Betsey finished her shift in the suite in a daze. She moved around him, cleaning things that were already clean, trying to escape the weight of his gaze. Every time she turned, he was watching her.
She finally escaped. She walked down the hallway, clutching the laundry bag that contained his ruined jacket.
Lars intercepted her near the elevators.
"Mr. Franklin is satisfied," Lars said. His tone was neutral. "You keep the position."
He handed her a thick white envelope. "A tip. For your... discretion."
Betsey felt insulted. It felt like hush money. But she took it. It was part of the role. A butler would take the money.
She got into the service elevator. As soon as the doors closed, she opened the laundry bag.
She buried her face in the jacket.
The scent was undeniable. It evoked a feeling, a dangerous warmth she refused to name. Vienna. The Blue Danube Bar.
She closed her eyes, flashing back to the man's hands on her hips.
"Impossible," she whispered to the empty elevator. He was a mercenary, a ghost. This was a billionaire. She was letting the anniversary, the lack of sleep, get to her.
The elevator opened on the basement level.
Dani was waiting for her. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her foot tapping.
"Well?" Dani demanded. "Did he fire you?"
Betsey straightened her spine. She clutched the laundry bag tighter. "No. He requested I return tomorrow."
Dani's face turned a shade of purple that was almost impressive.
"You little rat," Dani spat. "You think you can charm him? You think you're special?"
Dani stepped closer, cornering Betsey against the wall. "I don't know what you did or said to him, but I saw you get his personal attention. That doesn't happen."
Betsey's heart stopped. She thought of the elevator, the quiet threat.
"And?" Betsey asked. Her voice was steady, but her palms were sweating.
"And I'm watching you," Dani hissed. "You got lucky today. But everyone's luck runs out."
"Maybe the system is old, Ms. Perez," Betsey suggested innocently.
Dani grabbed Betsey's arm. Her nails dug into the flesh. "I'm watching you, Madden. One slip up. One mistake. And you are out on the street."
Betsey looked down at Dani's hand. A flash of anger surged through her. She pulled her arm away. She did it a fraction too forcefully.
Dani stumbled back, surprised by the strength in the movement. She nearly tripped over her own feet.
Betsey didn't apologize. She walked away, tossing the laundry bag into the chute.
She needs to get out of here. She needed to go home and regroup.
But she knew she would be back tomorrow. She was the moth, and Celestino Franklin was the flame.
