Chapter 3 - The Silver Trap
Carlo returned forty-three minutes later carrying a tablet.
Adrien waited in his study.
Elena stood near the window.
Isabella sat opposite Adrien with perfect posture.
Victoria paced.
Carlo placed the tablet on the desk.
“We found something.”
Isabella crossed her legs.
“Excellent.”
Carlo tapped the screen.
Security footage appeared.
A housemaid entered the staff corridor at 7:14 a.m.
Her face was partly hidden.
She opened Elena’s locker.
Placed something inside.
Walked away.
Elena stared.
“I don’t know her.”
Carlo nodded.
“Because she doesn’t work here.”
Adrien’s gaze moved to Isabella.
She remained composed.
Victoria stopped pacing.
“Who is she?”
Carlo changed the image.
Another camera showed the woman entering through the west service gate.
“She arrived in a Romano vehicle.”
Silence.
Isabella slowly stood.
“That proves nothing.”
Adrien’s expression gave away nothing.
“It proves she arrived in your car.”
“My father has dozens of employees.”
“And she entered my home using your family’s credentials.”
“Then speak to my father.”
“I intend to.”
Isabella’s composure cracked.
“You cannot seriously believe I planted silver in a maid’s locker.”
Adrien rose.
“No.”
She relaxed slightly.
Then he finished.
“I believe you ordered someone else to do it.”
Victoria whispered, “Adrien.”
He ignored her.
Isabella’s eyes flashed.
“You would humiliate me over her?”
“Elena was the person humiliated.”
“She is an employee.”
Adrien’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“And that makes her disposable?”
“That makes this ridiculous.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Stop.”
Everyone looked at her.
She looked at Adrien.
“I want to leave.”
His expression changed.
“You’re not dismissed.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I have a daughter who needs a mother more than I need this salary.”
Isabella smiled faintly.
Adrien noticed.
“Elena.”
“No.”
Elena held his gaze.
“You can protect me today. Tomorrow someone puts something else in my locker. Next week somebody follows Mia’s school bus. I don’t know this world.”
“No one will touch your daughter.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I just did.”
“You shouldn’t.”
Adrien stepped closer.
“You think I make promises casually?”
“I think powerful men believe promises become true because they say them.”
That stopped him.
Elena continued.
“My life doesn’t work that way.”
Mia’s voice suddenly floated from the corridor.
“Mommy?”
Elena turned.
The little girl came inside holding her rabbit.
She saw everyone.
Then she saw Adrien.
“Why is everyone mad?”
“No one is mad,” Elena said.
Adrien crouched.
“Your mother and I disagree.”
Mia looked at Elena.
“Is he wrong?”
Elena almost smiled.
“Yes.”
Adrien nodded.
“Possibly.”
Mia looked at Isabella.
“You’re the lady who can’t make him smile.”
Carlo coughed violently.
Isabella’s face reddened.
“Mia,” Elena warned.
Adrien stood.
Isabella grabbed her handbag.
“I will not stay here and be insulted by a child.”
Mia frowned.
“I didn’t insult you.”
Isabella walked toward the door.
Adrien spoke behind her.
“Do not return.”
She stopped.
Victoria whispered, “Adrien, think.”
“I have.”
Isabella turned.
“You’re ending a decade-long alliance for this?”
“No.”
Adrien looked at Elena.
“I’m ending it because you tried to destroy an innocent woman to preserve something that never existed.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Leave.”
Isabella did.
The room stayed silent.
Elena picked up Mia.
“I’m still resigning.”
Adrien’s jaw tightened.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No.”
“Mrs. Rossi.”
“You use ‘Mrs. Rossi’ when you want me to obey.”
“I use it because calling you Elena in front of my aunt somehow feels dangerous.”
Victoria made an offended sound.
Elena almost laughed.
Almost.
Adrien lowered his voice.
“One conversation.”
She hesitated.
“Five minutes.”
They went into the adjoining library.
Adrien shut the door.
“I understand why you’re afraid.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I understand more than you think.”
“You have guards.”
“So?”
“I have a three-year-old and seventy-four dollars until payday.”
Adrien stared at her.
She immediately regretted saying it.
“That wasn’t meant as a request.”
“I know.”
“That look says otherwise.”
“What look?”
“The one rich people get when they discover a problem they can solve with money.”
Adrien leaned against the desk.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing.”
“That is the problem.”
“What?”
“You never want anything.”
“That bothers you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone does.”
Elena folded her arms.
“Maybe you’re surrounded by the wrong people.”
“I increasingly suspect that.”
She looked toward the door.
“I should go.”
“Elena.”
It was the first time he had said her name without formality.
She stopped.
“My mother died when I was seventeen.”
Elena turned.
Adrien rarely spoke about his mother.
“I know.”
“You know the public version.”
“What is the private one?”
“My father chose business over coming home when threats started.”
He paused.
“My mother died while he was protecting an alliance.”
Elena’s expression softened.
“That’s why Isabella matters so much to your family.”
“Yes.”
“And why you hate it.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you refuse years ago?”
“Because refusing things wasn’t the same as wanting something else.”
“And now?”
Adrien’s gaze held hers.
“Now I am beginning to understand the difference.”
Elena’s breath caught.
She looked away.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Turn Mia into a reason to change your life.”
“I’m not.”
“You barely knew we existed two months ago.”
“I knew you existed.”
She looked back.
“For how long?”
“Seventeen months.”
Elena stared.
“You knew who I was?”
“You reorganized the kitchen schedule because staff were losing overtime.”
“That was me doing my job.”
“You challenged Collins about unpaid hours.”
“Yes.”
“You refused a Christmas bonus because he accidentally gave you another employee’s envelope.”
Elena went silent.
Adrien continued.
“I noticed you long before Mia walked into my study.”
“Then why never say anything?”
“Because you worked for me.”
That answer mattered.
More than Elena wanted it to.
Adrien stepped back.
“I will not ask you to stay for me.”
“Good.”
“I am asking you not to let Isabella make the decision for you.”
Elena looked through the glass door.
Mia was now sitting with Victoria.
Explaining the rabbit’s imaginary medical condition.
“You’ll actually keep us safe?”
“Yes.”
“Without putting six men outside my apartment?”
Adrien hesitated.
“Three?”
“No.”
“Two?”
“Adrien.”
The sound of his first name from her mouth surprised both of them.
He smiled.
A real one.
Elena stared.
Mia suddenly shouted from outside.
“Mommy! He did it!”
Adrien closed his eyes.
Elena laughed.
For that moment, the danger seemed far away.
It was not.
Because across Brooklyn, Isabella Romano was sitting in her father’s office.
Salvatore Romano listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he poured two glasses of whiskey.
“Adrien banned you from the estate?”
“Yes.”
“Over the maid?”
“Yes.”
Salvatore pushed one glass toward her.
“Then stop treating the maid like competition.”
Isabella looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Competition can be defeated.”
His eyes hardened.
May you like
“A weakness can be used.”
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