Chapter 5 - A Change in the Room
Elena sat in the office for twenty minutes. She heard nothing through the soundproofed walls, but her imagination painted violent pictures.
When the door finally opened, it wasn't Garrett. It was Thomas, Garrett’s right-hand man, a massive guy with a broken nose and tailored suit.
“Miss Vasquez,” Thomas said respectfully, a stark contrast to how he usually ignored the staff. “The boss wants to see you up front.”
Elena stood, her legs feeling like lead. She followed Thomas down the hallway.
The dining room was empty of patrons. The chairs were pushed in. Only the dim security lights remained on.
Garrett stood by Table 1. Margaret was sitting in her usual chair, sipping a fresh cup of tea. Madison was gone. There was no sign she had ever been there, save for a shattered crystal water glass on the floor near the entrance, currently being swept up by a busboy who looked terrified.
“Where is she?” Elena asked before she could stop herself.
“Gone,” Garrett said simply. “Her family has been informed that the engagement is broken, the alliance is dissolved, and if she sets foot in Chicago again, she will not leave it.”
Margaret looked up at Elena. The older woman's eyes were bright, stripped of the fatigue that had weighed them down for weeks. She reached out her hand.
Elena hesitated, then stepped forward and took it. Margaret’s grip was surprisingly strong.
“I told him,” Margaret said, looking at her son. “I told him I didn't want him to marry that viper. But he is stubborn. He thinks in terms of strategy, not soul.”
Garrett looked down at his shoes, a rare moment of vulnerability crossing his face. “I am sorry, Mother. I should have seen it.”
“You didn't,” Margaret said firmly. “She did.” Margaret squeezed Elena’s hand.
Garrett looked at Elena. “You are fired.”
Elena’s heart dropped into her stomach. She pulled her hand back slightly, but Margaret held on tight, smiling.
“You are fired as a waitress,” Garrett clarified, stepping closer. “Starting tomorrow, you are employed directly by my family. You will be my mother’s personal companion and handler. Your salary is tripled. You will have a car, a driver, and full authority over her security detail when I am not present.”
Elena stared at him, stunned. “I don't know anything about security.”
“You know how to watch,” Garrett said softly, his eyes locking onto hers. “You see what the room tries to hide. That is a skill I cannot teach my men. Will you take the job?”
Elena looked at Margaret, who nodded encouragingly. Then she looked back at Garrett. The space between them felt suddenly electric, charged with an unspoken understanding.
May you like
“Yes,” Elena said.
“Good,” Garrett said. “Thomas will drive you home. Get some sleep, Elena. Your new life begins tomorrow.”
