The first strike

Adeline's POV

My eyes briefly went to Mikhail as he asked the question. I wasn't so sure what to say since I didn't really know Jackson.

Mikhail leaned closer, “You can tell him everything. I trust him greatly, so go ahead" he assured again even though he had done it before.

I sighed and began to tell him the story. I started from when I met Conrad, reliving a moment I had thought was my happiest. “It was a museum exhibition, some of the oldest pieces from the old India and their empires. I met him there"

As I continued, I remembered how Conrad had struck me. The way his brown eyes had me dazzled, his accent. How he had mesmerized me with the correct history of whatever I looked at. As I said it I wondered if it had ever been real.

It had been too smooth - our conversations. The simple way he had slid into the group I had found myself with. He hadn't approached me first nor was I last but he had managed to make an impression that led me to texting him.

Jackson stopped me for a moment, “I want you to do your best to remember every important detail. Whether it be little or large. The slightest thing he had done that could be something suspicious now that you know the truth”

I knew what he was asking me and it hadn't been the first time I had done it. In my mind, I had run through everything - from the day we first spoke to the day he had pushed me off that balcony. But one particular day stood out.

"It was a Monday morning, the day he was to launch the foundation. He should have been up by seven and ready by ten but he had no sense of urgency, none at all" I remembered how leisurely he was acting.

“At first I thought nothing of it but then I had to ask and he told me it would all be dealt with. He was eventually at the foundation party but he was too relaxed through out. Despite the fact that important CEOs and politicians had attended it" it was as if I was standing at the edge of the party and watching it happen. He had strolled around easily, spoken to everyone almost casually. And Conrad never acted like that with clients.

Jackson looked to be in doubt, eyes far away before he quickly came back, “Those politicians and CEOs, do you remember any names?" He asked.

As I went back again, I nodded, I definitely did. “I remembered the minister of state affairs, Jordan Priest and one CEO, Jalaan Requiro. These two because he somehow hung out with both of them the most"

Jackson nodded before taking his laptop and typing something in quickly. He then flipped the laptop for me to see, "Is this Jordan Priest?” He asked.

I squinted my eyes as I looked closely at the picture. Even though it had been almost three years since the foundation had started, I remembered what I had seen. "No, it isn't him” I said as I told the truth.

His face changed slightly before she searched for something else and showed it to me, "So is this the CEO? Jalaan?” He showed another picture to me.

My heart stopped for a second when I realized what exactly I was looking at. "No it isn't. Although he does look like him”

Jackson shook his head, finally facing the laptop back to him. "That confirms what I thought. He created the fake presence for that very reason to get some money from you. Something that so many conmen tend to do”

As he said it I realized the truth. That was why everyone had been so casual about everything. Because they had been actors in his very elaborate scheme.

He asked me again, “Do you remember any media personnels or photographers at least?"

My mind went back to that day. It had been one of the strange things he had explained, the lack of media. The important people didn't want any present media. But there had been someone, “Yes, I remember there being a photographer" . His blonde hair had caught my attention, including the fact that he had caused white wine to be spilled on my beautiful dress.

Jackson smiled when I said that, nodding his head happily. “Good, I'm going to send over to you as many photographers as I know, preferably the fake ones. Ones that he most likely hired" he gave me a knowing look and I nodded.

"Since we have that at least, we have to leak out a small story to destroy a little of Conrad's build up.” He looked at Mikhail again, "although you can give no statements, you can create quite a shake to his story. Do you know anything that was hidden from the public?” He asked.

I was about to shake my head, Conrad had hidden the intricacies of his foundation from me. He had made sure that I didn't know more than I needed to except that night. "There's something, he mentioned using Isaac to retain a client”

Somehow, both men in the room sat up straighter. I had forgotten this detail while talking to Mikhail so he didn't know about it.

"Go ahead,” Jackson urged.

“I'm not sure I know much but he wanted to frame Isaac. I think whoever Isaac tried to expose him to a client" the conversation of that night came back to me. “He had urged Devon to tell a story so that they didn't lose their client"

Jackson had noted something down, murmuring under his breath, “Anything else you think you remember?" He was searching something on his laptop before he spun it around. “While you think of that, help me see if this is Isaac"

On the screen was a picture of Conrad with Devon beside him, it was a group picture. There was a younger boy standing not far behind both, bushy eyebrows and bald head, I recognized him immediately. “Yes it is. I saw him only once but he didn't exactly look comfortable and that concerned me briefly." The way his eyes had moved around the room, not leaving Conrad.

There should have been many signs but I saw none.

He nodded, “That means I'll have to speak to the kid, see whatever he knows. The story already looks juicy" he typed something down before looking at Mikhail and then me. “I think that should be all for now sir, ma'am" he greeted and began to pack up.

Mikhail who had been silent and observant the entire meeting hummed, “Alright then, contact Lily if you need to tell me anything or in fact, contact me directly. There had to be a little haste to everything before we lost too much” it was the smallest sign I had seen of his distress due to the part he had been forced to play.

"Yes sir, I definitely will,” Jackson told him before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

It was just Mikhail and I know. I closed my eyes first, leaning back against the chair as I tried to take a moment. When I looked at the time it was to see that we had spent about an hour talking to Jackson. “What next?" I asked Mikhail.

He shrugged, “I think we can take a moment for now. There really isn't much you can do right now. We must do as he's said and lay low" he advised.

The advice was proper, exactly what I knew would be given but I didn't like it. “I didn't quite agree with that," I said.

He gave me a look, "What did you think?”

I sighed before starting, "I don't think I can just keep quiet while he continues to destroy both our images, including my father's. It's like letting him do whatever he wants without any consequences” I argued.

"I know that it's how-”

He was trying to convince me but I cut him off, "No, I'm not going to just keep silent. Even if I don't give a press conference or meet, I have to say something to the media.”

"Are you sure?” Mikhail asked.

I thought about it for a moment before nodding, "I am”