Chapter 2: The Woman Who Came Without Knocking
Chloe had just set the gold-wrapped cheese down when the front doors opened without a knock.
A woman walked in like she owned every stone of the estate.
Tall.
Immaculate.
Dark coat, pearl earrings, and eyes that moved straight past Mr.
Hart and landed on Chloe like two cold points of a knife.
"You must be the housekeeper," she said.
Chloe straightened.
"I must be."
"I am Celeste Romano." She let the name settle the way people do when they expect it to cause damage.
"And I think there has been a very unfortunate misunderstanding."
"There seem to be a lot of those lately."
Celeste's smile did not reach her eyes.
"Luciano and I have an arrangement.
One that existed long before you started making his coffee." Her gaze dropped to Chloe's uniform, then rose again slowly.
"Whatever he said yesterday — it was a reflex.
A tactical decision.
Nothing more."
Chloe said nothing.
"He will correct it," Celeste continued.
"Quietly, cleanly, before it embarrasses anyone further."
A door opened at the far end of the hall.
Luciano stood in the entrance, still in his jacket, watching.
Neither woman had heard him approach.
Celeste turned.
Her composure held, but something behind her eyes flickered.
"Luciano." Her voice softened.
"Tell her."
He looked at Chloe first.
May you like
Then he looked at Celeste.
"Tell her what, exactly?"
