Lainey had just crossed the door when voices reached her ears, Laurie White's sharp tone aimed straight at the butler Bruno James.
"Bruno, remember your place," Laurie said with a cold laugh, chin high. "Lainey has followed my son for six years, and every time she meets me, she would show me respect. What gives you the nerve to lecture me?"
Lainey's brows drew together before she could stop herself.
Laurie went on. "Soon this entire household will fall into my son's hands, and even if I tossed out ten crates of luxury caviar, Lainey would never dare speak back. With one sentence from me, you would be out on the street."
"Is that what you believe?"
Lainey's sudden voice made Laurie flinch.
"Miss White, when did you come back?" Laurie asked in haste.
"Do I need to announce myself before entering my own house?" Lainey asked calmly.
"Of course not, Miss White. I was only joking," Laurie said stiffly.
Her voice sounded stiff, and her smile was far from genuine.
Lainey paid her no attention, lifting a coffee cup from the tray and lowering herself onto the sofa. She crossed her legs with ease and took a slow sip. "Bruno, explain what happened."
Before Bruno could speak, Laurie cut in, "Miss White, I only tasted a little caviar, and Bruno raised his voice at me. He has no manners at all. Someone like him does not deserve to work here."
Bruno turned pale and rushed to defend himself. "That is not true, Miss White," he said quickly. "Your father brought the caviar back for you. Laurie fed it all to the cat, and I could not ignore it."
Lainey's eyes shifted to the black cat sprawled on the sofa, its whiskers still smeared with caviar. Her gaze cooled.
This cat had been a recent present from Erin to Jeremy.
Though he knew she feared cats, he kept it anyway, forcing her to clean after it. Even when it bit her, he blamed her and believed she had hurt the animal first.
Now the thought struck Lainey as absurd. Since when did a cat outrank her in this house?
She turned slowly toward Laurie, who still held herself with stubborn pride as she said, "Miss White, this caviar tastes horrible. What if my son became ill from it?" She sniffed lightly. "It was meant for him in the first place. I only gave it to his cat. You should thank me for that."
"You truly deserve a lesson," Lainey said in an icy voice.
Laurie flicked a proud glance toward Bruno.
"Did you hear that?" she asked coolly. "This is what happens when you offend me."
Lainey spoke in a calm tone. "I was talking about you."
Laurie froze, disbelief flashing across her face. "What did you say? Do you really think I won't tell Jeremy about your attitude?"
A chill sharpened Lainey's gaze, pale light glinting in her eyes.
"You used my feelings for your son to pretend you truly belonged here."
"Lainey, apologize to me now," Laurie said loudly. "Hand over that three million necklace, and I will stay silent."
A soft laugh slipped from Lainey, filled with quiet scorn.
"You have no sense of shame. Who told you that caviar belonged to your son?" She held her gaze. "And why would I ever beg forgiveness from a servant who crossed the line?"
