Chapter 20: A Mysterious Change
Ricky’s eyes gleamed with a playful intensity as he raised an eyebrow at Valerie, offering her a meaningful look.
“Wait for me here. I’ll be back in a moment,” he said smoothly, his tone leaving little room for argument.
Valerie nodded, her mind still swirling from their earlier conversation. She settled into the plush chair, glancing around the lavish office, waiting for Ricky to return.
But what was supposed to be a brief meeting stretched on for over an hour, leaving Valerie to wonder what had taken him so long. By the time Ricky finally returned, something about him seemed… different. The confident, charming man who had greeted her earlier was now replaced by someone almost too accommodating, as if a mask had slipped into place.
“Regarding the arranged marriage, I have no objections. Whenever it is convenient for you, we can go and get a marriage certificate,” Ricky said, his tone casual, but with an underlying finality that caught Valerie off guard.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. Ricky’s sudden change in attitude was palpable. Gone was the playful intrigue from earlier, replaced by an almost businesslike approach to their future together.
“The faster, the better,” Valerie said, almost automatically, though the unease that had settled in her chest grew.
“Okay,” Ricky replied with a nod. “After I sign the cooperation agreement on Friday, let’s go get the certificate. Send off the guest.”
Valerie blinked in surprise. She had expected some discussion, some reluctance, or at least a few questions. But Ricky seemed completely unaffected. The rapid shift in his demeanor left her feeling uneasy, though she couldn’t place why exactly.
With the decision made, she was ushered out of the office by his secretary, the door closing behind her. But as she stepped into the hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Ricky’s change in behavior was too drastic, too sudden. She brushed it aside, convincing herself that she was simply overthinking things.
Meanwhile, back in the office, a different scene was unfolding. Ricky, who had been sitting so dignifiedly in his wheelchair earlier, now wore a mysterious smile. He was deep in conversation with a team of business partners, including none other than Theodore, who worked as an assistant to Terrence. The topic at hand was a collaboration, but Ricky’s thoughts were far from business.
It seemed like Terrence had no idea Valerie had returned to Washington D.C., nor that she was planning to marry Ricky. Ricky couldn’t help but find the situation… amusing. It was all starting to get interesting.
Theodore’s Discovery
As Theodore made his way down to the first floor, his mind was still preoccupied with the morning’s events. Then, as he passed the entrance of the Murray Group, something caught his eye. He froze, rubbing his eyes several times in disbelief.
It was Valerie. She was leaving the building, walking toward a car in a manner so casual it almost seemed like a dream. But it was her, without a doubt.
Valerie is in Washington D.C.? Theodore thought, a sudden rush of questions flooding his mind. She had spent the last seven years in Houston, never once stepping foot outside the city. So why was she here now?
His mind was racing. He quickly pulled out his phone, fingers moving quickly over the screen as he composed a message to Terrence.
“Mr. Crawford! I saw Ms. Schwartz in Washington D.C.!”
Terrence’s Reaction
Terrence’s phone buzzed almost immediately, and he glanced down at the message from Theodore. His frown deepened as he processed the information. Valerie was in Washington D.C.?
Terrence’s thoughts immediately turned to the many questions he had about Valerie’s sudden departure. Her relationship with her family was strained at best, and he couldn’t understand why she would be in Washington D.C. now, of all places.
He quickly dialed the number for Foliage Villa, where Valerie had been staying before her departure.
“Is Valerie at home?” he asked, his voice sharp, his worry creeping through despite himself.
On the other end of the line, Kyra Larson, the housekeeper who had worked for the Crawford family for over twenty years, answered without hesitation.
“Yes,” Kyra replied unthinkingly. “She’s here.”
Terrence’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed this information. Valerie was at home, yet she had clearly left for Washington D.C. without informing him. The pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite fit together, and it left Terrence with an uneasy feeling gnawing at him.
He hung up the phone, his mind racing with the possibilities. What was Valerie doing in Washington D.C.? And why hadn’t she mentioned anything about it to him?
