JONAS’ POV
I adjusted the tiny camera in the button of my shirt. I angled it just right before I slipped back into the dining room. Derrick and Joan were already seated. The silence between them was so thick I could practically feel it from across the room. They sat on opposite ends of the long table, hardly looking at each other while they ate. They didn’t behave like a real couple. So far, there was no hint of affection, no evidence of warmth that might prove Henry wrong. Maybe he was right. Maybe this whole marriage was just a carefully constructed facade.
I kept my eyes down, trying to busy myself with minor tasks as I positioned myself discreetly nearby, hoping to catch a clear shot of any interaction. Derrick buttered his toast in silence. Joan, on the other hand, stirred her tea absentmindedly. Her eyes were distant as if she was lost in thought. She looked fragile, almost vulnerable.
Just as I thought I’d finally have a few minutes to observe, Ms. Sullivan appeared out of nowhere and her eyes landed on me.
I flinched, but kept my expression neutral. I prayed she hadn’t noticed the slight flash of red from my hidden camera.
“Jonas,” she said, crossing her arms. “What exactly are you doing here? Why are you loitering around the dining room?”
I swallowed “I was just… just making sure they didn’t need anything,
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s what the maids are for. You’re here for specific tasks, not to stand around. Now, get out of here and find something useful to do.”
Heat spread up my neck, but I bit back a retort. Ms. Sullivan was more than just the head of the household staff. She practically ran this mansion with an iron grip. Challenging her would be a mistake, one I couldn’t afford.
“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured.
I bowed my head as I made my way out. I could still feel her suspicious gaze on my back until I turned the corner.
Once I was out of sight, I let out a low breath. Ms. Sullivan was onto me. I could feel it. She’d been watching me more closely ever since I got here. I’d known this wouldn’t be easy but it seemed like she was aware of my plan and I didn’t know how.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slipped into a quiet alcove, looking at the screen. It was Henry.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Jonas,” he hissed “have you got anything yet?”
“Not yet. But I’m working on it. I’ve got footage from this morning. They barely spoke to each other. There’s no real connection between them-”
“Not good enough,” Henry interrupted “Jonas, their wedding is only a few months away and it can even be shifted closer if they want it to. I can’t sit back and wait while you fumble around. I need something solid before the end of this week, or you can kiss your payday goodbye as well as everything I’ve done for you.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead. I clenched my fist in frustration. I was trying. I really was. But Derrick was secretive, more secretive than I imagined.
As I tucked my phone away, an idea began to take shape. If a camera couldn’t capture the truth, maybe a listening device could. I knew the study would be empty for a while, and it was one of the few places where Derrick often held private conversations. If there was anything incriminating to uncover, that room was my best bet.
Later that afternoon, I managed to slip into the study. My pulse raced with fear as I carefully placed the tiny device beneath one of the bookshelves. I couldn’t risk it being visible. Ms. Sullivan’s sharp eyes would notice it in an instant. But hidden here, it would pick up any conversation Derrick and Joan had in this room.
As I left the study, I caught sight of Joan walking down the hallway alone. She had a sad look on her face. I watched her for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on in her head. She looked lost in throught as always. There was something about her that didn’t fit with the idea of a cold and calculated arrangement. She seemed… conflicted, almost trapped. But then again, that could just be part of the performance.
I slipped around the corner, making sure she didn’t see me. I found myself becoming obsessed with each word, each look between Derrick and Joan. Every small detail felt like a clue or a tiny piece of the puzzle.
At one point, I narrowly avoided running into Derrick himself. He rounded a corner just as I ducked behind a pillar. Derrick was a difficult man to read, with a cold and arrogant demeanor that made it hard to tell what he was thinking. If he suspected anything… well, I didn’t want to find out what he’d do to me. But it was clear that, whatever was going on between him and Joan, he wasn’t the type to share easily.
Just as I was about to call it a day, I heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. I quickly ducked into the nearest room, pressing myself against the wall and holding my breath. The footsteps grew closer, and I recognized the quiet steps as Joan’s. She was speaking to someone in a low tone.
“You can’t keep treating me like this, Derrick,” she murmured.
I crept moved to the door, straining to catch every word.
“What choice do I have?” Derrick’s voice was cold “You know what’s at stake, Joan. This isn’t a game. You made a choice, and now you have to live with it.”
A heavy silence followed his words.
“But… it’s not just about the choice,” Joan replied “Sometimes I wonder if this is really worth it. If we’re not just lying to ourselves…”
“Enough, Joan,” Derrick cut her off in a harsh tone “Don’t pretend you’re some innocent victim here. You agreed to this, remember? You weren’t forced into it”
Her silence spoke volumes, and I held my breath, waiting for her response. But instead, there was only the soft sounds of footsteps as they moved away from the door.
I stayed where I was. Whatever arrangement they had, it was sure more complicated than I thought it was. Derrick’s words had been filled with anger, yes, but there was something else-something deeper. It seemed like they had feelings for each other but that didn’t make sense.
As I finally slipped out of the room and made my way back to my station, Henry’s words echoed in my mind.
I didn’t know if I’d get the proof he wanted before the end of the week, but one thing was certain: Derrick and Joan were hiding something. And whatever it was, I was going to uncover it-even if it meant risking everything to do so.