"You should head home." I didn't answer his question. "It's late."
Bruno's gaze darkened, but he forced the words out.
"I'll come back tomorrow, then."
He retreated to the foyer. "I brought some of your favorite snacks, by the way."
When I said nothing, he managed one more apologetic smile before turning to leave.
The moment the door closed, I picked up my phone.
"I need you to look into two things," I told my assistant. "First, everything there is to know about Genevieve Fox's background. Second, Bruno Henson's financial activity over the past three months."
My assistant agreed immediately.
I sat in the living room, staring at the written pledge he'd left on the coffee table. The handwriting was neat, every promise laid out in meticulous detail. I didn't even have the desire to read it.
Over the next three days, Bruno didn't come to my apartment again. He simply sent one message every morning and one every evening, each a brief report of his schedule and whereabouts.
I didn't reply to a single one. He didn't push for more.
On the afternoon of the third day, I was reviewing project files in my office when someone knocked.
"Come in."
Bruno pushed open the door and walked in, a document in hand. He held it out to me.
"Agatha, take a look."
"It's a copy of Genevieve's resignation letter. I already approved it."
I glanced at the page. Genevieve's signature sat at the bottom, dated yesterday. The approval line bore Bruno's signature alongside the official stamp from Henson Group's HR department.
"I also docked her entire month's salary as disciplinary action for the scene she caused at the engagement banquet."
He looked at me expectantly. "Does that satisfy you?"
But I said nothing, and the smile on his face stiffened by degrees.
After a long silence, I finally spoke, my voice flat. "Let's leave it at that."
He seemed to exhale with relief, nodding quickly before backing out of the room.
That evening, my assistant delivered the report.
Not long ago, Bruno had purchased a one-bedroom unit in a luxury high-rise downtown and put it in Genevieve's name. On top of that, he'd been making regular transfers to her personal account, enough to cover every expense she could possibly have.
But the detail that truly felt like a slap in the face was a photograph tucked into the file. In it, Genevieve wore a watch on her wrist.
I recognized it instantly. It was the limited-edition timepiece I'd given Bruno for his birthday last year. Fewer than ten existed in the world. I'd pulled strings to have someone bid on it at an overseas auction.
Bruno thought his little performance of obedience would be enough to fool me. He had no idea that every move he'd made had already been laid bare.
Shortly after, the two families arranged a dinner.
"Agatha, dear, Bruno's been nothing but sincere." Eva Henson was well aware of what had happened, yet she smiled warmly as she spoke. "That little hiccup at the engagement banquet is water under the bridge. The joint venture between our families is already underway, and the sooner we lock in the partnership, the better it is for everyone."
My father nodded and turned to Bruno.
"Bruno, going forward, I expect you to be more considerate of Agatha. Nurture this relationship properly, and keep a close eye on the project."
Bruno rose to his feet at once, dipping into a slight bow. His deference was flawless.
"Sir, ma'am, you have my word. I'll take the best care of Agatha, and there won't be a single misstep on the project."
He turned to me. "Agatha, to put your mind at ease, I've had the preliminary approval rights for the joint venture compiled and transferred entirely to your side. I won't interfere at all."
As he spoke, he produced a document from his briefcase and held it out to me with both hands.
"This is the signed confirmation of the transfer. It's all ready."
I didn't reach for it right away.
Instead, I studied Bruno with quiet interest.
