Chapter 3 - Kindness When No One Is Watching
Vanessa laughed.
It wasn't amusement.
It was disbelief.
"Excuse me?"
Adrian continued upstairs.
She followed.
"Daniel!"
He didn't stop.
Evelyn remained downstairs with Teresa and Rosa.
Nobody tried to explain.
That frightened Vanessa more than an argument would have.
Adrian entered the second-floor study.
He opened a cabinet.
Removed his apron completely.
Then took out a dark jacket.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"What kind of joke is this?"
Adrian slipped into the jacket.
"None."
"Who are you?"
He looked at her.
"Adrian Mercer."
Silence.
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she laughed again.
"No."
He took his phone from the desk.
A framed photograph stood beside it.
Adrian and Evelyn at a charity gala.
Vanessa looked at the photograph.
Then at him.
The formal haircut was different.
The face wasn't.
Her lips parted.
"Oh my God."
Adrian said nothing.
Her eyes widened.
"You're Adrian."
"Yes."
Vanessa backed against the doorway.
"You lied to me."
"I didn't introduce myself to you at all."
"You pretended to be staff!"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to know how you treated people when you believed they couldn't do anything for you."
Vanessa's face hardened.
"So this was a test?"
"It became one."
"That's disgusting."
"Maybe."
She stared at him.
"You manipulated me."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"I gave you opportunities to behave exactly as you chose."
"I was stressed."
"You threw a plate."
"You provoked me."
"I cooked your breakfast."
"You embarrassed me!"
"No one important was watching. Remember?"
The words struck.
Vanessa went silent.
Adrian walked to the wall safe.
He entered the code.
The door opened.
Inside was a small velvet box.
He removed it.
Vanessa stared.
Adrian placed it on the desk between them.
"My mother thought we might become something."
Vanessa looked at the box.
Her anger vanished.
"Is that..."
"A ring."
Her eyes filled.
"Adrian."
"I bought it before you arrived."
"You were going to propose?"
"No. I was considering whether I could someday."
Vanessa stepped toward him.
"You don't know me."
"That's exactly the problem."
"You saw three bad days."
"I saw three days when you thought I was beneath you."
She shook her head.
"People aren't perfect."
"I wasn't looking for perfect."
"Then what were you looking for?"
Adrian thought about Lauren.
Then Rosa.
Then Claire kneeling to wipe rainwater from a floor because Vanessa demanded it.
"Consistency."
Vanessa began crying.
Whether the tears were real, Adrian couldn't tell.
That bothered him.
Six months ago he would have rushed to comfort her.
Now he stood still.
"I can change," she whispered.
"Maybe you can."
"Then give me a chance."
"Change shouldn't be something you perform to win a billionaire."
Her expression twisted.
"So that's it?"
"Yes."
"What will you tell your mother?"
"The truth."
Vanessa looked toward the safe.
Then back at him.
"You're making a mistake."
"Possibly."
She wiped her eyes.
"You'll regret humiliating me."
Adrian's expression changed.
There was the Vanessa he recognized.
"There's a car waiting downstairs."
Vanessa left an hour later.
Evelyn watched from the window.
When the vehicle disappeared through the gates, she turned to Adrian.
"I owe you an apology."
"No."
"I brought her here."
"You saw what she wanted you to see."
Evelyn looked older suddenly.
"I thought I was helping."
"You were."
"How?"
"You reminded me why I needed to know."
She studied him.
"Do you?"
"Know what?"
"Know what you're actually looking for?"
Adrian thought about it.
"I think so."
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"Good."
She walked away.
Teresa appeared seconds later.
"Claire."
Adrian groaned.
"Please stop."
"What?"
"Whatever you're about to do."
"I was going to say Claire left an envelope for you."
Adrian turned.
"What envelope?"
Teresa handed it to him.
Inside was a note.
Daniel,
I don't know what was happening in that house, but you looked like someone having a difficult week. I hope things get better.
Also, replace that bandage. Kitchen cuts get infected.
—Claire
Adrian read it twice.
Teresa said nothing.
He folded it.
Placed it in his pocket.
That should have been the end.
It wasn't.
Two days later, Adrian drove to Bennett Hospitality Supply.
Not in a limousine.
Not with a driver.
He took his old gray SUV.
Claire was behind the counter arguing with a printer.
She looked up.
"Daniel?"
"Adrian."
"What?"
"My name."
She smiled.
"Okay. Adrian."
No recognition.
He almost laughed.
"You really don't know who I am?"
"Should I?"
"No."
"Are you secretly famous?"
"Something like that."
She stared at him.
"You're joking."
"Mostly."
He held up her note.
"I wanted to say thank you."
"For a bandage?"
"For treating me like a person."
Claire's smile disappeared.
"That sounds like a very low bar."
"You'd be surprised."
They had coffee that afternoon.
Adrian told her he worked in investments.
Technically true.
He did not mention the number of zeros involved.
Claire told him about her father, who had founded the supply company and died two years earlier.
She was trying to keep it alive.
"Business isn't great," she admitted.
"You could sell."
"I could."
"Why don't you?"
"Eleven people work here."
Adrian looked at her.
Claire shrugged.
"They have mortgages. Kids. One has a mother in assisted living. Selling isn't just selling."
There it was.
Kindness without an audience.
Not charity photographs.
Not polished speeches.
Responsibility.
Adrian felt something shift.
But trouble was already coming.
Vanessa had discovered who Claire Bennett was.
May you like
And unlike Adrian, Vanessa wasn't interested in observing her.
She wanted to destroy her.
