My Father Publicly Called Me a Disgraced Beggar at His Gala — Then the Commandant of the Coast Guard Arrived to Salute My Scars
Outside the library, Raymond Croft, a man whose face was usually as smooth and unreadable as polished granite, was no longer calm. He had been lurking near the open door, drawn by Chloe’s hushed, urgent tones. The words “falsified inspection records” had hit him like a physical blow.
His hand trembled, spilling a drop of gin onto the pristine white marble floor.
He needed Julian. Now.
Croft weaved through the clusters of Newport’s elite, ignoring their polite smiles and the clinking of their glasses. His gaze darted around, the usual detached confidence replaced by a frantic urgency. He spotted Julian by the bar, laughing a little too loudly at one of his own jokes.
“Julian,” Croft hissed, grabbing his arm. Julian flinched, pulling away as if Croft’s touch was dirty.
“What is it, Raymond? Can’t you see I’m busy?” Julian’s voice was sharp, a thinly veiled annoyance.
“Your sister,” Croft whispered, his eyes wide. “She’s not here to beg for money.”
Julian scoffed, wiping a spot of condensation from his cuff. “Of course she is. What else would a disgraced failure do?”
“No,” Croft insisted, leaning in closer, his breath smelling of gin and desperation. “She has documents. Original inspection receipts, signed by my office.”
Julian’s smile vanished. His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He glanced toward the library door, then back at Croft.
“Keep your mouth shut,” Julian snarled, his voice low and dangerous. “You hear me? Not a word.”
He reached into his inner jacket pocket, pulling out his phone. His fingers flew across the screen.
“Another fifty thousand,” Julian promised, his eyes locked on Croft’s. “Wire transfer. Tonight. Just keep security focused on removing Eleanor. Before dinner ends.”
Croft’s eyes flickered. Fifty thousand U.S. dollars. Enough to make him forget a lot of things. He nodded, a single, jerky movement, and melted back into the crowd, leaving Julian fuming by the bar.
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