A Billionaire’s Fiancée Kidnapped The Woman He Trusted Most — Then He Discovered The “Maid” She Hated Was The Only Person Who Saved His Empire.

PART 3

She imagined the woman who had once worn it. Grant’s mother had been a public-school music teacher who died before his company became successful. Evelyn had heard Grant say that she was the only person who believed in him before there was anything to believe in.

Evelyn immediately removed the ring.

But Vanessa had already seen her from the hallway.

“What are you doing?”

Evelyn turned.

“I was checking the setting.”

“By putting it on?”

“It was only for a second.”

Vanessa stepped into the room.

“That ring belonged to Grant’s mother.”

“I know.”

“And you thought you had the right to wear it?”

Evelyn placed it back inside the box.

“I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

Vanessa smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“Women like you are always very careful about what you mean.”

Evelyn felt the insult even though it had been wrapped in a calm voice.

“Women like me?”

“Women who make themselves indispensable to lonely men.”

Evelyn straightened.

“I have worked for Mr. Calloway for nine years. I have never behaved inappropriately.”

“You don’t have to.”

Vanessa moved closer.

“You make his coffee. You know his schedule. You remember which medication he takes. You stand in this house acting humble while quietly making sure he cannot function without you.”

“That is my job.”

“No. Your job is cleaning rooms.”

“My job is managing this household.”

“Your job is whatever Grant allows it to be.”

Evelyn closed the velvet box.

“The jeweler will be here soon.”

She tried to walk past, but Vanessa caught her arm.

Her manicured fingers dug hard into Evelyn’s skin.

“Stay away from him.”

Evelyn looked down at Vanessa’s hand.

“Let go of me.”

For a moment, Vanessa appeared surprised.

Then she released her.

Evelyn left the room without looking back.

She told herself Vanessa was stressed about the wedding.

She told herself jealousy could make people say ugly things they did not truly mean.

She did not yet understand that Vanessa’s fear involved far more than Grant’s affection.

At three that afternoon, Evelyn answered the house phone.

A man from Calloway Living’s accounting department asked for Grant.

“He’s still in Manhattan,” Evelyn said.

“Can you tell him the Northstar Foundation invoices need his immediate attention?”

“Is something wrong?”

There was a pause.

“I’d rather discuss it with Mr. Calloway.”

“Should I have him return your call?”

“Yes. And please tell him we did not receive authorization for the last three transfers.”

Evelyn wrote down the message.

Northstar was Vanessa’s foundation.

The transfers totaled nearly two million dollars.

When Evelyn brought the note to Grant’s study, she found a courier envelope already lying on his desk. The envelope had been partially opened. Inside were copies of invoices bearing Grant’s electronic signature.

The signature looked wrong.

Evelyn knew because she had watched Grant sign thousands of household documents over nine years. He always formed the G in his first name with a sharp backward stroke.

The signatures on the invoices were round and smooth.

She was still examining them when Vanessa entered.

“What are you doing in here?”

“The accounting office called.”

Vanessa looked at the documents.

Color drained from her face before she quickly recovered.