Trust: Betrayed by Cristiane Serruya Page A

full report in fifteen minutes, downstairs.”
    “Of course, sir.”
    Ethan headed to the bathroom musing about Scott.
    Scott Mulberry was a thin, blond, and pale thirty-five year old man. He had been working for Ashford Steel since he was twenty-five and was the assistant to another director. Ethan noticed him during a boring meeting when Scott filled in for the missing director. He had spoken with such certainty and clarity about the problem at hand that Ethan promoted him that day to his assistant. He always dressed impeccably and was very polite, almost subservient.
    A hard working and ambitious man, Scott was nonetheless totally devoted to his family. Every month, he sent his earnings to his single mother for the tuition of his five younger siblings and to help her at home.
    Ethan had gained his utter loyalty when he had helped Scott’s mother buy a much needed new house. Scott, from that time on, had included Ethan in his prayers.
    He chuckled thinking about his secretary as he showered with Original Vetiver gel from Creed. He had started buying all his toiletries from Creed because it reminded him of Sophia. Since she had broken up with him, he had been obsessed with her. If he were honest, Ethan had been possessed by her since that fateful plane ride to Geneva.
    He looked at his reflection in the mirror, studying his face and body as he dried his hair and shaved.
    He still couldn’t understand why she had left him for Alistair MacCraig. He couldn’t figure her out. And he needed to understand. He needed her.
    He went to his dressing room, with just a towel around his lean hips. Before choosing his suit, he buried his nose in the clothes he had bought for her. They still held her scent.
    So good, so sweet, so Sophia.
He inhaled more deeply.
Don’t worry, Ashford, you will have her back. You just have to plan things carefully.
    In a few minutes, he was sitting in the dining room, having his breakfast. An espresso, bread and fruits, while reading
The Financial Times
, when Scott knocked at the door, holding a black leather file in front of his chest as a shield.
    “Sir, if I may?”
    “Good morning, Scott. Come in, please.” He motioned to the chair next to him. “Sit. What have you got for me?”
    “Sir, I’m trying my best-” Scott almost choked on his words as Ethan leveled him with a hard stare. “I already have a man on the inside, day in day out. He’s not perfect, since he works as security only outside her house. But I’m working on-”
    “Scott, Scott...” Ethan shook his head, slowly. “Have you got the list of employees like I asked? From the house and Leibowitz Oil?”
    “Yes, sir, it’s here.” As Ethan scanned the lists, Scott continued, “But the thing is, sir, she pays all her employees very well and she’s a very good employer. As you are, sir. She helps them when they need; she is very polite, calm and fair. They like her very much and are loyal.”
    “She is a great woman. Monitoring her life is going to teach you a lot. Learn from her, Scott.”
    “I will, sir, as I do from you. But I’m having difficulties discerning a bribable employee inside her house. They are, as I said, extremely loyal.”
    “Loyalty, as you know, is not easily discarded, but everyone has flaws, vices, needs. No one is perfect.”
No one but her.
“How about the list of firms that provide services at her house?”
    “Here, sir.” Scott opened the leather case and pulled out two sheets full of names and information.
    “Ah! Very good, Scott,” Ethan relaxed on the chair as he sipped his coffee. “Do you have a pen?”
    “Here, sir.”
    “Not for me. Please, start taking notes. You are going to research the following... Hmm,” his eyes roamed over the list. “The laundry company, the pool cleaner, the restaurateur, no. Not him. Her youngest sister recommended him,” he mused. “Ah, yes, the gardening firm. Look for employees who have debts, mortgages, kids or parents who are ill. I want all the