Part 2: The Face of the Viper
By 2:00 PM, I had returned to the main mansion through the service tunnels, showered, and changed into a tailored charcoal suit. I sat in my private study, reviewing the financial ruins of Marrow Holdings. Arthur Marrow had been embezzling from his own investors to maintain their lavish lifestyle. The marriage to Adrian wasn’t a union of love; it was a desperate, multi-billion-dollar bailout.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Adrian walked in, looking sharp but exhausted. The pressure of running Vale Global’s technology division was weighing on him, but his face lit up when he saw me.
"Dad! You're back!" he exclaimed, walking over to shake my hand and embrace me. "I thought your flight from London wasn't landing until tonight."
"I managed to catch an earlier flight, son," I lied smoothly, checking his face for any signs of suspicion. "I wanted to ensure everything was perfect for tonight's dinner. It’s an important milestone."
Adrian smiled, though a hint of anxiety flickered in his eyes. "It is. Celeste is really looking forward to seeing you again. She’s been... a bit stressed lately with the wedding planning, but she’s truly wonderful, Dad. She’s been doing so much charity work for the children's hospital."
I felt a pang of pity for my son. "Is she, Adrian? Tell me, have you noticed anything unusual about her behavior around the staff?"
Adrian frowned, sitting across from me. "Well, a few maids resigned last week, and her personal driver quit without notice. Celeste said they were being undisciplined and that she had to be firm. You know how hard it is to find good help these days."
"I do know," I murmured, tapping my fingers on the desk. "Sometimes people reveal their true colors to those they deem beneath them."
Before Adrian could question my meaning, his phone rang. It was Celeste. Even from across the desk, I could hear her sharp, demanding tone before Adrian quickly turned down the volume.
"Yes, darling, my father is home... No, he didn't mention any gatekeeper... Wait, what happened?" Adrian listened, his expression shifting from confusion to mild annoyance. "An old man threw water on you? At the front gate?"
I suppressed a smile. She was already rewriting history, playing the victim.
"Okay, okay, calm down," Adrian said gently. "If the gatekeeper was rude and unprofessional, I’ll have security handle it. Don't ruin your day over a servant. I love you. See you at seven."
He hung up and sighed. "Apparently, the new temporary gatekeeper we hired, Walter Reed, was incredibly disrespectful to her. She claims he tried to extort money from her to open the gate and then threw a glass of water at her car."
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"Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating. Don't worry, Adrian. I will personally handle 'Walter Reed' before the night is over. Why don't you go get ready? The Marrows will be here soon."
As Adrian left the room, my expression hardened. The web was spun. It was time to pull the strings.
