Page 5 of Hotel Mallois

Jodie feels a sudden tremor in her body that she struggles to control. If she was already nervous and angry about the accusation, now she experiences a sensation she can't describe. Katherine Taylor, the woman she's been in love with for almost two years, is there in the same room as her and looks at her with an expression she can't decipher.

"What happened, Lamir?" Katherine asks for explanations to focus her attention on something other than the woman who's in a corner of the office, near the head of housekeeping.

Lamir Kumar relates to his boss what occurred. Katherine turns her head again to focus on Jodie, and this time she does it to verify that what she felt when she saw her upon entering wasn't just curiosity. But there it is, that feeling of protection that she doesn't know where it comes from. It's like when you don't want anything to happen to someone very close to you and you fight to keep them safe. Katherine doesn't understand it, it's the first time she's seen this woman with sad and tired eyes, and she struggles to comprehend why she feels this way.

"She refuses to let us search her," Marjorie suddenly says with a sharp face. "If she had nothing to do with the watch theft, she wouldn't object."

Katherine abandons her thoughts and approaches Marjorie with a dangerous expression.

"In my hotel, things aren't done this way, Marjorie," Katherine Taylor responds, emphasizing her words calmly. "There's a very specific protocol for these cases, and the first step is trying to resolve it internally. What's your name?" this time Katherine focuses on the housekeeper.

"Jodie Sinclair," she manages to answer, but without daring to raise her gaze.

"Would you like to say something, Miss Sinclair?" Katherine asks in an unusual tone. Too sweet. Something that amazes and bothers her in equal measure.

Jodie breathes agitatedly. The situation—adding everything she's been carrying for years—is overwhelming her, and having Katherine Taylor in front of her, with her loose hair, bright eyes, and that citrus perfume, is more than the woman can handle. But she knows that if she stays quiet, she won't have a chance to defend herself, so she makes her best effort.

"It wasn't me, Ms. Taylor. I've never stolen anything in my life, and I certainly won't do it in your hotel. Every day I come here, I complete my work sheet, and I leave to return to my post the next day. I haven't touched that watch they're talking about," Jodie explains in a rush with her gaze fixed on the floor.

"She's lying!" exclaims Marjorie in a tone that startles Lamir. "Yesterday she was talking on the phone during her work shift, by the way, and I heard her say she didn't have the money to pay. Now a watch disappears, it seems too much of a coincidence to me."

Katherine tries to calm herself by filling her lungs with as much air as possible.

"Marjorie, wait outside," says the hotel owner.

The supervisor opens her eyes wide and looks at Lamir Kumar, who seems like an inanimate figure standing behind his desk. She hesitates but decides to leave the office, not without giving a look loaded with something quite negative to a very nervous Jodie.

Katherine composes herself. She raises her shoulders and takes control of the situation and her thoughts again.

"I have no choice but to suspend you while we conduct the investigation," Katherine says, addressing Jodie, who nods without moving from her spot.

Katherine turns and opens the office door. She knows Mike is there, as always, so she signals him to come in.

"I need you to handle this, be discrete and quick so we can know something as soon as possible."

"Of course, right away," Mike responds and glances at the housekeeper, who trembles imperceptibly.

"I'll be in the suite, keep me informed, Mike," Katherine tells her bodyguard and focuses on Jodie. "We'll notify you when the investigation concludes, go home."

Katherine Taylor doesn't wait for responses, leaves the office releasing a sigh that Mike doesn't miss. The owner of the Mallois Hotel hurries up to her home, wanting to bury her head in all the documentation she has to review and rid her body of that strange sensation she had upon meeting the enigmatic housekeeper, Jodie Sinclair.

Chapter 4

Katherine Taylor sits disconnected, having spent fifteen minutes in front of Preston Bradford—the client who reported the stolen watch—listening to him repeat over and over how unacceptable it is for something like this to happen at a prestigious hotel like the Mallois.

"Well?" Bradford says, crossing one leg over the other.

They're in the hotel lobby, seated on one of many crescent-shaped sofas in front of a small marble table where service has just delivered the second glass of one of the most expensive whiskeys Bradford has ordered, knowing Katherine won't let them charge him for it. Katherine snaps out of her reverie to find Preston Bradford watching her with a smile she's not sure she likes, but what she does know is that the man expects her to speak.

"I'm very sorry about what happened, Mr. Preston," Katherine says, fidgeting with her wristwatch.

Preston Bradford's eyes travel across Katherine's fitted jacket to rest on her hands, then move to her legs covered by a pencil skirt below her knees.

"My head of security is handling the matter, and I assure you we'll have an answer to this unfortunate incident shortly."

"Haven't you called the police?" Bradford asks, offended. "It's obvious that cleaning lady stole from me. It wouldn't be the first time these women take what isn't theirs thinking nobody will notice. Damn fools," he adds, clicking his tongue, "as if they didn't get enough from the tips we give them."

Katherine can't tell him what she thinks about people who believe they're superior to others because he's her client, but she won't play along or let him continue talking about the cleaning staff like that in front of her.

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