Chapter 3 - The Locked Study Upstairs

Adrian did not shout.

That made everyone move faster.

“Close the gates.”

Two security men near the ballroom doors stopped.

Camille stared at him.

“Adrian.”

He looked at the head of security.

“No one leaves until I say.”

Then he turned to Henry.

“Upstairs.”

The ballroom broke into whispers.

I followed because Adrian looked at me once and said, “Mara.”

That was all.

Camille came too.

So did Dominic.

Slowly.

One stair at a time.

At the second-floor landing, we found the door to Adrian’s private study closed.

Locked.

Adrian tried the handle.

Then looked at Camille.

“Who is in there?”

“Nobody.”

A sound came from inside.

A drawer closing.

Adrian’s face became still.

He knocked once.

“Open the door.”

Silence.

Then a man’s voice.

“Adrian, we should discuss this privately.”

Camille closed her eyes.

Rafael Serrano opened the door.

He was sixty-one.

Silver at his temples.

Perfect black tuxedo.

The kind of man who looked calm because other people were usually nervous for him.

Not tonight.

Behind him, Adrian’s desk drawers were open.

Papers covered the rug.

Adrian looked past him.

“What are you doing in my study?”

Rafael smiled.

“Looking for a document that belongs to my family.”

Dominic stopped on the landing.

Rafael saw him.

For the first time, his smile disappeared.

“Dominic.”

Dominic leaned heavily on his cane.

“You remember me.”

Rafael said nothing.

Henry moved beside Adrian.

“Step away from the desk.”

Rafael looked at him.

“You vanished for three weeks.”

“Because someone followed me from Montreal.”

Camille turned toward her father.

“What?”

That surprised me.

Adrian noticed too.

Rafael ignored her.

“You are making accusations in front of staff.”

Adrian stepped into the study.

“Mara stays.”

Rafael’s eyes flicked toward me.

I suddenly understood what being invisible to wealthy people could become.

Useful.

Adrian walked to the desk.

One drawer had been forced.

Inside was an empty velvet slot.

He stared at it.

“My mother kept her safe-deposit key there.”

Rafael said, “I wouldn’t know.”

Dominic gave a short laugh.

“You always were a poor liar when cornered.”

Camille looked at her father.

“Why would you need Evelyn’s key?”

Nobody answered.

Evelyn.

Adrian’s mother.

The woman who had died seven years after Dominic vanished.

Henry opened his case.

“Because Evelyn knew the trust page had been replaced.”

Adrian turned.

“What?”

Henry nodded.

“Your mother suspected it before she became ill.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She did.”

Adrian’s face changed.

Henry looked almost ashamed.

“She left instructions with me. I thought I had more time.”

“Instructions for what?”

“To give you a safe-deposit box after your thirty-third birthday.”

Adrian stared.

“My birthday was two months ago.”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

Henry looked toward Rafael.

“Because the day before I was scheduled to meet you, someone broke into my office.”

The room went quiet.

Camille looked at her father again.

This time, fear replaced confusion.

“You said Henry stole from the family.”

Rafael finally looked at her.

“I said what was necessary.”

Her face changed.

Small.

But enough.

Adrian saw it.

“So you lied to her too.”

Rafael’s jaw tightened.

“This is bigger than an engagement.”

Dominic stepped into the room.

“No. It’s smaller.”

Rafael looked at him.

Dominic pointed to Camille.

“You used your daughter to get close to my son.”

Camille flinched.

“My relationship with Adrian is real.”

“I believe you,” Dominic said.

That hurt her more than an accusation.

Because he continued.

“But your father’s plan was real too.”

Adrian looked at Rafael.

“What plan?”

Rafael glanced toward the open hallway.

Then toward the ballroom below.

He calculated exits before answering.

Henry noticed.

So did I.

Adrian stepped between him and the door.

“No.”

Rafael exhaled.

“The Vale trust was never supposed to remain independent.”

Dominic’s hand tightened around his cane.

“You mean you were never supposed to control it.”

Rafael looked at Adrian.

“Your father was reckless. Your mother was sentimental. I kept the company stable.”

“For sixteen years?”

“Yes.”

“Using a forged amendment?”

Rafael said nothing.

Camille whispered, “Dad.”

He still did not look at her.

That was when I saw it.

A tiny brass key on the carpet beside his shoe.

Adrian saw my eyes move.

Then he looked down.

Rafael moved first.

I moved faster.

I stepped on the key.

Everyone froze.

Rafael stared at me.

I bent down and picked it up.

A small engraved number was stamped along one edge.

417.

Henry went pale.

“That’s Evelyn’s box.”

Adrian held out his hand.

I placed the key in his palm.

Rafael’s calm finally broke.

“Adrian, if you open that box, you will destroy more than you understand.”

Adrian closed his fingers around it.

Then looked at Camille.

“Did you know about this?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

Her father snapped, “Camille.”

She turned on him.

“No.”

It was the first time she had raised her voice all night.

“I lied to Adrian about Dominic.”

Her eyes filled.

“I did that.”

Then she pointed at the key.

“But I did not know about this.”

Adrian studied her.

He did not forgive her.

But he believed that part.

Then Dominic said quietly:

“Box 417 contains the reason I went to the harbor sixteen years ago.”

Adrian turned toward him.

“And who was waiting for you there?”

Dominic looked at Rafael.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Rafael looked away.

That was answer enough.