Chapter 1372
No.1
After a moment, he nodded. “I understand. From now on, I won’t pry. But if you ever decide you want to tell me… I’ll be here.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t going to ask anymore?
Suddenly, Maxwell burst into the room, his voice bursting with excitement. “Boss Isabella! Big news! Huge breaking news!”
“What’s going on?” Isabella’s brow furrowed. Why were her people so jumpy lately?
Maxwell blurted out, “You won’t believe who Victoria slept with! It was Harrison—Alexander’s personal assistant!”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed. Harrison?
Now that was interesting. She had sent the message to Alexander, but he sent his assistant instead?
And Victoria wanted Nathaniel, but ended up with Harrison?
Maxwell asked, “Should we leak this? Or let Alexander handle it himself?” If this got out, Victoria’s reputation would be ruined.
No.2
“No. We watch. Where’s the fun in ending her too quickly?” A cold smile touched her lips, beautiful and dangerous.
A thought struck her. She glanced toward Nathaniel’s room and stepped back into her own. Closing the door, she asked, “What about the task I gave you earlier?”
“I looked into the Blackthorn Syndicate immediately. They’ve had a strong underground presence in Westchester for over a century. Their profits come from assassinations, mercenary work, and similar operations. They use low-level thugs for collections and fights. Essentially, they’re task-for-hire. My findings confirm Victoria had contact with them five years ago,” Maxwell reported.
Isabella’s expression darkened. Knowing it was the Blackthorns simplified things.
But Maxwell wasn’t finished. “They have roughly ten thousand members in Westchester. Causing them trouble is one thing, but capturing every single member is impossible. Most are rarely at their main base.”
Isabella frowned. Without a full capture, a complete investigation was off the table. They didn’t even know which branch Victoria had dealt with.
Maxwell added, “If you want everyone, Boss, we must strike during their annual gathering. That happens at year’s end.”
The Syndicate’s annual dinner was at the end of the year. It was only June. A plan began to form in her mind.
“Understood. I’ll handle the arrangements. Stand down for now and await my orders.” She ended the call and gazed out the window, deep in thought.
No.3
She had a mission tonight. Since they’d identified the Blackthorns, she might as well pay their base a visit later.
Meanwhile…
Victoria awoke filled with anticipation, only to find Harrison lying beside her.
“Ahhh!” A piercing scream tore from her throat. She bolted upright, clutching the sheets to her chest.
Harrison jolted awake. Taking in the scene, his eyes widened in horror.
What had happened? Alexander had sent him to fetch Victoria. How did he end up in bed with her? She was his boss’s woman!
“Why are you here?!” Victoria snarled, her voice tight with rage. “When did you get here? What did you do?!”
“Ms. Kensington, I’m sorry! I… I don’t know what happened! Mr. Whitmore sent me to get you. I came into the room and then…” He trailed off, too terrified to continue.
Victoria’s fists clenched. Was it the perfume? Had Harrison come in and been affected by its scent? She could have sworn it was Nathaniel!
No.4
The perfume’s label mentioned hallucinations, including mistaking one person for another. Had she been under its influence, thinking he was Nathaniel?
That meant Nathaniel never came. It was Harrison all along. She had slept with an assistant!
Seeing the murderous look in her eyes, Harrison scrambled off the bed and dropped to his knees, begging.
“Strike me or scream at me all you want, Ms. Kensington. I’ll contact Mr. Whitmore immediately. I accept full responsibility.”
Oliver retrieved his phone with trembling hands.
Victoria snatched it and smashed it against the wall. Her eyes burned with fury. “Why tell him? Haven’t you humiliated me enough? Do you want Alexander to discard me?”
“That… wasn’t my intention.” Harrison looked utterly bewildered.
Rage consumed Victoria as she stared at his pathetic expression. She forced herself to breathe deeply. The damage was done. She needed containment. Silence was essential. Her mind raced. “No one hears about today. Act like it never occurred. Understood?”
“But—”
No.5
“But what? If I’m not making it an issue, why are you? Do you aspire to marry me?” She hurled his clothes at him.
Harrison shook his head frantically. “No! I wouldn’t dare. I’m leaving now!” He scrambled to gather his garments.
Victoria’s glare was icy. “If a single word leaks, I’ll charge you with rape. Your family will suffer. Is that clear?”
“Yes! Absolutely, Ms. Kensington. Nothing happened today!” he vowed, trembling.
She dismissed him with a wave. Hatred simmered in her veins as she watched him flee. She, Victoria Kensington, slept with a mere assistant! The disgrace was unbearable.
Thankfully, The Ivy was automated. Robots handled everything. No human staff. She just needed to destroy the hidden camera she’d planted. No evidence would remain.
But why did Nathaniel abandon her?
She checked her phone. Messages from her new assistant, Penelope, flooded the screen.
[Ms. Victoria, emergency! Mr. Blackwood left abruptly! He entered the parking lot but drove off moments later!]
No.6
[I investigated. Isabella Montgomery called him. She demanded he return home immediately.]
[What’s the next step? Should we proceed with the alternate plan?]
[Ms. Victoria?]
Victoria’s fists clenched until her knuckles turned white. Isabella! That witch again!
Was this a deliberate trap? If Isabella discovered what transpired here, Victoria’s life would be over. Panic surged. She quickly messaged her hacker, Maxwell.
[Erase all my footage from The Ivy. Investigate if Isabella has any records related to this incident.]
[Acknowledged.]
Maxwell was a renowned hacker. His skills were impeccable. Some tension eased from her shoulders, but hatred festered. If this was Isabella’s doing, revenge would be swift and brutal.
Later that night, at the Blackwood Estate…
No.7
Oliver tugged on Isabella’s hand. “Mommy, let’s wear matching pajamas tonight! Christopher wants to match with both of you!”
Isabella smiled gently. “Alright, sweetheart. But I didn’t buy any today. I’ll get us some tomorrow, okay?” She ruffled his soft hair.
Oliver grinned mischievously. “No need! I was bored today and bought a set for us! Ta-da!” He produced three identical pajama sets from behind his back like a magician.
Isabella’s smile faltered. A slight frown creased her forehead as she examined the clothing. The pajamas…
Three sets of pajamas lay on the bed. Each featured a simple cartoon illustration right in the center. It was immediately obvious who they depicted.
Two sets were white short-sleeved tees with matching shorts. Hers, the female version, was a V-neck shirt without bottoms. The shirt was so short it barely reached mid-thigh. The cute drawing couldn't distract from that dangerously low neckline.
Sleeping next to Nathaniel while wearing this? Absolutely not.
Isabella immediately rejected the idea. "Sweetie, you and Daddy should wear these. Mommy will wear something else, okay?"
Oliver's face fell. His lower lip trembled. "But why? I picked these specially for us. I designed them myself. Even drew the pictures."