Chapter 2 - The Maid Who Broke the Rules
Malcolm stepped out of the SUV.
For several seconds, he simply stared at Adrian.
Adrian gave him a warning look.
Not here.
Not yet.
Malcolm understood.
He turned toward Victor.
“Open the gate.”
Victor immediately obeyed.
The massive iron gate began sliding open.
Grace frowned.
She didn't understand why Malcolm suddenly appeared or why Victor had changed his attitude.
Adrian picked up the plate of fruit.
“Thank you,” he told Grace.
She smiled faintly.
“You're welcome.”
Then she returned toward the mansion.
Adrian watched her disappear through the side entrance.
Malcolm waited until she was gone.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Someone broke into your office.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“What was taken?”
“Nothing.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because someone accessed the private archive.”
That changed everything.
Whitmore Global maintained a secure archive containing confidential acquisition records, executive contracts, family trusts, and private financial documents.
Very few people had access.
Malcolm.
The chief financial officer.
Adrian.
And one other person.
His cousin, Nathan Whitmore.
Nathan had spent years waiting for Adrian to make a mistake.
Adrian walked toward the SUV.
“Who accessed the archive?”
“We don't know.”
“Then find out.”
Malcolm hesitated.
“There is something else.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Your sister called.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
He hadn't spoken to Eleanor Whitmore in eight years.
“What did she want?”
“She says Nathan is planning to challenge your ownership of the company.”
Adrian laughed quietly.
“He can try.”
“He already has.”
Adrian stopped.
Malcolm handed him a document.
A preliminary legal filing.
Nathan claimed Adrian had been mentally unstable for months.
He claimed Adrian's disappearance proved it.
He was seeking temporary control of Whitmore Global.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Who signed this?”
“Three board members.”
“Which three?”
Malcolm named them.
Adrian recognized every name.
People he trusted.
Or thought he trusted.
Then Malcolm added:
“And there may be an inside leak.”
Adrian looked toward the mansion.
“What kind?”
“Someone has been feeding Nathan information from this house.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“An employee?”
“We don't know.”
That evening, Adrian returned to the mansion disguised as the beggar.
He sat near the gardener's shed.
He watched.
The household continued normally.
Employees moved through the halls.
Cars arrived.
Guests came and went.
Grace worked quietly.
She carried laundry.
Prepared meals.
Cleaned the library.
Checked the greenhouse.
She never complained.
At seven, she brought Adrian another plate.
This time it contained soup, bread, and roasted vegetables.
“You'll need something warm.”
Adrian stared at the bowl.
“You do this for everyone?”
Grace smiled.
“No.”
“Why me?”
“Because nobody else is doing it.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You know the owner?”
“Mr. Whitmore?”
“Yes.”
“I've never met him.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“You work here.”
“I work for the house.”
“Not the man?”
Grace shrugged.
“I've never had a reason to.”
He studied her.
“You don't like rich people?”
“I don't know enough rich people to decide.”
Adrian smiled.
“You're honest.”
“I've been told that's dangerous.”
“Who told you?”
“My father.”
“What happened to him?”
Grace's smile disappeared.
“He died.”
Adrian immediately regretted asking.
“I'm sorry.”
She nodded.
“He worked construction.”
“What happened?”
“An accident.”
She stood.
“I should get back inside.”
Adrian watched her leave.
Later that night, he saw Grace in the kitchen.
She was talking to another maid.
Adrian couldn't hear everything.
But he heard one sentence.
“I think someone is stealing from Mr. Whitmore.”
The other maid looked frightened.
“Don't say that.”
Grace lowered her voice.
“I've seen the invoices.”
Adrian froze.
The invoices?
What had she seen?
He followed her from a distance.
She entered the service hallway.
A man emerged from the opposite door.
Nathan's assistant.
Adrian recognized him immediately.
The man handed Grace an envelope.
She shook her head.
“I told you I don't want your money.”
“Then keep your mouth shut.”
“I won't.”
The man grabbed her wrist.
Adrian started forward.
Then Grace pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
The man whispered:
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.”
He walked away.
Grace stood alone in the hallway.
Adrian watched her.
She wasn't afraid for herself.
She was afraid for someone else.
And that was when he realized something.
May you like
Grace had already discovered the secret hidden inside his house.
She just didn't know the man she was trying to protect was standing twenty feet away in a torn coat.
