Chapter 9 - The Interrogation
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Twenty-two staff members stood in a perfectly straight line across the massive marble foyer. Maids, chefs, drivers, and security guards. No one dared to breathe loudly.
Fallon Caruso paced slowly in front of them, his expensive leather shoes clicking rhythmically against the stone. Valentina stood behind him, crossing her arms and glaring daggers at everyone, but specifically at Sloan.
“Someone in this house,” Fallon began, his voice calm and smooth like dark velvet, “took out their phone, recorded a private moment, and broadcast it to my enemies. Someone here betrayed my family.”
He stopped pacing and turned to face the line.
“I am a very reasonable man,” Fallon lied smoothly. “If the person who recorded this steps forward right now, you will simply be fired. You can walk out the front door. But if I have to find out myself… you will not walk out of this house.”
Absolute silence hung in the heavy air.
Sloan stared straight ahead, trying to keep her breathing shallow. She knew Leo was standing at the end of the line, playing the part of the confused, innocent handyman perfectly.
Fallon began walking down the line, stopping in front of each person, staring deep into their eyes, searching for a twitch, a drop of sweat, a guilty conscience.
When he finally stopped in front of Sloan, he stood dangerously close. She could smell peppermint and expensive tobacco.
“Sloan,” Fallon said softly. “You are the star of this little movie. Did you set this up? Did you have someone film you to get revenge on my daughter?”
“No, Mr. Caruso,” Sloan said, her voice trembling just enough to be convincing. “I was completely humiliated. I didn't want anyone to ever see that. Why would I post it?”
Fallon stared at her for a long, agonizing minute. He tilted his head, studying her face.
“I believe you,” he said finally.
May you like
He turned away from her and looked at the rest of the staff. “I will find out who did this. And I will make an example of them. Go back to work.”
As the line dispersed, Fallon’s head of security approached him, whispering urgently into his ear. Fallon’s face darkened, and he stormed off toward his study. The real storm was just beginning.
