The man turned slowly.
His face was sharp and cold, his gray eyes stormy—but filled with deep sorrow.
“Who are you?” he asked quietly.
“Hannah Blake. I’m the cleaning woman. I didn’t know you were coming back today.”
He looked down at Sophie.
“This child is yours?”
“Yes.”
“She was crying alone,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry,” Hannah whispered. “She’s sick. I had no one to watch her. Please don’t fire me.”
The man studied the baby.
“How old?”
“Eight months.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“My son would be eight months old now,” he murmured. “If he had lived.”
He handed Sophie back to Hannah.
“You can bring her here whenever you need. This room is warm enough.”
Then he said his name.
“I’m Adrian Cole. This is my house.”
Hannah’s blood went cold.
Adrian Cole was rumored to be the most powerful crime boss on the East Coast.
“I need coffee,” he said calmly. “Can you make coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Make some.”
As she walked toward the kitchen, he added quietly:
“Welcome to Cole Manor, Hannah.”
The next morning the housekeeper Linda Park called Hannah.
Mr. Cole wanted her to work there permanently.
Triple her previous salary.
Housing included.
Hannah accepted immediately.