Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN IN THE RED DRESS|
Victor Costa arrived at the estate that evening wearing a charcoal suit and a smile that had always made Roman suspicious.
He was Roman's cousin, though the family resemblance ended with their dark hair and expensive wardrobes. Victor preferred attention. He enjoyed being admired, feared, and invited into rooms where people were too intimidated to ask what he actually contributed.
Roman had spent years cleaning up the consequences of Victor's ambition.
Now he had evidence that Victor had been stealing money from a young woman whose father had died under suspicious circumstances.
“Roman,” Victor said, entering the study without knocking. “I heard you wanted to see me.”
“I did.”
“Should I be worried?”
“That depends on how honest you intend to be.”
Victor laughed.
“Always so dramatic.”
Roman placed a ledger on the desk.
“Norah Bennett's wages.”
Victor's smile barely changed.
“What about them?”
“The debt was paid six months ago. The deductions continued.”
“Administrative error.”
“Your account received the money.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“You're accusing me of stealing from a maid?”
“I'm asking you to explain the records.”
“Then ask your accountant. I'm not responsible for every transaction in this organization.”
Roman leaned back in his chair.
“You signed the authorization.”
Victor glanced at the ledger.
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
“I'll have it reviewed.”
“You'll have it reviewed tonight.”
Victor's smile returned, but it no longer reached his eyes.
“Of course.”
He left without another word.
Roman watched him go.
A moment later, Marcus entered.
“There's another issue.”
“Of course there is.”
“Sloane Mercer called the main office. She claims she's an old friend of Norah's.”
Roman looked up.
“Who?”
“Sloane Mercer. She arrived in the city three weeks ago. She has been asking about the household staff.”
“Why?”
“We don't know.”
Roman stood.
“Find out.”
Meanwhile, Norah was carrying fresh linens through the east corridor when a woman in a red dress emerged from the guest suite.
She was beautiful in the deliberate way of someone who treated every room like a stage. Her auburn hair fell over one shoulder, and her diamond earrings flashed beneath the chandelier.
“You must be Norah.”
Norah stopped.
“Yes.”
“I'm Sloane.”
The woman extended a manicured hand.
Norah did not take it.
Sloane smiled as though she found the hesitation amusing.
“Don't worry. I'm not here to steal your job.”
“I wasn't concerned.”
“Good. I like a woman with confidence.”
Sloane glanced toward the study.
“Roman seems rather interested in you.”
Norah's stomach tightened.
“He's my employer.”
“Of course.”
The smile on Sloane's face suggested she did not believe a word of it.
“Tell me something, Norah. Has he ever asked you about your father?”
Norah's grip tightened around the linens.
“Why would he?”
“Because your father knew something that could destroy several powerful men.”
The corridor seemed to grow colder.
Sloane stepped closer.
“Men like Roman Costa don't keep people around because they're kind. They keep them because they're useful.”
Norah tried to move past her.
Sloane caught her wrist.
“Listen to me. If Roman starts asking questions about your father's death, don't answer them.”
“Let go.”
Sloane released her.
“I'm trying to help you.”
“No. You're trying to frighten me.”
For the first time, Sloane's expression changed.
Then she smiled again.
“Perhaps you're smarter than you look.”
She walked away.
Norah hurried toward the servants' stairs, but before she reached them, a housekeeper stopped her.
“Mr. Costa wants you in the study.”
Norah entered to find Roman standing beside the window.
He turned.
“Did Sloane Mercer speak to you?”
Norah stared at him.
“How do you know?”
“Answer the question.”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Norah hesitated.
“She asked about my father.”
Roman's face became still.
“What exactly did she ask?”
“She said he knew something that could destroy powerful men.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“And did she threaten you?”
“She didn't have to.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then, quietly, he said, “From now on, you won't be alone in this house.”
Norah's eyes flashed.
“I'm not asking you to imprison me for my own protection.”
“That's not what I'm doing.”
“Then stop making decisions about my life without asking me.”
Roman had no answer.
Before he could find one, Marcus rushed into the room.
“Boss, we found Sloane's connection to Victor.”
He placed a photograph on the desk.
Sloane stood beside Victor outside a private club.
Their hands were joined.
On the back was a date from three years earlier.
Marcus spoke carefully.
“They've been working together for a long time.”
Roman looked at the photograph.
May you like
Then he looked at Norah.
“Whatever your father discovered,” he said, “they're afraid you might find it.”
