Chapter 13 - The Guest in the Ballroom
The doors opened.
Celeste stood inside.
Camille stared.
“What are you doing?”
Celeste looked embarrassed.
“Apparently ruining a dramatic evening.”
Behind her stood Elias Ward.
And Petar.
And Samuel.
Adrien looked murderous.
Camille looked confused.
Then she saw the restored portrait hanging above the fireplace.
Evelyn Ward and Marianne Arden.
Young.
Laughing.
Standing in front of Ardan House.
Elias had found the original photograph.
They had enlarged and restored it as an opening gift.
Camille covered her mouth.
“You broke into my building for this?”
Petar shrugged.
“Technically Samuel had a key.”
“Samuel no longer has a key.”
Samuel nodded.
“Understood.”
Adrien looked at Tomas.
“You said someone bypassed security.”
“They did.”
“Why didn’t you say who?”
Tomas glanced at Camille.
“She told me surprises matter.”
Camille laughed.
Adrien looked betrayed.
The evening became an accidental celebration.
For the first time, Ardan House held people not because of conspiracy or hidden evidence.
Because they wanted to be there.
Celeste brought champagne.
Elias told stories about Evelyn.
Petar told Camille stories about Marianne she had never heard.
Adrien mostly watched Camille.
Eventually she caught him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That look is never nothing.”
He approached.
“I was thinking your mother was right.”
“Dangerous sentence.”
“You chose this.”
She looked around.
“Yes.”
“And you’re happy.”
“Yes.”
“So am I.”
Her chest tightened.
He did not say because of me.
He said because she was.
That mattered.
Months passed.
Ardan House became successful faster than Camille expected.
Not because Adrien sent clients.
She had forbidden it.
Because Camille was exceptional at what she did.
Her events became known for impossible problems solved before guests realized problems existed.
Adrien attended some.
Not as her employer.
As the man waiting until she finished working.
Their relationship developed without spectacle.
Arguments happened.
Camille hated Adrien’s instinct to fix everything.
Adrien hated Camille’s instinct to carry everything alone.
They learned.
Sometimes badly.
Sometimes beautifully.
Celeste eventually moved to Boston for a nonprofit position.
Before leaving, she hugged Camille.
Then Adrien.
“You two are exhausting.”
Adrien replied, “Safe travels.”
Camille laughed.
Henri remained incarcerated.
Margot awaited trial.
Petar agreed to testify.
The past was finally becoming a legal record instead of a family ghost.
Then one morning Camille arrived at Ardan House and found Adrien in her office.
She stopped.
“You’re trespassing.”
“Your receptionist let me in.”
“I’m firing her.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Probably not.”
He held a folder.
Camille groaned.
“If that is a contract—”
“It is.”
“No.”
“You haven’t read it.”
“I spent six years reading your contracts.”
“This one is different.”
She took it.
The first page read:
KOVAC FOUNDATION — ARDAN HOUSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
Adrien wanted his family foundation to fund events for families affected by organized financial crime.
Victims whose losses were being recovered through Margot’s case.
Camille looked at him.
“You did this without asking me?”
“I drafted a proposal.”
“You didn’t sign it.”
“No.”
“You didn’t announce it.”
“No.”
“You’re asking.”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Who are you and what have you done with Adrien Kovac?”
“He received extensive corrective training.”
“Expensive?”
“Extremely.”
She kissed him.
Later that afternoon, Samuel called.
Margot had requested a meeting before trial.
With Camille.
Alone.
Adrien hated it.
He said so.
But he did not forbid it.
Camille went.
Margot sat behind reinforced glass.
She looked smaller.
Older.
“You won,” Margot said.
“This wasn’t a game.”
“It always is with Kovacs.”
“I’m not a Kovac.”
Margot smiled.
“Not yet.”
Camille’s expression cooled.
“Why did you ask for me?”
Margot slid an envelope against the glass.
“The investigators missed one letter.”
“From whom?”
“Viktor.”
Camille opened it.
One paragraph.
Viktor had written about Adrien.
If my son ever loves you the way I loved your mother, make him earn the right to stand beside you. Kovac men are taught to conquer. Teach him that some things can only be received.
Camille almost laughed.
Margot watched her.
“You think you changed him.”
“No.”
Camille folded the letter.
“He changed himself.”
For the first time, Margot had nothing to say.
Camille stood.
As she reached the door, Margot spoke.
“There’s one thing Adrien hasn’t told you.”
Camille stopped.
Margot smiled.
“He bought something three months ago.”
Camille turned.
“What?”
May you like
Margot leaned toward the glass.
“The apartment next to Ardan House.”
