Chapter 6 - The House Turns Against Its Master
Claire led Roman and Marcus into the estate office.
She pulled three months of inventory records from a cabinet.
“Look.”
Roman saw nothing unusual.
Claire pointed.
“Replacement smoke detectors.”
Marcus frowned.
“So?”
“We replaced them in April.”
“These were ordered in August.”
Roman looked at the quantity.
“Twenty-four.”
Claire nodded.
“Twenty-four rooms.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Cameras?”
“Or microphones,” Roman said.
They searched the first detector.
Inside was a tiny transmitter.
Marcus swore.
Claire folded her arms.
“Daniel wasn’t preparing for one night.”
Roman stared at the device.
“He’d been listening for months.”
That afternoon, investigators found seventeen more transmitters.
More importantly, one transmitted to a hidden receiver inside Daniel’s private office in Manhattan.
The receiver contained encrypted backups.
Financial transfers.
Recorded conversations.
Instructions.
Everything.
Daniel’s scheme collapsed under its own records.
Adrian agreed to cooperate fully.
Two days later, Roman met his brother in the estate library.
“You believed him instead of asking me.”
Adrian stared through the window.
“You never tell anyone anything.”
“That doesn’t excuse what you did.”
“I know.”
“You brought a stranger into my house.”
“I know.”
“He put his hands on Claire.”
Adrian turned.
“I didn’t order that.”
“But you made it possible.”
Silence.
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
Roman walked to the door.
“What happens now?”
“You cooperate. You tell investigators everything.”
“And us?”
Roman stopped.
“We’ll figure that out after you learn the difference between being family and being entitled to trust.”
Adrian accepted it.
When Roman returned to the kitchen, Claire was there.
Again.
This time there was no blood.
She was making tea.
“You have an entire staff,” Roman said.
“I like making my own.”
Roman sat at the island.
Claire glanced at him.
“How’s Adrian?”
“Alive. Annoying.”
“So, normal brother?”
Roman smiled faintly.
“Something like that.”
She handed him a cup.
“I’m resigning.”
His smile disappeared.
“No.”
Claire blinked.
“That isn’t how resignation works.”
“Why?”
She sat opposite him.
“Because every hallway reminds me of that night.”
Roman nodded slowly.
He understood.
Then she continued.
“And because I don’t want to be your housekeeper anymore.”
Something in his expression changed.
Claire noticed.
“I meant professionally.”
“Of course.”
“You looked terrified for a second.”
“I don’t get terrified.”
“Sure.”
Roman took a drink.
“What do you want?”
“A management position.”
“You already have one.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
“Director of Estate Operations.”
She stared at him.
“You created that.”
“This morning.”
“For me?”
“For the person who discovered a security breach, exposed my attorney, found illegal surveillance equipment, and insulted my security team repeatedly.”
“They deserved it.”
“I know.”
She tried not to smile.
“Salary?”
Roman named a number.
Claire nearly dropped her tea.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s market competitive.”
“For what market? Royal palaces?”
“Take the job.”
Claire looked at him for a long moment.
Then held out her hand.
“Six-month trial.”
Roman shook it.
“One year.”
“Six months.”
“Nine.”
“Seven.”
“Eight.”
Claire smiled.
“Deal.”
Roman didn’t release her hand immediately.
May you like
Neither did she.
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