The Billionaire's Unforgiving Bride

CHAPTER 3

The Unconcerting Revelation

The board meeting had gone quite badly. Out of the meeting room, I trailed a litany of dejected expressions and undercutting whispers. I expected opposition, but the sheer force of their criticism stunned me. The board was not ready to trust my choices and our most recent merger was under investigation. Desperate for a minute alone, my thoughts kept running the confrontation as I hurried into my office.

Though I had intended to immerse myself in paperwork, Cassandra kept coming back to me. I had been remote lately, buried in business conflicts and secrets that appeared to get more complex daily. Though I tried to hide my own problems, the weight of our damaged relationship was getting intolerable.

I threw my briefcase onto the desk and banged the door behind me. The disorganized surface stood out as a far cry from my normal exacting discipline. Looking at the disorganized jumble, I saw the missing key. I started to panic. I had left it in the study Cassandra could access. Suppose she had come upon something she shouldn't have?

As I worked to cool myself, my annoyance mounted. Although the papers Cassandra came onto were benign enough, her discovery of them could have had devastating results. My secrets had been closely guarded for a purpose, hence the last thing I wanted was her exploring regions better kept unspoiled.

Cassandra was waiting for me in the garden by the time I could cool myself. Her facial expression combined vulnerability with resolution. She seemed ready to approach me with something that had been chewing at her.

"Dominic," she whispered as I got close, her voice tinged with anxiety. "We ought to talk."

I groaned and started to brace myself. "What else is on your mind?"

"There's been a lot going on," she began, eyes darting mine for some indication of comfort. "I came upon something in the research—documents and a journal."

My stomach contracted. She was referring to the delicate, private stuff designed to be kept under wraps. "Cassandra, you should know that my actions have causes for everything I do. A few things are not designed for your concern.

Her face dropped, a concoction of irritation and hurt. "I simply want to know." According to Dominic, we should be partners in this. Given you are keeping things from me, how can we be?

Feeling the weight of her displeasure, I battled to come with appropriate words. It is not about running from you. It's regarding your protection. Right now, we have little control over some things. You have to believe that I am doing all I can.

Her eyes narrowed a little, a tinge of doubt still there. "Being kept in the dark causes one to lose easy trust. I feel as though I am wandering over this marriage blindfolded.

Before I could reply, we turned to see activity from the house. I could not identify this sound—a thud coming from the study direction. Cassandra turned her head toward the mansion, her expression a mask of worry. I sank in my heart following her line of sight.

Tension heavy, we went back to the mansion. Leading Cassandra to the study, the interior appeared unaltered. The open window fluttered papers and the missing key was the only thing wrong. Cassandra looked around and I could see her eyes growing uneasy.

Her voice quivering slightly, she added, "I swear I heard something.

I said, less sure but generally, "It's probably nothing." I was on great alert, instinctively. In the corporate world, I had been used to challenges; this felt personal, intrusive.

Cassandra appeared to pick up my discomfort. "What would happen if someone were here?

"Let's not jump to conclusions," I remarked, trying to be cool. "We will review the security footage to see if anything is odd."

Once the study was under way, I discovered I was restless. My head kept returning to the lost key and the possible invasions of our privacy. I had to move quickly but also to prevent Cassandra from having panic attacks. She deserved answers, but I found myself divided between exposing the whole truth and shielding her from more active participation.

My phone buzzed as I dropped into my office. Her name appeared on the screen. She was constantly conscious of when I needed her; her timing was perfect.

"Dominic," Evelyn said with a smooth, almost calming quality. "I learned of the problems at the board meeting. You all sound good.

Not truly, I said. "Today has been a difficult one. How did you get word of it?

"I have my sources," she answered, slightly amused. More significantly though, I have some news that might help you relax. I have been observing things and believe we might have to get ready for a larger migration.

Her comments were interesting yet vague. "What are you referring to?"

"There are more layers to this than you might think," Evelyn stated. "Some of the participants turn out to be more dangerous than first believed. We absolutely must keep ahead of them.

I developed a shudder. Our circumstances grew more complicated, and I was running out of strategies to handle it. Though Evelyn's promise to assist was alluring, I couldn't get rid of the impression that her worry had a hidden agenda.

The security system of the mansion later that evening sent an alarm to me. There has been discovered an illegal access. As I saw the video—an intruder sliding into a side entry of the mansion—my heart hammered.

Although the video was grainy, it was clear enough to prove the visitor had been there for a specific goal. Although the security records showed no breaches, the aim of the intruder was clearly evident. I was ready to tell Cassandra when I saw her looking uncomfortable walking into her room.

For now I chose to hide this from her. She already was handling too much. Managing the immediate hazards became my first priority, even as I tried to shield her from the unseen hazards.

Guilt set in me as I passed Cassandra's door. Her too much kept in the dark had caused a gulf between us. But I had to make a difficult choice: either expose the degree of the risk or shield her from it, knowing that would mean hiding her from the truth.

My carrying of secrets was getting intolerable. Deeper I dug into these shadowy areas of our life, the more I saw how unstable everything was. Not only would I compromise the safety of the lady I loved but also my company if I acted carelessly.

I realized I had to step lightly as I got ready to look into the invader more. Every stride I made seemed to bring us more into a web of lies and risk. For Cassandra's as well as for my own, I had to keep one step ahead.

I left my workplace, my ideas a whirl of fear and tactics. The evening was gloomy and full of questions; every choice I made from here on would have far-reaching effects. The stakes were higher than they had ever been, and I had to negotiate the perilous terrain of secrets and treachery without losing what most meant.

Every movement I took had to be deliberate since Cassandra and I were engaged in a dangerous game. Faced with the approaching dangers, I realized that hiding was quite expensive. Everything we had hung on a thread, and I had to make sure our lives stayed intact despite the shadows hovering above us.