Whitmore, CEO of Pinnacle Investments." Joan shook Thomas's hand, smiling politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Whitmore." "Please, call me Thomas. So, Dr. Keppler, what's your field?" "I'm a psychologist," Joan replied. "I specialize in trauma and PTSD treatment." Thomas looked intrigued. "Fascinating. You know, we've been looking into employee wellness p