Page 47 of Sacrifice

Lord, Rose, stop babbling,I commanded myself, instantly shutting my mouth. If I talked too much, I’d start to seem suspicious.

“Ah.” Adam nodded slowly as he reached into a cupboard to collect two mugs. “I was just in Montreal for business recently. That explains the familiarity, I suppose. Anyway, do you take cream? Or sugar?”

“Both, please.”

He smiled faintly as he turned to the coffee machine. “I like a young woman who isn’t afraid of sugar. It’s rare these days,” he said. “Anyway, what brings you to New York?”

“I, er…” I gulped, scrambling for a reason. Yesterday’s department store visit instantly rushed back to me. “I’m an actress.”

“I see. This is certainly the right place for that,” he said, watching the machine as it whirred and sputtered to life, filling the air with the rich, earthy scent of freshly brewed coffee. “Got any projects yet?”

I smiled and nodded. “I have a job on a historical drama. It’s a Little House on the Prairie type of thing,” I said, recalling Sebastian’s words. “They still haven’t given the show an official name yet, though. The focus groups are still testing a few different ones.”

“Good girl,” Sebastian muttered in my ear through the bud. “You’re doing so well.”

Adam nodded as he stirred some cream and sugar into both mugs. “That sounds interesting,” he said, turning to hand one of the coffees to me. “And you’re working this cleaning job part-time around that gig, I presume?”

“Yes. It’s an expensive city, and acting doesn’t pay much. Not when you’re brand new to it, anyway.”

“I can imagine.” He took a sip of his coffee before going on. “I think it’s quite admirable that you’re working this job as well as focusing on your acting career. So many young people in this city try to be actors, and they do nothing but live off their trust funds in the process. I hear about it all the damn time.”

“Oh. Yes, I… I’ve heard the same thing,” I said, voice coming out in a painfully high squeak. Adam was staring right into my eyes, and for a few seconds that felt like an eternity, I was certain he knew something. Certain I’d inadvertently given something away.

Heavy footsteps appeared in the hall, and he snapped his gaze to the kitchen entryway. “Ah, there she is,” he said as a gray-haired woman stepped inside. “Caroline, this is Mina from the cleaning company. You spoke with her supervisor the other day. Something about a trial shift?”

The older woman stared at me, her sparse brows knitted in a mystified expression. I was sure the jig was up, but then she waved a hand. “Sorry, that completely slipped my mind,” she said, shaking her head. “The perils of getting old!”

Adam chuckled. “You’re not old. That would meanI’mold,” he replied. He glanced at his watch. “Anyway, I better head out. Have a nice day, ladies.”

I breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he set his cup on the counter and strode out of the kitchen. Caroline picked it up and took it over to the sink, looking at me over her shoulder. “So, you’re the new girl, huh?”

“Yes.” I gestured to the backpack hanging off my shoulder. “I brought a few of my own cleaning supplies, but my supervisor said most of the equipment is provided.”

“It is. I’ll show you the storage cupboard in a minute,” she said as she rinsed the cup. “How much experience do you have?”

“Not much. But I’m a hard worker.”

She smiled. “That’s what I like to hear,” she said. She clicked her fingers to show me through another doorway leading out of the kitchen. “Everything you need is this way.”

After she’d shown me the spacious cleaning cupboard, complete with neatly organized supplies, an array of mops and brooms, and various electronic equipment that I was sure Sebastian would explain to me soon, she clapped her hands together and straightened her shoulders. “Right,” she said in a brisk tone. “I’ll let you get on with it. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “Do you want me to start anywhere in particular?”

“Anywhere is fine, except for the kitchen for the next hour or so,” she said. “I’m making blueberry muffins and ginger cookies. Mr. Thorne adores them.”

“Okay. I’ll get started now,” I said, eyeing the closest hall.

Once she was gone, Sebastian explained how something called a vacuum cleaner worked. I listened carefully before lugging it down the hall, along with various other items.

“Sorry that you’re stuck doing so much work,” he said. “I wish I could help.”

“It’s fine,” I whispered, stooping to plug the cleaner into the closest electrical outlet. “I have to do it.”

After I vacuumed the hall, I moved into a cavernous living room and dusted the accent tables, shelves, and cabinets that lined the walls. As I did so, I rummaged through the drawers on the furniture, along with any large files and folders that happened to be lying around. I kept glancing over my shoulder as I peeked through everything, just in case, but Caroline never came to check on me. Clearly, she was a very trusting woman.

“It’s definitely not in here,” I finally whispered. “Next?”

“Yup,” Sebastian replied. “My father’s study is just down the hall. Next door on the right. It could be in there.”

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