Chapter 2 - The Man Behind the Morning Whiskey
The door to Adrian Voss's private office opened slowly.
Adrian did not move.
He stood behind his desk, one hand resting on the broken crystal glass, the other holding the photograph that had been attached to the investigation report.
He already knew who was inside.
Because there was only one person in the world who entered his office without permission.
"Marcus."
The footsteps stopped.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Marcus Hale stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"You knew it was me."
Adrian placed the photograph back on the desk.
"I know your footsteps."
Marcus smiled.
A small smile.
The same smile Adrian had seen thousands of times.
The smile of a friend.
The smile of someone who had stood beside him through every battle.
"Then you know I would never betray you."
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
Nine months ago, he would have believed those words instantly.
Nine months ago, Marcus was the only person Adrian trusted completely.
But nine months ago, Adrian could still see.
"Why are you here?"
Marcus looked around the office.
Then his eyes moved toward the broken glass.
"You kept it."
Adrian said nothing.
Marcus walked closer.
"You actually believe her."
"Answer my question."
Marcus stopped.
The confidence on his face disappeared for half a second.
Only half a second.
But Adrian noticed.
Even with failing eyesight, he noticed everything now.
Because when a man could no longer trust what he saw, he learned to trust what others tried to hide.
"I came here because I heard Clara accused me."
Adrian stayed silent.
"And I came because I thought you would know better."
The words were carefully chosen.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Almost disappointed.
Adrian hated that.
Because Marcus was good at controlling emotions.
That was why he had survived beside him for fifteen years.
"You know what bothers me, Marcus?"
"What?"
"I don't know if you're lying."
Marcus looked confused.
Adrian continued.
"Because for years, you were the one person who never gave me a reason to doubt you."
The room became quiet.
Marcus looked away.
That movement told Adrian more than any confession.
"Leave the house."
Marcus turned back.
"What?"
"Until I finish investigating, you are no longer involved in my personal affairs."
Marcus stared at him.
"You are pushing away the only person who has protected you."
Adrian's voice remained calm.
"No."
He looked toward the window.
"I am protecting myself from the person who thinks I need protection."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
For the first time, the mask slipped.
Only slightly.
But enough.
He left without another word.
The moment the door closed, Adrian reached for his phone.
"Bring Clara back."
Twenty minutes later, Clara sat across from him in the office.
She looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like someone who had carried a secret for too long.
"Tell me everything."
Clara looked at the broken glass.
"I should have told you earlier."
"Why didn't you?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Because I was afraid you would think I was trying to hurt you."
Adrian said nothing.
"And because the person doing this has been close to you for too long."
"How long?"
Clara hesitated.
"Almost a year."
Adrian's fingers tightened around the edge of his desk.
"Explain."
Clara took a deep breath.
"The first time I noticed something was wrong was when you started forgetting things."
Adrian frowned.
"I thought it was because of stress. You were working too much. You barely slept."
She looked at him.
"But then I noticed something."
"What?"
"Your symptoms always became worse after breakfast."
Adrian froze.
Every morning.
Coffee.
Food.
Whiskey.
The routine never changed.
Clara continued.
"I started watching."
"And?"
"Every morning, your drink was prepared by the same person."
Adrian already knew the answer.
But he asked anyway.
"Who?"
Clara looked at him.
"Marcus."
The name sat between them.
Heavy.
Impossible.
Adrian stood.
"No."
Clara did not argue.
She only looked sad.
"I wanted to believe I was wrong."
Adrian walked toward the window.
"You have no idea what Marcus has done for me."
"I do."
Her voice became softer.
"And that is why this worked."
Adrian stopped.
Clara continued.
"The people closest to us are the ones we never question."
For years, Adrian had built his empire around one rule.
Trust no one.
But Marcus had been the exception.
The one person who broke the rule.
The one person Adrian allowed near him.
That was why the betrayal felt impossible.
"What did you find?"
Clara reached into her bag.
She removed a small envelope.
Adrian looked at it.
"What is that?"
"Something I found in the kitchen."
She placed it on the desk.
"I didn't open it."
Adrian touched the envelope.
Inside was a small amount of white powder.
The same substance that had been found inside his glass.
His breathing changed.
Not fear.
Anger.
"Why didn't you take this to the police?"
Clara looked at him.
"Because this isn't a normal crime."
Adrian looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone powerful is involved."
Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang.
The number was unknown.
He picked up.
"Who is this?"
No response.
Only silence.
Then a voice.
A man's voice.
Low.
Calm.
"You should have let the glass break and forgotten about it."
Adrian's face changed.
"Who are you?"
The voice continued.
"You are looking in the wrong direction, Adrian."
The call ended.
Clara looked terrified.
"Did they say anything?"
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
"Someone knows we are investigating."
That was impossible.
Only three people knew.
Adrian.
Clara.
And Marcus.
Adrian immediately grabbed another phone.
His private security line.
"Lock down the mansion."
Clara looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because whoever is doing this is not trying to escape."
He looked toward the office door.
"They are trying to stay close."
The next hour changed everything.
Every employee in the mansion was questioned.
Every camera was checked.
Every delivery was reviewed.
Adrian sat in silence as his security chief placed documents in front of him.
The first report.
The whiskey bottles were replaced every week.
The second report.
The kitchen staff had no access to the private cabinet.
The third report.
Only two people had keys.
Adrian stared at the page.
"Who?"
The security chief swallowed.
"There is something you need to see."
He placed another file on the desk.
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph from the mansion's security camera.
It showed Marcus entering Adrian's private office three months earlier.
Holding a small bottle.
Adrian's face became cold.
"When was this taken?"
"Three months ago."
"Why didn't I see this before?"
The security chief looked uncomfortable.
"Because the footage was deleted."
Adrian slowly turned.
"Deleted by who?"
The man hesitated.
Then answered.
"The person who had administrator access."
Adrian already knew.
But he needed to hear it.
"Say the name."
The security chief looked down.
"Marcus Hale."
The room went silent.
Clara covered her mouth.
Adrian stared at the photograph.
His oldest friend.
His closest ally.
The man who had poured his drink.
The man who had watched him lose his eyesight.
But before Adrian could speak, the lights inside the mansion suddenly went out.
Darkness filled the office.
Clara gasped.
The security chief reached for his weapon.
Then Adrian heard something.
A quiet sound.
A familiar voice.
Coming from the hallway.
"Adrian."
He froze.
Because that voice was not Marcus.
May you like
It was someone he thought was dead.
And the office door slowly opened.
