Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Was Not Supposed to Be There)
Vivienne closed the door behind her.
She did not appear surprised to see Tessa holding the note.
That frightened Tessa more than anything.
"You are early," Tessa said.
Vivienne removed her sunglasses.
"For what?"
"Grant said you had an eleven o'clock appointment."
Vivienne smiled.
"Grant tells you my schedule now?"
Tessa folded the note and slipped it into her pocket.
Vivienne watched the movement.
"What is that?"
"Nothing."
"Then why hide it?"
"I didn't."
Vivienne walked closer.
Noah sat beside the sofa, pushing a wooden car across the rug.
He looked up at Vivienne.
His smile disappeared.
Tessa noticed.
Vivienne noticed Tessa noticing.
"He's always strange around me."
"He's a baby."
"He's Grant's baby."
The distinction sounded deliberate.
Tessa moved toward Noah.
Vivienne stepped in front of her.
"Do you know what your problem is?"
Tessa met her eyes.
"No."
"You forget you're an employee."
"I remember every time you speak to me."
Vivienne smiled without humor.
"Grant is vulnerable."
Tessa did not answer.
"He lost his wife. He has a child he doesn't know how to raise. He clings to anyone who makes his life easier."
"Is that what you think you're doing?"
Vivienne's eyes narrowed.
Tessa knew immediately she had gone too far.
But she also understood something else.
Vivienne was not there to visit Grant.
She had come for the envelope.
Or for something connected to it.
Vivienne moved toward the hallway.
Tessa blocked her.
"Where are you going?"
"To Elise's office."
"No."
Vivienne stopped.
Tessa's heart beat harder.
"Grant told me not to let anyone inside."
Vivienne's face changed by a fraction.
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
"Did he mention me by name?"
Tessa said nothing.
Vivienne laughed quietly.
"Of course he did."
She turned back toward the living room.
Tessa expected an argument.
Instead, Vivienne walked to the sofa and sat down.
That was worse.
"You've been talking to him about me."
"He asked questions."
"And you answered."
"Yes."
Vivienne crossed her legs.
"That was a mistake."
Tessa looked toward the security camera.
Vivienne followed her eyes.
"Oh, please."
"What?"
"That thing hasn't worked since winter."
"How would you know?"
Vivienne's smile disappeared.
Tessa felt the shift.
It was subtle, but it was there.
"I've been part of this family longer than you."
"This isn't your family."
The words escaped before Tessa could stop them.
Vivienne stood.
Noah began to whimper.
Tessa immediately picked him up.
Vivienne looked at the child.
Something cold entered her expression.
"Do you think Grant will keep you forever?"
"I don't think about it."
"You should."
Tessa held Noah tighter.
Vivienne lowered her voice.
"Because once we're married, things will change."
Tessa stared at her.
Vivienne smiled.
"Surprised?"
"Grant didn't mention an engagement."
"He doesn't know yet."
For the first time, Tessa was genuinely confused.
Vivienne laughed.
"It was a joke."
"No, it wasn't."
Vivienne's smile faded.
Tessa suddenly remembered the envelope in her pocket.
Stop asking questions about Elise Mercer.
She thought of Vivienne leaving Elise's locked office.
She thought of the strange statement about Noah crying alone.
And she thought of the security camera Vivienne claimed was broken.
Tessa made a decision.
She carried Noah toward the kitchen.
Vivienne followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Making his bottle."
"I'll do it."
"No."
Vivienne laughed again.
"You really don't trust me."
Tessa turned.
"No."
The answer landed harder than either expected.
Vivienne stopped smiling.
For several seconds, only Noah's breathing could be heard.
Then Vivienne said, "Be careful."
"Is that a warning?"
"It's advice."
"About what?"
"About confusing your place in this house with importance."
Tessa prepared the bottle.
Vivienne leaned against the counter.
"You know why the other caregivers left?"
Tessa looked at her.
"They couldn't handle Noah."
"That's what Grant thinks."
Tessa waited.
Vivienne's eyes remained on the bottle.
"The first one accused him of being emotionally unstable."
Tessa knew that was false.
"The second tried to steal from the family."
Tessa had heard a different version.
"The third became obsessed with Elise."
Tessa stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
"She asked questions too."
"What happened to her?"
"She left."
"Where?"
Vivienne looked up.
"Why do you care?"
Tessa did not answer.
Vivienne smiled faintly.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
The color drained from her face for one second.
She turned away before answering.
"What?"
Tessa could not hear the voice on the other end.
Vivienne walked toward the hallway.
"No. I told you not today."
Pause.
"I know where it is."
Another pause.
Vivienne lowered her voice.
"The card is still in the house."
Tessa froze.
Vivienne looked back.
Their eyes met.
Vivienne ended the call.
"What card?" Tessa asked.
Vivienne put the phone into her purse.
"None of your business."
Tessa set the bottle down.
Vivienne walked toward the entryway.
"You are leaving?"
"For now."
She picked up her sunglasses.
Before opening the door, she turned.
"Give Grant some advice from me."
Tessa said nothing.
"Tell him some memories are safer when they're left buried."
Then she left.
Tessa locked the door.
She stood motionless for several seconds.
Noah made a small sound.
Tessa looked down.
"Yeah," she whispered. "I heard it too."
She carried him back into the living room.
The envelope remained in her pocket.
The camera remained silent above the console table.
Tessa looked at the flower vase.
Something about it bothered her.
She set Noah in the playpen.
Then she moved the vase aside.
A faint scratch marked the wood beneath it.
She examined the underside.
Nothing.
She checked behind the table.
Nothing.
Then she touched the edge of the marble top.
Her fingers found a small strip of black tape.
She pulled it free.
Attached to it was a tiny plastic memory card.
Tessa stared at it.
The card Vivienne had mentioned.
She looked toward the front door.
Vivienne had left only moments earlier.
Tessa could have called Grant.
She almost did.
Then she remembered his nine o'clock board meeting.
She decided to wait until she knew what the card contained.
May you like
It was the first mistake she made that day.
And it nearly cost her everything.
