Chapter 5 - ROSA’S VOICE

Daniel walked away from everyone.

Claire followed.

“Who is that?”

He ignored her.

“Daniel, give me the phone.”

He turned so fast she stopped.

“Don’t touch me.”

Her eyes widened.

Daniel pressed call.

Rosa answered after one ring.

“Mr. Carter?”

“Rosa.”

His voice almost broke.

“Are you okay?”

There was a pause.

“I’m okay.”

“Where are you?”

“Newark. With my cousin.”

“Why did you leave?”

Silence.

Then:

“Because Miss Claire told me if I came back, I would regret it.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

Claire stood six feet away, staring at him.

“What happened?”

Rosa sighed.

“I don’t want to ruin your wedding.”

“You’re not ruining anything.”

Behind Daniel, someone muttered, “Jesus.”

The story came out slowly.

Claire had begun cutting Rosa’s hours on paper while asking her to work full days.

Then she stopped paying overtime.

Then three paychecks never came.

When Rosa asked about the money, Claire accused her of stealing earrings.

Rosa denied it.

Claire threatened her.

Not just with police.

With immigration authorities.

With lawyers.

With “people Daniel knows.”

Daniel felt sick.

“I don’t know people like that.”

“I know.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Rosa’s voice became smaller.

“She said you knew.”

Daniel gripped the phone.

“She said what?”

“She said you agreed.”

Daniel looked directly at Claire.

Claire shook her head.

“No,” she mouthed.

Rosa continued.

“She said you were tired of me asking for more money.”

Daniel could barely breathe.

“I never said that.”

“I know that now.”

“How?”

“Your sister called me.”

Daniel glanced at Emily.

She nodded.

“Rosa, you said you had recordings.”

“Yes.”

“Recordings of what?”

A pause.

Then Rosa said, “Her.”

Daniel heard Claire whisper, “This is insane.”

Rosa continued.

“I started recording after she threatened me the second time.”

“Send them.”

“Daniel,” Patricia said sharply.

He turned.

“Stay out of this.”

Patricia stiffened.

The audio file arrived seconds later.

Daniel pressed play.

Claire’s voice filled the hallway.

“You think Daniel’s going to believe you?”

Rosa’s voice answered.

“I just want my pay.”

“You’ll get what I decide you get.”

“I worked those hours.”

“And you live in my house half the week eating my food.”

“I bring my own food.”

“Don’t get smart with me.”

Daniel looked at Claire.

Her face had gone pale.

On the recording, Rosa said, “I will ask Mr. Daniel.”

Then Claire’s voice changed.

Lower.

Colder.

“If you bother Daniel with this, I’ll make one phone call, Rosa. One.”

Silence.

“You understand me?”

The recording ended.

Nobody spoke.

Claire finally said, “You have no idea what happened before that.”

Daniel laughed.

It came out broken.

“You threatened her.”

“She was manipulating you.”

“You stole her wages.”

“I did not steal anything.”

“Then where did the money go?”

Claire said nothing.

Daniel stepped closer.

“Every month, I transferred money to you because you insisted on managing household expenses. Rosa’s pay was in that money.”

“It went to expenses.”

“What expenses?”

“The house.”

“Which expenses?”

Claire’s eyes darted toward her mother.

Daniel noticed.

So did Emily.

Patricia suddenly stepped forward.

“This has gone far enough.”

Daniel turned toward her.

“Why?”

“Because you’re humiliating my daughter over the word of an employee.”

Daniel stared at her.

Then he understood.

Not everything.

But enough.

“You knew.”

Patricia’s face tightened.

“Excuse me?”

“You knew about Rosa.”

“No.”

“You’re lying.”

“Daniel—”

“You knew.”

Claire stepped between them.

“Stop attacking my mother.”

Daniel looked at her.

Then at Patricia.

Then back at Claire.

“Where did Rosa’s money go?”

Claire’s expression hardened.

And that was when Richard, Claire’s father, quietly spoke from behind them.

“It went toward the wedding.”

Claire spun around.

“Dad.”

Everyone froze.

Richard looked at Daniel.

“I think you deserve to know.”

Patricia snapped, “Richard, don’t.”

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