Chapter 3

The guards threw me out.

The next day, notices went up by every elevator.

My photo. One line in bold.

[No dogs or Lena Hart allowed on the top floor.]

People stared all day.

Some hid their laughs behind their hands.

Others went out of their way to pass me and whisper.

"That's her. Tried to hook up with Mr. Danford. Ms. Mercer caught her."

"Girl scrubs toilets and thinks she can land a rich husband."

I kept my head down and cleaned like I couldn't hear them.

Thirteen floors. Dozens of restrooms.

Mop. Scrub. Wipe down sinks.

By quitting time, I could barely straighten up. Cleaning chemicals left my fingers pale and cracked.

But whenever I left work, I felt someone watching me.

I'd turn around. Empty hallway.

Two weeks went by.

I'd just finished the twelfth floor when Winnie called.

"Lena, get to the lobby. Now."

Downstairs, a crowd packed the lobby.

Martha Wayson, the office cleaner, pointed at me.

"It was her! I saw her take it!"

I stopped.

Before I could ask what was going on, Callie rushed over, her eyes full of tears.

The attitude was gone. She grabbed my hand, practically begging.

"Lena, please.

"Give me back my necklace, okay?

"Alvin gave it to me for my birthday. It's worth over $800,000. I can't lose it."

The price stunned me.

Alvin could drop over $800,000 on a gift.

But a year ago, when I'd gotten pregnant by accident and needed an abortion, he'd claimed he couldn't even afford anesthesia. He'd have to borrow the money.

So I'd lain on that cold table, shaking with pain, biting through my lip to spare him the expense.

Looking back, I'd let him treat me like I was worth nothing.

The crowd went quiet, snapping me out of it.

Alvin stepped out of the elevator.

Callie rushed to him, teary-eyed. "Alvin, my necklace is gone. Martha saw Lena take it."

She bit her lip. "She wouldn't even give you twenty grand. Is it any surprise she got greedy over Bleu Éternel?"

Twenty grand.

It always came back to that.

Every mention made his eyes colder.

He strode over. "Hand it over."

I looked up at him, feeling disappointed and hopeless.

"Is that what you think of me? Some money-hungry thief?"

No trust in his eyes. Just a cold smirk. "You had me fooled. I thought you were perfect.

"Turns out you're like every other woman who'd do anything for cash."

Tears blurred the face I knew so well. He looked like a stranger.

When I still wouldn't confess, he turned to the guards.

"Have her searched."

They called over several women from the staff to pin me down.

I fought as hard as I could.

It did no good.

They stripped off my cleaning uniform, yanked my jacket open, and ripped off my shirt.

People crowded around. Some filmed.

In the chaos, people bumped into me on purpose, hands brushing my waist, thighs, and chest.

Left in my bra and underwear, I curled up and hugged myself, barely covered.

The women exchanged looks, then shook their heads at Alvin.

No necklace.

I looked up at him, my voice thick with hate. "I told you I didn't take it. Happy now?"

Alvin's face finally changed.

He frowned, looked away, and eyed Callie with doubt.

She just sighed, like she'd expected this.

"Alvin, she's good at playing innocent. She wouldn't stash it in her clothes.

"There's one place we haven't checked."

She stepped behind me and yanked my bun.

Pain shot through my scalp. My hair tie snapped, letting my hair fall loose.

A flash of blue dropped from my hair and clacked against the floor.

The $800,000 Bleu Éternel lay there for everyone to see.