Chapter 2 - The Woman Behind the Perfect Smile
The next morning, Celeste humiliated the gardener.
His name was Percy, and his mistake was trimming a rose hedge too short.
At least, that was the reason Celeste gave.
Laura knew it was not the real reason.
The real reason was that Percy had carried her bucket the day before.
Celeste had seen him do it from the upstairs balcony.
Now she stood in the courtyard, wearing a white coat and sunglasses, while Percy held a pair of pruning shears in dirt-stained gloves.
“These roses were imported from France,” Celeste said.
Percy kept his eyes on the ground.
“I followed the schedule, Ms. Vane.”
“The schedule is wrong.”
“It was signed by Mr. Hardwick’s office.”
Celeste’s mouth tightened.
“Are you suggesting I’m wrong?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then apologize.”
Percy’s shoulders lowered.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry the hedges were cut incorrectly.”
Celeste stepped closer.
“Say that you were careless.”
Laura stood several yards away beside a cart of clean linens.
She could feel the staff watching her.
Not openly.
No one dared.
But everyone knew she was there.
Everyone knew she had spoken once already.
Percy took a breath.
“I was careless.”
Celeste smiled.
“Better.”
Laura’s fingers curled around the cart handle.
Then she saw something else.
A small red mark on Percy’s wrist.
Not a cut.
A fingerprint bruise.
He had been grabbed.
Celeste noticed where Laura was looking.
Her smile vanished.
“Do you have something to say, Laura?”
The courtyard went silent.
Laura met her gaze.
“Yes.”
Celeste’s eyes sharpened.
“What?”
“The roses are fine.”
Percy looked terrified.
Celeste removed her sunglasses.
“You have developed a concerning habit.”
“I have a concern.”
“This man disobeyed instructions.”
“He followed a written schedule.”
“Do you work in horticulture now?”
“No.”
“Then why are you interfering?”
Laura looked at Percy.
“Because he is being punished for helping someone yesterday.”
Celeste’s face changed.
The truth had been spoken too clearly.
“You are accusing me of retaliation?”
“I’m describing what I saw.”
Celeste laughed softly.
“You have no idea how replaceable you are.”
Laura nodded.
“That may be true.”
The answer seemed to frustrate Celeste.
She wanted fear.
She wanted Laura to beg for her job.
She wanted the other employees to witness the consequences of resistance.
But Laura did not look frightened.
She looked tired.
And somehow, that was worse.
Celeste turned to Bess.
“Bring me Laura’s employment file.”
Bess froze.
“Now.”
Bess hurried inside.
Celeste looked at Laura.
“You think you can come into my home and question me because you have some fantasy about saving everyone?”
“No.”
“Then what do you think you are doing?”
Laura spoke quietly.
“I think people should be allowed to do their work without being afraid of you.”
The words landed across the courtyard.
Percy looked up.
Only for a second.
But he looked up.
Celeste saw it too.
Her face became cold.
“You will regret this.”
Laura did not answer.
But when Bess returned with the employment folder, Celeste did something unexpected.
She did not fire Laura.
She placed the file on a garden table and opened it.
Then she smiled.
“Interesting.”
Laura’s stomach tightened.
Celeste pulled out a copy of Laura’s previous work history.
Hotels.
Private residences.
Cleaning agencies.
All carefully ordinary.
“You have moved around a great deal,” Celeste said.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Work is work.”
Celeste turned another page.
“Your references are strange.”
“They are real.”
“I’m sure they are.”
Celeste looked at Laura with sudden interest.
For the first time, she was no longer treating Laura as an inconvenience.
She was treating her as a mystery.
That was dangerous.
“You know,” Celeste said, “Garrett has a weakness for people who look helpless but are not.”
Laura’s face remained still.
“I don’t know Mr. Hardwick.”
“No,” Celeste said. “But I think he may know more about you than you realize.”
Then she walked away.
That afternoon, Laura found Nina crying in the laundry room.
The girl was holding a dismissal notice.
Celeste had cut her hours.
No explanation.
No warning.
Just a message stating that Nina’s “lack of composure” was not suitable for the Hardwick household.
Laura read the notice.
Then she walked directly to the estate office.
Bess followed behind her.
“Laura, please,” Bess whispered. “You will make it worse.”
Laura stopped outside the office door.
“Worse than firing a seventeen-year-old because she dropped a tray?”
Bess looked down.
Laura’s voice softened.
“You do not have to be brave today. But you do not have to help her be cruel either.”
Inside the office, Celeste sat behind Garrett’s desk.
She looked up as Laura entered.
“I’m busy.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Laura placed Nina’s dismissal notice on the desk.
“This is retaliation.”
Celeste leaned back.
“This is management.”
“Nina is a minor.”
“She is an employee.”
“She is a child.”
Celeste’s smile returned.
“And you are what? Her mother?”
“No.”
“Then stop acting like one.”
Laura leaned forward.
“Reinstate her hours.”
Celeste stared at her.
Then she laughed.
The sound was quiet and cruel.
“You are not in a position to demand anything from me.”
Laura nodded once.
“You are right.”
She reached into her apron pocket and removed her phone.
“But I am in a position to document what happens here.”
Celeste’s laughter stopped.
Laura continued.
“Every schedule change. Every threat. Every injury. Every staff member who has been punished after speaking up.”
Celeste’s face became pale.
“You have been recording me?”
“No,” Laura said. “I have been listening.”
“Give me that phone.”
“No.”
Celeste stood.
“So help me, Laura—”
The office door opened.
A man stood there.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dressed in a dark suit that seemed to absorb the light around him.
Garrett Hardwick had come home.
He looked first at Celeste.
Then at Laura.
Then at Nina’s dismissal notice on his desk.
“What is this?” he asked.
No one answered.
May you like
Garrett’s eyes settled on Laura.
“Ms. Beckett,” he said. “I believe we need to talk.”
