ADRIAN'S MOOD
"Mistress sure went all out in her shopping today," one of Janis' servants whispered as she pulled bags out of the car trunk.
"Mistress is really an expensive lady," another teased, and they all giggled.
Janis hadn't even meant to buy so much for herself. Everything had been picked out for Davina, but the woman stubbornly refused to take more than five bags—leaving Janis stuck with the rest. She had no idea what she'd do with all the clothes and shoes.
The shopping spree, though fun, had completely wrecked her schedule for the day. She was supposed to visit Hornby Entertainment as Adrian's wife, then check in at Kings Minerals before heading over to Grand Aura to deal with the oil theft problem.
"Who knew shopping could be so wearisome?" Janis muttered inwardly as she went inside her home.
Once in her room, she began her skincare routine—cleansing, serums, and finally her beauty mask. Plotting revenge, after all, required her to look flawless.
Meanwhile, Adrian Pedro was in no mood for facials or peace. Grand Aura—the company responsible for his oil supply—was in crisis, and he had only just discovered it. Missing profits. Fraud. Manipulated invoices. Worse, the scandal didn't only threaten him, but the entire Pedro family.
He forced his emotions aside as he stood at the head of the polished mahogany table in the boardroom. The room was sleek, intimidating—the kind of place where empires were either built or destroyed.
On the screen behind him, reports glowed with damning numbers: missing funds, suspicious transactions, forged documents.
Robert sat to his left, arms crossed, scowl plastered on his face. His very presence was like a storm cloud, and Adrian was not in the mood for thunder.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat this," Adrian's voice cut through the room. "Grand Aura is facing a breach. Someone has been siphoning millions from us. For months."
Silence.
Robert scoffed, leaning back lazily. "Well, well, well. Little brother strikes again. You sure this isn't just one of your usual mistakes? Maybe you were too busy playing CEO of Dynamic Motors to notice the paperwork."
Adrian didn't flinch. His gaze was steel. "I'm aware of my responsibilities, Robert. Grand Aura was put under my charge. And I intend to get to the bottom of this before it cripples our future."
Robert's sneer darkened. He shifted in his seat, trying to command attention. "So, what's the plan? Fire a few scapegoats? Sweep this under the rug? Or are you finally going to do something useful?"
"We start by identifying where the fraud originates," Adrian replied coolly. "We'll audit every account, every transaction. And no one is safe."
The tension was suffocating.
Robert leaned forward, bitterness dripping from his words. "You've been in charge for what—two years? This company has always been mine. Father gave you the title out of pity. You're not the leader they want, Adrian. You're the one who will bring this company down."
He scanned the room dramatically, seeking allies.
"Grand Aura doesn't belong to you, boy. You should stick to Dynamic Motors."
The silence that followed was sharp.
Adrian's eyes narrowed, his voice low and edged like a blade. "This company will survive because of me, Robert."
The room shifted. Executives who had been uncertain were now clearly leaning toward Adrian.
Calm. Commanding. Dangerous.
"We'll investigate every department—finance, logistics, security. No stone left unturned. And as for you—" Adrian's gaze locked on Robert like ice. "If you want to challenge me, do it properly."
Robert's nostrils flared, rage written across his face, but he stayed quiet, sipping his coffee to cover his humiliation.
Adrian turned back to the room. "Thirty million dollars in missing profit. This is theft. And someone signed off on it."
Executives paled. A few shuffled nervously.
As the discussion deepened—fraud, smuggling, collusion—Adrian's focus never wavered. But one man caught his attention: Frederick, Director of Operations. Too quiet. Too evasive.
After the meeting, Adrian instructed his secretary, Williams, "I want the full transaction history of Grand Aura. And make sure this doesn't leak."
Williams nodded. "Boss, should I also gather the names of all port officials?"
"No. Let the others handle that."
But when Williams hesitated, Adrian looked up.
"Boss… did you notice how suspicious Frederick was?"
"I did. Find out everything about him. I want answers by tomorrow."
Williams scribbled quickly. "One more thing… this isn't the first time Grand Aura has faced this problem. The former owners—the Jacksons—were accused of embezzling before your family took over."
Adrian froze. "The Jackson family? The one that… died?"
Williams nodded.
Adrian's mind raced. The Pedros had saved Grand Aura from ruin, but if history was repeating itself… then the rot might not be external. It might be inside his own family.
"I'll need to visit my father… and his wife," Adrian muttered darkly.
---
Later that night, when Adrian returned home, he found Janis sitting at the dining table—knitting.
"You're back," she said, setting aside her wool.
Adrian raised a brow. "Why are you awake?"
"Because I felt like knitting. The weather's cold—I thought I'd make a scarf."
"For me?"
"No." Janis smirked. "For your baby."
Adrian froze. "Baby?"
"Yes. With the way you're always visiting your mistress, I expect her to be pregnant any day now."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I told you. I. Do. Not. Have. A mistress."
"Then why do you come home at one in the morning?"
"Work."
"Isn't it a little early in our marriage for excuses?"
"If you don't believe me, suit yourself." Adrian stormed upstairs, done with her games.
But her voice stopped him mid-step. Sweet. Too sweet. "Are you coming back down?"
"No."
"But I prepared food. No breakfast for you?"
Adrian frowned. Janis never cooked for him, not when he came home late.
"I don't have the strength."
"Fine. I'll bring it to your room," Janis replied and returned to her knitting.
Adrian shook his head. No way she'd follow through.
Yet, an hour later, when a knock came, and he opened his door—there she was. Smiling. With a plate of food.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, masking the way her smile unsettled him.
"I brought your food." She breezed past him, setting the plate on his table and sitting comfortably on his bed.
"What's your motive, Janis?"
"What do you mean?"
"First you wait for me, then you cook for me, and now you're serving me. What are you after?"
"I'm your wife. Isn't it my responsibility?"
The way she said it—my wife—cracked something in Adrian's composure.
"Just eat," she said, "and stop asking stupid questions."
He sat and tasted the meal. Spaghetti with tomato sauce. Strange for the hour, but delicious.
"Well?" she asked.
"Did you poison it?" Adrian muttered.
Janis burst out laughing. "If I wanted to poison you, trust me—it wouldn't be now." She took the fork and ate from the same plate, the same utensil.
Adrian stared, startled. That was practically a kiss.
"I'm a really good cook, aren't I?" Janis said with a grin, tomato sauce painting her lips.
Adrian quickly looked away. "Do you always eat like an animal?"
"How dare you?" she gasped.
"No. How dare you?"
"How dare me what?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"How dare you act sweet… call yourself my wife… and tempt me?" His voice dropped low, dangerous.
"Tempt you?" she whispered.
"Yes. Because right now, all I want is to kiss you." His gaze locked with hers, searing.
Janis panicked, heart hammering. "Um… I should go back to my room—" She bolted before he could stop her.
Adrian smirked faintly. "Run now, Janis. But soon… I'll catch you."