THE CEO'S SECRET

Audrey's Scheme

Chapter 3

"I need to see him," I told Aunty Beatrice, my voice barely above a whisper, but filled with urgency.

“Dominic, I’m so sorry,” she said, her expression softened, but the worry was still there. I pushed forward, I couldn’t wait for sympathy or comfort.

My Father's quarters had been moved downstairs, closer to the main house because of his condition.

The doors to his room stood before me, and for a moment, I hesitated. How had the man who used to be a force, a man whose reputation alone could bend the world to his will become this, confined to a room, surrounded by nurses and doctors, unable to even speak?

As I approached the door, I froze. A voice, soft and broken, reached my ears. Audrey. She was inside. Of course, she was the woman who had gone from just a one night stand to being the key to my inheritance, to my father’s entire empire.

My hand hesitated on the doorknob. I should go in and confront her, but something made me pause. I stayed at the by the door, listening.

"I want to be here for you," Audrey’s voice trembled, thick with emotion. "I want to take care of you, just like you did for me. I’m so sorry… you don’t deserve this."

Through the small crack in the door, I saw her sitting beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. He didn’t move, didn’t react. His eyes were fixed on the window, unblinking, as if the world outside held all the answers he couldn’t give.

Audrey’s voice grew softer. "You never told me of your plans," she whispered. "You only called me when I was still in Germany. I remember you sounding so disoriented, so unlike yourself. You told me to stay by his side, to never leave him. You said to trust no one." She paused, her voice breaking.

I stood there, every word deepening my confusion. Trust no one? What was my father hiding? And why involve Audrey, of all people?

She wiped her tears and spoke with resolve, her voice steady now, "But you don’t need to worry, Sir Edward, I’ll figure it all out, I’ll take care of everything. I’m sure Dominic will come on board eventually."

I clenched my teeth. What the hell was she talking about?

“As for this marriage” She glanced out the window, she seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Alright, I’ll accept it. Whatever it takes to stay by his side.” she said, her voice softer now. “I’ll take care of him and love him, just like I loved you.

I felt sick to my stomach, this woman is despicable. One moment she was playing the helpless, innocent victim, and the next, she was scheming, weaving lies to serve her own twisted agenda.

“We already have a connection, Dominic and I,” she said, her voice was soft, but there was disturbing confidence in it. “Last night, we shared something. It was brief, yes, but, I felt something and I know he felt it, too.” Audrey’s voice was almost vibrant now, she sounded so sure of herself.

My blood ran cold. She was talking about last night. The woman who sat beside my father, pretending to care, was the same woman who was now plotting to use our brief encounter as a way to pull me into her twisted plan. It was obvious last night wasn’t a mistake, it was all part of her scheme.

If she thought she could manipulate me, like she did my Father, she was wrong. I am going to outsmart her, I will dismantle her plans from the inside, and when the time came, she wouldn’t even see it coming.

I turned away from the door, and headed straight to my quarters, I couldn’t stand to hear more of her lies. Inside my quarters, I met a maid that was serving food on the dining table.

“You can leave.” I discharged her. “And take the food with you, I’m not hungry.”

As soon as she left, I grabbed a bottle from the mini bar, I gulped down a drink, hoping to calm the anger swirling in my mind.

I called Paul, my driver and bodyguard.

"I need you to find out everything about Audrey Donovan, and her entire relationship with my father," I instructed him and ended the call. I was determined to find out everything I could about Audrey.

As I was pouring another glass, there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was my Aunt or one of the maids, I stood up and I opened the door.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It was Maggie Peterson.

She stood in the doorway, her face lined with emotion. Maggie was childhood friend and my first love. I remember just right before I left for France, I had promised to come back for her once my father was gone, but over time, life got in the way, and we lost touch.

Now, seeing her, standing in front of me, I couldn’t ignore how much she had changed. She had grown into an incredibly beautiful woman. And despite all the chaos I was feeling, beneath it all, the feelings I had for her were still there.

“Dom, I can’t believe you’re back” she whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. She hugged me tightly. “I’m so sorry about your Dad, it’s so unfortunate what happened to him.”

“Maggie,” I said, surprised to see her. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you, I…”

“Shh, don’t worry about that.” She waved off my apology and gave me a soft smile. “I’m just glad you’re here now.”

I led her inside, and we settled into the living room, sitting across from each other. I was still shock from seeing her again.

“I heard about your meeting with the family lawyer,” she said, her tone cautious. “About how you have to marry Audrey to get your inheritance.”

“Audrey? Do you know her?” I asked, taken aback.

Maggie rolled her eyes, “Well, I don’t know her personally, but I know enough. I heard from my Dad that she was your father's woman. That w***e had him wrapped around her little finger. He did everything for her, even sent her to school abroad. Now, with your father incapacitated, she’s trying to crawl her way into your life. Dom, that woman is nothing but a gold digger.”

Her words hit hard, confirming what I already know, but I was too numb to react. I walked over to the mini bar and poured myself another drink.

“What do you plan to do, Dominic?” Maggie asked, standing up to join me by the bar. “You can’t marry her. She’ll manipulating you, just like she did your father.”

I let out a bitter laugh, "I’m not like my father, Maggie. No one’s going to manipulate me."

I thought for a moment, "But I’ll marry her,” I said finally, my voice cold and detached.

Maggie looked at me in shock. “What? No, Dominic. You don’t understand. You’ll be playing right into her hands. She doesn’t care about you. All she wants is your money, your family’s power.”

“And I don’t care about her either,” I snapped. “She’s a means to an end, nothing more.”

Maggie’s face crumbled as she moved closer to me, her voice trembling. “What about me, Dominic? I’ve waited for you all these years. You promised me that you’d come back for me. And now you’re just going to leave me to marry another woman?”

I looked into her eyes, “Maggie, I just need to get my father’s shares. Once that’s done, I’ll make her life miserable. She’ll be begging for a divorce. And when she’s out of my life, I’ll come back for you, I promise.”

She looked up at me, searching my face for the truth. “Are you sure, Dominic?”

I nodded, “I still love you Maggie.” I said and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. She finally smiled at me.

‘’Then I’ll be here when you’re done with her.” She said as she raised her glass and clink it against mine.

As we shared a drink, I thought about my plan, a smile forming on my face. Audrey had no idea what was coming for her. She might think she’s walking into a marriage of convenience, but what I had in store was far from that. I am going to make her life a living hell, piece by piece. She would regret ever stepping into my world.