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Chapter 114
Juliano Organization, Executive Office
Mateo sharply eyed the one-eyed man and asked,
“Why is your eye like that?”
“I was crossing barbed wire on all fours during the war and a wire pierced my eye.”
“Is that so?”
Mateo stepped out from behind the desk and approached the man.
The man swallowed dryly, seemingly aware of who was standing in front of him.
“I respect those who fought in the war.”
“Th-thank you.”
“In which war did you fight?”
“Pardon?”
The man hesitated for a moment, then took a breath and replied,
“The Ovidius War.”
“I see.”
Mateo ran his hand over the marks on the man’s jacket.
“Where do you get these?”
“Pardon? Get them?”
The marks Mateo indicated were awarded to soldiers who participated in wars.
“Listen, I can’t work with people who aren’t honest.”
Then Mateo called Nigel, who was nearby.
“Throw this conman out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nigel grabbed the man’s arm roughly with an expressionless face and lifted him up.
“W-wait! I’m sorry!”
The man immediately dropped to his knees and begged desperately.
“I’ll tell you the truth, please don’t throw me out!”
If he gave information about Killian, the five families could live comfortably for a year on the money they would receive. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Actually, this eye… I lost it because I couldn’t repay a debt. A loan shark took it out.”
“Good heavens. Who did that?”
“J-Juliano family…”
“Ah, us?”
Mateo shrugged as if he knew nothing.
“I always teach our kids to be lenient, don’t I, Nigel?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Tsk, tsk. They have a peculiar temperament, so try to understand.”
The man shivered and nodded, terrified of the situation.
“All right. Then sit on that sofa over there.”
Once the man sat down, Mateo also took the main chair and began questioning him.
“What’s your name again?”
“Billy.”
“All right, good name. Billy.”
Mateo placed a gun on the table.
“You know how people like us have to be careful. If you lie in front of me, I won’t just stop at words.”
Billy wiped the sweat from his hands onto his pants. His knees were damp.
“I swear I won’t lie even a little. I swear on my children!”
Mateo smiled approvingly.
“Good. I wish you’d come clean earlier.”
“I’m sorry.”
Mateo gestured to Nigel behind him, who brought a cup of water filled to the brim and placed it in front of Billy.
“I haven’t treated a guest properly. Drink up.”
“…Thank you.”
Billy gulped down the water reluctantly, watching Mateo closely.
“Finished?”
“Yes, all done.”
He carefully placed the cup back on the table.
“All right, now tell me everything you know.”
Mateo’s gaze sharpened.
“You lived in the same neighborhood as that bastard Killian when you were kids?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Good. Spill all the interesting info. I’ll pay you as much as you deserve.”
Mateo interlaced his fingers and leaned back lazily on the sofa.
“So, Eddie and I…”
“Eddie?”
“Yes… Killian went by Eddie when he was a kid.”
“Eddie… go on.”
Billy recounted trivial stories: petty theft with Killian, fights with other neighborhood thugs—none of which interested Mateo.
“Hah… hmm.”
Mateo yawned, bored out of his mind.
Just that one action made Billy completely terrified.
“Also…”
Billy hit his head internally, trying to remember every detail about Killian.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, realization struck, and he blurted out,
“Count Sinope!”
“Pardon?”
“At the time, I didn’t know who that noble was, but after reading the papers, I realized. It’s Count Sinope! I’m sure.”
At last, Mateo leaned forward, intrigued.
“Go on. What did Count Sinope do?”
“He… he suddenly took Killian away.”
“Oh? Why did the Count do that?”
“I’m not sure… but I remember exactly because I was working with Eddie that day. When the Count took Eddie, he called him… what was the name?”
Mateo raised an eyebrow.
“Edwin?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Edd?”
Billy shook his head.
“No, not that either…”
Pressing his temple, he tried to recall the name.
“Then… Adrian?”
“Yes, yes! That’s it!”
Mateo buried his face in his hands and began trembling slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
Billy glanced at Nigel, who signaled to stay calm.
The trembling subsided, then Mateo leaned back and laughed heartily.
“Nigel! Take Billy to Saint Club immediately. Give him plenty of food and drink!”
“Yes, sir.”
Billy remained puzzled, switching his gaze between Mateo and Nigel.
Mateo patted Billy’s shoulder.
“If you ever need a job here, just say the word, friend.”
From one-eyed man to “friend”—Billy was promoted.
“Th-thank you.”
Billy didn’t know which part of his story impressed Mateo.
“I’ll pay you generously. By the time you get home, your family will probably be enjoying a hot meal in a warm room, so look forward to it.”
Billy nodded, still dazed, and followed Nigel out of the room.
“Adrian Velvetra…”
Mateo laughed loudly in his office, imagining devious plans to eliminate Killian.
After bathing, Emily enjoyed a scalp massage from Chili.
“Where is he?”
“He returned home while you were bathing, ma’am.”
“Really? He came back early today.”
Since becoming chairman, Killian had many appointments and often didn’t return home until evening.
“So he’s in his room now?”
“Yes.”
Chili suddenly clapped her hands.
“Before going to his room, he stopped by your study, ma’am.”
“What!”
Emily’s eyes widened.
“Why there?”
“He said he needed a book from the study.”
The Star Mansion had two large studies, but there wasn’t a strict division between Killian’s and Emily’s.
Implicitly, the first-floor study was Killian’s, and the second-floor study was Emily’s.
Romance books she had ordered or received as gifts were stored in her study, so Killian rarely entered.
“What romance novel did he bring today?”
“Why are you asking?”
“I want to read it too.”
“Pardon?”
“You can understand a person’s reactions better if you read the books they’re interested in.”
“No way!”
Emily recalled their previous conversation and shrieked, jumping up.
Chili, normally unresponsive, flinched at her cry.
“Is he still in the bedroom?”
“Yes… he probably is showering since he just entered.”
“I’ll go check.”
Emily put on a robe over her thin indoor dress and headed out.
Standing outside Killian’s room, she hesitated.
“How can I sneak in?”
She didn’t even know what book he took and didn’t want to assume it was a romance novel.
“But if he really took my book, I won’t forgive him.”
She pressed her ear to the door—fortunately, it was silent inside.
Assuming he was showering, she carefully turned the doorknob.
‘Not here.’
After checking the hallway and confirming no one was around, she quickly entered the room.
Books were stacked on the nightstand next to the bed.
‘It must be among these.’
She rushed to the pile and checked the titles.
Thankfully, no romance novels. Only history books she had bought as camouflage.
“Phew, I would have been in trouble if I’d confronted him recklessly.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Ah!”
Emily threw the books in her hands in surprise and collapsed onto the bed.
The sudden impact made Killian groan softly.
But Emily had no mental energy to care; she lay down, dizzy, and closed her eyes.
While Emily caught her breath, Killian picked up the fallen books and placed them back on the nightstand.
“Sorry.”
Emily, still with her eyes closed, apologized.
“I wanted to know which book you took from the second-floor study.”
“Oh, I went because the book I wanted was there. I should have asked your permission—sorry.”
Emily shook her head and sat up.
“It’s not even my private study.”
Killian’s expression became serious.
“Why the sudden gloomy look?”
“I was thoughtless. I’ll make you a private study.”
“No! That’s unnecessary.”
Emily quickly refused, worried he’d spend lavishly again.
Since she had begun managing the accounts, she realized Killian spent money without limits for her. She had been shocked multiple times seeing the expenses.
“The second-floor study is enough, so please don’t spend money.”
Killian smiled unconsciously at Emily’s needless worry.
Fresh out of the bath, Emily looked captivating even without makeup: her soft, wavy brown hair, matching dark eyebrows, moist large eyes, high nose bridge, and inviting lips that tempted him to kiss.
He brushed his fingers along her side.
A suffocating tension filled the room.
‘W-what is this?’
The sensuous tension made Emily unsure where to look, blinking nervously.
Though their physical contact had increased recently, this teasing, thrilling feeling was new.
Seeing her pupils dilate, Killian realized what he had done.
He withdrew his hand as if nothing happened and stood.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
He feared losing control if he stayed.
Emily nodded awkwardly.
“Yes, it’s mealtime.”
It was unusually early.
Now only Mayo, wearing an apron, would suffer preparing the ingredients.
The subtle feelings between the two were slowly developing.
