Chapter 4 - The Quiet EscapeRicardo drove to a private penthouse he owned in the downtown financial district—a property listed under an anonymous offshore holding company that neither Elena nor Marcus knew existed.
When they stepped out of the private elevator into the modern glass-and-steel apartment, Marta stood near the entrance, hesitating to step onto the pristine hardwood floor in her socks.
“Sit down, Marta,” Ricardo said gently, motioning toward a large leather couch overlooking the city skyline.
“Don Ricardo, I’m just the maid… I shouldn't be here,” she murmured awkwardly.
“You’re the woman who saved my life tonight,” Ricardo corrected firmly. “Drop the ‘Don.’ Just call me Ricardo.”
He walked into the kitchen, poured two glasses of ice water, and handed one to her. Her hands were still trembling as she took the glass.
“Tell me everything you know,” Ricardo said, sitting across from her. “How long has this been going on?”
Marta took a small sip of water, collecting her thoughts. “About six months ago, Marcus started showing up during the day while you were at the office in New York. At first, they said it was about company business. But then I noticed the security cameras in the west wing were being turned off every Tuesday.”
“And the tea?” Ricardo asked, his tone darkening.
“Three weeks ago, Mrs. Santoro ordered a special imported herbal blend from an unverified online pharmacy,” Marta explained softly. “She told the kitchen staff never to prepare your evening tea—that she wanted to make it herself as a ‘personal gesture.’ Yesterday, while vacuuming her dressing room, I accidentally knocked over her designer bag. A tiny glass vial rolled out. The label was in another language, but it had a red hazard skull on it.”
May you like
Ricardo clasped his hands together, his mind working rapidly. Elena had been poisoning him for three weeks. That explained the sudden fatigue, the dizzy spells, and the slight numbness in his fingers he had dismissed as overwork.
“They think they have three days before I return,” Ricardo said, a ruthless smile touching his lips. “They think they own the board, the accounts, and my destiny. We are going to let them believe it right up until the moment the trap springs.”
Related Stories
