tep up felt like walking toward a firing squad, but I kept my grip on the small tray steady. The porcelain cup rattled

he second f

ehind a pair of tall, closed doors. That was where the private study sat, the place where Caleb s

ng, but the subtle gloss on the wall sconces told me there were pinhole lenses hidd

re the double doors at the

nd firm, just as T

rom inside. It was low, steady

s handle with my free hand

ate lawns and the private treeline beyond. Morning light cut across a massive dark desk near the cent

t with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, exposing wrists that looked lean and

pped inside, and paused

can find a new employer by noon," Philip said into the phone, his tone conve

e onto the desk with a fain

s, then slowly back up. The air in the room felt abruptly tight, the

down,"

r," I wh

d the small tray on the polished wood, near the edge where it would not disturb his papers. As I wit

ile pretending to arrange the napkin, I could sli

k," Phili

y stomach, clutching my apron. I retreated two steps and dipp

he espresso. He didn't even glance at the steaming cup. Instead, he leaned against the fron

m the time Taylor gave the

chine heated properly, sir. I did

son me at least twice a year. Sometimes it comes in a bottle of vintage wine from a rival board member. Sometimes it comes from an

weat traced the

y throat. "Sir? I... I would never do that. I only made

ched behind him, and lifted the tiny porcelain cup. He held

seemed

ir

g into a razor-sharp whisper that left no r

rewed it myself straight from his own kitchen machine. But if I drank it, I would ruin his mornin

ow. If I took the cup, he would be wa

ake with genuine distress. "Mrs. Gable said we are never

rich scent of expensive cologne and roasted coffee filled the small space between us. He pushed the cup closer, the porcelain rim nearly brushing

mpletely unreadable, cold and calculating, daring me to flin

out, and wrapped my fing

they did not pull away immediately. He let the heat of his touch linger

, sir," I

ick, steady gulps. The dark liquid burned the back of my throat, but I didn't cough. I didn't blink

at move, his eyes narr

r?" I asked, offering th

ught the edge of my chin, and tilted my face upward again, his

ured, his voice deadly quiet. "Tell me, Nora.