Chapter 4 - THE HOUSEKEEPER WHO KNEW HER NAME
Mrs. Gable had spent years treating Norah like a piece of furniture.
She criticized her work.
Denied her breaks.
Assigned her the heaviest tasks.
And reminded her constantly that servants were replaceable.
Now Norah was learning the woman had been legally listed as her father's guardian.
It made no sense.
“Mrs. Gable?” she whispered.
Gabriel nodded.
“That's what the records say.”
Norah stared.
“But she acts like she barely knows me.”
Gabriel's expression darkened.
“Apparently, she's known your family for years.”
Investigators reviewed the paperwork.
Several signatures appeared suspicious.
The guardianship documents were inconsistent with the available medical records.
A court review would be necessary to determine whether the arrangement had ever been valid.
But one detail stood out.
Mrs. Gable had signed a document authorizing Thomas Hayes's transfer on the same day Norah was hired at the Rossi estate.
Norah felt sick.
“She knew.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Knew what?”
“That I was Thomas Hayes's daughter.”
She covered her mouth.
“She knew the whole time.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
The woman he'd trusted to manage his household had concealed a secret involving Norah's father.
And perhaps much more.
He contacted his attorney and arranged for investigators to obtain the relevant records.
Mrs. Gable was placed on administrative leave while the matter was reviewed.
She protested immediately.
“Mr. Rossi, I've served your family for twenty-three years.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“Then perhaps you can explain why your name appears on Thomas Hayes's guardianship paperwork.”
Her face went pale.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, “You weren't supposed to find that.”
Norah stopped breathing.
Gabriel leaned forward.
“Find what?”
Mrs. Gable shook her head.
“Mr. Rossi, you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She looked toward Norah.
Her expression changed.
Not hatred.
Fear.
“Your father was trying to protect her.”
Norah stared.
“My father?”
Mrs. Gable nodded.
“Thomas discovered something about your family.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“What?”
She looked toward the door.
Then whispered, “Something your father ordered buried.”
Gabriel went still.
His father, Salvatore Rossi, had died four years earlier.
A ruthless man.
A criminal leader who valued loyalty above everything.
Gabriel had inherited much of his empire.
But he'd never known every secret Salvatore kept.
Mrs. Gable continued.
“Thomas found financial records.”
“What kind?” Gabriel asked.
“Records showing money moving through charitable foundations into private accounts.”
Norah looked confused.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Mrs. Gable's eyes filled.
“Because Thomas was going to report it.”
Gabriel leaned forward.
“And Adrian stopped him?”
She shook her head.
“Not alone.”
Silence.
May you like
Then Mrs. Gable whispered the name of the person who'd arranged Thomas's disappearance.
“Your father, Salvatore Rossi, ordered it before he died.”
