CHAPTER 23
1153 Words
This particular launch must go down in history as one of the worst lunches I've had in a while. I forced myself to take a few bites so I won't give Ella the satisfaction of seeing me frustrated.
Minutes later, we were seated in the living room when Adrian had a smile on his face.
“Dad, I got a gift for you,” he said, his voice smooth. “Since it was my first time meeting my father-in-law, I couldn't come empty-handed.”
My father's lips curved into a smile “That's so thoughtful of you, Adrian.”
Queen and I exchanged glances. Her shoulders were hunched, her eyes darting between Adrian and the gift he was reaching for.
“One minute, please “
Adrian pulled a black box from a designer bag I hadn't noticed, tucked beside the couch.
He stood up gracefully, walked toward Dad and handed it over.
I could see Ella's chest swell with pride.
“Wow…” Dad breathed as he opened the box. Then he turned it over to us, the light catching the deep azure stone of the timepiece “Thank you for this Adrian”
“It is a Ulysses Nardin Royal Blue Tourbillon watch” Ella stated and smirked “It is worth a million dollars. We wanted something that reflected the prestige of your new rank, Daddy”
I said nothing. My nail is digging into the palms of my hands. I knew what she was doing. She was anchoring her status in the family through Adrian's bank account.
And what was worse, I forgot to get a gift for Dad.
“So,” Ella continued, “Did our award-winning writer not bring anything for her Daddy? or were you too busy dreaming of fictional heroes to remember your real hero?” she asked, batting her eyelashes like a doll.
I opened my mouth but before the words could come out, Killian interrupted.
“Hey buddy” he called on Queen's son, Marco. His voice was calm but commanding.
Marco looked up from his tablet “Yes Uncle? “ he answered, sitting up straight like he was answering a military call.
“Go get the box I had asked you to hide in your room earlier. The one with the seal.”
“Yes Sir,” he answered and gave him a quick military salute and marched toward his room.
Dad cracked into sudden laughter.
Ella's face was so red for a second I thought she could breathe out fire or explode.
Queen looked surprised, her shoulder tense.
And there was I who was confused, anxious, surprised and I could feel my frustration written all over my face from the way Adrian's eyes were boring into me. like he was looking for any clue.
Funny enough, even I was looking for clues.
Killian leaned closer to me. “Relax ma'am you might finally explore before your sister does”
I let out a shaking laughter.
Yet I wondered what Killian was up to. He better not screw me up in front of my entire family.
“Here you go General Grandpa” Marco announced his return.
“Thank you, officer” Dad said cheerfully and gave him a military salute too.
The choreography looked amazing but the anxiousness in me wouldn't let me laugh.
Dad's smile vanished, replaced with an intense, professional curiosity as soon as he opened the box. He didn't exclaim, he didn’t gasp, he just went completely still.
“The pleasure is ours Sir” Killian bowed his head slightly.
I elbowed hard in the ribs, but he didn't flinch.
“Is this…” Dad's voice was a whisper, his eyes wide as he pulled out a handwritten man's scanning the cursive script.
“Is this the original Revolutionary War General Order？From Valley Forge？
He looked at the signature at the bottom. George Washington.
“Happy Birthday, Sir” Killian said, “Daisy was very specific about the acquisition. She felt a watch telling the time. But a piece of the General of the Armies’ own hand told a story of leadership. She spent months tracking this down through a private collector in London.”
I was reeling. A George Washington manuscript? That was a Holy Grail. It was priceless. A man like my father would value this more than a billion-dollar watch.
“Who exactly is Killian to be able to avoid such a priceless gift. He couldn’t be an ordinary bodyguard “
Dad stood up abruptly. He didn't look at the watch. He didn't look at Adrian. He walked straight to me and pulled me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe.
“Daisy,” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. “To have the words of the Father of our Country… to hold a piece of the history I’ve dedicated my life to… thank you, Princess.”
This was becoming emotional.
“Daddy, wait,” Ella snapped, her voice shrill and desperate. She stood up, her eyes darting to the manuscript. “There’s no way that’s real. Those things are in museums. Daisy probably bought a high-end replica at a gift shop. It’s a fake, just like her career.”
Killian stepped forward, his presence suddenly cold and lethal. He didn't raise his voice, but the power behind it silenced the room.
“Careful, Ella,” Killian said. “You’ve spent the afternoon calling me unfaithful to my boss and questioning Daisy’s integrity. She gave me a task, and I carried it out to her exact, exacting standards.”
He held out his palm, his eyes locked on Ella’s.
“A bet,” Killian challenged. “If this document is a forgery, I will resign immediately and submit to any punishment you deem fit. I will admit I am a failure and a liar. But… if it is original, if it is the genuine hand of Washington… Then you will do exactly what I ask of you. No questions. No hesitation.”
Sweet rain down my spine. Was Killian trying to have us killed? What if they asked us to do something ridiculous. would we？
Ella's mouth is opened and closed like a fish. She looked at the manuscript, then at Killian’s steady hand. She was terrified.
Before she could speak, Adrian stepped in. He reached out and gripped Killian’s hand, shaking it firmly.
I hated this bet. I wanted to scream “No, I am not part of it” but that could be betraying Killian. He was doing all of this for me and the least I could do was play along.
I don't know why Adrian was so sure this was fake, or was he just trying to play the perfect fiancé?
“Bet,” Adrian said, his voice hardening. “It’s us against you two. We’ll have it appraised tomorrow. If you’re lying, Killian, you’re done for.”
- Writer
