Chapter 6 - THE SECOND LIE
The next morning, Vanessa came to the staff kitchen.
She was not wearing the bright smile she used for guests. Her hair was pulled back, and her eyes were cold.
“Olivia. Come with me.”
I looked toward Mrs. Carter.
The head housekeeper was checking the delivery list.
“I'm on breakfast duty.”
“Not anymore.”
Mrs. Carter looked up.
“Miss Bellini, Mr. Moretti asked that Olivia not be assigned to your rooms.”
Vanessa's smile returned, but it did not reach her eyes.
“I'm not asking her to clean. I need to speak with her.”
Mrs. Carter hesitated.
I felt every eye in the kitchen turn toward me.
“It's all right,” I said quietly. “I'll be back.”
Mrs. Carter looked uncertain, but Vanessa was already walking away.
She led me into the conservatory and closed the glass door.
“Do you enjoy making trouble?”
I kept my hands clasped in front of me.
“No, ma'am.”
“Then why did you lie to Luca?”
“I didn't.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You told him about William.”
“He asked me what happened.”
“You could have said you didn't know.”
“I was frightened.”
“Of me?”
I didn't answer.
She laughed softly.
“You should be. You have no idea what kind of people you're interfering with.”
I tried to move toward the door.
Vanessa blocked me.
“Listen carefully. Luca is under pressure. His family is complicated. His former wife is unstable. If you keep filling his head with stories, he will eventually realize you're the problem.”
“I only told him what I saw.”
“And what did you see?”
I swallowed.
“You and Mr. Mercer in the guest room.”
Her expression changed.
For a second, the pleasant mask slipped.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed a folded paper.
“Do you know what this is?”
I looked at it.
It was a bank statement.
My name appeared near the top.
My old address was listed beneath it.
I stared.
“How did you get that?”
“You have a brother who owes money, Olivia. A mother who once missed several mortgage payments. A history of financial problems. It wouldn't take much to make you look dishonest.”
My stomach tightened.
“Leave my family out of this.”
“Then stay out of mine.”
She pushed the paper into my hands.
“You're going to sign a statement saying you misunderstood what happened upstairs. You'll say the investigator was there because Luca asked him to review security. You'll say your injury was an accident.”
I looked at the document.
It was already typed.
My signature line waited at the bottom.
“No.”
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“Think very carefully.”
“I won't sign it.”
She grabbed my wrist.
“Then perhaps your brother should be more careful walking home.”
I pulled free.
“Don't threaten him.”
Vanessa's face twisted.
“You should have thought about that before you decided to become important.”
The conservatory door opened.
Luca stood there.
“Let go of her.”
Vanessa stepped back.
“Darling. We were just talking.”
Luca looked at my wrist.
Then at the paper in my hand.
“What is that?”
I handed it to him.
He read the first paragraph.
His expression became unreadable.
“Did you write this?”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“I was trying to protect our relationship.”
“By forcing a staff member to sign a false statement?”
“She misunderstood what she saw.”
“Then why does this document say she must deny it?”
Vanessa looked toward me.
“She is twisting everything.”
Luca folded the paper.
“Daniel.”
His security chief appeared in the doorway.
“Take this document. Preserve it. And make sure Olivia is not approached alone again.”
Vanessa stared at Luca.
“You're choosing a maid over me?”
May you like
Luca's voice was quiet.
“I'm choosing the truth.”
