Chapter 3 - The Maid’s Secret
|
Daniel ascended the hidden staircase, leaving Vanessa to the terrifying silence of the basement. He walked into his private, wood-paneled study and poured himself a stiff glass of expensive, aged bourbon. His head ached, but his mind was running with terrifying, absolute clarity.
He needed to eliminate Julian, but a direct assassination of his own blood brother would divide the syndicate capos and potentially spark a brutal civil war within the organization. He needed Julian to expose himself to the entire criminal commission.
A soft, hesitant knock echoed on the heavy oak doors.
“Enter,” Daniel commanded, setting his glass on the mahogany desk.
Grace Parker stepped into the study. She had changed out of her blood-stained uniform and was now wearing a simple, dark gray sweater and black slacks. She carried a silver medical tray equipped with fresh sterile gauze, antiseptic, and specialized medical tape.
“The estate doctor is out of the country, sir,” Grace said softly, her dark eyes remaining respectfully lowered. “I took the liberty of bringing the medical supplies from the safe room to properly dress your wound.”
Daniel watched her carefully as she approached. For two years, she had been a ghost in his house. Efficient, silent, and entirely invisible. But tonight, she had dropped to the marble floor without a second of hesitation to stop his bleeding, while his fiancée had calculated the perfect moment to scream.
“You knew,” Daniel stated quietly as Grace began to gently clean the edges of his laceration.
Grace’s hands froze for a fraction of a second, but she did not pull away. “Sir?”
“You knew Vanessa and Julian were involved,” Daniel said, his gray eyes locking onto her face. “You watch everything in this house, Grace. That is why she tried to frame you for the bracelet. How long have you known?”
Grace swallowed hard, carefully applying a fresh steri-strip to his forehead.
“I have seen Mr. Julian leaving Miss Cole’s private suite in the east wing on three separate occasions over the past month,” Grace answered, her voice steady and completely devoid of fear. “Always after 2:00 AM. Always when you were away securing the shipping routes at the docks.”
“Why didn't you come to me?” Daniel asked, the betrayal stinging deeper.
“I am a maid, Mr. Whitfield,” Grace replied, finally meeting his gaze with a fierce, profound intelligence. “If I had accused your brother and your fiancée of a treasonous affair without hard evidence, you would have executed me for disrespecting your family. I was waiting to secure the proof.”
Daniel stared at the young woman, suddenly realizing that the smartest, most dangerous person in his entire estate had been folding his laundry.
May you like
“I am going to need your help, Grace,” Daniel said softly.
“Whatever you need, Boss,” she replied, officially crossing the line from servant to soldier.
