Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

By the time they reached the Veyron residence, Zephyr had already changed the evening's schedule twice.The movie had been moved before dinner, then after dinner, and finally cancelled because he had decided that Seraphina needed to see his collection of miniature cars.Caelric had stopped trying to negotiate.“You created the schedule,” he reminded his son as they entered the house. “You should follow it.”“I changed my mind.”“That isn't how schedules work.”“It is when I'm in charge.”Seraphina laughed as she followed them inside.The house felt different from the office. Without assistants moving through the halls or employees waiting outside Caelric's office, the billionaire seemed less like the man who controlled an entire company.Zephyr ran upstairs.“Don't run!” Caelric called after him.“I’m walking fast!”“That isn't walking.”His son's laughter echoed thro

The elevator doors closed before Seraphina fully processed the photograph.Caelric stood beside her, staring at his phone. His expression had become unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders told her enough.She looked at the message again.You can't protect her forever.“Whoever this is knows we're together,” she said.“They know we're leaving the office together.”“That isn't the same thing.”“No.”The elevator continued downward.Seraphina watched the floor numbers change.“Where is Zephyr?”“With the driver.”“Is he safe?”“Yes.”She nodded, though the answer did little to settle her thoughts.When the elevator reached the parking level, Caelric didn't lead her toward the main entrance. Instead, he took her through a private corridor connected to the executive parking area.“You're taking this very seriously.”“I should have

For several seconds, nobody moved.The message remained displayed on Caelric’s phone.I know what you found.Seraphina looked at the photograph again.The strategy room door.The corridor outside it.The timestamp.Whoever had taken it had been close enough to know exactly where they were.“They were here,” she said.Caelric slipped the phone into his pocket.“Or they still are.”Zephyr stopped swinging his legs.“Daddy?”Caelric immediately softened his voice.“Everything is fine.”Seraphina noticed the change.He did not want Zephyr frightened.Neither did she.She crouched beside the boy.“Your father and I have some boring work to finish. Why don't you go downstairs and have some breakfast?”Zephyr frowned.“I already ate.”“Then you can tell the kitchen what you want for lunch.”

Seraphina read the message again.The file isn't the secret. Ask Seraphina why she was hired.She could feel Caelric watching her, but she kept her attention on the phone.There was something unsettling about the wording.Not because the sender had mentioned her.Because the sender seemed to know that her employment had a story she had never questioned.She finally looked up.“I know why you hired me.”Caelric didn't answer immediately.“Do you?”“Yes.”“Tell me.”Seraphina frowned.“You interviewed me. I gave you my qualifications. You chose me.”“That is what happened.”“Then why are you asking?”“Because whoever sent this message believes there's something else.”Seraphina folded her arms.“Do you?”Caelric held her gaze.“I don't know.”The answer surprised her.He had never been uncertain about hiring her.From the beginning, he had spoken about her competence as though the decision had been obvious.Now, suddenly, there was doubt.“Then let's find out,” she said.Caelric nodded.

The private elevator descended without stopping.Seraphina stood beside Caelric, her father's note secured inside the evidence sleeve in her handbag.Neither spoke.There was too much to process.Two years ago, her father had suspected that money was being moved through the Veyron Foundation. Three days ago, someone had apparently used his old credentials to access his former office.And now an anonymous person wanted Seraphina to go there.The timing was too precise to ignore.When the elevator reached the underground parking level, Caelric looked at her.“You're certain you want to do this?”“Yes.”“This could change what you believe about your father.”“I already know that.”He studied her expression.“No matter what we find, you don't have to defend him.”“I know.”“And you don't have to defend yourself either.”She gave him a small smile.“You really like reminding me of that.”“Because you keep forgetting.”“I don't forget. I just prefer handling my own problems.”“I know.”The