Parrot's Secret

In the dead of night, Echo, the parrot in the living room, suddenly spoke.

I'll call you back later. He isn't asleep yet.

I bolted upright on the sofa.

The living room was dead silent, save for the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock.

Echo stood on his perch, head tilted, his bead-like green eyes shifting.

"Don't use the trust fund account. He'll notice."

The tone was a perfect imitation of my wife's. Even that slight upward lilt at the end of her sentences was there.

I froze, a sudden chill creeping down my spine.

Tina had never uttered those words in front of me. And I had certainly never taught them to Echo.

Echo pecked at his feathers and fell silent again, acting as if nothing had happened.

I slowly leaned back onto the sofa, my eyes locked onto him.

The next morning, I moved his perch to the far corner of the living room, right opposite Tina's study desk.

I needed to hear every word she left unsaid.

"Phillip, didn't you sleep well last night? Why did you move Echo over here?"

Tina walked out of the kitchen, holding two mugs of warm milk. She was wearing her loungewear, her collar slightly loose, her gold-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. As always, she looked the picture of gentle elegance.

"It gets drafty by the window. I didn't want him to catch a cold."

I took the mug and took a sip. The temperature was spot-on. Not too hot, not too cold.

In our five years of marriage, she had mastered the exact temperature I preferred for my milk. What a wonderfully sweet, attentive wife.

"True, autumn is setting in."

She sat opposite me. Her gaze swept over the bird perch now facing her desk, and she paused for a fraction of a second.

"It's nice here. I can play with him while I work."

"Yeah."

I didn't look up, focusing on cutting the fried egg on my plate.

The doorbell rang. Tina set her mug down.

"Who could that be so early?"

She walked over to open the door. A man stood outside, wearing a light khaki trench coat over a white silk shirt. It was the exact same limited-edition shirt hanging in my closet.

"Good morning, Director."

Gavin smiled eagerly. He held a few blue folders in his hands.

"For this morning's signing ceremony, there are a couple of supplementary agreements that need your eyes."

Tina frowned slightly, but her voice remained soft.

"Why didn't you just email them?"

"It involves confidential financial details. Physical copies are safer."

As Gavin spoke, his gaze drifted past Tina's shoulder, landing on me.

"Morning, Phillip."

"Morning."

I laid down my fork and wiped my mouth with a napkin.

Gavin was the financial director of the Aurora Foundation, handpicked and promoted by Tina. He was young, handsome, and an Ivy League graduate.

"Come on in," I said, standing up.

"I hope I'm not interrupting your breakfast?"

Gavin swapped his shoes and walked inside. Instead of sitting on the living room sofa, he walked straight to Tina's desk. He moved with a familiarity that made it seem like his own home.

"Look at this part, Tina."

He spread the folders open, leaning in slightly, his arm brushing against hers. She didn't pull away.

"I think we can push this budget down another five percent."

"Too aggressive. Better to play it safe."

They spoke in hushed tones. I watched from the side. I watched their shadows overlap because they were standing so close. I saw the faint red mark on Gavin's neck, just below his collar. That was no mosquito bite.

Flap.

Echo suddenly fluttered his wings.

"Be good, don't make a scene."

Echo mimicked. His voice was high and feminine, carrying a hint of playful coquetry.

The two at the desk froze instantly. Tina's hand trembled, almost dropping the folder, and Gavin's face went pale.

A dead silence fell over the room.

I walked over, picked up my glass, and poured some warm water.

"The bird's been mimicking TV lines lately. I left a drama playing last night. He must have picked it up."

Tina let out a forced laugh.

"Right, he's a clever bird. Mimics everything."

She snapped the folder shut.

"Alright, Gavin. I've reviewed the agreements. Everything looks fine. Head back to the office."

"Will do, Tina."

Gavin scrambled to pack up his things, his movements clumsy. At the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at me.

"Phillip, you know, you don't have to stay home watching TV all day."

"Oh?"

"The foundation is swamped lately. You are the founder, after all. You should drop by once in a while, otherwise everyone will forget you and only recognize Tina."

His smile held a trace of provocation.

"Gavin, watch your tone with Phillip," Tina snapped, her expression hardening. "Phillip isn't in the best health. Staying home to rest was my idea."

"Of course. You pamper your husband so much, we're all dying of jealousy."

Gavin pushed the door open and left.

Tina shut the door, walked over to me, and wrapped her arm around my shoulders.

"Don't mind him. He's young and blunt, but he doesn't mean any harm."

"I know." I gently brushed her hand off. "I'm going to change. I need to head out."

"Where to?"

"Just a spa appointment."

I walked into the bedroom and shut the door. The calm on my face vanished instantly.

I walked to the deepest corner of the walk-in closet. Opening a drawer with a digital lock, I pulled out a burner phone. I turned it on and dialed.

It rang three times before someone picked up.

"Hello." The voice was cool and lazy.

"Audrey, it's me."

Audrey. A senior partner at a top-tier accounting firm, my college classmate of four years, and once my fiercest rival.

"Well, Phillip. What a rare surprise." The rustle of papers came through the line.

"I need a favor."

"Shoot."

"Audit some accounts for me."

"Which ones?"

"The Aurora Foundation."

The rustle of papers stopped.

"Your wife's turf? You're digging into her?"

"Don't ask. Are you in?"

"I'm in."

"How long do you need?"

"Depends on how deep you want to go."

"Everything. The ledgers, the cash flow, especially the offshore accounts."

Silence stretched for a couple of seconds.

"That's a massive undertaking. She isn't careless."

"I'll give you an entry point."

"Deal. I'll wait for your signal."

"Keep this absolutely quiet," I said, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

"Don't worry. You know my rules."

I hung up, changed into a sharp black suit, and walked out.

Tina was adjusting her scarf.

"Sweetheart, what do you want for lunch? I'll have the maid prepare it."

She looked at me, her eyes full of warmth. I walked over and adjusted her collar.

"Anything is fine."

"You're always so easygoing." She took my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm off to the office. I have a dinner tonight, so I might be late."

"Okay."

I watched her walk out. The moment the door clicked shut, I turned and went straight to her desk.

Underneath was a wastebasket. Inside lay a crumpled piece of paper. I picked it up and smoothed it out.

It was a discarded draft of the supplementary agreement Gavin had brought over. On it was a handwritten figure: 8,000,000.

Next to it, an arrow pointed to a scribbled abbreviation: C.I. Cayman Islands.

I let out a cold laugh. Folding the paper, I slipped it into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and texted Audrey:

"Start with the foundation's Spark Initiative renovation project. Focus on the overseas procurement budget."

She replied instantly.

"Got it. When are we pulling the net?"

"Soon," I typed back. "I'm going back to work at the foundation tomorrow."

"Phillip, the files for the Spark Initiative have been archived. If you want to review them, you'll need to go through the approval process," Gavin said over the phone. His tone was purely professional, carrying an almost imperceptible hint of smugness.

"An approval process?"

I sat in my car, looking up at the glass facade of the Aurora Building.

"Yes. Tina set a new rule yesterday. Any access to core project accounts requires her signature."

"Right. Got it."

I hung up, pushed the car door open, and stepped out.

The Aurora Foundation. The passion project I had built from the ground up five years ago. Back then, Tina was just a struggling girl who couldn't secure a dime of funding. I had gone against my family's wishes, using our resources to pave her way, handing her the director's seat.

I had stepped back, keeping only the empty title of founder. And now, she was making the rules.

I walked into the lobby. The two receptionists froze when they saw me.

"Mr... Mr. Phillip?"

"Morning."

I walked straight to the elevator. When I reached the top floor, the executive suite was quiet.

I walked up to Tina's office. The door wasn't fully closed, leaving a narrow crack. Whispers drifted out.

"Why did you block him? If he wants to see them, let him." It was Tina's voice.

"Tina, there's a deficit of nearly two million on the books. What if he catches on?" Gavin's voice was tense.

"Catch on to what? He's a house husband who hasn't touched a financial statement in five years. Do you honestly think he can decipher cooked books?" Tina sneered. "Besides, even if he did, he wouldn't make a scene."

"You're that sure?"

"He's head over heels for me. He gave up his family's business just for me. You think he'd turn on me over a little money?"

I stood outside the door. My hand hovered in mid-air, my fingertips feeling cold.

So that was what I was to her. A gullible idiot.

"But..."

"No buts, Gavin. You're getting soft."

The sound of a chair rolling back echoed from inside.

"I'm just worried about your plan. Once that money is transferred, when are you going to show your hand to him?" Gavin's voice softened.

"Soon. After next month's board meeting, when we officially secure complete control of the foundation."

I took a deep breath, took two steps back, and let my leather shoes click loudly against the floor.

I pushed the door open.

Tina was sitting behind her desk, with Gavin standing close by. Their distance looked professional enough now, but Gavin's breathing was shallow and rapid.

"Phillip? What are you doing here?" Tina stood up immediately, her face lighting up with surprise.

"I was bored at home, so I thought I'd drop by." I smiled, stepping past her outstretched hands, and sat on the sofa. "Gavin's here too."

"Phillip," Gavin said, pulling at his collar as he looked down.

"I called earlier to check the Spark Initiative files. Gavin mentioned I needed your signature?" I looked at Tina.

Her face stiffened for a second, then she glared at Gavin.

"Nonsense! Phillip is the founder. Why would he need a signature to look at the books?" She turned back to me with an apologetic smile. "Honey, Gavin is still new. He doesn't know how things work around here. He's too rigid."

"He was just following the rules you set. He did nothing wrong." I picked up the glass of water on the table but didn't drink. "But the Spark Initiative was something I personally oversaw. Since it's being renovated, I just wanted to check on the progress."

"Of course, absolutely." Tina shot Gavin a look. "Go on, fetch the ledgers."

Gavin bit his lip.

"Tina, those books are in the safe. The key... you have it."

Tina blinked.

"Oh, right. Look at my memory." She walked over to her desk and pulled open a drawer, pretending to search through it. "Oh dear, I must have left the key at home."

She turned around, looking thoroughly apologetic.

"Sweetheart, what bad timing. How about I grab it from the house this afternoon and show you then?"

I watched her perform. It was a clumsy act.

"Don't worry about it. It's not that urgent anyway."

Tina visibly relaxed.

"Exactly. You aren't in the best health. Why stress over these details?" She walked over and put her arm around my shoulder. "Come on, lunch is on me. Let's get French."

"No, I have plans." I pulled away from her hand.

"Plans with whom?" Her eyes flickered.

"An old college classmate. She's in town, so we're grabbing a quick bite."

"A she?" Tina's expression soured instantly. "Phillip, you're a married man. Meeting a female classmate alone doesn't look good."

Her tone was heavy with accusation. A classic guilt trip.

"It's just lunch. What's wrong with that?"

"I don't like you getting close to other women. You're my husband, you need to think about your reputation." She raised her voice slightly.

In the past, whenever she used this tone, I would back down to protect her pride, to prove I was loyal.

I smiled.

"Fine. I won't go."

Tina beamed.

"That's my husband. Let's go, I'll keep you company."

She turned to grab her coat. I watched her back, pulled out my phone, and messaged Audrey:

"Meeting canceled. The ledgers are locked in Tina's office safe. German model, C-400."

Audrey replied almost instantly.

"Got it. I need the passcode to that safe before midnight."

"Consider it done."

I put my phone away and followed Tina out of the office.

Gavin stood at the end of the hallway, watching us leave. His eyes were filled with envy and spite.

In the elevator, Tina took my hand.

"Honey, you aren't mad at me, are you?"

"About what?"

"About not letting you see your classmate. I only did it because I care."

"I know."

"Good. By the way, next Friday is the foundation's fifth anniversary. Get ready."

"For what?"

"Just show up, say a few words. And..." She paused, her tone turning casual. "Announce at the event that you are transferring some of your decision-making rights to me. I've been running things for years anyway. It looks odd to outsiders if I don't have the official authority."

I turned to look at her reflection in the polished elevator doors. She was finally making her move.

"Sure," I said softly. "If you think you can handle it."

"Honey, you're so understanding. I was worried you'd think Gavin is too young to handle things," Tina called out from the kitchen, washing strawberries. She was in an exceptionally good mood tonight, probably because I had agreed to hand over my authority on the drive home.

I sat on the sofa, a slim laptop open on my knees.

"He might be young, but he's capable. If you trust him, I have no objections." I typed away, my voice flat.

On my screen was an encrypted email Audrey had just sent. I entered the passcode and opened it.

It was a corporate registry chart of an offshore company. Peeling back the layers of shell corporations, the final beneficial owner was revealed in three words: Gavin Reid.

And the source of funds was clearly marked as the Aurora Foundation's primary account.

Over two years, like ants moving dirt, they had funneled nearly fifty million dollars out of the foundation.

I shut the laptop, closing my eyes, and took a slow breath.

Fifty million.

That was money from countless kind-hearted donors, sponsorships I had personally secured to build schools for children in impoverished areas.

Tina, you really are a piece of work.

"What's wrong? Feeling unwell?" Tina walked over with a bowl of strawberries, looking at me with concern.

"I'm fine. Just spent too much time looking at the screen. My eyes are tired." I took a strawberry and bit into it. It was sweet.

"Then stop looking at it. Honestly, it's not like you need the money. Why keep stressing yourself?" She sat beside me, resting her hand on my thigh. "By the way, Phillip, there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

Here it comes.

"What is it?"

"The foundation has its eye on an overseas medical aid project. The returns are incredible, but the initial funding gap is quite large." She looked at me with earnest eyes.

"How much do you need?"

"Thirty million." She paused. "I was thinking, don't you have that family trust fund? Could we pull some from there just to cover the temporary gap?"

I stared at her.

My family trust fund. That was the final safety net my father had left me. It required my physical signature to touch. She was finally reaching for that.

"The trust fund is heavily protected. Moving assets out of it is incredibly complicated, and the returns are fixed. It's not meant for risky investments," I declined gently.

Tina's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered.

"I know it's a hassle, but this is for the foundation's growth. You're the founder. You wouldn't want to watch this project fall apart, would you?"

"Doesn't the foundation still have twenty million in reserves?"

"That money... it was already used to cover some previous deficits." Her eyes darted away.

"What deficits?" I pressed.

"Oh, just some general operating losses. You don't understand the day-to-day logistics anyway, so don't worry about it." Her impatience flared, her voice rising. "Look, all you need to do is sign. I'm your wife. Would I ever do anything to hurt you?"

That same sense of entitlement.

"I can't touch that money," I said coldly.

Tina snapped, standing up abruptly.

"Phillip, what is that supposed to mean? Are you keeping secrets from me?" She pointed a finger at me, her voice sharp. "For five years, who worked day and night to build this foundation? Me! And what did you do? You sat at home playing the wealthy gentleman! Now I'm asking you to support my work, and you're making excuses!"

"Your work?" I stood up, staring her down. "Who provided the starting capital for Aurora? Who gave you the seat you are sitting in? Tina, without my family, you would be absolutely nothing."

In our five years of marriage, this was the first time I had ever spoken to her like this.

Tina froze, staring at me in disbelief, as if looking at a stranger. Then, pure fury took over.

She raised her hand. I didn't flinch, meeting her gaze coldly.

Seeing my eyes, her hand stopped in mid-air. Instead, she swept it sideways, knocking a ceramic vase off the table.

Crash!

Shards of porcelain shattered across the floor.

"Fine. Great." She gritted her teeth. "Phillip, do you honestly think you're still that powerful heir? Your family's business is practically gone! The only thing you have left to rely on is me!"

She snatched her car keys, slammed the door, and stormed out.

The house fell back into dead silence. I looked at the shattered porcelain, knelt down, and began to clean up the mess.

No tears. Only absolute clarity.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Gavin, showing an image of Tina sitting in a dark booth at a bar, her scarf loosened, leaning against Gavin's chest with a glass in her hand.

The caption read: "Tina was upset, so I'm keeping her company for a few drinks. Phillip, a woman needs understanding. If you're too controlling, you'll only push her away."

I stared at the screen and smiled. I saved the photo, then forwarded it to Audrey with a simple note:

"She won't be home before midnight tomorrow. I'll get you the passcode to the safe."

Audrey's reply was short:

"Get ready."

I stood up, threw the broken porcelain into the trash, and walked over to Echo's cage.

"Echo."

"Don't use the account... Don't use the account..." the parrot repeated, fluttering inside the cage.

I threw a black cloth over the cage, blocking out the light.

"Tomorrow," I whispered to the empty room. "Tomorrow, I'll bring the papers to sign at the board meeting. I'll give her the show she wants."

"Director, today's board meeting is the main event. Are you ready?" Gavin whispered just outside the conference room. I caught the tail end of his words as I turned the corner and stopped in my tracks.

Tina stood with her back to me, smoothing the lapels of her blazer.

"Everything is set. Once he signs the authorization today, this foundation will belong to me entirely." She let out a cold laugh. "The moment the funds clear, I'm kicking that useless weight out of my life. I'm sick of looking at his miserable face every single day."

"Oh, Tina, you're cruel." Gavin smiled, tracing a circle on her chest with his finger. "So, what does that make me?"

"You'll be the official spouse, of course." Tina caught his hand and planted a kiss on it.

I stood in the shadows of the hallway, watching them. My stomach churned, but I forced the disgust down. My brain told me now was not the time to flip the table. Let them climb as high as they want first. The fall is spectacular from the top.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out, letting the rhythmic click of my shoes announce my presence.

Hearing the footsteps, the two broke apart instantly.

Tina turned around, her venomous expression shifting effortlessly into a warm, gentle smile. The speed of her transition was sickening.

"Phillip, you're here. I had a bit too much to drink last night and slept at the office. You aren't mad at me, are you?"

She stepped closer, reaching to wrap her arms around my waist. I stepped aside, avoiding her touch.

"Let's start the meeting." I pushed the door open, my face completely blank.

Inside sat a dozen board members, all veterans who had built this foundation with me. When I walked in, a few looked up in surprise. I had lived in seclusion for years, and it had been a long time since I had shown my face at an official gathering.

Tina followed me inside, walking straight to the head of the table. She took the primary seat. I took a side seata subtle but telling arrangement.

"Everyone, thank you for coming to this emergency board meeting. We have two main items on the agenda today," Tina began, her voice commanding and professional.

"First, an internal personnel adjustment. Gavin Reid has shown outstanding performance during his tenure as financial director. I propose we appoint him as the Deputy Secretary-General to assist with daily operations."

Silence met her words. Deputy Secretary-General was a position of real power. Several board members exchanged glances, their eyes shifting toward me.

I kept my head down, staring at the glass of water in front of me, saying nothing.

Seeing my lack of reaction, a smug smile spread across Tina's face.

"Since there are no objections, we'll make it official." She turned to Gavin. "Gavin, hand out the documents."

Gavin walked around the table with a sway in his step, placing a folder in front of each member. The final folder was laid before me.

The Aurora Foundation Full Decision-Making Transfer Agreement.

"The second item," Tina said, crossing her hands on the table, her eyes locked onto me.

"Due to Phillip's health, he is unable to participate in the long-term management of the foundation. For the sake of Aurora's future, Phillip has decided to transfer all his decision-making rights, personnel appointments, and fund allocation authority over to me."

The room erupted into quiet murmurs. This meant I would be completely stripped of power, leaving the foundation as Tina's personal empire.

"Phillip, is this..." one of the older board members started.

"Everyone, this is a decision Phillip reached after careful consideration," Tina interrupted, her voice firm. "Isn't that right, honey?"

She stared at me, her eyes carrying an unspoken warning. Yesterday she couldn't get her hands on my trust fund, so today she wanted the foundation's lifeblood. Her greed knew no bounds.

I set my glass of water down, looking up to let my gaze sweep across the room. Then I picked up the agreement and flipped through the pages.

"This is a very thorough agreement," I said quietly.

Pure joy flashed across Tina's face. She quickly pulled a pen from her pocket and offered it to me.

"Then let's sign it. Once it's done, you can relax at home without any worries."

Gavin stood behind her, his lips curving into a smug grin.

I took the pen and pulled off the cap. Under the collective gaze of the room, the tip of my pen hovered over the signature line.

Tina held her breath.

Click.

I capped the pen and tossed it onto the table. The sharp sound echoed loudly in the quiet room.

"I'm not signing."

The smile froze on Tina's face.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not signing." I leaned back in my chair, looking at her coldly. "Not only am I refusing to sign this, but I am also rejecting Gavin's appointment as Deputy Secretary-General."