“That was not included in the training manual.”
To her surprise, the corner of his mouth moved.
“An oversight.”
A laugh escaped her.
It was small and unsteady, but real.
Then she covered her face.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing this here.
For lying about my name.
For causing—”
“Stop.”
The word was firm, not cruel.
Maya lowered her hands.
He nodded toward the chair opposite him.
“Sit down before you fall down.”
She did.
For the first time she saw the booth from the level of a guest rather than a frightened employee on the floor.
The table was immaculate except for his glass, the water, and a closed black folder near his hand.
No weapons displayed.
No dramatic evidence of the stories whispered about him.
Just a quiet man in a dark suit who had been interrupted and had chosen not to send her away.
“Why did you help me?” she asked.
He looked toward the curtain Derek had disappeared through.
“Because you were afraid.”
“That’s it?”
“It was enough.”
Maya looked down at the water.
Most people demanded a complete explanation before deciding whether fear was justified.
He had started with the fear itself.
“You didn’t even know if I was telling the truth.”
“No.”
“What if I wasn’t?”
“Then letting you speak would still have cost me nothing.”
She studied him.
The rumors around The Obsidian described a ruthless man, a mafia boss whose patience was more frightening than another man’s rage.
Perhaps the stories were exaggerated.
Perhaps some were true.
Maya knew only what she had seen tonight.
A dangerous man had walked into the club looking for her.
Another dangerous man had been sitting at the table where she chose to hide.
Only one of them had tried to own her.
The owner tapped the closed folder lightly.
“You used a false name when you applied.”
Maya’s stomach tightened again.
“Yes.”
“Our background process noticed inconsistencies.”
She stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I knew you were hiding something.
I did not know what.”
“Why hire me?”
“Because the manager said you worked hard, showed up early, and never stole from the till.”
Maya blinked.
“That was enough?”
“For serving drinks? Yes.”
