Subcontractor Apprenticeship as Espionage

“His approach to the area of Belluno during those months happens gradually. It is said that, before setting up the factory in Agordo, he worked for a few months at the Metalflex headquarters in Venas, in Cadore. They had him do everything, from delivering parcels to customers at the post office to receiving sales and purchase documents. Months of apprenticeship that allowed the man from Milan to better understand the industry from inside one of the leading factories. He didn't miss the opportunity to learn from the best. Leonardo took note of everything: names, addresses, people. He studied every detail of the industrial activity, understood who the most promising customers were, which products were the most popular. Information that would prove useful a few years later, when he would set up his own business and compete directly with his former partners.”

“Relations with his brother and with Da Cortà deteriorate shortly thereafter. Checchi somehow feels betrayed by Del Vecchio's enterprising spirit, realizing that he has created a competitor in his own home, that continuing together means giving Leonardo the chance to learn all about Metalflex's commercial network and customers. They simply wanted a trusted subcontractor and a new production facility.”