Chapter 1 - THE ORDER THAT SILENCED CHICAGO
The moment Adrien Voss ordered the front door locked, I knew I'd made a terrible mistake.
Not because I'd stood up to him.
Because Daniel Mercer looked like a man who had just heard his own death sentence.
"Mr. Voss," Daniel whispered, "I'm sure we can resolve this misunderstanding."
Adrien didn't even glance at him.
"Lock it."
The restaurant's security guard hesitated before turning the lock. Several customers shifted nervously in their seats.
My heart hammered.
"Excuse me," I said. "Whatever you're planning, I didn't agree to be locked inside a restaurant."
Adrien turned toward me.
Something unexpected happened.
He nodded.
"You're right."
Then he looked toward the guard.
"Unlock it. Nobody is being detained. I only want to make sure the records aren't removed before we finish this conversation."
The guard obeyed immediately.
I folded my arms.
"Much better."
For the first time, Adrien almost smiled.
Daniel looked as though he might faint.
Adrien approached Mrs. Ellis.
"Margaret."
The elderly woman lifted her head.
"Hello, Adrien."
I stared.
"You two know each other?"
Mrs. Ellis gave a trembling smile.
"I'm afraid we do, sweetheart."
Adrien pulled out the chair beside her.
"How many times has this happened?"
She looked down.
"Three."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened three times?"
Mrs. Ellis wiped her eyes.
"Three employees have been punished for helping me at restaurants connected to this company."
I looked at Daniel.
He suddenly found the floor fascinating.
Adrien turned toward him.
"Tell Sophie who owns Linden Hospitality."
Daniel swallowed.
"Mr. Voss—"
"Answer."
"Voss Capital holds the controlling interest."
My eyes widened.
"You own this restaurant?"
Adrien looked at me.
"Indirectly."
I laughed bitterly.
"Great. Then perhaps you should've spent less time watching and more time checking who you hired."
The restaurant went silent again.
Adrien studied me.
"You're right about that too."
Daniel stared at him in disbelief.
Adrien took out his phone.
"Bring the employee disciplinary records for the last six months," he told someone. "And preserve the security footage."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Sir, our records are confidential."
Adrien looked at him.
"Confidential from whom?"
Daniel said nothing.
I glanced toward Mrs. Ellis.
Her hands had stopped trembling.
That was strange.
Then Adrien turned back toward her.
"Margaret, perhaps it's time you told Sophie why you keep coming here."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Mrs. Ellis opened her worn purse.
She removed a gold identification card.
Beneath her photograph were the words:
MARGARET ELLIS — FOUNDER, ELLIS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION.
I stared.
Mrs. Ellis wasn't simply a lonely elderly woman.
She was one of Chicago's most respected philanthropists.
"I've been investigating how businesses treat vulnerable customers," she explained.
My mouth fell open.
"You forgot your wallet on purpose?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes."
For a moment, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Then Adrien looked toward Daniel.
"Now explain why you fired Sophie before she'd even broken a company rule."
Daniel's face drained.
"Because..."
He stopped.
Adrien waited.
"Because someone told me to."
I felt a chill.
"Someone?"
Daniel swallowed.
May you like
Then he whispered, "I was paid twenty-five thousand dollars to make sure Sophie Carter lost her job today."
And suddenly, twelve dollars and forty cents had become the least important amount of money in the room.
