Chapter 86: We have a problem

Gideon’s pov

I was not a man given to eavesdropping.

It was a vulgar, undisciplined habit, and it raised my hackles every time I caught someone doing it.

Father always said there were more civilized ways to get your information without eavesdropping.

Of course, he would turn in his grave if he knew the uncivilized ways I got my information, but most especially, he would pretty much walk out of the coffin if he knew I was standing in front of the gaming room, eavesdropping on my brother and the housekeeper.

But then, necessary situations called for necessary actions, and the sight of Kai dragging a pale, haunted-looking Miss Harpley from the room had triggered a curiosity I couldn’t for the life of me, repress.

It wasn’t just her appearance even though the sight of those dark circles under her enticing brown eyes had my muscles in my arms spasming with anger.

But there was also that fire. That pride and air of confidence she always had. I had known my housekeeper was full of surprises when I found her in that orphanage, radiant among the kids, the excitement... and the defiant spark I noticed the day she squared up to me in the courtyard when I had asked her to resign.

Then, in the conference room, she had been brilliant and bright as the sun in the summer.

But not today.

I took a step closer to the door, my shoes gliding across the marble floor, gritting my teeth at the sound that filled my ears. That was not a conversation.

It was the sound of my housekeeper sobbing. A gut-wrenching, broken sound that had me stiffening, my knuckles cracking as cold, unfamiliar rage washed over me.

Who the fuck made her cry?

"Hey, hey, it’s alright, kitten. Tell me who he is, okay? I’ll handle it, just fucking let me know."

He? So Kai knew who had hurt her? Was it her ex-husband? From what she had said, he didn’t live in Wisteria.

So who the fuck was it? I could hear Kai’s low, soothing murmurs, but it wasn’t enough for me.

Every instinct screamed at me to push the door open, to demand answers and then draft the best way possible to make the man pay for every choked cry, every sniffle, every painful sob she let out.

I dropped my forehead against the door, breathing harshly. How original of me. This was the same woman I had, just hours ago, told my brothers to add to the list of suspects for being a mole.

And now I wanted to what... protect her? Defend her? Yeah, I was many things, but a hypocrite was not one of them.

Kai could handle this. I had a meeting in an hour; I should be at the office.

"I’m sorry." Ivy’s thick and teary voice reached my ears, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I leaned against the cool wall, listening to her hiccups and ragged breathing.

"Oh my god, I’m such a mess. I’m sorry, Kai. I ruined your shirt."

"Bah humbug, I’ll get a million if I have to," I heard Kai reply, earning a soft laugh from her.

"Don’t you ever apologize for crying on my shirt. You can cry all over me, anytime. I’m here for you."

"Ugh, no, don’t say that. I just might take you up on your offer," She sniffled.

My knuckles grew tighter. I could go in to meet her, but I clamped down on the impulse, harder this time. I had bigger things to focus on. The mole. The security breach. The revenge I and my brothers had meticulously planned for over a decade.

A crying housekeeper, no matter how painfully maddening it was to hear her cry, could not be a distract-

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Roman appeared, his face etched with worry. "Gid? What’s going on? Where are Kai and Vivi?"

I pushed off the wall, placing a firm hand on Roman’s shoulder and steering him back towards the living room.

If he saw her like that, with how emotional he had been yesterday just from what I had said about adding her to the suspect list, Ro would lose his mind and hunt down whoever had hurt her like an animal, and it would be a hassle cleaning up loose ends. "She’s fine. Kai’s just... talking to her."

I caught Irene’s eye and beckoned her over. Leaning down, I whispered something in her ear that made her face light up.

"Of course!" she beamed, and immediately sauntered towards the game room.

With Roman pacified and Irene on her way, I strode out of the mansion, where my driver was waiting by the car, and slid into the back seat, trying to force the gut-wrenching sounds of Ivy’s crying from my mind.

I would go to the club again this weekend, and if Amber didn’t show up, then I would quit this pinning for her.

The ride to Knight’s Industries headquarters was a blur. When I walked through the glass doors of the skyscraper that bore my family’s name, David, my assistant, was waiting at the entrance, a tablet in one hand and a steaming cup of black coffee in the other.

"Mr. Knight," He greeted, his tone crisp as he fell into step beside me.

"Your ten o’clock is confirmed. The files on the Starlight estate are on your desk for your review. The board is waiting for your recommendation on the Pandora project."

"Cancel the ten o’clock meeting and push it to eleven. I want to review the Starlight first."

"Of course, sir."

We walked to the private elevator, the doors opening with a soft chime. A long ride up the fifty floors later, I was in my office, a sprawling sanctuary of glass and steel on the top floor. I settled behind my massive mahogany desk and got to work.

An hour later, the intercom on my desk buzzed. "Sir, Mr. Cunningham is here to see you."

My pen stilled over a contract. "Let him in."

The door opened, and Milo walked in with a sour look on his face. "Gid, we have a problem."