Chapter 63

Chapter 63
Adrian was surprised to see that it was a signature — small, almost hidden, at the bottom corner of one of the clearance pages. His clearance officer always used a specific mark when approving shipments: a stylized loop that curved into the tail of his last initial. Adrian had seen it a hundred times before. It was neat, precise, and impossible to replicate exactly.

But this one… this one was wrong.

At first glance, it looked the same. But when Adrian leaned closer, the differences became obvious — a slight break in the loop, the ink too dark, the slant slightly off. It wasn’t a careless mistake. It was a forgery.

He didn’t want to believe Lucia had been telling the truth about Rico. He didn’t even want to think about it. But as he kept flipping through the pages, the more his stomach twisted. Some pages had the right mark. Others didn’t.

Rico’s shipment papers. Rico’s signatures. Rico’s man overseeing the clearance.

Adrian exhaled slowly through his nose, trying to keep calm. His fingers tightened around the edge of the file until the paper crumpled slightly.

He picked up his phone and called Matteo.

“Boss,” Matteo answered immediately, his voice low and cautious.

“Matteo,” Adrian said with an even tone but sharp. “Lock down the shipping dock. No one goes in or out until I say so.”

“Not even Rico?”

Adrian’s eyes hardened. “Especially not Rico.”

There was a pause. Matteo hesitated — something he rarely did — but he obeyed. “Understood, boss. I’ll take care of it.”

Adrian ended the call and leaned back in his chair. He stared at the folder again. Lucia’s words replayed in his head — her trembling voice, her eyes filled with fear when she told him Rico was lying.

He’d wanted to dismiss it, to believe she was just confused, that she didn’t understand how his business worked. But now…

His jaw clenched.

Could Rico really be trying to outsmart him?

Adrian ran a hand over his face, tired but alert. His instincts screamed that something was wrong, but a part of him still resisted. Rico was family. Or at least, he had been.

He closed the folder carefully, placed it back on the desk, and sat in silence for a long moment, listening to the faint ticking of the clock. The house was quiet now .

\---

The next morning, Adrian arrived at the office earlier than usual. The sky outside was still pale, and the air smelled faintly of rain. He walked through the marble lobby, greeting no one nor replied to anyone's greeting.

By the time Rico walked into his office later that morning, Adrian was already seated behind his desk, a cup of black coffee in front of him and a cold calmness in his eyes.

“Boss,” Rico said with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “You wanted to see me?”

Adrian nodded slowly. “Sit.”

Rico sat down, trying to read Adrian’s face, but as usual, there was nothing there to read. Adrian’s gaze was steady, his tone casual 

“I need you to send the clearance officer into my office today,” Adrian said. “I want to speak to him personally.”

Rico froze for half a second before quickly recovering. “The clearance officer?” he repeated, forcing a laugh. “Why? I mean— you know he’s always busy with the dock inspections, and I already brought the files myself. We can just—”

Adrian’s eyes didn’t move. “I said I want to speak to him.”

Rico shifted in his chair. “Sure, I just mean, maybe it’s not necessary—”

“Not busy for me,” Adrian interrupted quietly, setting down his cup. “Is there a problem, Rico? Do you have an issue with me talking to my own clearance officer?”

Rico laughed again, the sound tight. “No, no, of course not. I just thought—”

Adrian tilted his head slightly. “Thought what?”

Rico met his gaze, but it only lasted a second before he looked away. “Nothing, boss. I’ll send him over.”

“Good,” Adrian said. His tone was calm, but the message was clear — don’t argue.

Rico stood, straightening his jacket. “I’ll let him know right away.”

“Do that.”

Rico nodded once, forced a smile, and left the office.

As soon as the door closed, Adrian leaned back in his chair. He tapped his fingers slowly against the desk, his thoughts moving fast. Rico’s reaction told him everything he needed to know. The hesitation. The stammer. The deflection.

He knew something.

And he was trying to hide it.

Adrian turned toward the window, watching the city stretch below — the world he had built from nothing. Betrayal had no place in it. Not again.

\---

Hours later, the day rolled into meetings. Adrian sat with a group of top clients — investors, diplomats, men who wore suits worth more than some people’s homes. They discussed expansion, logistics, profits. On the surface, Adrian looked calm, composed, and untouchable.

But beneath the table, his phone vibrated once. Then again. Then again.

He ignored it the first two times. Matteo knew better than to call during business hours, especially when Adrian was in a high-profile meeting.

But when it rang the third time, persistent, Adrian’s attention broke. He glanced at the caller ID — Matteo.

Something twisted in his gut.

“Excuse me,” Adrian said, cutting off one of the clients mid-sentence. He stood up, buttoning his jacket as he stepped out of the glass conference room.

He answered on the second ring. “This better be important.”

On the other end, Matteo’s voice was shaky — something Adrian had never heard before. “Boss…”

Adrian’s tone dropped. “What happened?”

“Check the news.”

Adrian frowned. “What news?”

“Just… just check it, boss.”

Adrian didn’t like the sound of his voice. “Matteo, talk to me.”