Chapter 2: Secrets in the Shadows
Vanessa gripped the steering wheel of her Mercedes until her knuckles turned bone-white. She was driving recklessly down the winding coastal roads of Malibu, her vision blurred by tears of absolute rage.
Her phone buzzed aggressively in the cup holder. The caller ID flashed: MANDALAY CREDIT.
She swiped the screen to answer, putting it on speaker.
“Miss Kensington,” a gruff voice echoed through the car. “Your grace period expired at midnight. Where is our money?”
“I just need a few more days,” Vanessa hissed, swerving to avoid a mailbox. “I had a plan. I was going to secure an asset worth three million today, but it fell through. Give me one week.”
“You don’t have a week, Vanessa. You’re bankrupt. If the five hundred thousand isn’t in our account by Friday, we go to the press. Everyone in high society will know the Kensington heiress is completely broke.”
The line went dead. Vanessa screamed, slamming her palm against the steering wheel.
The necklace. It was supposed to be the perfect crime. She had planned to steal Daniel’s family heirloom, sell it on the black market to pay off her hidden debts, and let that pathetic, mousy little maid take the fall. Emily was a nobody. Who would believe a housekeeper over a Kensington?
But Daniel had installed new hidden cameras in the foyer just two days ago.
“That little rat,” Vanessa muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing in the rearview mirror. “She ruined everything. If I’m going down, I’m dragging her into the dirt with me.”
Back at the Sterling estate, Emily sat in the plush velvet armchair of Daniel’s private study, an ice pack pressed to her cheek. She felt entirely out of place surrounded by walls of rare books and leather furniture.
The door clicked open, and Daniel walked in, carrying two glasses of water. He handed one to her and sat in the chair opposite.
“How is the pain?” he asked.
“Better,” Emily said quietly, lowering the ice. The swelling had gone down, but the redness remained. “Mr. Sterling… why did she do it? Miss Kensington doesn't even know me. I’ve only ever served her tea.”
Daniel sighed, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Vanessa and I have known each other since childhood. Our families wanted us to marry, but I never trusted her. Lately, I’ve heard rumors that her family’s shipping company is underwater. She’s desperate. She likely planned to steal my mother’s necklace to fence it, and you were just…”
“The easiest scapegoat,” Emily finished, a bitter realization settling in her stomach. “Because I’m poor. Because I’m the help.”
“Because she is a coward,” Daniel corrected sharply, his eyes locking onto hers. “Emily, I am not going to let this slide. I’m pressing charges against her for the theft attempt. But by doing so, this will become a public scandal. The press will find out. Your name might be dragged into the tabloids.”
Emily felt a cold spike of fear. “The tabloids? No… I can’t. My mother is in a care facility. If reporters start digging into my life, they’ll find her. The stress would kill her.”
Daniel frowned, analyzing the sudden panic in Emily’s eyes. There was a secret there. A deep, guarded secret about her family that she was terrified to reveal.
“I will hire personal security for you and your mother,” Daniel offered without hesitation.
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“Why?” Emily asked, her voice trembling. “Why are you doing all of this for a maid?”
Daniel looked at her, his gaze dropping to her lips for a fraction of a second before meeting her eyes again. “Because you’re not just a maid to me, Emily. Not anymore.”
