Chapter 4 - The Threat Behind the Smile
Celeste reached the staircase before Eleanor could descend.
“You will not ambush him the moment he enters this house.”
“Move.”
“He has a heart condition.”
Eleanor froze.
Her father had experienced an episode of chest pain the previous year, but doctors had found no serious damage. Celeste had repeatedly used his health as a reason to keep difficult information from him.
“This is exactly why he needs to know.”
“If you shock him and something happens, that will be on you.”
“No. It will be on the people who betrayed him.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed.
“You have always wanted this marriage to fail.”
“I wanted him to be happy.”
“With your permission.”
“With someone who loved him.”
Richard’s voice sounded faintly from the entrance hall. He was speaking to Mrs. Dawson about a misplaced folder.
Celeste glanced toward the stairs.
Then she looked at Eleanor’s phone.
Her desperation became visible.
“Last chance.”
“Get away from me.”
Celeste reached for the device.
Eleanor turned aside, and the phone nearly slipped from her hand.
“Stop it.”
“Delete the recording.”
Celeste made another attempt, driving Eleanor backward. Eleanor caught herself against the wall and held the phone above her shoulder.
The master-bedroom door opened behind them.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
“Both of you need to calm down.”
Eleanor stared at him.
His shirt was unbuttoned, and he carried his shoes in one hand.
“You should leave before my father sees you.”
Adrian looked toward the staircase.
“He cannot see me like this.”
“That sounds like your problem.”
Celeste grabbed Adrian’s arm and pulled him back into the bedroom.
“Use the balcony.”
“It is raining.”
“You prefer the front stairs?”
Adrian looked outside. The balcony stood three floors above the stone terrace, with no safe path to the ground.
“There is nowhere to go.”
Celeste looked at the bed.
Adrian followed her gaze.
“No.”
“It will only be for a minute.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Then explain your shirt to Richard.”
Eleanor remained in the hallway, stunned, as Celeste pushed Adrian into the bedroom.
She could have followed her father downstairs and shown him the recording there.
But if she did, Celeste would deny the affair. Adrian would escape through another part of the house, and Richard might hesitate to believe an accusation against his oldest adviser without seeing the truth himself.
Eleanor stepped into the bedroom.
Adrian had hidden beneath the blanket.
Celeste turned toward her.
“You are not bringing Richard in here.”
“I don’t need to bring him.”
Footsteps approached.
Eleanor raised her voice.
“I’m going to tell my father everything.”
May you like
Celeste lunged for the phone.
A moment later, Richard appeared in the doorway.
