Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Gray Uniform
Sadie moved upstairs.
Not because Roman ordered her.
Because the photographs frightened her.
Her new room overlooked the gardens.
It had a fireplace.
A private bathroom.
And a closet larger than her basement bedroom.
Sadie confronted Roman immediately.
“This is ridiculous.”
Roman looked up from his desk.
“What is?”
“My room.”
“What's wrong with it?”
“It has a chandelier.”
“So?”
“Staff rooms don't have chandeliers.”
“You're obsessed with employment classifications.”
“Because I work for you.”
Roman closed the folder in front of him.
“Then quit.”
Sadie froze.
“What?”
“Quit.”
“Roman—”
“I'll pay you a year's salary.”
“I don't want your money.”
“Two years.”
“Stop buying solutions.”
Roman stood.
“Then tell me what you want.”
Sadie opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Roman walked around the desk.
“That's what I thought.”
A knock interrupted them.
Vincent entered.
His face immediately told Roman something was wrong.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Serrano's inside man.”
Sadie stepped back.
Roman's entire demeanor changed.
“Who?”
Vincent hesitated.
“Mrs. Donnelly.”
Sadie's face fell.
The senior housekeeper had worked at the estate for eleven years.
“That can't be right.”
Vincent handed Roman documents.
“Payments. Phone records. Security schedules.”
Roman read them.
“Where is she?”
“Gone.”
Sadie's eyes widened.
“When?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Roman looked toward the window.
Then at Sadie.
“Lock the estate.”
Vincent nodded.
Roman reached for his phone.
Sadie interrupted.
“Wait.”
Both men looked at her.
“Mrs. Donnelly wouldn't leave without her medicine.”
Roman frowned.
“What medicine?”
“Heart medication. She keeps it in the pantry.”
Vincent looked at Roman.
They hurried downstairs.
The medication was still there.
Sadie stared at it.
“She didn't plan to run.”
Roman understood immediately.
“She's still here.”
A security alarm sounded.
Vincent touched his earpiece.
“Movement near the west service gate.”
Roman turned.
“Stay here.”
Sadie grabbed his sleeve.
“Roman.”
He looked down at her hand.
“Don't do anything stupid.”
His eyebrow rose.
“That's generally my line.”
Then he left.
Twenty minutes later, Mrs. Donnelly was found hiding in an unused storage room.
She hadn't betrayed Roman willingly.
Serrano had threatened her son.
Roman questioned her privately.
Sadie waited outside.
When the door opened, Mrs. Donnelly was crying.
Roman followed.
Sadie looked between them.
“What happens now?”
Roman answered.
“Her son gets protection.”
Mrs. Donnelly stared at him.
“And me?”
“You're leaving Long Island tonight.”
Her face collapsed.
Roman continued.
“Vincent has arranged somewhere safe.”
Mrs. Donnelly covered her mouth.
“Why?”
Roman looked at Sadie.
Then back at the older woman.
“Because fear makes people do things they wouldn't normally do.”
He walked away.
Sadie followed.
“You're letting her go?”
“Yes.”
“I thought betrayal was unforgivable.”
“It usually is.”
“What changed?”
Roman stopped.
“You.”
Sadie's expression softened.
“That's a dangerous thing to tell me.”
“Why?”
“Because I might start thinking you're a decent man.”
Roman almost smiled.
“Don't ruin my reputation.”
That evening, Sadie entered the kitchen.
Roman was sitting at the breakfast table again.
Same chair.
Same Scotch.
No cigar.
The white roses remained near the sink.
Sadie sat across from him.
Roman looked surprised.
“You're voluntarily sitting with me?”
“Don't make it weird.”
“Too late.”
Sadie studied him.
“Why haven't you ever married?”
Roman's eyebrows lifted.
“That's abrupt.”
“You interrogated me about Toby.”
“Fair.”
He looked at his glass.
“Marriage creates weaknesses.”
“And now?”
Roman looked at her.
“Apparently flowers do too.”
Sadie smiled.
May you like
This time, Roman didn't tell her to stop.
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