Chapter 75


    Secret mission


    Aren and I left the Wintons’ mansion soon after I had promised to meet with Augustus after the weekend.


    “You did an excellent job, my beautiful wife,” hemented as we were going back to the penthouse.


    “You knew that your grandfather would approach me, didn’t you? Was that why you suddenly chose to


    leave me alone in that hall?” I narrowed my eyes at him. He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Of


    course. I knew that my grandfather would naturally assume that you are na?ve. That was why he waited


    for the moment I wasn’t around you. He was afraid that if I was listening to your conversation, I would


    make the choices for you, and I would make you refuse his offer.”


    “Now, he thinks that I am willing to listen to him and use the diamond as an investment. What do we do


    next?” I asked.


    Aren sighed. “We would have to use the fact that you’re going to meet my grandfather in his office, but


    the n that I’m thinking of is a risky one…” “What do you mean?” I asked, my heart speeding as I saw


    his ufortable grimace. “You would have to search for it,” he said. I blinked my eyes at him. “But how


    can I search for a sh drive with your grandfather around?


    He smirked. “You’re quite a good actress. Use the fact that he thinks you are dumb, and I’m sure that you


    will figure out a way to stay alone in his office for a minute or two.” I smiled nervously. “What if I can’t do


    it?” Aren shrugged. “Then we will find another way.”


    I nodded, trying to hide the fact of how restless I’d just be. Aren had hoped to get this sh drive for


    a long time. He had lost his chance to look for it trying to save me. I wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t


    lose this chance to find it..


    “Um… Aren?” I muttered, hesitantly. “Can I engage n and Norton in this sh drive operation?”N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    Heughed. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”


    I took a deep breath. “I think this will require a few gadgets, kind of spy gadgets that is…”


    ***


    My meeting with Augustus was supposed to happen on Tuesday at noon. Our time to n


    everything was quite limited. A few hours before the meeting, my husband, n, Norton, and even Neil,


    all assured me that it was going to work. I wished I had their confidence, but despite a courageous smirk


    on my lips, I was shaking inside. Nheless, I put a spy-like earpiece into my ear and my enhanced by


    a few super-apps phone into my purse, and prayed that I wouldn’t mess everything up.


    Aren grabbed me by the shoulders and pressed his forehead to mine. “Remember, we will be


    right outside the gate of the mansion. We will hear you and know what’s going on. If something goes


    wrong, I will get there in less than a minute.”


    “I know.” I smiled at him.


    He ced a quick kiss on my lips. “Good girl.”


    I wanted to calm down, but I felt the pressure only increase. Aren counted on me, although I couldn’t say


    that he wasfortable with the fact that I was the one going on the mission, not him. Yet, it was only


    logical to assume that Augustus was more likely to lower his guard in


    front of me than in front of Aren. Our current leverage was based on the fact that, in the eyes of Aren’s


    grandfather, I wasn’t a threat at all; I was nothing but a mere, foolish woman. Well, for a while, I needed


    to be one.


    Benjamin stopped the car in front of the main entrance. I took a deep breath and turned on the magic


    earpiece; the show was about to start. As soon as I got out of the car, I was greeted by Lucious, who


    apparently was sent by Augustus to lead me into his office.


    Seeing his ufortable act in front of me, I couldn’t help but tease him a bit. “Hello, Lucious. How is


    your day? Is your mistress doing OK?”


    “My day is like any other day, and if you want to ask about Mrs. Winton, you’d better ask her yourself,” he


    replied coldly before gesturing at the door at the end of the corridor. “Master Winton’s office is thest


    door on the right.”


    I smirked. “Oh, Lucious. I’m seriously waiting for the day you take that stick out of your ass and act like a


    human.” I patted his arm as I passed him by. “Have a good day, Lucious.”


    He didn’t reply. I guess he was offended by mynguage, but I didn’t fail to amuse my husband and


    others who listened to every word I said. Theirughter spread through the earpiece loud enough to ring


    in my head. “Guys, mind my eardrums, please,” I murmured as I headed to the office. “Sorry, sunshine.” I


    heard Aren’s voice through the earpiece. “We just all admired your sharp tongue.”


    I chuckled and shook my head. “Just don’t do that when I’m in Augustus’s office. I need to focus now.”


    I walked to the end of the corridor and knocked on the door. A few secondster, Augustus opened the


    door and invited me in with a grin glued to his face. As I entered his office, I saw long rows of


    bookshelves on every wall and a grand wooden desk standing near the floor-to ceiling window. I felt an


    iing headache just by looking at the number of possible ces where the sh drive could have


    been hidden.


    “How lovely to see you, Cora,” he said, pulling out a chair in front of his desk for me.


    When I sat down, he rushed to get back behind his carved, mahogany desk. I kept looking


    around, calcting and trying to find the most probable spot that the former bodyguard could have


    chosen in a hurry. Where could it be? It must have been one hell of a good ce since that sh drive


    was yet to be found after years… and now I had to find it in minutes!


    “Do you like books?” Augustus asked, smirking.


    “Pardon?”


    He pointed at the bookshelves. “You were looking at my library. I figured you enjoy reading.”


    Iughed nervously. “Yes, I love books actually… You have an impressive collection.” “I gathered most of


    those books here myself,” he stated proudly. “Reading keeps your brain sharp.” Myughter became


    more awkward. “I cannot argue with that.” He cleared his throat and leaned forward on his desk, his


    hands together and his fingers intertwined. “So, Cora. Have you thought about selling the diamond?”


    “Not yet,” I replied cautiously.


    “I bet that it is a pretty gem, but it is worth money, the money you could invest,” he coaxed.


    I nodded, trying to convince him that I pondered his words. His lips curled up in a smile, yet his eyes


    remained cold and his gaze sharp. “I could help you sell the diamond at the auction. It could be worth


    thirty or forty million dors,” he said, meaningfully nodding at his own words.


    I mirrored his gesture yet corrected him, “It could be worth more than fifty million, I heard.”


    “Excellent! I see that you have already checked!” He burst outughing and then pointed at me. “You will


    be a big yer in the city… and a great one with my help.”


    I knew what he was doing. He was trying to act as if he thought highly of me and then convince me that


    he should be my mentor in business. How dumb had he truly thought I was?! Well, he brought it on


    himself. It was time for me to turn on my skills.


    I lowered my head and put on a timid smile. “I have to admit that I know little about business, and Aren is


    very possessive… He would never allow me to make a decision concerning big money,” I said, stifling a


    chuckle as I heard my husband clearing his throat through the


    earpiece.


    Augustus hit the desk with his t hand, pretending to be mad at Aren for me. “Oh, you are allowed to


    make your own decisions, Cora!”


    “Really?” I blinked my eyes, realizing that I had never sounded more stupid than at that moment in my


    entire life.


    “Of course, my child!” Augustus chuckled and pulled out some documents from his desk drawer. “In fact,


    I have a perfect proposal for you. I am about to build a hotel that will bring a fortune within a year. I would


    dly wee you as my investor.”


    “Sounds interesting.” I smiled, reaching my hand out for the documents. Augustus stretched his hand,


    holding a folder of documents, but then withdrew his hand. “But if I give it to you, then you will take it


    home and show it to your husband. I know my Grandson. I know he is stubborn, and he won’t let you


    sign a deal with me.”


    I sealed my lips and looked up, pretending to think about it before I shifted my eyes to him again. “How


    about I read this document now, and sign the deal if I find it interesting? I can offer you everything I get


    from selling my diamond at the auction,” I imed confidently.


    The old man’s eyes widened as if he had already counted the imaginary dors. “That’s a bold decision,


    my child. You start to sound like a real businessman… or a businesswoman.”


    He handed over the document and watched me closely as I read the front page. I knew that this


    was it; I had to figure out something to make him leave the office…


    “Um…” I chuckled nervously. “I don’t want to sound impolite, but it’s hard to concentrate like this.”


    Augustus grinned and stood up. “Would you rather sit here?” He offered his chair.


    “No… I was thinking that maybe I could stay in here for a few minutes so I could read the document…


    alone?” I held my breath as I said it. Was it too much?


    I smiled innocently, trying to read through the faint frown that painted his wrinkled forehead. Those few


    seconds of silence felt like forever.


    He huffed with a hint of annoyance, but then replied, “Fine. I will give you a few minutes. You are


    wee to use my desk. We will discuss the details and numbers when I get back.” “Thank you.” The


    relief in my voice was my first sincere reaction from the moment I stepped into his office.


    I could feel my heart pounding faster and faster with every step that Augustus took on his way to the


    door. My eyes followed his every move while I tried to keep my courteous smile.


    “I’ll be back in five minutes,” he dered.


    I acknowledged with a nod, watching him grab the door handle. Finally, he left, closing the door behind


    him.


    “Great job, sunshine.” Aren’s voice sounded through the earpiece. “Now let’s find that sh drive.”