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“It’s okay,” I assure her, my tone gentle yet firm. “You can trust me, Lily. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“Well, the first thing I have to tell you is?—”
I wait, hanging on to her every word.
“Um… the eligible bachelor plaque? The one with your face on it? It was hanging in the front office when I came in today.”
“I’m going to kill her.” I run a hand through my hair, reminding myself to pour salt in her coffee instead of sugar the next time I make it. Paybacks are hell, Claudia. But at least I now know I can trust Lily to look out for my interests over my sister’s. “Now, please, get to the complicated part.”
She takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of trust and trepidation. And then, in a rush of words, she begins to unravel the tangled web of her past, each sentence like a thread connecting us in ways I never expected.
“I… I need this job,” she starts, her voice wavering but resolute. “It’s not just food and rent I’ve got to pay. I have debts to pay off, at least I think I do. Not mine?—”
The pregnancy test but no partner. I ask, “The ex’s that ran off?”
She gives a little nod. “Yes.”
“What makes you think that someone is holding you responsible for paying those debts?” I ask.
“There’s someone who’s been… watching me. Stalking me.”
My heart clenches at her words, a surge of protectiveness flooding through me. Without thinking, I push my leather chair back and stand up, moving closer to her. I can feel the fear emanating from her, see the vulnerability in her eyes as she lays bare her struggles. Her voice falters, but she continues, her words tumbling out like a dam has burst within her.
“My ex left with all my savings. At first, I thought it was because of the possible pregnancy, but then a few days ago, this black car started following me. I’m guessing my ex was in some kind of trouble. Maybe he stole my money to pay off some kind of debt, but it wasn’t enough. I’m worried if they can’t find him, they might come after me.”
“I see,” I say, taking it all in but giving her the space to keep going.
“I didn’t know where else to turn,” she whispers, her hands trembling in her lap. “You offered the job and at first, I didn’t want to get involved, didn’t want to trust anyone, but then I stumbled in here yesterday and couldn’t believe it was you, the older man from the store, standing in this office.”
Older? Not sure we needed that specific detail but still. “Go on.”
“I went home and wondered if the universe… it’s silly, but, and I… I thought maybe this could be my chance to start fresh, to have a safe place to be during the day, to make money.”
Her confession hangs heavy in the air between us, the weight of her words pressing down on me. I reach out a hand and gently touch hers, offering a silent gesture of support and understanding. In that moment, I know that I have to protect her, that I can’t let her face this threat alone.
“Lily,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “You’re safe here. No one will harm you while you’re at Rockwell Enterprises.”
“That’s nice. Thank you.” She glances down at her lap. “But it’s when I’m at home that he’s staking me out. I looked you up when I went home last night. I know that the Bachman family is powerful in this city. I can’t ask you to do more for me than you already have, giving me this job and everything…”
I’m crazy. I met this girl forty-eight hours ago and now I’m about to do the unthinkable.
Was Claudia right? Is this girl another one of my charity cases?
“As long as you work for the Bachman family, you will be safe. It’s a promise we make to every employee. This man won’t bother you anymore. I will personally make sure of that. Come, let me show you where you’ll be staying while you work with us.”
“Staying? But… are you sure? I mean, I’ll be fine at my apartment, maybe you could just have someone drive me home. Make sure I get in the door alright. That’s all I meant?—”
I stop her words with a firm, “I won’t hear of it. Come with me. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying until we get this taken care of.”
I lead Lily out of my office down the hall, and through a hidden doorway at the back of the building that leads us straight into the Village. As we step outside, the bustling cityscape of New York fades into the background, replaced by a serene stillness that envelops us like a warm embrace.
We walk along a narrow cobblestone path that winds its way through a thick curtain of ivy-covered walls until we reach the two imposing black gates.
With a gentle push, the gates swing open, revealing a world unlike any other. The tree-lined streets of the secret village are bathed in dappled sunlight, casting a golden glow on the elegant three-story homes that line the lanes.
The Village is serene, with a large grassy area in the middle. Couples sit at tables, having coffee together. The rows of three-story expensive homes are adorned with intricate details, each one more elegant than the last, many decorated with window boxes, colorful flowers tumbling over their edges. I can see the awe in Lily’s eyes as we approach my house, a majestic structure with ivy-covered walls and a sprawling front porch.
As we step inside, she gasps at the sight of the gourmet kitchen, complete with marble countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. The artwork on the walls is a collection of masterpieces, each painting telling a story of its own. I watch her take in the opulence of my home, her eyes wide with wonder and disbelief. It’s clear that she’s never experienced anything like this before, and I can’t help but feel a pang of guilt for thrusting her into this unfamiliar world.
