I took a job bathing a paralyzed billionaire because my children were starving and I had no other choice. I told myself it was only work, only a…
He closed his eyes.
I moved closer.
“Who are you?”
His eyes opened again.
“You already know my name.”
“Christopher Bennett.”
“That’s right.”
“No.”
I pointed toward his chest.
“I know who Christopher Bennett is. Everybody in Chicago does. Billionaire real-estate investor. Hotels. Construction. Finance. But Ryan had that locket before Christopher Bennett’s name ever appeared in a newspaper.”
His fingers curled around the pendant.
“Leave, Rachel.”
“What happened to my brother?”
His wheelchair suddenly moved backward.
“Get out!”
The shout brought Mrs. Alvarez running.
She stopped in the doorway.
“Christopher?”
He pointed toward me.
“Take her home.”
Mrs. Alvarez looked between us.
“What happened?”
“Now.”
I didn’t move.
“Rachel,” she said softly.
“Ask him about the necklace.”
Her expression changed.
That was all I needed to see.
She knew.
My stomach dropped.
“You know too.”
Mrs. Alvarez looked away.
“Oh my God.”
I backed toward the doorway.
“You both know.”
“Rachel,” she said.
“Don’t.”
I held up my hand.
“If you knew my brother, if you knew anything about what happened to him—”
Christopher slammed his palm against the chair control.
“Enough!”
I stared at him through tears.
Then I picked up my coat.
“I need this job,” I said quietly. “More than you could possibly understand.”
His eyes met mine.
“But if that necklace came from my brother, I will find out how.”
I walked out.
Mrs. Alvarez followed me downstairs.
“Rachel.”
I kept walking.
“Please.”
I stopped near the front door.
She lowered her voice.
“You should go home tonight.”
“Was Ryan here?”
