Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T BE AFRAID
By November, Caprice had become part of the estate.
She was there in the mornings.
She was there during lunch.
She was there when the house became quiet at night.
Diamond began learning her habits.
She drank terrible coffee.
She forgot to eat when she was busy.
She rubbed her left wrist when it hurt.
She always checked the locks before leaving.
And whenever she thought nobody was watching, she stared at photographs of her mother on her phone.
Diamond noticed everything.
He hated that he did.
One evening, Levi walked into the study carrying shipping reports.
"The Russian shipment clears customs tomorrow."
Diamond barely responded.
Levi continued talking.
But Diamond's eyes were fixed on the reflection in the glass door.
Caprice was vacuuming the hallway.
Levi followed his gaze.
"The maid?"
Diamond looked away.
"Focus on the port."
Levi smirked.
"You've been staring at her for ten minutes."
"I was thinking."
"About her?"
"About killing you."
Levi laughed.
Diamond didn't.
But the corner of his mouth almost moved.
Almost.
Later that night, Caprice entered the study.
She looked terrible.
Her hands trembled.
Diamond noticed immediately.
"Sit."
"I'm working."
"Sit."
"I'm fine."
"You're shaking."
"Too much coffee."
"You're lying."
She finally looked at him.
"Does it matter?"
Diamond paused.
"Yes."
Caprice looked surprised.
He hadn't expected the answer to escape so quickly.
She lowered her eyes.
"I need this job."
Diamond studied her.
"Your mother?"
Her entire body went still.
"You investigated me."
"I investigate everyone."
"I don't steal."
"I know."
"I don't pry."
"I know."
Her voice broke slightly.
"Please don't fire me because I'm tired."
Something inside Diamond tightened.
He had seen fear many times.
But Caprice wasn't afraid of him.
She was afraid of poverty.
That was different.
"I'm not firing you."
She stared at him.
"Finish your work."
A pause.
"Then go home."
"My shift has another hour."
"I'll pay you."
She looked suspicious.
Diamond almost smiled.
"You really don't trust me."
"No."
"Good."
She left.
Diamond watched the door close.
For twenty minutes afterward, he realized something strange.
He hadn't thought about his legs.
He had thought only about her.
Winter arrived.
Cold settled into the estate.
Diamond hated winter.
The temperature made the pain worse.
One evening, Caprice entered his study carrying coffee.
She limped.
Diamond noticed.
"What happened?"
"Slipped outside."
"You're injured."
"I'm fine."
She tried to walk.
Her knee buckled.
Diamond caught her wrist.
For one second, neither moved.
Her pulse beat rapidly beneath his fingers.
Caprice looked down at his hand.
Diamond released her.
"Sit."
"I have work."
"Sit."
She obeyed.
The fire warmed the room.
Caprice slowly relaxed.
Diamond watched her.
"Tell me about the debt."
She stared into the flames.
"My mother had a stroke."
Her voice was quiet.
"Then the memory problems started."
"How much?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Does it matter?"
"How much?"
"Five thousand a month for the facility."
Diamond's expression changed.
"I can clear it."
Caprice looked at him.
"Why?"
"I can."
"Nothing is free."
"You don't owe me anything."
She shook her head.
"I don't want pity."
"It's not pity."
"Then what?"
Diamond didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
The truth was too dangerous.
He wanted to help her.
He wanted her to sleep.
He wanted her to stop looking like she had been carrying the entire world on her back.
He wanted something he had no right to want.
So he lied.
"Your exhaustion is becoming a liability."
She looked wounded.
He hated himself for it.
"Fine," she whispered.
Then she tried to stand.
She failed.
The warmth of the room finally defeated her.
Her eyes closed.
Within seconds, Caprice was asleep on the sofa.
Diamond stared.
He could have called someone.
He didn't.
He stayed.
The fire burned lower.
Rain struck the windows.
And as he watched her sleeping face, something inside him softened.
For two years, anger had consumed him.
Tonight, it was quiet.
He leaned closer.
His hand hovered over her shoulder.
He didn't touch her.
He simply watched.
Then it happened.
The strangest sensation.
His mouth moved.
Barely.
Almost forgotten.
A smile.
Diamond Kelly smiled.
May you like
For the first time in two years.
At an exhausted maid sleeping beside him.
