38: There must be something he's hiding!

Khana stood in the dimly lit office, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the rows of meticulously organized cabinets. The room smelled faintly of polished wood and old paper, a testament to the hours Richard must have spent here, working on whatever it was that kept him so busy.

The polished oak cabinets loomed before her, filled with an array of documents, files, and books. Each drawer and shelf was a potential treasure trove of information, but also a labyrinth that could swallow her whole. She had no precise idea what she was looking for, only a fervent hope that somewhere within these stacks lay the key to understanding the enigma that was her husband, Richard.

 She had no specific idea of what she was looking for, but a nagging feeling told her that her husband's seemingly perfect facade might be hiding something dark.

Richard had always been the epitome of a gentleman: kind, considerate, and attentive. Yet, sometimes, Khana couldn't shake the suspicion that there was another side to him, one he kept carefully concealed. The saying "a wolf in sheep's clothing" echoed in her mind. Could Richard be hiding a secret from her?

Determined to find answers, Khana began opening drawers, rifling through folders and documents, trying to make sense of the cryptic notes and financial statements. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance, but she pressed on, convinced there was something she was missing. She already engraved in her mind that Richard sounded fishy that day...

Her fingers grazed over a stack of envelopes, each one bearing a different name and address. She carefully pulled one out, unfolding the letter inside. It was a mundane business correspondence, but something about the formal tone felt off, almost as if it were masking something more sinister. She set it aside and continued her search.

She started with the top drawer, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled it open. It was filled with neatly organized folders, each labeled with dates and names. As she leafed through them, she found nothing but mundane business documents: contracts, invoices, and meeting notes. Her frustration mounted with each passing minute. There had to be something more, something that would explain the gnawing suspicion she felt.

Khana moved to the next drawer, her movements becoming more frantic. She knew she had limited time before Richard returned. The second drawer yielded similar results—more business documents and financial records. She slammed it shut in frustration, her breath coming in short, anxious gasps.

Minutes turned into an hour, and Khana's frustration grew. The office was a labyrinth of information, and she had no clear path. Her mind raced with questions. Was she being paranoid? Was Richard capable of hiding something significant from her? She shook her head, pushing the doubts away. She had to trust her instincts.

As she reached for another drawer, the footsteps outside the door sent a jolt of fear through her. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could ponder further, she heard a voice outside the door. Richard's voice. He was talking to one of the housemaids, his tone casual and light. Panic surged through Khana. She had no time to put everything back in order. Her mind raced, searching for a way out of this predicament.

The muffled voice of her husband speaking to a housemaid seeped through the heavy wooden door. Her eyes widened in panic, and before she could think, she mouthed, "What should I do?"

There was no time to waste. Khana quickly moved towards the door, her mind racing for an excuse. She composed herself and turned the handle, stepping into the hallway just as Richard appeared, a warm smile on his face.

"Richard!" she exclaimed, feigning surprise. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I was looking for you."

Richard's smile broadened, and he returned the kiss, brushing a strand of her hair with his fingertips. Richard was happy to hear that his wife seemed to develop feelings for him since she was looking for him "I wonder why this lovely lady is looking for me."

Khana's mind scrambled for a believable reason. "I wanted to know if you would like to come with me for a check-up. Don't you want to see your son's ultrasound?"

Richard's eyes softened, and he smiled tenderly. "Of course, Khana. Let me finish up here, and I'll join you in a minute."

Khana nodded, her heart still racing as she turned and walked away. She had narrowly avoided disaster, but her curiosity was far from satisfied. She needed to find a way back into that office to uncover whatever it was Richard was hiding.

As soon as she was out of sight, Richard's expression changed. He stepped into his office, his eyes immediately drawn to the bookshelf. He noticed the subtle changes in the positioning of the books, confirming his suspicions. Someone had been searching through his things, and he had a pretty good idea who.

"I can't let her see the files," Richard murmured to himself. He moved quickly to a hidden panel behind the bookshelf, pressing a concealed button that revealed a small safe. He punched in the code and retrieved a thick folder labeled "Confidential." His mind raced as he considered his next move. He couldn't afford for Khana to discover the truth, not now, not ever.

Meanwhile, Khana was downstairs, trying to keep her composure. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was on the brink of discovering something monumental; something that could change everything the lady thought she knew about her husband. She needed to be smarter, and more careful. The stakes were higher than she had ever imagined.  

Her mind is telling her that Richard is hiding something from her. She needs to know if it's for better or worse. Though she quite trusted him since he had been kind to her over a long period of time they were together before the priest resurfaced, still, that conversation she had accidentally heard gave her doubt about his real intention.

She already had the thought maybe Bettina and Richard were in cahoots blatantly lying to her...