Chapter 5 - Adrian Questions Marcus About Past Security Failures
Adrian stopped breathing, his hand freezing inches above the leather-bound shipping folder on his desk.
He slowly raised his eyes from the paperwork, fixing his piercing slate-gray gaze directly on his trusted lieutenant.
“What did you say, Lily?” Adrian asked quietly, his voice dropping into an icy, dangerous register.
“The bad man who broke our window and yelled at Mommy wore that shiny silver thing,” Lily repeated firmly.
Marcus forced a tight, brittle smile to his lips, though a thin layer of cold sweat beaded across his forehead.
“The child has a vivid imagination, boss; kids invent all sorts of monsters in their little fairy tales,” Marcus laughed nervously.
“It’s not a fairy tale, Marcus,” Adrian said, not breaking eye contact for even a fraction of a second. “That bracelet is custom-made.”
“I bought this at a jeweler in Manhattan last month, Mr. Moretti. Surely you don't doubt my loyalty,” Marcus countered stiffly.
“I haven't doubted your loyalty in eleven years, Marcus,” Adrian replied, wheeling himself slowly closer to the edge of the desk.
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“Which makes it all the more fascinating that a three-year-old child recognizes a piece of jewelry you claim you just bought.”
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