“Ms. Walsh, I’ll let you off here and circle the block,” the driver said.
Sarah thanked him, wishing she had another coat other than the light windbreaker she’d brought that night. She wore the silk blouse and black trousers, hoping Ellis would allow her inside with no questions asked.
True to his word, Alec had sent along a bodyguard to watch over her. Jordan Wilson was built like a linebacker. He opened the car door for her and when she stepped outside, she prayed that Ellis wouldn’t stop her.
“Good morning, Ellis,” she greeted him. “How is your grandmother doing?” She had baked banana bread for his family last week after his grandmother had broken her hip.
“Much better, Ms. Walsh.” His face cracked in a broad smile before it faltered at the sight of the bodyguard. “She got out of the hospital three days ago.” He opened the door for her, but hesitated before allowing the bodyguard in. “Do you want to step inside out of the cold?”
“I’m just here to get a few things,” she admitted. “I won’t be long.”
Ellis sighed and folded his arms. “I’m supposed to call Mr. Carnell, you know. He told me you would return.”
She nodded but turned her cheek so Ellis would get a good look at it. The bruise had darkened into a sickly purple hue. “I just need my purse and some clothes, that’s all.” Sarah raised pleading eyes to him. “You didn’t see me.”
Ellis was already reaching for the spare key. “You can go up but not him.” He eyed the bodyguard as if he were a threat.
“My job is to protect Ms. Walsh,” Jordan countered. “I go where she goes.”
But she already knew she was pushing her luck by being here. “It’s fine, Jordan. No one is in the apartment now.” At least, she hoped not.
The two men were at a standoff, but she took the key from Ellis and walked over to the elevator. Though she tried to pretend as if everything was normal, she felt herself slipping back into the shadow of the woman she’d been.
Even when she unlocked the front door, the scent of Ben’s cologne struck her hard. His presence was everywhere, from the shoes left by the couch, to the dirty mug in the sink.
Her purse was on the coffee table, and he’d taken everything out as if to inventory the contents. Her gut twisted, for he would know she’d been here if she took the purse. Instead, she picked up her driver’s license, staring at the picture of her younger self.
Part of her was grateful that he hadn’t wanted her to change her last name. After a divorce, it would make it easier to return to the life she’d had. The thought was reassuring, and she picked up her ATM card next. She rearranged the contents of her purse so it didn’t look as if anything was missing. Last, she tore off a check from the back of her checkbook. At least she would have that.
Sarah pocketed the identification and went into their shared bedroom. She opened the dresser drawers and then it struck her that she was behaving like a coward again. So what if Ben knew she’d been here? These were her things. She had the right to take everything that belonged to her while she could. There was no sense in worrying about it.
Hastily, she grabbed a suitcase and shoved everything inside, stuffing shoes in the outer zipper compartment. She put on her heaviest coat and tucked a hat and gloves into the pockets. Then she opened the safe and pulled out her birth certificate, social security card, and passport.
Last, she returned to the coffee table and put everything back in the purse, including her cell phone which was off. She dragged the heavy suitcase out of the bedroom and took a quick look around to see if she’d missed anything. It was then that she noticed a piece of paper with a printed photograph on it.
The photo was grainy, but there was no doubt it was her. She was wearing the housekeeping uniform, and she’d been emptying the trash can in front of the hotel door. The date on the photograph was yesterday.
Her stomach twisted with nausea. He knew where she was. There was no denying it anymore. She couldn’t stay at Harrow Suites any longer because Ben would find her.
Sarah dropped the photograph, telling herself it didn’t matter. She would find a way out and soon. She pulled the purse strap over her shoulder and wheeled the suitcase to the door. Then she walked out into the hallway and locked the door behind her.
Downstairs, she returned the key to Ellis. His face was haggard, but he said, “You know I have to call him, or I’ll lose my job.”
“I know. Just give me an hour—that’s all I ask.”
He nodded, and on impulse, she gave him a hug. “Give your grandmother my best. And take care of yourself, Ellis.”
“You do the same, Ms. Walsh.”
Jordan carried the heavy suitcase out to the waiting car. It had begun to snow again, but she was grateful for the warmer coat. As they pulled away from her building, she felt as if she were leaving a part of her former self behind.
And somehow, she would reach for the life she wanted.
“I know you’ve been helping her,” Ben Carnell said, after they wrapped up the meeting. Alec steepled his hands together, wondering how to respond. He didn’t bother asking who Carnell was referring to. He also knew that Sarah was safe for the time being, but his choice of words could affect the deal.
If Carnell agreed to the contract, Venture Enterprises would use Harrow Suites exclusively for their travel needs during the next five years. He had negotiated a fair price, and they would meet again after the holidays to finalize the details if all went well. But Ben could end the deal at any time. Alec didn’t want this situation to jeopardize everything he’d worked for.
For the time being, he would feign ignorance. “Helping who?” he asked as he reached for a pen.
Carnell sent him a knowing look. “Sarah. I hired a PI to trace her, and she was at your hotel yesterday wearing a housekeeping uniform.” Ben sighed and shook his head in disbelief. “Did you think I wouldn’t find her?”
“My general manager does the hiring for that property,” Alec answered, dismissing the idea. “You can take up that discussion with him. I have thousands of properties to manage, and I don’t keep track of employees, any more than you know the names of all your staff at Venture.” He closed his briefcase, behaving as if nothing were wrong. “I’ll have my assistant arrange our next meeting after the New Year, so you’ll have time to look over my offer.”
“If she is working at your hotel…”
“…then it won’t be difficult for you to find her,” Alec finished. “It’s really none of my concern. My business is with you, not your wife.”
A faint smirk caught Carnell’s mouth. “I’m glad you see it that way.” He stood from the table. “She doesn’t belong in a place like that, working as a maid. Though I imagine she’ll be ready to come home after a day or two of cleaning.”
Alec kept his expression emotionless and escorted Carnell out. Only after the man had gone did he return to his office. He’d learned from his accountant which bank Carnell was using, because part of their contract required that information in order to wire the deposits. Alec took a moment to dial the manager’s direct line. Frank Davidson was a friend from college, and he knew his friend could help.
“Alec, it’s great to hear from you,” Frank said.
After a few moments of conversation with his friend, Alec got to the point. “I have a friend who has a joint account at your bank. I suspect her husband has shut her out of the account.” Even if she did get her ATM card or checks from her home, it wouldn’t matter. She couldn’t access any of her own money.
“I want you to do a favor for me,” he continued.
“I can’t give you any account information,” Frank started to say.
“That’s not what I want.” He paused a moment and said, “Sarah Walsh is going to try to withdraw money from her bank account today. When she does, I don’t want her to know that her husband shut her out.”
There was a pause before Frank said, “Go on.”
“I’m going to wire ten thousand dollars into an
account for her. Let her believe it came from her joint account.”
“Her ATM card won’t work if he shut down her account,” Frank warned.
“I’ll have her come in to the branch, and you can give her a new one. Just tell her that there was a malfunction with the card and fix it. Don’t tell her where the money came from.”
There was silence on the line once again. Finally, Frank said, “What’s going on, Alec? What are you involved with?”
“Not what you’re thinking,” he answered. “But let’s just say that I’m not going to turn my back on a woman who’s been beaten down.”
Frank sighed. “It’s your money. But there’s something else you should know about Sarah Walsh.”
Alec listened for the next few minutes, and a darkening suspicion took root. There was far more to this situation than Sarah knew, and inwardly he cursed Ben Carnell for being a heartless son of a bitch.
“Thank you,” he told Frank. “I’ll have my accountant wire the money over right now.”
And when he hung up the phone, he wondered just how deep the lies went.
After she finished at the bank, Sarah got back into the car, feeling relieved. She had cash now, and enough money to cover her expenses for a few months. The bank manager had met with her personally, and explained that, due to some recent changes, an account number had changed, but she could still access ten thousand dollars from the checking account, though she needed a new ATM card. She suspected that Ben had shut her out of the main account, but somehow there was another account he’d neglected to change. It was enough for now.
The driver continued through the streets, but when they passed Harrow Suites, he kept going. “What’s going on?” she asked Jordan.
The bodyguard’s expression was grim. “Mr. Harrow called and told us not to take you back to the hotel. He said Ben Carnell was looking for you.”
She said nothing, though an icy fear gripped her stomach. Of course. The photograph had proved she was there, and Ben would be sending someone to check the staff members. It wasn’t safe anymore.
“Then where are we going?”
“Mr. Harrow has a penthouse near the park,” the bodyguard said. “I have instructions to accompany you there. He’ll join you as soon as he’s finished his business for the day.”
Sarah clenched her hands together. A part of her wanted to refuse, for it wasn’t Alec’s responsibility to become her babysitter. She was a grown woman and could take care of herself. Now that she had access to money, she could go wherever she wanted to. She didn’t have to meet with Mr. Harrow or wait around for him.
And yet…she did owe him her thanks. He had made it possible for her to retrieve her belongings with a guard to protect her. It wasn’t right to disappear now without thanking him. She could wait until he returned home from the meeting and say goodbye. That would be the polite thing to do.
The car pulled in front of a building located in Central Park West, and Jordan opened the door for her. The architecture was beautiful, with an exterior built from beige stone and a classic façade. A large awning stretched over the main doors, and she sensed the tight security of this building from the discreet cameras.
The driver took her suitcase from the trunk, and Jordan spoke with the doorman before they were allowed to enter. She wasn’t entirely surprised that the building manager came to greet her, verifying her name and her identification before he accompanied them to the elevator and finally to the penthouse.
When she entered, Jordan brought her luggage inside, and then he started back toward the door.
“Aren’t you waiting here with me?” she asked.
He shook his head. “My instructions were to stand outside the door to make sure no one comes inside until Mr. Harrow returns.”
With a nod, he departed and closed the door behind him. She had the image of him standing guard, like a medieval sentry. And it did make her feel safer.
A ginger cat came trotting down the hallway to greet her, and Sarah smiled, bending down to pet the animal. The cat nudged her ankle before continuing toward the kitchen.
The penthouse was immaculate with windows that offered an amazing view of the cityscape. It was starting to snow again, and she stopped to watch the flakes drifting down upon the balcony.
She explored the downstairs and saw a Christmas tree in one corner with lights but no decorations. A garland was draped across the mantel of the gas fireplace, and a single stocking hung upon a hook. For some reason, the sight of it made her feel bad for Alec. No one should spend the holidays alone.
Sarah turned on the stereo and found a station that played Christmas carols. It might be a few hours before Alec returned, and waiting around doing nothing wasn’t the best use of her time. Instead, she made coffee in the small kitchen that looked as if it had never been used. When she opened the cupboards, she found that he had everything he needed for cooking full meals, but one of the pots still had a price tag hanging off the handle.
She had always enjoyed cooking, and she had a few recipes memorized. After a quick inventory of his food, Sarah decided to bake cookies. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and tucked a dishtowel into her waistband as a makeshift apron. Though she knew it probably wasn’t the best idea to bake cookies for a man she barely knew, she did feel grateful to Alec. He’d given her a place to stay, a temporary job, and he’d helped her get her belongings back. The least she could do was make the man some cookies.
But more than that, it made her feel better. Ben had never liked it when she baked, claiming that there were too many calories. The last time she’d made fresh cookies, he hadn’t eaten any of them. She’d given most of the batch to Ellis.
After an hour, the penthouse smelled delicious. She had several racks of cookies cooling, and she’d been lucky to find confectioner’s sugar and had whipped up some buttercream frosting for them.
She finished frosting the last sugar cookie before she cleaned up the kitchen and brought a plate of them to the den. She set the cookies down on the coffee table and curled up on the leather couch with a blanket. Then she turned off the music and flipped on the television, changing channels until she found the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The cat joined her on the couch, and she smiled as she watched Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart enjoying a honeymoon on a rainy night with a leaking roof.
When the movie was nearly over, she heard the front door open, and Alec called out, “Sarah?”
“I’m in here.”
He came into the den, his black woolen coat dusted with snowflakes. Once again, she was struck by how attractive he was. His dark hair made those blue eyes stand out, and he reminded her of a younger Pierce Brosnan. Alec unwound his scarf and removed the coat, tossing it on the back of a chair. He wore a black suit perfectly tailored to his form, and she distracted herself by muting the television.
“I made cookies if you’re hungry,” she offered. “I hope that was all right.”
His gaze flickered toward the plate for a moment, and he seemed surprised by them. “That was nice of you.” But he made no move to take one. Instead, he drew closer and sat down beside her. His expression was somber, and she didn’t know what to make of that. “Sarah, there’s something you should know about your husband.”
“Why?” Before he could answer, she added, “Don’t worry about Ben. I saw a picture his private investigator took of me at the hotel yesterday. I know I can’t go back there, but I was able to get money from the bank today. I’ll be okay.”
She expected him to agree with her, but instead, he said, “There’s a problem, Sarah. I found out something today that I wasn’t expecting, though I should have guessed it.”
“A problem with what?”
“A problem with your marriage.”
She couldn’t help but smile at that. “Well, that’s the understatement of the year, isn’t it?” But something about his expression made it clear that there was more he hadn’t told her. She waited for him to continue, and he seemed to be choos
ing his words carefully.
“I made some more calls today. And I asked some questions on your behalf.” His icy blue eyes met hers, and she sobered. Whatever he was about to tell her wasn’t good news at all.
“Sarah, the woman you saw in the photograph with Ben Carnell wasn’t his ex-wife or even his mistress. She’s his legal wife.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Sarah stared at him in disbelief. “What do you mean?” Her voice had gone soft, barely above a whisper. “He and Miranda divorced several years ago.”
Alec sat down beside her and shook his head. “No. He might have told you that, but they never divorced.” He’d asked his attorney to pull the information this afternoon. He passed her a file folder. Inside was a copy of Ben’s marriage license and several photographs of him attending various events in L.A.
Sarah’s expression froze, and she flipped through the papers, as if she’d been sucker punched. “I don’t understand. How is this possible?” Her coloring had paled, and she set down the file folder unable to look at it. “He married me, two years ago.”
Alec hated to be the bearer of the news, but she deserved the truth. Ben had played her for a fool, taking advantage of a girl just out of college. He tried to soften the blow. “Your marriage was never legal. There was no license filed, and there’s no record of it anywhere. I’m so sorry.” And yet, the words wouldn’t make her situation any more tolerable.
She closed her eyes as if trying to gather her thoughts. Marigold moved closer, nudging at Sarah’s fingers, as if to offer comfort. She stroked the cat’s fur, but he saw her hands trembling.
“I know I should deny it,” she said quietly, turning to face him. “I should tell you that what you’re saying is ridiculous. But right now, all I can think is that it sounds exactly like something Ben would do.”
Alec didn’t press but reached for one of the frosted sugar cookies. He’d never suspected Ben would play such a sick, twisted joke on a young woman.
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