Chapter 3 - Midnight in the LibraryThe mahogany-paneled library of Sterling House smelled of aged paper, leather bindings, and expensive scotch.
It was 1:15 AM. The rest of the sprawling mansion was wrapped in deep, suffocating silence, save for the soft crackle of embers dying in the massive stone fireplace.
Adrian Sterling rubbed his temples, staring blankly at the glowing monitor of his laptop. His eyes were bloodshot from a brutal fourteen-hour day dealing with shareholder rebellions and hotel acquisitions.
A soft knock echoed at the heavy door. Before Adrian could answer, it clicked open.
Maya stepped inside, holding a small silver tray with a steaming mug of black coffee and a plate of shortbread biscuits.
Adrian looked up, a tired, genuine smile breaking across his tense face. “Maya. You’re still awake?”
“You missed dinner, Mr. Sterling,” Maya said quietly, setting the tray down on his desk without making a sound. “And based on your ledger reports from the Boston branch, I figured you’d be up until sunrise fighting the procurement deficit.”
Adrian froze, a cup of coffee halfway to his mouth. He set it down slowly, staring at her. “How do you know about the Boston procurement deficit? That’s restricted executive data.”
Maya stood straight, her hands folded neatly in front of her crisp white apron. “I know a lot of things, Mr. Sterling. Including the fact that your cousin Blake has been systematically overpaying our linen and catering vendors by thirty percent through shell companies registered in Delaware.”
May you like
The room dropped into absolute, chilling silence.
Adrian stood up from his leather chair, towering over her. His slate-gray eyes flashed with a dangerous intensity. “Explain.”
