The Shadow Tycoon
Copyright© 2026 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 81
Around midnight, a little after eleven, Gape finally returned from the company, exhausted. During this period, he had been dealing with traces in the company accounts connected to dealings with Biddle Group.
Some things were not on the books, but money had been added in. Some things were on the books, but the numbers were not quite right. This was not one bad account. It was many bad accounts.
It was precisely through this stretch of grueling work that he had suddenly gained a vague understanding of certain things.
For Biddle Group, a company about the same size as the Ristowan Group company where he worked, perhaps even a little larger, to suddenly sink into the mud, it absolutely could not be as simple as tax evasion. It might have something to do with Biddle’s involvement with foreign capital.
Gape was not quite sure where this feeling came from. As he began handling this side of the company’s problems, he had also been closely following news about Biddle Group. From his perspective, there was actually nothing wrong with Biddle’s side at all.
“Maybe I shouldn’t think so much...” he said to himself as he drove off the main road and turned into the community entrance.
These major cases were too far away from him. Forget influencing or interfering with them, there was not even anything he could do. His concern for the case was simply curiosity.
Gape’s car had been registered with the community. When his car approached the guard booth, the security guard on duty immediately raised the barrier for him. Gape also forced out a bit of a smile and said thank you.
In truth, sometimes politeness itself did not come from upbringing or some similar personal quality. It was a way to maintain a more positive image of oneself. One could call it the hypocrisy of adults, or one could call it knowledge that had to be mastered upon entering society.
To Gape and more people like him, it was only a thank-you. But it was enough to make their image a little better.
Just as he was about to press the gas and drive into the community road, the security guard seemed to hesitate, his expression somewhat strange.
People who worked with numbers were all careful. People who were not careful could not do that kind of work. Gape’s brow moved slightly. He took his foot, already resting on the gas pedal, back down. “Do you have something you want to tell me?”
Originally, the security guard had not intended to meddle. But Gape was so polite and counted as “respectful” toward him, which made certain words hard not to say, though he also felt it was not very appropriate.
His conflicted look made Gape even more puzzled. “If there is something, please be sure to tell me. Perhaps it is very important to me?” He used “please,” enough to show his seriousness.
Only then did the security guard give a bitter smile and sigh. “I really shouldn’t be sticking my nose into this, Mr. Gape, but...” He shook his head. God knew what that head shake was supposed to mean. “Mrs. Vera came back tonight in a young man’s car. That man was very handsome...”
Once he said this, the security guard had spoken what was in his heart and stopped. Normally, this kind of thing was strictly forbidden.
Whether in a mid-range community or a high-class community, the attached service company did not allow employees to disclose or discuss anything related to homeowners.
Every year, there were many legal battles surrounding privacy. Every employee received professional training before starting work. But Gape had disguised himself very well, and the security guard on duty today still had the innocence that remained in most of society’s rank and file. He said what he should not have said.
Gape’s face immediately turned very ugly. In the end, he still forced a smile and tossed a pack of cigarettes out the window. “Thank you. I asked someone to drive her back.”
Only then did the security guard let out a breath. “Is that so? That’s good. I almost thought...” As he spoke, he was still somewhat embarrassed, not noticing at all that Gape’s sour face had gone so dark it was almost merging with the surrounding night.
After parking the car, Gape opened the door with a gloomy expression. He had never believed there would be any problem with his marriage.
He was young, handsome, had a job that made people envious, had substantial assets, and was about to become a junior associate at Ristowan Group.
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