79

79

Lucien didn’t move, his brain working rapidly as he listened to Justin. “I… might have.”

Justin gasped.

“What?” Lucien questioned. “What did you hear?”

“Have you had any security breaches?”

“Justin, just spit it out. And, first of all, are you still looking into Elliot Cross? I told you to stop. I’m not interested in any form of revenge.”

“I’m not watching him to help you with revenge; I’m keeping an eye on him for my own benefit. The man is a snake, and I’m fully aware that he wanted to acquire Gold Holdings. I’m the reason he failed. I know he won’t let that go.”

Sighing, Lucien rubbed his eyes. “What did you find out?”

“He recruited one of his estranged children.”

Lucien paused. “What?”

“That’s what I heard. He’s infiltrated your office, Lucien. I don’t know anything about her. No name, age, or description, but all I found out is that Elliot Cross has his daughter working for you.”

The words were like a splash of cold water, leaving Lucien in tense silence. “Don’t fucking lie.”

“I’m telling you the truth. I intended to discuss this with you in person when I found out that the bastards who tried to get your shares were working for Cross, but then I found out about his daughter. I had to call you immediately.”

Lucien swore, closing his eyes. “I… I need to look into this. I’ll verify it.”

“Don’t do anything rash. Let’s watch him and see how far he takes it. Just don’t give her any access to confidential information.”

He sighed, nodding. “Fine.”

Ending the call, Lucien leaned back, restlessly gripping the arms of his chair.

In a moment, he snatched up the telephone and slung it across the room. It crashed into the wall, shattering.

Pulsing with rage, he panted, staring at the broken pieces. It couldn’t be true. How? How could Lucien not know?

The door opened, and Judith came rushing in. “Mr Sinclair! Are you okay?”

She saw the broken telephone and gasped. “Oh, no.”

Clenching his jaw, he watched her quickly pick up the pieces scattered around his office.

Politely bringing them back to him, she placed them gently on his table. “Are you okay, Sir?”

Eyes red with rage, Lucien glared darkly at her. “Thanks, Judith.”

She nodded. “You’re welcome, Sir. If you’re angry about Ms. McCarthy, you don’t have to be.” She had the audacity to smile. “I’m okay. It’s not going to be easy working without her guidance, but I’ll do my best to be a secretary you can trust.”

His gaze, lethal in its intensity, scorched her face. God, there was just nothing… absolutely nothing that Lucien hated more than liars.

A cruel scowl curved one end of his mouth as he contemplated her destruction. “Very good. Take the day off, will you?”

She blinked. “Really? What about the—”

“I have an emergency at home. Be here early tomorrow.”

She nodded, her smile wobbling under his stare. “Yes, Sir…”

She slowly walked away, and he watched until she closed the door behind her.

If Lucien found what Justin said to be true, he would probably just lose his shit. He picked up his cell phone and dialled a number. Arlo answered on the first ring.

“Mr Sinclair.”

“Arlo,” Lucien rasped furiously. “I have a girl called Judith Kliff working for me. Wild hair, thick glasses, acts like she’s afraid of a blowing breeze. Find out everything, tail her after work, and give me a full report tomorrow.”

Arlo didn’t hesitate. “You’ve got it, boss.”

Lucien hung up. Then he stood and grabbed his jacket and keys, heading for the door.

He needed to find Kendall.

He couldn’t think of anywhere to look, so he went straight home. Sabrina wasn’t picking up her damn phone. Neither was Kendall, but that was to be expected.

Bloody hell, had he been taken for a fool? Surely, he hadn’t misunderstood everything that happened between Judith and Kendall?

Lucien needed her back because he couldn’t entrust the secretarial post to a goddamn spy, but what if Judith was more than a spy?

What if she’d carefully orchestrated everything that happened between her and Kendall to bring matters to this point?

And he’d fallen for her tricks, thereby pissing Kendall off beyond redemption?

His chest was tight with unease as he parked his car in front of his house and got out, rushing toward the doors.

He needed to stop himself from imagining things; he needed to hear Kendall explain things herself. Was she aware of the girl’s spy identity? And, if yes, why didn’t she tell him?!

No wonder it had felt so strange to witness her apparent mistreatment of Judith.

It felt out of place and so unlike Kendall, but Lucien had been blinded by the pitiful act the other girl had fed him.

He burst into the house and looked urgently around. “Helena!” He marched toward the staff wing.

“You’re gonna break the door down.”

Lucien screeched to a halt, rushing back to look up at the stairs.

“Sabrina!”

She casually raised her brows at him as she descended. “Yes, Father?”

“What do you mean, yes? Why weren’t you picking up my calls?”

“Well—”

“Forget it. Where’s Kendall? Is she upstairs?”

Sabrina sighed, crossing her arms as she stopped in front of her dad. “You should apologize to Kendall, Dad. What you did? Not cool.”

She smacked her lips together, lip gloss glistening so bright, he nearly had to squint.

“I will, so tell me where she is?”

The sound of rolling wheels made him look up, and then Kendall appeared, her suitcase trailing behind her.

His eyes widened. “Kendall.”

She saw him, paused. A moment later, she huffed and grabbed her bag, lugging it down the stairs.

“Kendall’s found somewhere else to live,” Sabrina explained. “Because of you, Dad. And the rat you hired.”

“Be quiet,” he growled, nudging her aside to watch as Kendall approached. “Where do you think you’re going? You’re moving out? Over a misunderstanding?”

Sighing, Kendall set down her suitcase and tugged it behind her as she walked over to him. “I can’t live here forever, Sir.”

“Sabrina and I wouldn’t mind. You can’t be moving out because of that weird girl; she means nothing.”

Her jaw clenched, and Kendall lowered her gaze so he wouldn’t see how furious he’d just made her. “It’s not because of her.”

“Then what is it?” He stepped closer, trying to meet her eyes. “Talk to me.”

“It’s just time I find my own place,” she muttered, glancing away.

What was his problem? He’d come after her so soon? What? Had Judith turned her evil ways onto him? Had he seen his error? Too bad, Kendall wasn’t interested in putting up with them any longer!

“You have nowhere else to stay,” he argued. “Don’t be silly, Kendall.”

“She does have somewhere to stay,” Sabrina offered.

Lucien frowned. “Not the hotel.”

“No—”

The doorbell rang.

“Oh, he’s here!” chirped Sabrina, skipping to the door.

She pulled it open. “Hi, Liam!”

“Hey, Brina.”

Lucien spun around, eyes narrowed.

The smiling young man was standing in his house. “Kendall! You ready to go?”