Duncan Veston and Orson, his ever-loyal executive assistant and confidant, arrived at the Tucker Mansion just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The grand estate loomed before them, its imposing silhouette a fitting prelude to the storm that was about to unfold, which Duncan already was expecting.
They had no interest in sharing a meal with the family—Duncan already knew what awaited him, and there was no appetite for pleasantries.
With quiet resolve, he declined the invitation and instead took refuge in the lounge, the very room where he and Bartolomeu Tucker had engaged in countless tense conversations over the years. Orson, ever at his side, remained watchful.
The heavy silence in the lounge was soon shattered by the measured tap of a cane against the polished marble floor. Bartolomeu entered with the kind of presence that demanded attention.
