Chapter Eighty Two
Chapter Eighty Two
Ryan’s POV
+25 BONUS
The withering look Celeste gave the butler made me shudder. Shebeant business, and she wasn’t backing down until he fessed up.
Watching her take charge was fixating.
“I’m not going anywhere until we get to the bottom of this,” she sld, stepping forward as her voice dropped. “So if you didn’t swap the necklaces, James, I need you to tell me right now who did before things get ugly.”
How
The butler’s eyes narrowed at the obvious threat, and he stood taller.
“Look here, madam, I know nothing about Jewelry. My mistress came home an hour after the box was delivered–where did I have time to find a replacement necklace?” he questioned, seethingly.
Celeste paused, studying him closely. His argument was solid, but that didn’t mean this wasn’t a premeditated crime–someone must have been keeping tabs on the studio’s orders.
Evidently, my boss came to the same conclusion.
“Have you been in contact with a man named Damien Kent? Did he pay you to swap the necklaces?” she asked.
His eyebrows raised a fraction in surprise before he covered it up with a scowl.
“That you dare to imply I betrayed my mistress’s trust for some petty cash is insulting!” his face was blotchy with rage. “I’ve never heard of that man.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “James, I need you to be honest with me. Let’s handle things between us before the authorities get involved.”
I watched as fear struck him to his core.
“It’s always the staff at fault when something goes missing with you rich folks, isn’t it? I won’t stand here and let you accuse me of a crime I haven’t committed!” he shouted with indignation.
“Cooperating with my investigation would go a long way with proving your innocence!” she finally snapped, voice rising. “My entire livelihood is at stake here!”
“And mine isn’t?” he shot back. “Your baseless accusation could get me fired!”
She scoffed. “Baseless? You were the only one who handled the package after it was delivered!”
The butler glanced over Celeste’s shoulder and the corner of his mouth tugged into a smirk for a split second before he put on a pitiful expression.
“Please, madam, I’m innocent!” he cried out. “Don’t blame me for your poor quality products. I refuse to be your scapegoat!”
I followed his gaze to the street. My stomach dropped when I saw a couple with a French poodle on a leash stopped in front of the house, phones out and in our direction.
He was baiting Celeste for our audience, and it was working.
“I poured my soul into that design. My assistant drove out of town to fetch the highest quality mokume–gane metal so I could create the perfect necklace for Julie. Then my business partner hand delivered the jewelry into your care.” She stepped forward, enraged. “So don’t insult my team by insisting the necklace you gave Julie was the product of our hard work!”
The couple on the street whispered to each other, scandalized.
“Um, boss? We have an audience.” I nodded behind her.
She glanced to the street, then turned back to fix the butler with a mix of abhorrence and wrath. Shaking her head, she elegantly
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Chapter Eighty Two
+25 BONUS
hoisted her handbag over her shoulder.
“Come on, Ryan.” she said, her eyes never leaving James’s face. “Im done wasting my time.
The butler watched her head to the car with a satisfied smirk. A wave of anger hilt me, but I eased my posture into a relaxed stance and stuck a friendly smile over my face,
I wasn’t about to let all of Celeste’s dedication go down the drain.
“I can’t believe the audacity of some people,” I said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You dedicate years to your employer and then your loyalty is questioned the moment something goes missing?”
James studied me for a moment.
“Such is the life of a domestic servant.” He said, sighing. “But at the very least, my mistress has repaid my dedication by believing me blameless.”
I nodded sympathetically, thert furrowed my brows in contemplation.
“But would she still feel the same if she heard about your medical debt?” I asked, in a concerned tone.
He stepped back, face white. “How did you know about that?”
I dug into backgrounds of all of Julie’s staff last night, and Jame’s held the most motive.
“You’ve been working here for, what, eight years? And not a peep about a raise.” I said, shaking my head with sympathy. “I’d be angry too if my boss was buying five figure necklaces while I struggled to make ends meet.”
“I–I never said I was angry.” He stuttered, taking quick, shallow breaths.
“Really?” I said, feigning surprise. “Didn’t you tell Paul you were sick and tired of Julie taking advantage of you over drinks last week?”
A bead of sweat escaped from his hairline as his eyes darted nervously.
Julie’s landscaper was all too happy to spill his colleague’s confidence when I offered to hire him for my father’s next real estate project over the phone this morning.
By James’s reaction, I knew the information was true.
“That’s none of your business!” he snapped, voice a little too high pitched. “I don’t know what people are saying, but none of it’s true. I’m innocent!”
I felt a thrill run through me—I had him.
“James, James, relax,” I waved a hand, tone as casual as ever. “If you keep acting so high–strung, someone’s going to think you have something to hide.”
