Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 107

Caspar's POV:

Another morning after the wedding.

I got up early, and Audrey got drunk last night for some reason and hasn't woken up yet.

I adjusted my tie in the mirror, preparing for our farewell lunch at the Cole estate before our flight back to New York this afternoon.

After Clara and Finley's wedding, Robert Cole had insisted on hosting us for one final meal—"A proper send-off," as he'd put it.

I'd expected their driver to pick us up around noon, but a knock on our hotel suite door at barely nine in the morning caught me by surprise.

Edward answered with his usual efficiency, revealing Ethan Cole standing in the hallway, dressed in a casual navy blazer and slacks.

"Ethan," I said, checking my watch with raised eyebrows. "You're about three hours early."

Ethan's face broke into a familiar grin as he stepped into the suite.

"What, not thrilled to see me so early?" he teased.

He noticed Noah peeking from behind my legs and crouched down slightly.

"Hey there, Noah. Looking sharp today."

Noah returned a small, polite smile.

Though he'd begun expressing himself more recently, he still retreated into silence when facing unfamiliar people or when his mood darkened.

"Noah," I said gently, "Edward will help you get ready for our visit."

Edward stepped forward. "Come along, Noah. Let's get you properly dressed for the day."

Noah nodded and followed Edward to his room.

I gestured for Ethan to take a seat in our suite's living area, settling into the armchair across from him.

"So," I said, leaning back. "What brings you to my door at this hour? "

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head.

"Nothing gets past you, does it, Caspar? "

Leaning forward slightly, his expression shifted to something more serious.

"Truth is, there's something I wanted to ask your help with."

I raised an eyebrow. "Since when did we become so formal? We've been friends for years. Whatever you need, just ask."

"It's about my sister," he said quietly.

My brow furrowed automatically. Daisy?

"Not Daisy," he clarified quickly. "The one who was taken twenty-six years ago."

I nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"I know this is a lot to ask," Ethan continued, running a hand through his hair.

"But I'm rarely in New York, and that's your territory. You have connections I could never access. If there's any chance of finding her..."

"Of course I'll help," I said without hesitation.

"Send me everything you've gathered over the years. I'll have my team look into it."

Ethan's expression turned uncomfortable. "That's the problem. "

He let out a humorless laugh. "Every lead we've had has gone cold. I literally have no idea where to start anymore."

"And the kidnappers?" I asked.

"Dead." His voice had a finality to it that required no elaboration. "They were... dealt with. No survivors to question."

I understood the implication.

"I'll do what I can, Ethan," I said, meeting his gaze. "But I should be clear—finding her after all this time would be extremely difficult. I can't promise success."

"I understand," Ethan nodded. "But even a small chance is better than none."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower.

"I need to ask one more thing, though. Complete discretion. Daisy and my mother can't know about this."

I frowned slightly. "Have you thought about what happens if we actually find her? You plan to keep it a secret forever?"

Ethan's face brightened with unexpected optimism.

"Oh, that part will be easy. Daisy used to complain all the time when we were kids about having only brothers. She always wanted a sister."

He smiled, as if that solved everything.

"And Mom? She'd be thrilled to have another daughter. "

I took another sip of my whiskey to hide my skepticism.

Ethan was treating this like we were surprising his family with a puppy, not reintroducing a daughter who'd been missing for twenty-six years.

He was making this far too simple.

"Look at the time," Ethan said, checking his watch. "We should probably head over."

Just then, the door to Audrey's adjoining suite opened.

She stepped through, dressed in an elegant emerald dress.

Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, giving her an intellectual and elegant appearance.

I stood immediately, my eyes scanning her face with concern.

"Are you feeling alright? After last night..."

I let the sentence trail off, remembering how Clara had brought Audrey to me, asking me to ensure she got back safely.

Audrey had been notably intoxicated, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy.

Audrey's lips curved into a small, embarrassed smile.

"I'm fine. Just a slight headache."

She smoothed a hand over her dress.

"I hope I'm not interrupting something important," she added, glancing between Ethan and me.

"Not at all. We were just finishing up."

Noah emerged from his bedroom, now dressed in his small suit that matched mine almost exactly.

Edward followed behind, nodding to me that everything was ready.

"Everyone's set," Ethan said, standing. "Let's go."

---

The Cole estate was an impressive Georgian mansion set back from the road by nearly a quarter mile of perfectly manicured lawns.

As our limousine pulled up to the circular driveway, I could see Robert and Sara Cole waiting at the entrance

We exchanged greetings in the grand foyer, Sara Cole fussing over Noah with excessive enthusiasm.

"Where's Clara?" Audrey asked immediately, her eyes scanning the entryway. "Is she not joining us?"

"Oh, she's resting upstairs," Sara answered, her smile faltering slightly.

"She had a small accident this morning. "

Finley appeared from a side room, his expression unreadable. "She's in our room."

"She and Finley visited the clinic this morning," Sara added, her laugh sounding forced. "Just to be safe. You know how cautious Finley is about her."

I noticed the flush that crept up Finley's neck at his mother's words. Something wasn't right here.

"I'd like to see her," Audrey said firmly, concern evident in her eyes.

"Of course, dear," Sara replied.

Finley stepped forward. "I'll take you up. Clara would really like to see you right now."

Audrey's expression tightened at his words, her suspicion clearly growing.

With a quick nod, she hurried to follow Finley toward the grand staircase.