Page 32 of Man of the Year

“Yes?” the stranger rasps on the other end.

“It’s me again. Calling from my neighbor’s. Better?”

“Yes.” He doesn’t catch my sarcasm. “So, you are the new girl at The Splendors. I guess you know what you’re doing.”

I silently gasp at the words. He definitely watches the mansion since he knows I’m new there.

“Who are you?” I demand.

“We met briefly when security threw me out the other day.”

Aha! I was right. He’s the man I saw outside the gate, in the dark, just a day ago. He might be dangerous. But! There’s also a possibility that he has some dirt on Rosenberg.

“I only have a second,” I snap. “Tell me what this is about.”

“I know you think you are clever, but you won’t be able to pull it off yourself.”

“Pull off what?”

“Listen to me. We can take that asshole down together.”

I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but I need another confirmation. “Who?”

“Rosenberg.”

Right, taking down a famous millionaire sounds like a piece of cake. But I’m curious. “You need to tell me more.”

“Yeah. I’m trying to get to him, but that seems impossible.”

“I only met him once.”

“Yeah, well, you work in his fortress. I need you to pass on some information.”

“Didn’t you say he’s dangerous?”

“If you are smart, you’ll do it in such a way that you won’t get caught. I have information that will land him in prison. But I can’t reach him. You are the girl on the inside, and I’ll pay you if you do what I tell you.”

Huh. This is interesting, but it also sounds like it might get me in more trouble than I need to. “You said he is dangerous, so why?—”

“Listen, this is not a phone conversation. We need to meet. Soon. Before you end up like everyone else.”

My jaw drops. “Excuse me?”

“I’ll get in touch again. Don’t call me from your phone. Use someone else’s or a burner.”

The line goes dead.

DAY 3

TWENTY-TWO

NATALIE

For most people, a party in a million-dollar mansion is a fun event. For service people, it’s the toughest day of the week.

For me? Well, this is probably my biggest opportunity to observe Geoffrey Rosenberg. There will be a hundred or so guests. People will be getting drunk. Meanwhile, I’ll get a chance to eavesdrop. I’m not the only one who thinks Rosenberg is dangerous. That’s confirmed. Good.

Play by the rules,I remind myself.Act normal.

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