Chapter 5 - Whispers in the Executive Suite

The massive oak doors slammed shut with a resounding thud.

The estate was officially on lockdown.

Armed private security guards fanned out across the corridors,

sealing every exit.

The guests were ushered into the east drawing room,

their panicked whispers echoing down the hallway.

Gabriel led me and Lucy to his private executive suite on the third floor.

It was a room of dark mahogany,

leather-bound books,

and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the misty Hudson River.

I sat on the edge of a velvet armchair,

keeping Lucy tucked safely behind me.

Gabriel poured two fingers of amber bourbon into a crystal glass,

but he didn't drink it.

He stood by the fireplace,

staring into the flickering flames.

“Eleven months,

” Gabriel muttered,

swirling the liquor in the glass.

“You infiltrated my household.

You learned my schedule.

You even memorized the brand of cigars I smoke.

”

“I needed to know how the monster lived,

” I said coldly.

“I wanted to find a weakness.

A ledger,

a diary,

a signed confession.

”

“And did you find one?” Gabriel asked,

turning to face me.

“No,

” I admitted bitterly.

“Because you're too careful.

Every transaction is laundered through shell companies.

Every associate is disposable.

”

“If I were as ruthless as the prosecutors claim,

Elena,

you and your daughter would have been disposed of the moment you stepped foot onto my property,

” Gabriel said,

his voice laced with dangerous gravity.

“Instead,

you've been sleeping in the guest wing,

eating my food,

and plotting my assassination with kitchen knives.

”

“Why didn't you fire me?” I asked,

narrowing my eyes.

“Because I knew who you were from day two,

” Gabriel replied calmly.

The room seemed to tilt on its axis.

“You.

.

.

you knew?”

“Of course I knew,

” Gabriel said,

taking a slow sip of his bourbon.

“A woman with your level of education doesn't apply for a maid's position unless she has an agenda.

I kept you close because I wanted to find out who sent you.

”

“Nobody sent me!” I yelled,

springing to my feet.

“I came on my own because my husband was murdered!”

“Your husband wasn't murdered by me,

Elena,

” Gabriel said,

setting his glass down with a sharp clink.

“He was murdered by the man who is currently running for state attorney general—my own cousin,

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”