#231 “If You don’t Interrupt Me.”
Sophia stood proudly in front of the crowd of reporters. She took a deep breath and began to speak.
“The first piece of evidence I want to provide is in relation to the documents that claim Stone Enterprise was built around illegal transactions and actions. In fact, this is not true. The documents have been taken out of context.”
“And how do you intend to prove that?” a skeptical reporter retorted.
“If you don’t interrupt me, everything will become clear to you,” replied Sophia, her irritation masked by a calm demeanor.
Silence reigned in the hall as she continued, now with a reassuring smile.
“Every single transaction was made through a bank named BILOBY BANK.
This bank no longer exists, but I was able to unearth documents showing the true ownership. The bank was controlled by mobsters; they used it to manage their money and conduct their illegal transactions without alerting the police. Although it appeared to be a legitimate, state-owned bank, it was actually operated by America’s largest cartel.”
Sophia distributed several sheets of documents among the reporters, enabling them to verify her claims for themselves. They began to discuss loudly, with exclamations of disbelief.
“Even if these documents prove that the bank was owned by the mafia and involve illegal transfers, what does that have to do with Stone Enterprise?” a reporter challenged.
“You can see that Stone Enterprise was transferring $30,000 a month at the beginning. This continued every month for years. That $30,000 was real, taxed money, honestly earned. I have proof of that too. This money was paid because the Mafia blackmailed Andrew Stone and Christopher Johnson. They threatened to kill their children, namely Caroline and my father, Judge Johnson. If you’re wondering why they were threatening them, it’s because the company has been hugely successful since its inception, and there’s more.”
The audience gasped as Sophia presented new documents with additional information. She waited for the murmurs to settle before continuing.
“My grandfather, Christopher Johnson, had acquaintances in the mafia who valued him for his sharp mind, but he was never directly involved in illegal activities. Since they failed to recruit him to work for them permanently, they started threatening his son.
So, Andrew Stone, a close friend of his, offered to pay a ransom to ensure they wouldn’t hurt my father. Stone Enterprise has never profited from or participated in illegal transactions. They were extorted and paid ransom for the lives of their children, which I can assure you, as a lawyer, is not illegal.”
Sophia also distributed the diaries among the crowd, which were filled with stories about these events.
“And now comes the last thing I want to say. My father died in an accident years ago a terrible accident, or so I thought. Until I discovered that payments from Stone Enterprise stopped following the death of Andrew Stone. Because of the stopped payments, they killed my father, Judge Johnson. Here is proof of that. This evidence contains names of perpetrators-people who are criminals and murderers-and I will hold them personally accountable for this in court. The mafia won’t get away with what they’ve done to my family.”
The room was charged with tension as the impact of Sophia’s revelations sank in. Murmurs spread through the crowd, reporters whispering to each other while some frantically typed notes into their devices. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and the weight of the shocking disclosures.
Sophia scanned the room, her gaze steady and confident. She knew the gravity of the information she had just shared and was prepared for the onslaught of questions that would follow.
“I understand that this is a lot to process,” Sophia continued, her voice commanding silence once more. “But understand this-every accusation against Stone Enterprise and my family has been meticulously constructed to undermine us. The real culprits have hidden behind forged documents and threats made in shadows.”
A seasoned reporter from a major news network raised his hand, his expression serious. “Ms. Johnson, what steps are you taking next? How do you plan to bring these criminals to justice?”
Sophia nodded, prepared for this question. “I have already initiated legal proceedings against the individuals named in these documents. Furthermore, we are working with federal authorities who are using this information to dismantle the mafia organization that has plagued our community and corrupted our businesses. This isn’t just about clearing our family’s name it’s about restoring justice and safety to our society.”
Another reporter, a young woman holding a digital recorder, chimed in. ” What about the repercussions for Stone Enterprise? How do you plan to regain the trust of your clients and stakeholders?”
“We are fully committed to transparency and accountability,”
Sophia answered firmly. “We will be conducting an independent audit of all our transactions and operations. We will also establish a compliance committee to oversee our dealings and ensure this never happens again. Trust is earned by consistent and righteous action, and we will prove ourselves through our unwavering commitment to ethics and legality.”
As the press conference drew to a close, Sophia felt a small, victorious smile creep across her face. She had faced one of the most challenging moments of her life head-on, and she was ready to fight tirelessly to protect and restore the legacy her family had built. She stepped down from the podium to a flurry of additional questions, ready to provide answers and stand as the new face of resilience for Stone Enterprise.
