Act - 45: "Deception and Disclosure"

After a few tense moments, the door swung open, revealing a woman with an air of elegance and suspicion. It was Celine Mørk, Lars Mørk's wife. Her gaze swept over us, her expression guarded but polite.

"Hello, can I help you?" she inquired, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity tinged with caution.

I met her gaze with a warm smile, adopting the persona of Alex Makepeace, a smooth-talking door-to-door salesman. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Mørk. My name is Alex Makepeace," I introduced myself smoothly, extending a hand as if we were old acquaintances. "I'm here representing Sentinel Security Systems. We've recently launched a new state-of-the-art home security system, and I'd love to demonstrate its features for you today."

Beside me, Jaken and Tabaguchi stood respectfully, introduced as interns on their first day, eager to learn the ropes of the sales pitch.

"We're here to observe and learn," Jaken added, his voice earnest and polite.

Celine eyed us skeptically, her mind clearly weighing the pros and cons of inviting strangers into her home. "I'm not sure," she began cautiously, her brow furrowing slightly.

I leaned forward slightly, my tone reassuring and persuasive. "I completely understand your hesitation, Mrs. Mørk," I said smoothly. "But with crime rates on the rise in this neighborhood, it's crucial to stay one step ahead. Let us show you how Sentinel Security Systems can provide peace of mind for your family."

Tabaguchi stepped forward, adding to the charm offensive. "We're here to ensure you feel safe and secure," he said sincerely, his demeanor professional yet approachable.

After a moment's consideration, Celine's demeanor softened slightly, a flicker of interest sparking in her eyes. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear more," she conceded, opening the door wider and gesturing for us to come inside.

As we entered the Mørk residence, I exchanged a knowing glance with Jaken and Tabaguchi. Our plan was in motion, and now it was time to leverage every opportunity to gather the information we needed to deal with Lars Mørk.

The interior of the house was striking, decorated in a sophisticated monochrome palette. The furniture was sleek and modern, each piece a statement in black or white. A black leather sofa, its surface gleaming under the soft lighting, faced a low white coffee table with a glass top. Along the walls, abstract black-and-white paintings added a touch of contemporary art to the room. Even the vases and sculptures were meticulously chosen to fit the elegant color scheme.

"Impressive décor," Jaken murmured, his eyes scanning the room appreciatively.

"Indeed," I replied, stepping further inside. "Mrs. Mørk, you have a beautiful home."

Celine smiled modestly, clearly pleased by the compliment. "Thank you. We do take pride in our home."

As I looked around, my eyes landed on a series of framed photographs on a side table. One picture, in particular, caught my attention—a family portrait featuring Celine, Lars, and a young boy.

"Your family looks wonderful," I said, pointing to the picture. "Is your husband home today?"

Celine's smile faltered slightly, her gaze shifting away. "Oh, um, Lars is very busy with work. He's often traveling or caught up in meetings."

"That must be challenging," I said, maintaining a sympathetic tone. "It must be hard to manage everything when he's away so much."

She nodded, though her expression grew a bit more guarded. "Yes, it can be. But we manage."

Sensing an opening, I pried a bit further. "It must be quite demanding, especially with his busy schedule. Does he get to spend much time at home at all?"

Celine hesitated, her eyes flickering with something akin to uncertainty. "Well, Lars tries to be here as much as he can. But, you know, work is unpredictable."

I nodded thoughtfully, trying to keep the conversation light yet probing. "I can imagine. In our line of work, we see many families facing similar challenges. It makes the need for a good security system even more important, especially when one is often away."

Jaken and Tabaguchi exchanged subtle glances, picking up on the slight tension in Celine's voice. Every detail we gleaned would be crucial for our next steps.

As I looked at Celine, I couldn't help but think what a bastard Lars was, leaving his beautiful wife alone while having an affair behind her back. The weight of my thoughts bore down on me, and I felt a surge of empathy for her, making it impossible to maintain the pretense any longer.

"Mrs. Mørk," I began, my voice softening, "I'm sorry for approaching you this way, but there's something you need to know about your husband."

Her brows furrowed, confusion clouding her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Taking a deep breath, I locked eyes with her. "He's been having an affair," I said quietly, each word heavy with the truth. "I'm truly sorry you had to find out like this."

The impact of my words hit her like a physical blow. Her face paled, and her hands began to tremble in denial. "No," she whispered, shaking her head as if to ward off the reality. "That can't be true."

Silently, I pulled out my phone and showed her the email containing the proof of Lars's infidelity. She stared at the screen, her eyes widening in horror as she scanned the damning evidence. Her knees gave way, and she crumpled to the floor, a sob escaping her lips.

I stood up, feeling a mix of sorrow and resolve. Placing my business card on the coffee table, I leaned down, my voice stern but understanding. "I know deep inside you already suspected this. Believe me, I did want this to be this way but your husband is a shady man and If you want the truth of his true color I expect a call. I perfectly understand that feeling better than anyone. You feel like you're going crazy, like you're delusional, but that's just your gut instinct trying to tell you the hard truth, and you keep shrugging it off."

Celine's world was crumbling around her as she tried to come to terms with her husband's betrayal. On one hand, she couldn't ignore the damage it would do to their social standing and reputation. But on the other hand, she didn't want to confront the issue head-on, knowing it would only bring about more pain and chaos. She was torn between saving face in society and salvaging what was left of her shattered marriage. Seeking help seemed like her only option, but even that felt uncertain and daunting.

She fell silent, but I could tell by her expression that she was plotting her revenge. Her gaze drifted to the floor, tears streaming down her face and landing on the clean, checkered tiles. Suddenly, her sadness turned to anger and she yelled, "LEAVE! RIGHT NOW!"

As I stood in the doorway, I hesitated and turned back to her. Her tear-stained face was etched with betrayal and confusion. "What I've shown you is just a glimpse of his true character," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. With a heavy heart, I walked out of the house, carrying the weight of our conversation on my shoulders.

As we exited the Mørk residence, Jaken and Tabaguchi hurried to catch up with me, their faces a mix of confusion and frustration.

"Dio, why did you do that?" Jaken asked, his voice edged with concern. "We could have gotten more info. Now she's furious."

Tabaguchi's face contorted with worry as he nodded in agreement. "She probably won't trust us anymore after this," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

I turned to them, my posture tall and confident. "Trust me," I reassured, a sly grin spreading across my face. "By tomorrow, she'll be calling me for more information."

We all knew that the scandal surrounding this matter wouldn't only tarnish her reputation, but also bring shame to our entire family name if it got out.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 14

Skill Count: 2 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:23

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 5million kroner. 

Associate - 7

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers - 25

Company - 1