39: The secret files

The room was bathed in a soft, predawn light, casting shadows that danced across the walls. 

Khana lay in bed, her eyes closed, though sleep had long since eluded her. Her husband's presence next to her, a source of comfort and warmth, had now become a source of unease. 

Richard was seated on the edge of the bed, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. He believed Khana was still asleep, unaware his wife had been awake and listening.

“How’s the thing I asked you to find?” Richard's voice was a low whisper, tinged with urgency. His eyes flicked nervously towards Khana, ensuring she wouldn't wake.

“Is he truly a goner?” Richard added, his tone colder now. Khana felt a chill run down her spine at the words. Her mind raced, trying to decipher who Richard might be talking about. Who was 'he'? And why was Richard concerned about whether he was deceased?

Khana's heart pounded in her chest. The man she had entrusted with her life was talking about someone’s death. 

“Then, how about the current situation of my wife’s family business?” Richard's voice interrupted her thoughts. She could barely process the implications of his question before he spoke again. 

“Alright. I want you to report everything to me.” He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

The bed shifted as Richard stood up, and Khana felt the space beside her grow cold. She heard the bathroom door close and the sound of running water started. She clutched at her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

"That sounded like a crime, or am I assuming things?" she mouthed silently.

With Richard occupied in the shower, Khana saw her chance. She reached for his phone, her fingers trembling. But the screen was locked with a fingerprint and passcode. 

They had always respected each other's privacy, never exchanging passwords or accounts. Now, that respect felt like a barrier, keeping her from uncovering the truth.

The water in the shower stopped, and panic surged through her. She returned the phone to its place and lay down, feigning sleep. Moments later, Richard emerged from the bathroom, his footsteps soft on the carpet. He dressed quickly and quietly, not wanting to disturb her.

Khana listened as he left the room, her mind a whirlpool of questions and fears. What secret was her husband hiding? Who was the person he had been talking about? And what did it have to do with her family’s business?

The lack of answers gnawed at her, making getting back to sleep impossible. 

Days turned into weeks, and Khana became adept at hiding her turmoil. She moved through her daily routines with forced calm, her senses heightened for any clue that might reveal Richard’s secret. She kept a close eye on his behavior, noting any oddities or deviations from his usual self.

One evening, Khana found herself alone in the living room. Richard had gone out for an abrupt business meeting, leaving his laptop on the coffee table. She knew it was a risky move, but her curiosity had reached a tipping point. She sat down and opened the desktop.  She hopes to find it unlocked.

To her surprise, it was. Richard must have been in a hurry and forgot to log out. Khana navigated through his files, her hands shaking slightly. She found a folder labeled 'Personal' and clicked on it. Inside were documents and emails that seemed innocuous at first glance. But one email thread caught her attention.

It was a conversation between Richard and an unknown contact, discussing financial transactions and a recent acquisition. The language was cryptic, filled with coded terms and vague references. Khana's eyes widened when she heard footsteps from the kitchen, thus she accidentally exited all opened folders.

"Ma'am? Why are you still awake? You need to sleep early, it's not good for the little senorito," says the chambermaid.

"I can't sleep yet. Can you give me a bottle of fresh milk?" says Khana. 

The maid smiled and turned her back. Shortly after, Richard entered the living room. Thus, she greeted her employer, "Good evening, sir." 

"Where's your car, honey? I didn't hear it," says Khana, then kissed her husband's cheek.

"I left it in the office. My secretary will pick us up tomorrow."

"Us?" Khana asked.

"We're going on a date," Richard replied.

"I left my laptop here? Did you touch it, Hon?" he asked.

"I was just about to carry it back to our room, but the maid noticed me staying up late, then you came shortly after," she replied.

"Shouldn't I touch it? Is it wrong for a wife to go through her husband's things?" Khana added.

"I only asked if you touched it, I wasn't implying anything. My bad if you felt like I would get mad if you dare touch my things," says Richard. He held Khana's hand and they went to their bed to rest.

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She spent the next few days in a daze, trying to act normal while her mind raced. She knew she needed to gather more information, but she had to be careful. Richard was observant, and any slip-up could put her in danger.

The next morning, Khana decided to reach out to her father. They hadn’t spoken much lately, and she hoped he could provide some answers. She dialed his number and waited anxiously as it rang.

“Hello, sweetheart,” her father’s voice came through the line, warm and reassuring.

“Hi, Dad,” Khana said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’ve been thinking about the family business lately. How are things going?”

There was a brief pause before her father replied. “Things are...challenging, but we’re managing. Why do you ask?”

“I just heard some rumors and wanted to make sure everything was okay,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t press for details.

Her father sighed. “There have been some issues, yes. We’re dealing with them as best as we can.”

Khana bit her lip, her mind racing. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, sweetheart. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. We’ll handle this.”

Khana felt a pang of frustration. She needed more information, but her father was trying to protect her. She thanked him and hung up, feeling more determined than ever to uncover the truth.

Days turned into weeks, and Khana found herself watching Richard more closely. She noticed the subtle changes in his behavior—the furtive glances, the hushed phone calls, the way he would step out of the room to take certain calls. He was hiding something, and it was driving her to the edge.

 As they sat down for dinner, Khana decided to probe gently. “How was your day?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Richard looked up from his plate, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Busy, as usual. How about you?”

She hesitated for a moment, then responded, “Just the usual. I was thinking about my family’s business today. It’s been a while since we talked about it.”

Richard’s fork paused mid-air. “Oh? What made you think about that?”

“Just...curiosity,” she said, forcing a smile. “I haven’t heard much about it lately.”

Richard’s expression remained neutral, but she noticed a flicker of something in his eyes. “It’s been stable, I suppose. Your father’s doing a good job.”

Khana nodded, though her mind was far from at ease. She needed more information, but she couldn’t push too hard. She decided to bide her time, gathering what little bits of information she could without raising suspicion.

She knew she needed to tread carefully, to take her time in uncovering the truth. Stress and sleepless nights would do her no good, especially with the baby growing inside her. She needed to stay healthy, both for herself and for the child.