The Sleuthy Secret Of A Snazzy Socialite

CHAPTER 3

We reached home and immediately left for the Christaulakis'.

As we entered the living room, I felt my step falter. When my parents said a couple more families, I did not realize it meant half a dozen besides us.

"20 bucks say you'll be out by 10." Luke whispered

"Another 30 say that you'll be the one wanting to flee with me." I whispered back.

We greeted everyone and I hugged Flora. At least I got friends here. Which made me look for Ariana.

"Anna could not make it. She had school stuff." Walter Abbeglen said with a smile.

I returned it in a perfectly lady-like manner. Man, I should get an Oscar for acting.

After half an hour of business talks and compliments, we went to dinner, and thus time it was actual dinner with stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetable stir fry and rice. And I could actually eat! After dinner, we had cheesecake and then the men were off for drinks while the ladies gathered in the parlour. I excused myself for the bathroom.

I saw Walter and Mr. Christaulakis go further than the bar into a balcony. I slid into a corridor branching off and pulled out the recorder. Perfect. Two nights in a row. I'm quite proud of my inconspicuous stalking tendencies that have helped me the last 2 years.

"What is this that I'm hearing, James." "Your inner circle had a traitor? How do you expect to do the big thing with us all now?" Walters said.

"That has been taken care of, the trouble has been eliminated" James Christaulakis said. I was frozen. Did they mean David? God's, that was the second man this month. I now clicked on the recorder. This was no architectural business talk. "And those are big words from someone who has delayed the project."

"It was not my fault. The boss knows it. I don't know why you are so worked up." Walters snapped. What boss? Isn't he the topmost on his food chain?

They are silent for a moment. Then "Look, I know you guys were quite interested in my son joining." Joining what? "But it is not something I can discuss with him when he is on another continent, can I? I'll talk to him when he gets back. Now would you guys shut up about it?"

"okay, it works with us. But remember Abbeglen, we still think you are going soft"

Is he though? I decide to stop pushing my luck and hurry off. Two nights in a row, Walters has talked about this. This is unusual. Well, at least now we know that the Christaulakis are also with him. That reminds me of David. Gosh i will have to inform the firm the first thing in the morning. This is getting dangerous.

When I get back, no one questions my absence because hey, it's normal for ladies to spend more than a quarter hour in the loo, isn't it?

There was not much conversation going on, just a bit of this and that, so I sat back on one if the couches. I was thinking of all that I'd managed to get these two days. It was not much, but the talk about boss was nagging me, as if we had missed something.

"Are you okay dear? You look sick" a sweet voice shook me out of my thoughts. Well this is a good chance, if only I knew who had spoken.

"Uhh, not really. I think something in the food didn't agree with me." I replied to no one in general.

"Maybe you should go home. Take Lucas with you, you must not drive in this condition" my mom's eyes twinkled as she said this.

"Okay mom. Thank you for having us Mrs. Christaulakis." I managed to keep the grin off my face until I was out of the front door. I love my mom. I quickly texted Luke and 10 minutes later we were off.

***

"...... the boss knows it......." click.

I was in Xavier's office. We'd already listened to both the recordings multiple times.

"Who is boss?" he demanded.

I just shrugged. I'd told him I didn't know.

"We are missing something crucial. I know it. Even David said something about a boss of the Christaulakis guy, and then went silent for a whole week."

This sobered me up and I stopped fishing for banana chunks in my smoothie.

"About that, Xavier, before I started recording, they talked about having eliminated a traitor in his inner circle." I took a deep breath. "I think it is David."

Xavier was silent for a moment while I looked at sandals.

"why did you not record that?"

"I wasn't sure if they were talking architecture or not." I said in a small voice. That was a big juicy piece of evidence I'd lost, and I knew it.

"You didn't know?" His voice was cold. Then he softened up. "look, I'm sorry. That was wrong, but now I want you to bring all pieces of evidence. Thank you for telling us. Now we will evict his family. Her wife will get a decent job and a good allowance."

The topic of David was closed. I knew it.

"This is getting out of hand, Veronica. I think the Abbeglens are catching up with is. We have to act fast."

After being silent for a minute, I spoke up. "What about his son? Maybe that is a loose end?"

"From what we have heard, I don't think he will be very beneficial."

"But he is family. Maybe he knows something. Or he can be used by us to know something."

Xavier just studied me.

"There is a way. We need to get into the family."

"That's not possible. How would we........" My eyes widened. "Oh!"

He nodded. "I can't force you into this. But I think you want to bring them down. Can you do this? Are you ready to do this?"

I just sat there, going over those words in my mind, thinking if it was worth it.

"I'm ready to do anything. How soon?"
"Soon after he touches the American soil, but not too soon as to raise suspicion. It's 2nd March today,and he returns on 12th. That gives you more than 5 weeks for your parents. Use them well, Veronica. Also, it would be better if the world thought that it was not your idea. Think of something to fool them."

"I'll manage. What about my other works?"

"I think you should concentrate on this first. I have a feeling that we are going to hit jackpot."

"Okay" I'd just turned to leave when he called me back.

"Take care, Nicki."

I cracked a smile. I knew he cared about me despite the hard exterior. "I will."

As I left his office, I thought about how things were going to change. When I joined, I knew I would have to give up a lot of things and change myself. However, I had never realised that one day I would have to do this for my work. After all, marriage to an Abbeglen was not in my job description.

~x~