Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

#Chapter 96: The Butler’s Secret -- Part II

Karl

Abby’s face is a picture of complete and utter betrayal as she looks at me from across the metallic

countertop.

“Why are you really here, Karl?” she hisses, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “What else could you

possibly want from me?”

For a moment, I almost consider telling her that there’s nothing else, that I just wanted to apologize. But

then there’s my wolf in the back of my mind, always the more logical one, pushing me to be truthful.

She deserves to know the truth, the whole truth behind what happened. Not just what happened over

the past week, but what happened three years ago.

“Alright,” I murmur, nodding. “Let me tell you…”

…

A week ago, Gerald stood in front of my desk, his face like stone. “If you’re planning to fire Gianna,

then I’m afraid you'll be losing more than just a secretary,” he states flatly, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll

have no option but to resign as well.”

I sighed, passing a hand over my weary face. “Gerald, I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss this with you,” I

said. “My reasons for the decisions I make are mine and mine alone.”

Gerald stood rigidly, a wax figure in his impeccable butler attire, his eyes refusing to meet mine.

“Very well then,” he said. “But my point stands: if you fire Gianna, then I must resign as well.”

His words still confused me. “Why, Gerald? You've seen people come and go in this house for years,

and you’ve never even batted an eye. What’s so special about my secretary?”

Gerald paused. “We’re… friends, sir. I can’t in good conscience remain here if she’s fired unjustly.:

His voice, usually controlled and even, wavered ever so slightly. I scrutinized him closely, the age lines

on his face more pronounced than ever.

“But Gerald,” I repeated, “you’ve seen dozens of employees be let go or quit over the years. This isn’t

like you. Are you romantically involved with her?”

The words were out before I could weigh them, hanging grotesquely in the air. He was far too old for

Gianna. Gerald’s face went ashen, his eyes wide.

“Gods, no, sir. That’s not it at all.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then what is it, Gerald? I’ve known you for decades. You’re not a man prone to

rash decisions or sudden attachments.”

Gerald sighed, the weight of the world seemingly on his shoulders. “Very well, sir. Gianna is my

daughter. My illegitimate daughter.”

I shut my eyes wearily for a moment. “Why now, Gerald? Why did you never mention this before?” Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“I only discovered that she was my daughter five years ago, sir. By that time, she was already working

for you. I didn’t want to cause a disruption, so we kept it a secret.”

My mind raced, stumbling through a maze of confessions and betrayals. I thought about the longevity

of Gerald’s service, his steadfast loyalty, and juxtaposed it against the deplorable conduct of Gianna.

“I appreciate you coming clean, Gerald. But you must understand that this is a lot to process.”

“Of course, sir. I didn’t expect you to make a decision right away.”

“Give me some time to think about this.”

“Absolutely.”

With that, Gerald exited the room, leaving me alone with the weight of his confession. My secretary,

Gianna, was the illegitimate daughter of my butler?

As I sat there, my mind wandered back to the night before, when Gerald found Abby “stealing” from my

computer—at just the exact time that Gianna had confessed her love and tried kissing me. I knew that I

didn’t leave my computer turned on, especially not with my emails sitting out on display.

Was it possible…?

…

A couple of days had passed since Gerald’s earth-shattering revelation, but I had had several of my

own revelations, and I was prepared to drop them like bombs.

I found myself sitting at my desk, a weighty leather bound folder sitting in front of me. “Gianna, Gerald,

come in,” I called out, prepared to reveal my discoveries and see how it all unfolded.

They walked in, and it was then that I saw it: they really did look like father and daughter. I was

surprised that I had never noticed it before, but now it was clear as day. They had the same eyes, the

same nose, the same lips.

“Thank you for coming,” I said, gesturing to the two chairs across from my desk. “Take a seat.”

With looks of mild surprise and confusion on their faces, they sat. Leading up to this point, I had kept

up an air of benevolence; and yet, all the while, I had been doing my own detective work. I gestured to

the leather bound folder sitting on my desk, and cast my eyes on Gianna.

“You’ll want to read what is inside,” I said.

Gianna hesitated, then slowly reached across the desk. My heart almost seemed to stop momentarily

as she opened the folder. Her eyes widened, her mouth a small ‘o’ of disbelief.

“What is this?” she asked, her eyes slowly raising to meet mine.

I sneered at her. “You see, I got a little suspicious about the other night,” I said, standing. “So, I decided

to do my own digging. You really shouldn’t be sending such incriminating emails over your work email,

Gianna. Did you think I would never exercise my right to look?”

Her face went ashen, the blood draining away like water down a sink.

The emails were damning—countless emails from Abby, begging my secretary to fit her into my

schedule. My own wife, being forced to make an appointment to see me?

But that wasn’t the most damning email by far. No, it got much worse than that.

Among the emails was a proposition to our gardener, back when Abby and I were still together. A

proposition to take a pair of Abby’s underwear, violate them, and leave them in the garden for everyone

to find, all in return for a sum of money, with the most recent email from the gardener:

“Gianna, I did it. I expect the payment in my account by tonight, as promised.”

And then, from Gianna, dated just five minutes later: “Of course. I just sent the payment. Thanks for

your help. When I become Luna, I’ll send you a little extra for your trouble.”

“This isn’t true,” Gianna stammered, but her eyes betrayed her.

“Oh, but it is,” I cut in. “And let’s not forget the other night. Those incriminating emails just miraculously

appeared on my computer screen, right when Abby ‘found’ them. A distraction, perhaps, while you

attempted to kiss me and make Abby out to be the villain. Well done.”

I shifted my gaze to Gerald, then back to Gianna. “So, how long exactly did you plan to usurp Abby? To

become the next Luna?”

That was when Gerald suddenly stood and stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of his

daughter. “It was my idea, Karl. All of it. I’ve always felt Abby came from dirt. My daughter deserves to

be Luna.”

My nostrils flared, my fists clenched. “You, of all people, Gerald? You dare to judge Abby? To plot

against her?”

Gerald’s eyes were ablaze. “You’re a fool, Karl. Ruining the family name. If your adoptive brother

wasn’t in a coma, you’d never even be Alpha.”

I rose from my seat, towering over them. “Enough. Both of you, leave. You’re fired and banished from

the pack.”

Gianna’s eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. “Karl, please. I’ve always loved you.”

But Gerald took her by the arm, leading her out. His eyes met mine one last time before he

disappeared, and although he spoke no words, his gaze said it all.

“Watch your back, Karl.”