Chapter 4 - The Man Behind the Marriage
Victor DeLuca arrived at my penthouse at 6:30 that evening.
He expected dinner.
Instead, he found me waiting alone.
At least, he thought I was alone.
“Adrian.”
Victor removed his coat.
“Where's Camille?”
“Safe.”
He smiled.
“You sound dramatic.”
“Dominic tried to have me killed.”
Victor's smile vanished for half a second.
Then returned.
“Dominic?”
“Yes.”
“Impossible.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You answered quickly.”
Victor stared at me.
“I've known him twenty years.”
“So have I.”
I poured two glasses of whiskey.
Victor accepted one.
“Where is he?”
“Somewhere uncomfortable.”
He drank.
“What does this have to do with me?”
I looked toward the dark window.
“Nothing, hopefully.”
Victor relaxed slightly.
Then Nora walked into the room.
His glass stopped halfway to his mouth.
Nora carried a tray.
She placed it down.
Victor looked at her.
“The maid?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
He chuckled.
“Your father would be disappointed.”
“My father is dead.”
“Exactly.”
Nora's eyes moved toward me.
That was the signal.
I asked Victor, “Why did you want me married?”
“For stability.”
“To Camille?”
“She understands our world.”
“And when I refused?”
Victor shrugged.
“You created this ridiculous competition.”
Nora spoke.
“Which created perfect cover.”
Victor slowly turned toward her.
“Did anyone ask you?”
“No.”
“Then leave.”
She didn't move.
Victor looked at me.
“Control your staff.”
I almost laughed.
“That's exactly how Dominic talked about her.”
Victor's face tightened.
Nora placed a photograph on the table.
Victor glanced at it.
Then at her.
“Where did you get that?”
“The man beside you is Samuel Trent.”
Victor said nothing.
“He coordinates private military contractors,” Nora continued.
“I know many businessmen.”
“He also received $800,000 from Varga Strategic Consulting.”
Victor's jaw flexed.
“Circumstantial.”
Nora placed another document down.
“Then there's this.”
Victor didn't touch it.
“What?”
“A contract.”
“For?”
“Security services.”
His eyes remained on her.
Nora continued.
“The contract activates if Adrian Moretti dies.”
Victor looked at me.
“You believe a maid over me?”
I leaned forward.
“No.”
He smiled.
“I believe bank records.”
The smile disappeared.
“And Dominic's phone.”
Silence.
“And Samuel Trent.”
Victor's face changed.
That was the moment.
He knew.
I knew.
Nora knew.
Samuel Trent had already talked.
Victor slowly put down his whiskey.
“You don't understand what your father built.”
“Explain it.”
“Your organization is weakening.”
“My revenues disagree.”
“Money isn't strength.”
“Neither is murdering me.”
Victor's voice sharpened.
“You refuse alliances. You refuse marriage. You refuse to produce an heir. Every decision revolves around what Adrian wants.”
“It is my life.”
“No. It stopped being your life when your father gave you an empire.”
I leaned back.
“So your solution was murder?”
“No.”
Nora spoke.
“War.”
Victor looked at her.
She continued.
“Dominic kills Adrian. Samuel Trent kills Dominic. Evidence points toward the Mercer family. The DeLucas retaliate. Within weeks, three rival organizations destroy each other.”
I finished the thought.
“And Victor becomes the man everyone needs to restore order.”
Victor smiled faintly.
“Maybe you should have made the maid your underboss.”
Nora answered before I could.
“No, thank you.”
His smile vanished.
Then he moved.
Fast.
His hand went beneath his jacket.
I was faster.
But the shot never came.
The dining-room doors opened and four security officers entered.
Victor stopped.
Nora had anticipated it.
Again.
“You searched him?” I asked.
The lead officer nodded.
“He's carrying nothing.”
Victor's hand emerged holding only a phone.
I looked at Nora.
She gave the smallest shrug.
“I thought he might try something.”
Victor stared at her.
“You think you're clever?”
“No.”
She met his eyes.
“I think you never noticed me.”
Victor was taken away.
When the doors closed, I looked at Nora.
“You knew he'd reach inside his jacket.”
“I guessed.”
“You also had security remove his weapon before he entered.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn't tell me.”
“You would've behaved differently if you knew.”
I stared at her.
“You manipulated me.”
Nora considered it.
“A little.”
I laughed once.
She blinked.
“You're not angry?”
“Extremely.”
“Oh.”
“But I'm also alive.”
She nodded.
“That was the goal.”
For three years, Nora Hale had served coffee in my house.
For three days, she had dismantled a conspiracy my entire security operation had missed.
I looked at her.
“Dinner.”
She frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“Sit down.”
“I'm staff.”
“Not tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because I have one question left.”
She cautiously sat across from me.
I pushed the untouched black card toward her.
“You had unlimited access to my money.”
“Yes.”
“You could've changed your life.”
“Yes.”
“You didn't spend a dollar.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Nora looked at the card.
Then at me.
“Because you asked us to create value for your family.”
“And?”
Her voice softened.
“I decided keeping you alive was probably the best investment.”
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question I suddenly cared about more than I should have.
“Nora, if you win this competition, do you actually expect me to marry you?”
She stared at me.
May you like
Then she started laughing.
---
