Chapter 12 - Clearing the Shadow
The departure of the board members left a heavy silence in the sitting room, but the victory was short-lived. Later that afternoon, the head housekeeper, Mrs. Gable—a woman who had served the Cain family for decades and whose loyalty had become dangerously selective—waylaid me in the main hallway near the curving staircase. She blocked my path with a heavy silver tray loaded with fresh linen, her eyes narrowed with bitter resentment.
"You think because Mr. Cain pinned a little silver leaf on your apron that you own this place," Mrs. Gable hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed malice. "You're nothing more than hired help, girl. A temp with a shady background who dropped her tray on day one."
"If you have something to say to Mr. Cain about my duties, Mrs. Gable, I suggest you take it up with him," I replied, keeping my voice level and my posture straight.
"Oh, I'll take something up with him all right," she sneered, stepping aside and letting me pass.
An hour later, as I was organizing the archival ledgers in the second-floor study, a sharp knock sounded at the door before Ronan strode in, holding a heavy velvet-lined jewelry box. His jaw was clenched so tight a muscle ticked in his cheek.
"Mrs. Gable just placed this on my desk," Ronan said, flipping the box open to reveal several antique silver butter knives missing from the formal dining set. "She claimed she found them tucked away in the bottom of your cleaning trolley. Accused you of petty theft."
I stared at the silver pieces, then looked up into Ronan's intense gaze. There was no doubt in my mind what had happened. "I didn't touch those knives. Mrs. Gable planted them."
"I know she did," Ronan said quietly, closing the box with a soft snap. He walked over to me, stopping just inches away. "The security cameras in the service corridor caught her opening your trolley cart twenty minutes ago. I've already dismissed her. Her final paycheck is being wired as we speak."
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The tension that had gripped my shoulders finally began to ease. I let out a slow, steady breath. "You didn't even hesitate to believe me."
"I know character when I see it, Sadie," Ronan murmured, his hand coming up to lightly brush a stray lock of hair away from my temple. The casual intimacy of the gesture sent a shiver straight down my spine. "The internal saboteur is gone, but the foundation gala is tomorrow night. That's where every rival and parasite will try to take a shot at us."
