Chapter 4 - The Maid Who Refused His Money
The next morning, I returned to the estate.
Victor looked irritated when I walked into his study.
“I told you not to work.”
“I'm not working.”
I placed an envelope on his desk.
“What is this?”
“Money.”
“Obviously.”
“My savings.”
Victor opened the envelope.
Four thousand three hundred dollars.
Everything I had.
He looked at me.
“No.”
“You paid Liam's debt.”
“I removed it.”
“Same difference.”
“No.”
I pushed the envelope toward him.
“I don't accept gifts worth two hundred thousand dollars.”
“Good. It wasn't a gift.”
“Then what was it?”
Victor leaned back.
“A correction.”
I stared at him.
“You can't just solve people's lives because you have money.”
“No. Usually money makes people's lives worse.”
“Then take it.”
“No.”
“Victor.”
“Claire.”
We stared at each other.
Finally, he sighed.
“You are remarkably stubborn.”
“You employ armed men.”
“Not an argument.”
“You terrify half of Chicago.”
“Also irrelevant.”
“You woke up with a gun pointed at me.”
His expression changed.
I had wondered whether he'd remember.
He did.
“I didn't point it at you after I realized who you were.”
“That is not as reassuring as you think.”
A reluctant smile touched his mouth.
It was the first time I'd seen Victor Hayes genuinely smile.
It changed his entire face.
And that frightened me more than the gun had.
Because I liked it.
A knock interrupted us.
Paul entered.
His expression was serious.
“Problem.”
Victor's smile vanished.
“What?”
“Vale knows Liam's debt is gone.”
“So?”
“He's telling people Claire is your weakness.”
Victor stood.
“Then he'll learn differently.”
I crossed my arms.
“How?”
Neither man answered.
I looked at Paul.
“Paul?”
He suddenly found the floor fascinating.
“Victor?”
Victor walked toward me.
“You're leaving Chicago for a few days.”
“No.”
“That wasn't a request.”
“Then the answer is definitely no.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Claire.”
“If someone thinks I'm your weakness, hiding me proves them right.”
“Keeping you alive is more important than proving a point.”
“You don't control me.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
His jaw tightened.
Then he stepped back.
“What do you suggest?”
The question surprised Paul almost as much as it surprised me.
“You're asking her?”
Victor didn't look away from me.
“Yes.”
I thought for a moment.
“Vale expects you to hide me.”
“Yes.”
“So don't.”
Paul blinked.
Victor's expression slowly changed.
“What exactly are you proposing?”
“Tomorrow night is the Hayes Foundation dinner.”
Paul stared.
“How do you know that?”
“I polish the silver.”
Victor almost smiled again.
I continued.
“Three hundred guests. Reporters. Businesspeople. Vale's associates.”
“You want to attend?”
“I want Vale to see that I'm not afraid.”
Victor shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
“You asked for my suggestion.”
“I regret it.”
But the following evening, at exactly seven, a black dress arrived at my apartment.
There was no note.
Only a box.
Inside was the dress.
And beneath it, my envelope containing $4,300.
Every dollar untouched.
At eight, Victor arrived personally.
He stepped from a black sedan in a tailored tuxedo.
Tattoos showed subtly above his collar and across his hands.
He looked at me.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
“What?” I asked.
“You're beautiful.”
I swallowed.
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
“Charming.”
He offered his arm.
“Still want to do this?”
“Yes.”
“Then stay beside me.”
I took his arm.
“That's becoming your favorite sentence.”
“No.”
Victor looked down at me.
“My favorite is becoming ‘Claire, don't.’”
I smiled.
“Then tonight should be fun.”
Neither of us knew someone was already waiting inside.
And he wasn't there for Victor.
May you like
He was there for me.
---
