Chapter 15 - The Secret Keeper
The following afternoon, the tension of the impending war hung heavily in the executive study, though the rest of the estate remained bathed in serene sunlight.
Mia skipped across the Persian rug, holding a freshly picked autumn leaf she wanted to show her "tall friend." She pushed the heavy oak study door open without knocking—a privilege only she possessed.
Adrienne was standing by the window, adjusting the cuffs of his white shirt, his face etched with the grim seriousness of a general preparing for battle.
When he heard the patter of small shoes, the heavy lines on his face instantly softened. He turned around as Mia approached, holding out a brilliant red maple leaf.
"For your desk," Mia announced proudly. "It matches your tie."
Adrienne looked down at the bright red leaf against his dark silk tie. A faint, genuine smile touched his lips. He crouched down, taking the leaf with meticulous care.
"It's a masterpiece, Mia," Adrienne said, his voice entirely devoid of the cold authority he used with his capos. "Where should we display it?"
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"Right here," she pointed to the top drawer—the same drawer where her chalk-drawn smiley stone rested.
Adrienne opened the drawer, placed the leaf gently beside the stone, and closed it securely. For a man surrounded by weapons, ledgers, and enemies, this small ritual was his true armor.
