Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE
I did not confront her.
Instead, I invited Vivien to dinner.
Private.
Candles.
Wine.
The kind of evening she enjoyed.
“You’ve been distracted.”
She touched my hand.
“Business.”
“Always business.”
“You knew that before agreeing to marry me.”
She smiled.
“I knew I could improve you.”
I almost laughed.
“Could you?”
“Yes.”
She leaned closer.
“You trust too many people.”
Interesting.
“Who shouldn’t I trust?”
She took a sip.
“Rocco.”
No.
“Your cousin Dante.”
Possible.
“Some staff.”
There.
“Which staff?”
She shrugged.
“That Elena woman makes me uncomfortable.”
My expression remained blank.
“Why?”
“She watches things.”
“What things?”
“Private conversations.”
Another lie.
Vivien continued:
“She’s ambitious.”
“She cleans bedrooms.”
“Women like her use proximity.”
I looked at her.
“What kind of woman is she?”
Vivien smiled.
“Desperate.”
I understood then.
Vivien believed desperation made Elena corruptible.
More importantly—
useful.
After dinner she kissed me.
I kissed her back.
Then watched her walk upstairs.
Rocco stepped out from the side corridor.
“You deserve an award.”
“For?”
“Not strangling her.”
“Find Serra.”
“He disappeared two weeks ago.”
“Dead?”
May you like
“Unknown.”
That meant our investigation had become more serious.
