Chapter 2 - The Woman Behind the DoorGrace lowered the phone.

Vanessa's eyes traveled from her frightened face to the smartphone in her trembling hand.

"I asked you a question."

Grace felt Daniel waiting on the other end of the call.

"Mr. Oleso," she said quietly.

The color changed in Vanessa's face, but only for an instant.

"Give me that phone."

Grace stepped backward.

"No, ma'am."

Vanessa laughed once.

It was a small, disbelieving sound.

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Oleso asked me a question. I haven't answered him yet."

Vanessa moved closer.

"You work for me."

"I work in this house."

"And who do you think pays you?"

Grace looked toward the dining room.

Beyond the doorway, Naomi remained motionless beside the stainless steel bowl.

"That little girl doesn't deserve this."

Vanessa's smile disappeared.

"You're fired."

"Then I'll collect my things after Mr. Oleso gets home."

Vanessa reached for the phone, but Grace withdrew it before she could touch it.

Daniel's voice suddenly sounded from the speaker.

"Vanessa."

Both women froze.

"Daniel," Vanessa said, changing her tone immediately. "Sweetheart, this is ridiculous. Grace has completely misunderstood a disciplinary situation."

"What disciplinary situation?"

"Naomi was caught stealing food."

Grace shut her eyes.

Stealing.

Naomi had taken a dinner roll from the kitchen counter the previous evening because Vanessa had ordered the staff not to serve her supper.

"Why is my daughter eating from a dog bowl?" Daniel demanded.

"She isn't. It's a clean serving bowl. Grace is being hysterical."

From the dining room came a tiny voice.

"It's Bentley's bowl."

Nobody moved.

Naomi had heard her father.

She was standing now, both hands pressed against the doorframe.

"Daddy?"

Daniel inhaled sharply.

"Baby?"

Naomi's chin trembled.

"Are you mad at me?"

The question struck him harder than Vanessa's explanation.

"No, sweetheart."

"Vanessa said you didn't want me anymore."

Grace saw Vanessa turn away.

"Naomi, go upstairs," Vanessa ordered.

"Do not move," Daniel said.

His voice was cold enough to silence the room.

"Grace, take Naomi somewhere safe. Stay with her. I'm coming home."

"When?" Naomi whispered.

"As soon as I can get there."

"Promise?"

Daniel looked at the laptop open on his hotel desk. A presentation worth millions sat unfinished on its screen.

"I promise."

After the call, Grace took Naomi by the hand.

Vanessa stood aside, but her voice followed them.

"You have no idea what you've just done."

Grace did not answer.

Inside the servants' kitchen, she warmed a bowl of chicken soup and placed it in front of Naomi.

The little girl stared at the spoon.

"Am I allowed?"

Grace knelt beside her.

"Yes, baby. You're allowed."

Naomi began eating so quickly that Grace gently asked her to slow down.

Then she noticed something beneath the girl's sleeve.

A folded scrap of paper was tucked against her wrist.

"What is that, sweetheart?"

Naomi hesitated.

"Something Mama Vanessa made me sign."

Grace unfolded the paper.

It contained a child's carefully printed name:

NAOMI OLESO

Beneath it was a sentence written in an adult's handwriting.

I understand that I have behavioral problems and sometimes say things that are not true.

Grace's blood ran cold.

At the bottom was another line:

I agree that Vanessa Oleso should make decisions for my safety.

The document was dated three days earlier.

May you like

92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Fathe...

91 A Cruel Hotel Manager Fired a Receptionist for Defending a Poor Old G...

90 On Christmas Eve, My Daughter-in-Law Stole $12,000 From My Card—Then...

And beneath Naomi's name appeared the printed name of a lawyer.

JULIAN VALE.