Chapter 466
Darlene shed a gentle smile, "I haven''t heard about that."
But inside, she was panicking.
The achievements she had worked hard for over the years were being questioned by Lucinda as if they were mere tall tales!
It seemed if she couldn''t impress Keith, all her efforts could turn to dust.
Keith had the power to ruin everything for her.
"You''re such a sweet and beautiful girl. and Ms. Bishop has always kept an eye out for you. It''s normal that you haven''t heard about it. I always
thought that to run a detective agency. you need to have clout in the shades of gray. Plus, the detectives there have to know a thing or two about self-
defense, or they''d be in trouble easily.”
"I heard the real boss of Cipher Detectives is a young, stunning woman."
Darlene hummed in curiosity, "Lucy, who told you that? A woman in that line of work? Sounds risky."
"I just heard it through the grapevine.”
Darlene hummed again, letting the conversation drop.
She had a hunch that Lucinda was probing her, possibly suspecting her.
Considering how Keith had portrayed her in his sketches - lifelike and vibrant - and now that she and Lucinda were friends who often met up, it
wouldn''t be surprising if Lucinda found her familiar.
"What are you two chatting about so intently?”
Cecilia, having finished a call with Owen, seemed to be in much better spirits as she joined their conversation
"Just small talk. Are you two done chatting? Mr. Malicious is on a business trip, right?”
As Cecilia sat down, she replied, "Yes, he had to rush off to deal with some emergency at the branch office. He didn’t get the chance to tell me before
leaving.”
"He''ll be back in a couple of days. He''s still Keen on being the best man for Liam. Told me to check in with Tiffany about it and to make sure she talks
to your brother."
Knowing Owen was away on business for thepany and not for personal reasons made Cecilia feel at ease.
Owen''s sudden trip made her realize her feelings for him were deeper than she thought.
Owen was a man of deep affections.
And wasn''t she the same?
That''s why she didn''t fall in love lightly.
She feared heartbreak, the kind that’s hard to bounce back from.
"Have you talked to Tiffany yet?"
Lucinda grinned, “Owen''s really going all out to match up with you. He knew you were going to be Tiffany’s maid of honor, so he already volunteered
to be Liam''s best man. I heard it from Stefan."
"I just texted Tiffany, and she agreed right away.”
Ceciliaughed, "It''s his determination that won me over.”
"Tasting the bitterness of pining away, are we?" Lucinda teased.
Darlene couldn''t help but smile.
"I miss him, and that''s that! When he gets back, I''m nning a date - a movie, candlelit dinner, the works."
Lucinda burst intoughter, "Are you thinking of giving yourself to him?"
At that, Cecilia gave her a yful pinch on the arm.
Darlene joined in, "Cecilia, Lucy''s suggestion isn''t bad. After Tiffany''s wedding toast, I''m looking forward to your engagement party. Don''t forget to ask
me to be your maid of honor.”
I''m just worried you''ll steal the show. You''re so beautiful. like a goddess among mortals. You''ll outshine me."
Cecilia was just teasing, of course.
"When I get married, you''ll definitely be my maid of honor. After all, Mr. Malicious only has eyes for me. He''s not shallow. As for you dazzling other
men? What''s that to me?"
Darlene justughed.
After chatting for a while longer, customers starteding in, and Lucinda and Cecilia got up to greet them. Darlene stayed seated. sipping her
coffee and lost in thought.
Time flew by during her leisurely afternoon.
Soon, evening approached.
The setting sun painted the sky fiery shades.
Stefan arrived to pick up Lucinda, and Darlene said her goodbyes
That night, after sex, Lucinda nestled in Stefan''s arms and brought up Darlene.
"Honey, I''m sure Darlene is that mysteriousdy who''s been helping my brother. But she''s got an incredible poker face. I tantly questioned the
reputation of her detective agency, and she didn''t even flinch.”
"If she didn''t give anything away, how can you be so sure she’s the mystery woman?”
Stefan wasn''t particrly concerned about whether Darlene was the enigmaticdy or not.
His mind was on the opening of the new branch in Skywatch, on helping his father-inw and brother-inw get through the transition of power safely.
But since his wife was so interested, and keen on setting Darlene up with Keith, he decided to be the best audience he could.
"I''ve got sharp eyes. Maybe it''s because I''ve been suspecting her. Her reactions seem normal but not quite, which makes me even more suspicious.
Anyway, my brother''s got his eye on her. I''m sure he''ll catch her out eventually.”
"Oh, and my big brother''s bringing Ms. Bishop home this Friday to meet our parents. I want to go too.”
"When is it?” Stefan inquired.
"Friday. After they meet the parents, my brother''s nning to bring them to Liam’s wedding. But his car has only so many seats: he can''t ferry
everyone. We should go together, so we can bring my parents over.”
In truth, the people protecting Janice had cars and could bring her into the city anytime.
Lucinda just missed home. She had grown up in Wye, and it would always be home to her.
Stefan hummed in agreement, "Alright, we''ll go back on Friday. Let''s head out early and pick up your parents in the afternoon. Saturday''s Liam and
Tiffany''s wedding, and we''ll all be busy.”
Stefan wasn''tkeen on ying best
man, but he gnd his friends would
escort Liamto he Paisley estate for
the wedding, ensuring Tiffany felts
honoreékand signaling to the
Paisléys that the Anderson family
held her i in high regard. Entrasting
Tiffany to Liam was a coramitment
they took seriously.
"Tiffany''s expecting, so a honeymoon''s off the table, but Liam''s nning to whisk her away to our family''s private ind for a little R&R. Once they''re
off, I''ll be free to take you back to Skywatch."
These next few days would be a whirlwind for him. He''d have to work overtime to get ahead on pressing matters, so he could leave for Skywatch with
his wife on Friday.
The stay at Skywatch would be
lengthy, and Ke needed to ensure
everything at the corporation wasN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.
squared away. His brothers, aware
of his ns to return to Skywatch
with:fis beloved, were jittery. at the
thought of being tasked with leading
thé charge in his absenceé
While others wed and schemed for power and fortune, his siblings were itching to break away and conquer the world on their own terms. And
conquer they did, each with their own empire, even the youngest, who was making bank while still reaming college halls.
"Though you''reing with me to Skywatch to expand our horizons, who''s going to handle things here? If you''re jetting back and forth, you''ll wear
yourself out, and that would break my heart.”
"How about this: you apany me
there, then fly-back to your normal
routine. Don''t fret over me, I''m not
that defénseless littlemb x
anymeté. Besides, I''ve got Dad and
my brsther there. If they can keep
mesafe, they wouldn''t dream of
léfting me return to Skywatch."