Chapter 9
I asked the six guests to join us one at a time.
No public humiliation.
No accusations shouted across champagne.
Just direct questions.
“What were you promised?”
The answers varied.
Ten minutes with me.
A private introduction to one of my captains.
A recommendation.
A chance to explain a dispute.
Nothing illegal by itself.
That was why the scheme survived.
They were buying proximity, not outcomes.
Still unacceptable.
One man admitted giving Rosamonde a bracelet months earlier.
She looked ashamed.
Another gave Merrick use of a chalet.
Another covered travel.
Favors became currency.
Merrick controlled distribution.
Rosamonde lent legitimacy.
My name supplied value.
I had supplied nothing.
The sixth guest surprised me.
A woman named Helena Rowe.
She had paid nothing.
She came because Merrick promised he could arrange a private meeting where she would warn me about him.
I almost laughed.
Even his own market created a whistleblower.
“What did you know?”
Helena had noticed people leaving Merrick’s dinners bragging about access they clearly did not have.
Then one of her employees was told Merrick could “protect” a contract if she became cooperative.
Too far.
She started asking questions.
Merrick invited her tonight to assess whether she was dangerous.
Instead, she intended to reach me.
Like Elias.
Like Nerelle.
Same structural problem.
Everyone had to pass through people who claimed to control access to me.
Merrick did not invent the weakness.
He exploited it.
I asked Helena:
“Why not contact my office?”
She gave me a look.
“I did.”
Of course.
“What happened?”
“I was told Mr. Wynthorne does not entertain unsolicited grievances.”
That sounded like my office.
Because it was.
Efficient.
Cold.
Easy to weaponize.
I leaned back.
Good lesson.
Then Helena said:
“Someone at your table tonight paid Merrick too.”
Rosamonde looked confused.
Merrick looked annoyed.
Interesting.
“Who?”
Helena nodded toward the ballroom.
“Your own steward.”
That changed things.
Not because it meant coup.
Because someone inside my house had purchased access to me through my fiancée’s cousin.
Absurd.
May you like
And dangerous.
I wanted to know why.
