Chapter 3 - The Boss at Apartment 3BClare was released four days later.
She tried to sit up.
Pain stopped her.
“Easy.”
She turned.
Lily Voss sat beside the hospital bed.
“You?”
Lily gave a nervous laugh.
“Me.”
“Are you okay?”
“That’s your first question?”
Clare frowned.
“Shouldn’t it be?”
“You nearly died protecting me.”
Clare looked toward the door.
“Noah.”
Lily’s smile disappeared.
“Who’s Noah?”
“My brother.”
Clare reached toward the bedside table.
“My phone.”
“Clare—”
“My phone.”
Lily handed it over.
There were eleven missed calls.
Clare’s face drained.
“I have to go.”
“You can barely move.”
“Noah doesn’t know where I am.”
The door opened.
Adrien entered.
Black suit.
Dark shirt.
Controlled expression.
Clare recognized him immediately.
“You’re her brother.”
“Yes.”
“Tell her I need to leave.”
Adrien looked at Lily.
“She needs to leave.”
“She absolutely does not.”
Clare pushed herself upright.
“My brother is home.”
“How old?”
“Sixteen.”
“Is he alone?”
Clare hesitated.
That was enough.
Adrien took out his phone.
“What’s the address?”
“No.”
His eyes lifted.
“No?”
“I don’t know you.”
Lily stared at her brother.
Adrien almost looked amused.
Most people were too intimidated to tell him no.
Clare apparently hadn’t received the memo.
“You saved my sister.”
“That doesn’t mean you get my address.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
Adrien studied her.
“Fair.”
Clare seemed surprised.
He put his phone away.
“Call your brother.”
She did.
Noah answered immediately.
“Clare?”
“Hey.”
“Where are you?”
“I had a problem at work.”
“What problem?”
She looked at Adrien and Lily.
“A complicated one.”
“Are you in a hospital?”
Clare closed her eyes.
“How did you know?”
“Because I can hear the monitor.”
Adrien looked away to hide the smallest smile.
Noah continued.
“I’m coming there.”
“No. Stay home.”
“Clare—”
“Take your medication and stay home.”
A cough came through the phone.
Clare’s expression changed.
“When did that start?”
“I’m fine.”
“Noah.”
“I said I’m fine.”
She knew that tone because she used it herself.
“Promise me.”
Silence.
“Noah?”
“I promise.”
The call ended.
Adrien watched Clare grip the phone.
“You take care of him alone?”
“Since our parents died.”
Lily looked at her.
“You were how old?”
“Seventeen.”
“And Noah?”
“Seven.”
Adrien’s jaw tightened.
There was a knock.
Maya entered.
“We identified Marcus Reed.”
Adrien immediately became colder.
“Outside.”
Clare spoke.
“No.”
Maya stopped.
Clare looked between them.
“That man came after Lily. If you’re talking about what happened, she deserves to know.”
Adrien glanced at his sister.
Lily nodded.
“Clare’s right.”
Maya closed the door.
“Marcus blamed Adrien for what happened to his father’s company years ago. He wanted revenge.”
Lily’s voice became quiet.
“Through me.”
“Yes.”
Adrien looked at Maya.
“How did he get into the restaurant?”
“We’re checking.”
Clare answered.
“Victor.”
Everyone looked at her.
“I warned Victor that Marcus didn’t belong there.”
Adrien became completely still.
“You warned him?”
“Twice.”
“And?”
“He threatened to fire me.”
Maya’s eyes hardened.
Adrien asked, “Before Marcus approached Lily?”
“Yes.”
“How long before?”
“Maybe two minutes.”
Silence.
Adrien turned toward Maya.
“Get the restaurant security footage.”
“Already requested.”
Clare immediately said, “Don’t hurt Victor.”
Adrien looked back.
She held his gaze.
“I mean it.”
“Why would you assume I would?”
Clare glanced at Maya.
Then at him.
“Because I’m not stupid.”
Lily covered a laugh with her hand.
Adrien ignored her.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make sure he can’t do that to another employee.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s enough.”
Adrien nodded once.
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
Clare watched him carefully.
“Why are you listening to me?”
May you like
His answer came without hesitation.
“Because last night nobody listened to you.”
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