Chapter 0154


    Karl


    Abby’s face is a picture ofplete and utter betrayal as she looks at me from across the metallic


    countertop.


    “Why are you really here, Karl?” she hisses, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “What else could you


    possibly want from me?”


    For a moment, I almost consider telling her that there’s nothing else, that I just wanted to apologize. But


    then there’s my wolf in the back of my mind, always the more logical one, pushing me to be truthful.


    She deserves to know the truth, the whole truth behind what happened. Not just what happened over


    the past week, but what happened three years ago.


    “Alright,” I murmur, nodding. “Let me tell you…”


    …


    A week ago, Gerald stood in front of my desk, his face like stone. “If you’re nning to fire Gianna,


    then I’m afraid you''ll be losing more than just a secretary,” he states tly, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll


    have no option but to resign as well.”


    I sighed, passing a hand over my weary face. “Gerald, I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss this with you,” I


    said. “My reasons for the decisions I make are mine and mine alone.”


    Gerald stood rigidly, a wax figure in his impable butler attire, his eyes refusing to meet mine.


    “Very well then,” he said. “But my point stands: if you fire Gianna, then I must resign as well.”


    His words still confused me. “Why, Gerald? You''ve seen peoplee and go in this house for years,


    and you’ve never even batted an eye. What’s so special about my secretary?”


    Gerald paused. “We’re… friends, sir. I can’t in good conscience remain here if she’s fired unjustly.:


    His voice, usually controlled and even, wavered ever so slightly. I scrutinized him closely, the age lines


    on his face more pronounced than ever.


    “But Gerald,” I repeated, “you’ve seen dozens of employees be let go or quit over the years. This isn’t


    like you. Are you romantically involved with her?”


    The words were out before I could weigh them, hanging grotesquely in the air. He was far too old for


    Gianna. Gerald’s face went ashen, his eyes wide.


    “Gods, no, sir. That’s not it at all.”


    My eyes narrowed. “Then what is it, Gerald? I’ve known you for decades. You’re not a man prone to


    rash decisions or sudden attachments.”


    Gerald sighed, the weight of the world seemingly on his shoulders. “Very well, sir. Gianna is my


    daughter. My illegitimate daughter.”


    I shut my eyes wearily for a moment. “Why now, Gerald? Why did you never mention this before?”


    “I only discovered that she was my daughter five years ago, sir. By that time, she was already working


    for you. I didn’t want to cause a disruption, so we kept it a secret.”


    My mind raced, stumbling through a maze of confessions and betrayals. I thought about the longevity


    of Gerald’s service, his steadfast loyalty, and juxtaposed it against the deplorable conduct of Gianna.


    “I appreciate youing clean, Gerald. But you must understand that this is a lot to process.”


    “Of course, sir. I didn’t expect you to make a decision right away.”


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    “Give me some time to think about this.”


    “Absolutely.”


    With that, Gerald exited the room, leaving me alone with the weight of his confession. My secretary,


    Gianna, was the illegitimate daughter of my butler?


    As I sat there, my mind wandered back to the night before, when Gerald found Abby “stealing” from my


    didn’t leave myputer turned on, especially not with my emails sitting out on disy.


    Was it possible…?


    …


    A couple of days had passed since Gerald’s earth-shattering revtion, but I had had several of my


    own revtions, and I was prepared to drop them like bombs.