Over the phone, Detective John's voice crackled with a mix of authority and intrigue.
"You see, Rita, Jefferson's one of these hotshot billionaires—kid's barely hit thirty and he's already got his fingers in everything. Ted Group's his company, stretches across real estate, dabbles in politics too. Guy's loaded, likes to keep a low profile, though. Hates the limelight, so most folks wouldn't recognize him if they bumped into him on the street. But me? I've been in the detective game for over two decades, so I've got an eye for faces that matter, and his is one I know."
Rita's voice trembled with disbelief on the other end of the line, "What? But why on earth would someone like him want to marry me? I've got nothing to offer that he can't just buy ten times over!"
"Don't you worry, I'm on the case," Detective John reassured her, the slight rustle of his jacket audible as he likely shifted in his seat. "And trust me, I'm just as curious about this high-roller as you are. But let's talk brass tacks here, Ms. Ross—digging up dirt on a guy like this doesn't come cheap. I know the Ross family isn't exactly pinching pennies, but I'll still need half the fee upfront."
Rita's heart sank. "Half? That's... that's half a million dollars," she stammered, the weight of the figure pressing down on her.
The old Rita wouldn't have batted an eyelash at the sum, but times had changed. She was on her own now, still paying off debts to Esther. With a heavy heart and a resolve forged from desperation, she made the transfer, whispering to herself, "At least with this, I won't have to be scared around Jefferson."
The moment the transaction went through, Detective John's text pinged on her phone: "Got it. We're in business. The hunt for the truth starts now."
---
Detective John was on the ball, efficient as they come. Barely a day had passed when he pinged Rita with a snapshot that captured Jefferson from behind. "Rita, take a gander at this," he said, his voice crackling with urgency through the phone. "Our man Jefferson's holed up in Lew city, strutting around the Ted Group's big shiny HQ. Looks like he's all wrapped up in some high-stakes business dealings."
Rita peered at the photo, the grandeur of the building looming in the background. Jefferson was a fortress of a man, flanked by uniformed security guards. But as she zoomed in, a jolt of recognition hit her—there was Neo, cool as you like, behind the wheel of the car, with Jefferson riding shotgun.
They seemed deep in conversation.
"Hmm, so Neo's the key," Rita mused to herself. "Jefferson's letting him stick close, no matter the role he's playing. That's trust."
She relayed her thoughts to Detective John, "Keep an eye on them, especially Neo. If there's a way to tail him without getting caught, do it. He's bound to know Jefferson's secrets."
John's response was immediate and confident, "Already on Neo's trail as we speak."
Rita felt a wave of relief, but it was short-lived. Hours ticked by with no word from John, which was odd—he was the type to check in regularly, even if he had zilch to report.
Then, close to midnight, her phone shattered the silence. It was John. Rita braced herself and answered. John's voice was a pained whisper, "Rita, I'm out. No more digging for me. I'm laid up in the hospital as we speak. Consider your deposit my hospital bill. That Neo... he got the drop on me, gave me a real working over. Maybe I bit off more than I could chew with Jefferson. I'm sorry, truly. I'm ditching this number. Don't try to call back."
Before she could respond, he was gone. She tried redialing, but to no avail—the line was dead. Rita sat bolt upright in bed, her mind racing. "What's Jefferson's game? Why the charade of marrying me?"
Her eyes locked onto the photo John had sent. A wild theory sprang to mind. "Could it be? Jefferson's got a thing for Neo? Is that why he's marrying me—to cover up his true feelings?"
A gasp escaped her lips, "That's it!" she exclaimed, half in jest. "It's a wild guess, sure, but what if it's on the nose?" A grin spread across her face as she lay back down, the absurdity of the situation oddly comforting. With that thought, she drifted off to sleep, a satisfied smile still playing on her lips.
---
With her wild theory in hand, Rita decided it was time to confront Jefferson directly. The next day, she spotted him in the office and without hesitation, fired off an email to his work address. She feigned a need to discuss a sales report. Jefferson's prompt reply came, "Come to my office."
Heart pounding, Rita entered his office. The door clicked shut behind her. Jefferson's eyes swept over her, and he asked pointedly, "What's so important?"
Rita sensed a certain carefulness in his demeanor that reinforced her suspicion. "Jefferson, I've been meaning to ask you something," she began.
"Out with it, then," he urged.
She took a deep breath. "Do you think you'd have ended up proposing to any woman from those blind dates? It wasn't specifically about me, was it? Anyone could have been in my place, right?"
Jefferson's face clouded over, a mix of confusion and irritation brewing. "What are you implying? That you regret marrying me and want me to be with someone else?"
Rita was taken aback by his anger. "No, I just mean... if there's someone else you have feelings for, you should be honest with yourself, not hide behind excuses."
He couldn't grasp the subtext of her words, and his annoyance was palpable. "Yes, I could have ended up with anyone from those dates. Does that answer satisfy you?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "Oh! I understand now!" The confirmation she needed was in his words. She was now certain—Jefferson had a secret crush on Neo and the marriage was just a smokescreen. The fear and worry that had plagued her dissipated; she had unraveled the mystery.