Chapter 2
My supervisor called within thirty seconds.
“Abigail,” Mrs. Torres said, breathless, “stay where you are.”
“I didn’t touch it.”
“I know. Just stay there.”
Her voice sounded strange.
Careful.
Like she was not alone.
I looked around the room.
The penthouse felt too quiet.
Julian Cross’s bedroom was bigger than my apartment. Glass walls. Gray silk. Art that looked like it had never been touched by ordinary hands.
And on the dresser, beneath the towel, sat enough money to save my family.
I stepped back until my hip hit the cleaning cart.
“Pearl,” I whispered, “if this is a trap, I hate rich people more than usual.”
The door opened.
I jumped.
A man stood there in a dark suit, tall, clean-shaven, with eyes that looked like they had forgotten how to trust.
Julian Cross.
I had seen him only in magazines and once in the lobby, surrounded by men who moved when he blinked.
Now he looked at the towel.
Then at me.
“You covered it.”
My mouth went dry.
“It felt wrong leaving it exposed.”
“Wrong?”
“Yes.”
He walked closer.
“You did not call security.”
“I called my supervisor.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a cleaner, Mr. Cross. Not your banker.”
His mouth almost moved.
Not a smile.
Something smaller.
“Did you count it?”
“No.”
“Do you know how much it is?”
“No.”
“Guess.”
I swallowed.
“A lot.”
He watched me.
“Would a lot help you?”
The question hit too close.
I lifted my chin.
“That is not your business.”
“No?”
“No.”
He looked toward the camera hidden in the ceiling corner.
I followed his gaze.
My stomach turned.
“You were watching me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To see what you would do.”
Heat rose in my face.
“You planted it.”
“Yes.”
I felt humiliation burn hotter than temptation ever had.
“You tested me?”
“I test everyone.”
“Congratulations,” I said, gripping my cart. “You discovered your housekeeper is not a thief.”
I pushed past him.
He caught the cart lightly.
“Abigail.”
I turned.
“My name is Abby to people who respect me.”
He released the cart.
“Abby.”
“What?”
“You passed.”
I laughed once.
May you like
It sounded ugly.
“No, Mr. Cross. You failed.”
