A knock came from the door, though it was already ajar. Heather and Caius both turned toward Adams, who lingered at the entrance. His gaze flickered between them, his posture careful.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Yes." Caius didn’t hesitate.
Heather shot him a sharp look before exhaling. "No, it’s fine. I was arranging my things anyway."
Caius nodded before directing his attention to Adams. "What is it?"
"Master, there’s an important call for you."
"I’ll be right down." Caius responded simply.
Adams inclined his head before stepping back and closing the door behind him.
Heather turned back to her unpacking.
"When is your movie premiere?"
The suddenness of the question caught her off guard. She blinked, processing. "Um... next week."
Caius hummed as he adjusted his suit jacket, preparing to leave. "When you go, some men will follow you."
Heather frowned slightly, pausing mid-fold. She wasn’t used to other bodyguards, she had her own. Especially Marcus, who had been with her since the start of her fame, when he shielded her from aggressive fans at a crowded coffee shop. She had admired his bravery. Given him the job without hesitation.
"I already have someone in mind."
Caius nodded, waiting for her to say who.
"Marcus. He’s already my bodyguard, and I don’t need anyone else." Her tone was final, leaving no room for discussion. She returned her attention to her luggage, not looking up, but she felt his silent acknowledgment before the door clicked shut behind him. Once he was gone, she exhaled and rolled her suitcase toward the walk-in closet.
The space was grand. Expansive, with immaculate shelves, racks, and drawers labeled Master and Mistress. Heather ran her fingertips along the clothing sections before sighing, settling into the long task of organizing.
She took breaks, returning in intervals, making sure everything was positioned exactly how she liked. She could’ve asked the maids to do it, but she preferred things her way—orderly, structured. Not everyone understood her system.
She heard the door open, but Heather didn’t bother looking up, she assumed it was Caius. She continued sorting through a dozen boot heels, climbing the ladder to place them neatly in their designated spots.
Then, one slipped. The heel knocked over a small box of pearls, scattering them across the floor.
Heather cussed, stepping down swiftly. She bent, picking up the nearest pearls before following the trail toward the bedroom. Then, the door suddenly shut. Hurriedly. Heather stilled. Her gaze flickered toward the entrance. That was suspicious. She dropped the pearls and stepped into the room.
She came out of the room, checking the hallway if she’d see someone or anyone. But just a few maids were walking down the hallway. Their pace shifted slightly when they saw her.
Heather narrowed her eyes. "Who just left this room?"
They exchanged glances too quickly.
"We didn’t see anything," one of them blurted out.
Heather immediately knew they were lying. The subtle shifts in posture, the darting eyes. Her tone sharpened.
"There are cameras in all corners of this house, including in the hallway." She crossed her arms. "If I check them and find someone leaving my room, I’ll deal with the three of you mercilessly."
The tension thickened instantly. Another round of exchanged glances, this time, more uneasy. Then, finally, "Master Adonis was the one who left the room."
Heather’s stare hardened. "And why did you lie?"
One of them swallowed. "Because we didn’t want to get involved in anything between the masters."
Heather studied them for a moment. They were shaking. She exhaled sharply before shutting the door without another word. She hated lies. But she also didn’t care enough to push further.
When she looked at the room, it felt different now. Off. She scanned the space carefully, trailing her eyes over the furniture, the bed, the untouched decor. What was Adonis doing here? He mustn’t have realized someone was inside. Which meant, when she accidentally knocked over the pearls, he ran.
But why? Was he looking for something? Evidence? Divorce papers? Yet, the room wasn’t scattered. He wasn’t searching. Then what was he doing? Heather tried piecing it together, playing detective, but her stomach growled, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the clock at the center of the room.
And yet, no one had called for dinner yet. She wasn’t about to wait. She had barely eaten anything for lunch. Her agency had put her on a strict diet plan, one she had been suffering through for days. With no dieting and just resting at the Thorne estate, she had gained a few pounds. The agency had practically choked when they saw her, even though the change was barely noticeable.
Heather sighed, deciding to finish unpacking before heading downstairs.
"Lord Maximus invited Heather and me to his estate for steakhouse." Caius’s voice was flat as he spoke to Adams.
The butler raised a brow. "That’s what the call was about? Steakhouse?"
Caius didn’t answer immediately.
Adams exhaled. "Before you, your father kept far away from Maximus, his tricks, his schemes. I got insight that his empire is collapsing, and he wants to drag people down with him."
"He can’t take my father down. He’s no longer in charge."
"Master..."Adams’s tone edged into warning. "With what your father has done, protecting yourself will be nearly impossible. Even if you don’t go to jail, public humiliation is another matter. The mistress is very popular. If you don’t control this, she’ll be dragged into something she knows nothing about."
Caius pinched the bridge of his nose. "We cannot be associated with Lord Maximus or his household."
Adams nodded in agreement.
"So we invite him here."
Adams stilled. "To your home, Master?"
Adams stared at him now. "You’re playing with fire."
"And I won’t let it burn me."
Heather lifted her head slightly as Caius pulled his suit jacket over his shoulders. The maids had just left the room. He stood in front of the closet mirror, adjusting his tie with careful precision.
"Someone’s coming over for dinner."
Caius exhaled, smoothing the fabric of his sleeve. "An old friend."
Heather narrowed her eyes. "And you’re telling me, why?"
Caius met her gaze through the mirror. "Don’t look your best."