Chapter 7 - No More Locked Doors
Eight months later, Claire Bennett controlled the Vale estate more effectively than anyone Roman had ever hired.
Including Roman.
“You cannot move the meeting to the west dining room.”
Roman looked up from his phone.
“It’s my house.”
“And the west dining room floor is being refinished.”
“Move the contractors.”
“No.”
Roman stared at her.
Claire stared back.
Marcus walked past the doorway.
“Don’t involve me.”
Roman called after him.
“Coward.”
“Survivor.”
Claire smiled.
Life at Blackridge had changed.
Daniel Mercer was awaiting trial on multiple charges tied to the break-in, surveillance operation, and financial scheme. Adrian had cooperated with investigators and moved out of New York while attempting to rebuild his relationship with Roman from a distance.
The estate’s entire security system had been replaced.
But the biggest change was smaller.
Claire no longer called him Mr. Vale.
Not when they were alone.
That had started three months earlier.
The rest had happened slowly.
Coffee after midnight.
Arguments over staffing.
Dinner after everyone else had gone home.
Roman learning that Claire hated expensive restaurants.
Claire learning Roman secretly watched terrible cooking competitions.
Neither mentioned what was happening between them until one snowy December evening.
Claire found Roman in the kitchen.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“No.”
“You canceled dinner.”
“Meeting.”
“Marcus said you canceled the meeting.”
Roman made a mental note to fire Marcus.
Again.
Claire leaned against the counter.
“Roman.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You’ve been strange for three days.”
“I’m always strange.”
“Different strange.”
Roman sighed.
“Your contract ends next month.”
“Yes.”
“You can leave.”
Claire frowned.
“That’s generally how employment works.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Her expression softened.
“Then offer me another contract.”
“This isn’t about the job.”
Silence.
Roman walked closer.
“I spent most of my life assuming everyone eventually wanted something from me.”
Claire said nothing.
“Money. Protection. Access. Fear.”
“And me?”
“You wanted better inventory procedures.”
She laughed.
Roman smiled.
Then became serious again.
“You walked into my cellar terrified and still told me the truth.”
“I was terrified of you too.”
“I know.”
“Not anymore.”
That landed harder than Roman expected.
Claire stepped closer.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Because of the job?”
“No.”
Roman searched her face.
“Then why?”
Claire smiled.
“Because apparently I’ve developed terrible judgment.”
He laughed quietly.
“That bad?”
“You’re a forty-one-year-old control freak who thinks every problem can be solved by locking a door.”
“Most problems can.”
“No.”
She reached for his hand.
“Sometimes you open one.”
Roman looked down at their joined hands.
The first time he had held her wrist in that kitchen, she had flinched.
Now she moved closer on her own.
He touched her cheek.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“Stay.”
Her eyes softened.
“I already told you.”
She kissed him.
Eight months earlier, blood in the kitchen had revealed that someone had entered Roman Vale’s house.
Now, standing beneath the same warm lights, Roman finally understood something far more dangerous to a man who had spent his entire life behind walls.
Claire Bennett had gotten inside too.
Only she hadn’t broken in.
May you like
He had opened the door.
And this time, Roman Vale had no intention of locking it again.
