Chapter 2 - THE RULE SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BREAK
Chloe returned to work four days later.
Victor found out because he saw her carrying a laundry basket down the east corridor.
He stopped.
"You were told to rest."
She nearly dropped the towels.
"I feel better."
"You were told to rest for a week."
"I rested."
"For four days."
"That is still rest."
Victor stared at her.
She stared back.
Then she looked at the floor.
"I can't stay in bed when my brother needs medication."
Victor's expression hardened.
"Your brother's medication has been paid."
Chloe froze.
"What?"
"The pharmacy account."
She looked suspicious.
"By whom?"
Victor said nothing.
Her eyes widened.
"You?"
"I instructed accounting to advance the cost."
"I didn't ask you to."
"No."
"I can't accept charity."
"It isn't charity."
"Then what is it?"
Victor had no good answer.
So he gave her the only one he could.
"An employee shouldn't be working herself into the hospital because her family is sick."
Chloe's voice softened.
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't."
Something in her tone surprised him.
She wasn't angry.
She was hurt.
"You know what I clean," she said. "You know what time I arrive. You know which room I sleep in. You know my name because it's written on a badge."
She tightened her grip on the laundry basket.
"But you don't know me."
Victor didn't answer.
Chloe walked past him.
He let her.
That night, Victor couldn't sleep.
At 1:30, he walked downstairs.
He found Chloe in the kitchen.
She was making tea.
"You shouldn't be working."
"I'm not."
"What are you doing?"
"Making tea."
"At one-thirty in the morning?"
She shrugged.
"Insomnia."
Victor stared at her.
"Why?"
She smiled faintly.
"Apparently that's another thing you can't order me to stop."
He almost laughed.
Instead, he poured himself coffee.
Chloe watched him.
"Do you ever sleep?"
"Sometimes."
"When?"
"When the city stops trying to kill me."
She blinked.
"That was a joke, wasn't it?"
"Possibly."
A tiny smile appeared.
Victor looked away.
He hadn't expected the sight to affect him.
Chloe poured another cup.
"Do you want tea?"
"No."
She pushed a mug toward him anyway.
He looked at it.
"What is this?"
"Tea."
"I know what tea is."
"Then we're making progress."
Victor stared.
Then he took the mug.
They sat across from each other in silence.
It was strangely comfortable.
No negotiations.
No threats.
No business.
Just two people awake at an unreasonable hour.
After several minutes, Chloe asked, "Why don't you let anyone in your room?"
Victor's entire body became still.
She immediately realized her mistake.
"I'm sorry."
He put down his mug.
"My brother used to sleep there."
Chloe said nothing.
Victor rarely spoke about his family.
"My older brother, Adrian."
His eyes remained fixed on the table.
"He was twenty-seven when he died."
"Accident?"
Victor shook his head.
"Murder."
Chloe's expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
Victor nodded.
"He was the only person in my family who believed I could become something other than my father."
"And what did your father want?"
"A weapon."
Victor's voice was quiet.
"He got one."
Chloe looked at him.
"Is that why you became this?"
"This?"
"The man everyone is afraid of."
Victor considered the question.
"Maybe."
"Do you like it?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Chloe didn't expect it.
Neither did Victor.
He looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then a loud crash came from the hallway.
Both turned.
A vase had fallen.
One of the night guards hurried past.
Victor stood.
"Stay here."
Chloe watched him leave.
Five minutes later, he returned.
"Everything is fine."
She nodded.
Then noticed blood on his knuckles.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing."
She stood.
Victor frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting a first-aid kit."
"I don't need—"
"You have blood on your hand."
She disappeared into a cabinet.
Victor watched her return.
She took his hand without asking.
That simple act stunned him.
People usually approached Victor carefully.
Chloe simply grabbed his wrist.
"Sit."
He sat.
She cleaned the cut.
Her fingers were gentle.
"You should be more careful."
"I'll remember that."
She looked up.
"You're smiling."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Victor looked away.
Chloe laughed quietly.
It was the first time he'd heard her laugh.
Something inside him shifted.
Neither noticed the figure standing silently beyond the kitchen doors.
A woman in a dark coat.
She watched them for several seconds.
Then turned away.
Her name was Vanessa Hale.
She had known Victor for nine years.
She had loved him for seven.
And she had never once seen him allow another woman to touch him without pulling away.
Vanessa's expression tightened.
She took out her phone.
"We have a problem."
A man's voice answered.
"What kind?"
"Victor."
"And?"
"He's changing."
The man was silent.
"Because of the maid?"
Vanessa looked back toward the kitchen.
"Yes."
"Then remove her."
Vanessa hesitated.
"How?"
May you like
The voice became colder.
"Make Victor believe she betrayed him."
