Aria forced a laugh as Marcus guided her toward her assigned table. "Solutions he thought were suitable for business malpractices. That's exactly what they were. I wasn't even asking about that, he just delved into that topic on his own."
Marcus slightly released his hold on her waist, but she could sense his constant inspection as they strolled. Other visitors nodded and grinned at them—the picture of a successful couple together attending a business function.
"What kind of questions were you asking him then?" Marcus asked, his voice deliberately softened.
"Oh, the principles. What makes a company ethical? How can one spot good corporate governance? That kind of question. I'm embarrassed to admit how confused I got when he started talking about regulatory compliance and fiduciary responsibilities."
"I see," Marcus sat next to her, positioning himself such that he could see Aria and Adrian—who was now seated at the speaker's table. "And what would our friend Blackwood say on these subjects?"
"Mostly it's all very complicated, and people like me should rely on experienced professionals for direction." Aria gulped down the contents of her water glass and bought time to craft her answer. "He was really rather gentle about my ignorance."
Marcus' expression softened somewhat. "Well, at least he answered honestly about your need for appropriate direction. Did he suggest any particular books or websites for your study?"
"He advised I start with basic business courses before attempting to understand more complex corporate structures." Aria grinned at Marcus, clearly appreciative. "Which is exactly what you have been preaching all along."
"Exactly." Marcus was clearly satisfied. "I'm glad you're at last ready to listen to sensible advice instead of rushing into areas beyond your comprehension."
Aria had an opportunity to structure her ideas when the official lunch presentation started with opening remarks from the Chamber of Commerce president. She had been able to quell Marcus's immediate mistrust, but his unannounced attendance at the luncheon raised questions. Either he didn't buy her reason for attending, or it was a really terrible coincidence.
Marcus' focus turned totally to the stage when Adrian stepped onto the podium to deliver his keynote on corporate responsibility. Aria watched both men closely, noting how Marcus's jaw tightened every time Adrian spoke of openness or responsibility in corporate operations.
"Successful businesses are built on trust," Adrian said, his voice clear and easy across the ballroom. "The damage goes much beyond immediate financial losses when trust is betrayed by systematic deceit or dishonest behavior."
Marcus, speaking softly, leaned toward Aria. "Simple to teach about trust when you have never had to make tough decisions under duress."
"What do you mean?" Aria inquired innocuously.
"Blackwood came from a wealthy and connected family. He has never had to negotiate practical difficulties or create something from nothing. Most of us cannot afford luxury like his moral superiority."
'Unlike you, who started with nothing and decided stealing was easier than working.' Aria thought.
"I suppose that's why I need to learn from both viewpoints," she said aloud. "Your pragmatic expertise and his theoretical framework."
Marcus' posture softened with the compliments. "Indeed, sweetheart. Real business calls for knowledge that the world is not as black and white as academic models would want."
Marcus' interrogation started again during the drive home, asking apparently casual questions on her general impressions of the event.
Navigating through afternoon traffic, he asked, "Did you find it worth your time?"
"Educational, absolutely, though I realized how much I don't know. Some of the speakers used language I'd never heard before."
"Like what?"
"Asset diversification, risk management models, regulatory compliance rules, and so on. I took notes, but I'm not sure I understood half of what they meant."
Marcus chuckled. "Don't stress learning jargon by memory. What counts is knowing the fundamental ideas, which requires years of actual experience to acquire."
"Actually, that's what Mr. Blackwood said, that those in my line of work should concentrate on learning from reliable consultants instead of trying to independently master difficult ideas."
"Smart advice," Marcus said, his stress still releasing. "I hope you'll remember that when you come upon other... educational possibilities."
Back at home, Aria kept up her performance of passionate uncertainty, asking Marcus to clarify several business concepts while meticulously compiling data about his operations.
"I keep hearing about business security," she remarked across dinner. "Exactly what does that mean?"
Marcus stopped midway to his mouth with his fork. "In what context does this security apply?"
"Asset protection, I suppose? Someone at lunch discussed the need of safeguarding business interests from... what was the phrase... hostile interference?"
"Oh." Marcus relaxed his shoulders. "That's about stopping rivals from gaining access to confidential data or upsetting operations through legal challenges."
"Have you ever had to cope with such kind of interference?"
"Very sadly, yes. Some rivals will use any tactic to discredit prosperous companies, including launching baseless lawsuits or disseminating misleading allegations on business operations."
"Like charges of systematic theft? Aria inquired.
"That sounds demanding. In what ways might one guard against those kinds of assaults?"
Marcus' face became reflective. "Mostly, documentation. Maintaining thorough records of every transaction and choice will help to readily refute any allegations."
"And physical security? Do you find yourself concerned about people trying to view private data?"
"Periodically. Why would you like to know?"
Aria waved vaguely in their dining room. "Lately, I have been considering our house security. Given the recent neighborhood break-ins, I question whether we should update our security systems."
Marcus nodded gently in agreement. "That is quite reasonable. Improved security would guard not only our personal safety but also any business records I occasionally handle at home."
"Would you be okay if I looked at some choices? When you're on a business trip, I would want to feel safer."
Of course, beloved. Get whatever makes sense for you.
Excellent. Marcus had just given her permission to put cameras all around their house.
Later that evening, Aria positioned herself to hear bits of conversation while Marcus answered another of his personal calls on the balcony. She was scared by what she heard.
"...timeline has to be accelerated... Blackwood is getting too near..."
She strained to hear more as she got near the glass door.
"...don't care about slight details anymore... whatever it takes to stop his research..."
Marcus' face was grim when he at last cut off the call and came inside.
"Everything alright?" Aria asked, seeming worried.
"Just business complications," Marcus said, but his stress was clear. "Some rivals are acting more aggressively than usual."
"Is there anything I might do to help?"
Marcus seemed to be smiling under forced effort. "Sweetheart, just focus your attention on your education. Leave the difficult issues for me."
Unable to sleep through Marcus' snoring next to her that night, Aria slipped back to his study. Earlier she had seen him working on his laptop; if fortune was with her, he might have left it open.
Marcus had forgotten to close an email program shown on the laptop screen in the darkness. As Aria went over recent messages searching for anything that might expose the scope of his plans, her heart hammered.
Her hands trembled.
Marcus and several unidentified contacts had an email thread talking about "timeline acceleration" and "eliminating obstacles." And sent just hours earlier was the most recent mail which included a single eerie line:
'Blackwood inquiry has to be halted right away. Authorize the last resort.'
Minutes later, the response was equally horrific:
'Authorisation verified. Planned for tomorrow evening is implementation.'
Aria stared horrorfully at the screen. Marcus had scheduled for Adrian something about permanently stopping his research.