Page 44 of Breaking the Annulment

“We’ve been digging into David Morrow’s background, as you requested,” Ajax began, his voice low and steady. “There’s not much there. Too little, actually. It feels deliberate.”

Michalis’s jaw tightened. “Deliberate how?”

Ajax shifted his weight, his hands clasped behind his back. “The basics check out—where he went to school, where he works—but there’s nothing that makes sense for someone with his level of resources. No deep connections, no real history. It’s too clean.”

Michalis’s expression darkened, his mind working through the implications. “And his employees?”

“That’s where it gets interesting,” Ajax said, leaning forward slightly. “His housekeeper is Romanian. We’re still looking into her background, but if she’s tied to Khomenko…” He let the sentence hang, knowing Michalis didn’t need him to spell it out.

“Khomenko,” Michalis muttered, the name dripping with disdain. He straightened, pushing off the dresser and pacing to the window. The golden light filtering through the curtains seemed almost mocking, given the tension in the room. “How certain are we?”

“Not certain enough,” Ajax admitted. “It’s a direction, but it’s thin.”

Michalis turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Ajax’s. “Keep digging. If the maid is connected to Khomenko, she’ll lead us to something—or someone. If she’s connected, David probably is too.”

Ajax hesitated. “What do you want us to do if he shows his hand?”

Michalis was silent for a long moment, his gaze drifting to the door Aurelia had disappeared behind moments earlier. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but laced with steel. “Nothing. Not yet.”

Ajax raised an eyebrow. “You want us to sit on this?”

“I want him at the party,” Michalis said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ajax’s brow furrowed deeper. “If he’s tied to Khomenko, that’s a risk.”

Michalis smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s a controlled risk. If he’s working for Khomenko, he’ll want to come. People like him can’t resist getting close to their target.”

Ajax crossed his arms, his posture stiffening. “And if he’s not?”

“Then he’s a fool who’s in over his head,” Michalis said simply. “Either way, I’ll know the truth by the end of the night.”

Ajax nodded slowly, his mind clearly turning over the plan. “And your wife?”

Michalis stepped closer, his voice dropping lower, as though the walls themselves might betray them. “My wife will invite him,” he said. “She’s conflicted about him—about all of this. If I push her, she’ll dig in. But if I let her think it’s her choice…”

Ajax nodded in understanding. “She’ll bring him to you.”

Michalis’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Exactly. And once he’s here, I’ll have the advantage. The house will be locked down, every guest watched. If he’s working for Khomenko, he’ll reveal himself. If he’s clean, he’ll walk away none the wiser.”

“And if she finds out?” Ajax asked, his voice quieter now.

“She won’t. David was obviously careful not to tell her who he was, or his connection to her father, so he won’t tell her now and risk losing what little advantage he still has,” Michalis said, his tone hardening. He crossed his arms again, his gaze sharp. “He’llalso know that I’m bringing the fight to him. This is as much about sending a message as it is about finding the truth.”

Ajax tilted his head slightly. “Risky. And if he’s just foolishly in love with your wife?”

“Then I’ll enjoy setting him straight.”

Ajax considered this for a moment, then nodded. “It’s a gamble.”

“It’s a calculated one,” Michalis corrected. “David’s presence gives us the opportunity to gather intelligence and potentially force Khomenko to react—all on our terms. The risk is minimal, and the potential gains are significant.”

Ajax smirked faintly, a rare expression on his otherwise stoic face. “You’re putting a lot of faith in Mrs. Giannopoulos.”

Michalis’s tone remained firm. “I think it’s time to find out where her true loyalty lies.”

Ajax nodded, his expression turning serious once more. “Understood. We’ll keep digging into David and his connections. If we find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“Good,” Michalis said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Because if he is working for Khomenko, he won’t leave that party alive.”

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