Chapter 13: The man behind the curtain

Lucian did not sleep.

He stood in the estate’s surveillance room at three in the morning, watching the footage from the night before on repeat.

Seven minutes.

The system cut precisely at 8:42 PM.

Restored at 8:49 PM.

No glitch. No delay.

A controlled override.

The head of security shifted uncomfortably behind him.

“Sir, only three people have authorization for that level of access.”

Lucian didn’t turn.

“List them.”

“You. Mr. Vittorio. And—” he hesitated slightly, “—Chief Operations Officer, Adrian Vale.”

Lucian finally looked over his shoulder.

Adrian Vale.

His right hand for five years.

The man who had helped him restructure half the company.

The man who had stood beside him during the divorce proceedings.

“No,” Lucian said flatly.

But doubt had already entered.

Across town, Adrian Vale adjusted his cufflinks calmly as he stepped into his private office.

Floor-to-ceiling windows. Clean desk. Perfect order.

He checked his phone.

A message delivered.

No reply yet.

He smiled faintly.

Lucian was predictable when emotional.

And emotion made men reckless.

Back at the estate, Elena sat at the kitchen island with a cup of tea she hadn’t touched.

Her mind replayed the intruder’s voice.

It wasn’t rough.

It wasn’t chaotic.

It was controlled.

Professional.

“Lucian,” she called softly as he entered the room.

He looked exhausted, but his eyes were sharp.

“Tell me you know who did this.”

He didn’t lie.

“I have a suspicion.”

Her heart sank.

“Your father?”

He paused.

“No.”

That scared her more.

“Then who?”

Lucian sat across from her.

“Adrian.”

She blinked.

“Your COO?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It makes too much sense.”

Lucian leaned back, voice low.

“Adrian oversees internal security contracts. Financial audits. Digital access protocols. If anyone could override the estate system without raising alarms—it’s him.”

Elena processed slowly.

“Why would he do that?”

Lucian’s jaw tightened.

“Power.”

He stood and began pacing.

“If I’m suspended, there’s a temporary succession chain. Adrian becomes acting CEO before the board finalizes control.”

Elena’s breath hitched.

“So this isn’t just about your father.”

“No,” Lucian said quietly. “It’s about someone who wants both of us removed.”

Her hand instinctively covered her stomach again.

Lucian noticed.

His pacing stopped.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said.

This time, there was no automatic correction to “my child.”

Just you.

It softened something inside her — but fear still outweighed it.

Later that afternoon, Lucian walked into headquarters unannounced.

The staff straightened immediately.

Whispers followed him down the hall.

He didn’t stop until he reached Adrian’s office.

Without knocking, he entered.

Adrian looked up calmly.

“Lucian. I was just reviewing yesterday’s market reaction.”

Lucian closed the door behind him.

“Were you?”

Adrian leaned back slightly. Relaxed.

“You look tired.”

“Cut the performance.”

A small smile ghosted Adrian’s lips.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Lucian stepped forward and placed a printed report on the desk.

Security override logs.

Time stamps.

Authorization keys.

Adrian glanced at it — not surprised.

“That’s concerning,” he said mildly.

Lucian’s voice dropped.

“You had access.”

“So did your father.”

“My father doesn’t understand digital infrastructure.”

“And you do?”

Lucian leaned closer.

“I understand loyalty.”

Adrian’s expression shifted slightly.

Something colder.

“Loyalty is expensive,” Adrian replied.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

“You think I won’t find proof?”

Adrian stood slowly.

“You think you already have.”

The air between them felt razor-thin.

Lucian spoke carefully.

“If this is about ambition, we can negotiate.”

Adrian chuckled softly.

“You still think this is business.”

“It is.”

“No,” Adrian said quietly. “It’s evolution.”

Lucian’s pulse slowed — not from calm, but from instinct.

Predator recognizing predator.

“You’re making a mistake,” Lucian warned.

Adrian stepped closer.

“Am I?”

He lowered his voice.

“You went public with the pregnancy. That was emotional. Now regulators are sniffing around. Your father is cornered. The board is unstable.”

His gaze sharpened.

“You created chaos.”

Lucian realized something chilling.

Adrian hadn’t just reacted to events.

He had been guiding them.

“You leaked the hospital visit,” Lucian said.

Adrian didn’t confirm.

But he didn’t deny it either.

Lucian’s voice turned deadly quiet.

“You sent someone into my house.”

A long silence.

Then Adrian said calmly:

“Seven minutes.”

Lucian’s vision went red.

He grabbed Adrian by the collar and slammed him against the glass wall.

Staff outside froze in shock.

“You step near her again,” Lucian growled, “and I will bury you.”

Adrian didn’t struggle.

Didn’t panic.

He simply smiled.

“You already can’t protect her.”

Lucian’s grip tightened.

Adrian’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“You have no idea who I work for.”

That made Lucian pause.

Just enough.

Adrian used the moment to push him back.

Straightening his suit calmly.

“This isn’t about shares,” Adrian continued. “It’s about dismantling an empire.”

Lucian’s mind raced.

“If you think you can scare me—”

Adrian’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it.

Then looked up slowly.

“You should answer yours.”

Lucian’s blood ran cold.

He pulled out his phone.

Missed call.

From Elena.

Three times.

A text followed.

There are reporters outside the gate. They know everything.

Lucian looked up.

Adrian’s smile widened.

“Like I said,” Adrian murmured. “You can’t protect her forever.”