The next morning, the lobby of The Elysium was buzzing. Betsey was on her knees, polishing the brass railing of the grand staircase. Her arm ached. She had spent the night researching Celestino Franklin. His public profile was clean. Philanthropist. Investor. Boring.
It didn't match the man with the gunshot wound.
"Madden!"
Dani's voice cut through the air. She approached with a clipboard, looking smug.
"Silver duty," Dani ordered. "The banquet silverware in the main vault. It all needs to be re-polished. By hand. Now."
It was a punishment. Silver duty was a tedious, isolating task meant for junior staff. Dani was trying to break her.
Betsey sighed. She stood up slowly. "Yes, Ms. Perez."
She gathered her polishing kit.
The VIP elevator dinged.
The lobby went quiet. Heads turned.
Celestino Franklin walked out. He was flanked by Lars and two bodyguards. He wore a navy suit that fit him like a second skin. He looked impeccable.
He spotted Betsey immediately. She tried to blend into the pillar, holding her box of supplies like a shield.
He saw Dani pointing aggressively at the hallway leading to the vaults. He saw the box in Betsey's hand.
Celestino stopped. He altered his path. He walked straight toward them.
The lobby held its breath. The King was moving.
Dani preens, smoothing her skirt, thinking he was coming to greet her.
Celestino walked right past Dani. He stopped in front of Betsey.
"Betsey," he said. "Walk with me."
Dani's jaw dropped. "Sir... she is on duty. She has to polish the..."
Celestino turned to Dani. His eyes were cold as ice.
"Did I ask you?"
Dani shrank back, terrified. She looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor.
Celestino turned back to Betsey. His expression softened, just a fraction. "I don't like how she talks to you."
He leaned in. His voice was low, for her ears only. "Say the word, and she's gone. I'll have her fired before lunch."
Betsey felt a rush of power. It was tempting. So tempting. But it would blow her cover.
She shook her head. "I can handle my own battles, Mr. Franklin."
He smiled. It was a genuine smile. "I know you can. But I don't want you to have to."
He signaled Lars with a subtle hand gesture.
Lars stepped up to Dani. "Ms. Perez, we need to discuss a noise complaint regarding your office management. We have reports of... shouting."
It was a fabrication. A lie to humiliate her publicly.
Celestino took the box of polish from Betsey's hand and set it on the floor.
"Come," he said.
He led her away toward the garden exit.
Once they were outside, in the quiet of the garden, he stopped. He took her hand. He turned it over, running his thumb over her palm.
He felt the smoothness of her skin, the carefully maintained manicure required of the hotel's top staff. But beneath it, he felt a firmness, a tension in the muscles that didn't belong to a butler.
"Now," he said, looking into her eyes. "Tell me why a woman who isn't afraid of a little blood is so afraid of her boss."
