The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 23: A Call at Noon
The desk phone in the office rang abruptly. Vera’s husband, Gape, glanced at it several times before picking it up.
“Hello?”
A moment later, one of his eyebrows rose slightly. “Is that so? I understand ... Of course. I have a business engagement tonight. You know how it is, this is a critical period...”
After exchanging a few brief remarks, Mr. Gape hung up the phone. He sat in thought for a moment, then withdrew his gaze, glanced at his secretary, and then toward the sofa. The secretary immediately understood the considerate signal he was giving her and walked toward the sofa on her bright red high heels.
The Ristowan Group was a major corporation spanning multiple industries. In Sabine City, it could already be considered one of the city’s industrial pillars. Naturally, every reporting cycle brought an outrageous volume of financial statements and accounting issues.
As an outstanding audit accountant, Gape carried tremendous responsibility. He was not a local. He had relocated from another city after accepting this position.
This was the most critical moment of his life.
The corporation was preparing to restructure its management, including the Finance Department.
For years, he had worked very smoothly with company management and senior leadership. The corporation’s deputy general manager had told him that if he could advance one more step, he would become an associate of the group.
Even the lowest-ranking associate position would represent a substantial leap in social standing for Gape. If he secured this opportunity, then within three to five years he could make the jump from the middle class into high society.
He did indeed have a business engagement that evening.
The only difference was that it was not the sort of semi-public dinner where people discussed work, as Vera and most others imagined. It involved a bribe.
Every form of growth required sufficient nourishment behind it. Gape understood that very well.
He dealt directly with that nourishment, with those numbers. He knew exactly how to fertilize his own future.
He walked over to the sofa, comforting the secretary while quietly explaining what overtime work would be required that evening.
More than an hour later, the secretary had gone into the lounge to rest and conserve her energy for the evening’s engagement. After spraying on some cologne, Gape hesitated for several seconds before picking up the telephone.
“It’s me. Look into my wife and the company she’s working for. I want everything on that company. And find out exactly what they did tonight.”
After hanging up, a difficult-to-describe expression appeared on Gape’s face.
Half seated on the edge of his desk, he stared out the window for a while before returning to his chair and burying himself once again in the endless sea of figures and receipts.
A little later, William and Vera arrived at a restaurant near the edge of downtown that was said to be quite good.
“Quite good” meant the establishment had decent style without requiring customers to wait in line. Under the guidance of a waiter, they were quickly shown to a vacant table near the side of the dining room, one that offered a clear view of the street outside.
As for Richard and the other two men, they were merely hired tools who had not even signed employment contracts yet. They could hardly be considered company employees, so naturally they were not invited to this celebration.
“Ladies first.”
The moment the waiter handed the menu to William, he smiled and turned toward Vera.
It had to be said that his good looks, combined with such gentlemanly behavior, practically fulfilled every romantic fantasy women had about the opposite sex.
Whether it was the lighting or the increasingly warm weather, Vera felt her cheeks heating up. After giving William a long look, she accepted the menu without objection and began ordering.
The menu here was relatively straightforward. There was no clutter of flashy items. Usually, each entrée was represented by a color photograph, accompanied by descriptions of appetizers and side dishes. Any desired modifications could simply be mentioned to the waiter.
Vera quickly made her choice.
She ordered a fish steak.
William casually ordered a beef steak and a bottle of red wine.
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