Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Guest
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At eight o'clock the following morning, I walked into the lobby of my nonprofit’s historic brick building, holding a fresh cup of black coffee.
Standing beside the reception desk, looking disheveled and frantic in yesterday's suit, was Adrian.
The receptionist looked visibly uncomfortable, her hand hovering near the silent security alarm under her desk.
“Evelyn!” Adrian blurted out the second he saw me, rushing across the polished wooden floor. “Thank God. Your assistant wouldn't let me upstairs.”
I stopped ten feet away from him, keeping my arms crossed calmly over my chest. Two of my building’s uniformed security officers stepped silently out of the side hallway, positioning themselves behind him.
“You shouldn't be here, Adrian,” I said smoothly.
“Evelyn, listen to me,” he pleaded, lowering his voice into the soft, convincing tone he used on corporate board members. “Rosa is lying to you. She’s trying to shakedown my company for money. She took advantage of my kindness, and when I refused to pay her exorbitant demands, she concocted this entire story!”
I looked at him, feeling a sudden wave of pity for how pathetic his lies sounded when exposed to the cold light of day.
“Really?” I asked softly. “And did she also concoct the draft police report saved on your personal drive framing her for forty thousand dollars in stolen jewelry?”
Adrian froze mid-breath. The color drained from his face so fast he looked like a ghost.
“How... how did you...” he stammered, his confident posture collapsing instantly.
“I know about Maria, Adrian,” I continued, taking a step toward him. “I know about Elena. I know about the non-disclosure agreements, the hidden settlements, and the fact that you planned to use my reputation to slide past your ethics review for the merger.”
Adrian swallowed hard, his eyes darting frantically toward the security guards.
“Evelyn, please,” he whispered desperately. “If this gets out, the board will cancel the deal. I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for.”
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“You didn't build anything, Adrian,” I replied coldly. “You stole it from the women you intimidated.”
I turned to the head security guard. “Escort Mr. Sterling off the property. If he sets foot on this block again, file a formal trespass warrant immediately.”
