Chapter 1 - THE THIRD TIME
“Don’t wake her.”
Ethan Blackwood’s bodyguard stopped inches from the maid slumped over the conference table.
“Sir, this is the third time this week.”
“I heard you, Marcus.”
A cleaning cloth was still trapped between Maya Collins’s fingers. Her cheek rested on her folded arms. She hadn’t even found a comfortable place to collapse.
Ethan noticed the paper beneath her elbow.
He pulled it free.
Night shift. Morning extension. Evening coverage. Another overnight shift.
The same name filled every line.
Maya Collins.
He checked the dates.
“Almost thirty-six hours.”
Marcus leaned closer. “Those approvals have your sister’s code.”
Olivia had been in New York for a week.
“Who entered them?”
Noah, the second bodyguard, glanced toward the hallway.
“I saw Mrs. Davenport leaving the staff office earlier.”
Margaret Davenport had managed the Blackwood estate for twelve years. Ethan trusted her with everything he considered too small to need his attention.
Hiring. Payroll. Complaints.
People.
Maya stirred, saw him, and shot upright.
“Mr. Blackwood. I’m sorry.”
Her knees folded when she tried to stand. She grabbed the table.
“I can finish.”
“Sit down.”
“I won’t let it happen again.”
Ethan held up the schedule. “Who assigned these?”
“Mrs. Davenport. She said Miss Olivia requested them.”
“Olivia hasn’t been here.”
Maya stared at him.
“But the approvals—”
“Did you speak to my sister?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you come to me?”
A tired laugh escaped her.
“I’m a maid, Mr. Blackwood.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“You don’t knock on a billionaire’s door because you don’t like your schedule.”
“You do when it could put you in a hospital.”
He turned toward Marcus.
“Bring Davenport here.”
“Please don’t.”
Maya’s voice was barely louder than a breath.
Ethan faced her again. “Why?”
Her eyes moved to the dark hallway.
“I don’t think those shifts were about work.”
The office went silent.
“What were they about?”
Maya swallowed.
“I think someone needed me asleep.”
Before Ethan could answer, the door opened.
Margaret Davenport stepped inside carrying a small white envelope.
Her gaze touched the schedule, then Maya.
“There you are,” she said warmly. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“What’s that?” Ethan asked.
“An unfortunate personnel matter.”
She placed the envelope on his desk.
Maya Collins’s name appeared above two typed words.
IMMEDIATE TERMINATION.
May you like
Ethan looked at Margaret.
“How did you know she was asleep?”
