she carefully steps across the line I’d gestured to earlier, crossing from the casino property to the public sidewalk. Before she can even follow with her other foot, Ben appears, walking hurriedly towards her, his mouth open in a shout. Mike is there a second later. Damn, they’re good, I grin to myself. Well, my guys were technically right. She did leave the property.
“Anything else, Mr. Milner?” The camera tech is looking up at me now.
“No. Thank you. That’s all.” I pause for a moment. I should stay and touch base with Terry now. I should get any daily updates and a briefing before the evening rush hits the casino floor. But right now I only have one thought in mind—I have to get to the penthouse. I was prepared to give Lilly the ultimate luxury stay while she was here. And she still took it upon herself to try and sneak off. I shake my head. I’ll have to have a word with her. Just a talk, my brain says. But my cock is stirring my pants.
Chapter Seven
Lilly
I’m upstairs, outside on the terrace, trying to cool down after getting manhandled by his bozo security team. I think of the crowd of people that gathered as they accosted me and blink back tears. I should have known. David warned me about the eye-in-the-sky. And this place is brimming with security. Of course, a man like David would have some muscled beefcake tailing me.
I sigh as I pull out my book of compositions. At least they let me keep this, if not my phone. It’s one of my prized possessions. It doesn’t look like much but this is where I jot down all my recipes—innovations I’ve crafted all on my own. Reading the pages soothes me, takes my brain to another place—the kitchen, a space I feel at home in. I’ve been working on this one zucchini noodle recipe for weeks and still don’t have it quite right. I squint at the page. Some herb is missing. But what?
I’m startled by the sound of the terrace door sliding open. Is that him? Annoyed, I turn.
“I’m so sorry, Miss. I didn’t see you.” It’s Marta, the young dark-haired housekeeper who brought me my toiletries last night.
“That’s okay,” I give her a tired smile and wipe my eyes, hoping they aren’t red.
“Do you need anything?” She asks cautiously. She approaches me and I can see the concern in her dark eyes. I’m suddenly struck by how much they resemble Aurora’s, my bestie back home. “A fresh robe? Towels?” She goes on.
“Maybe a helicopter out of here?” I can’t help but propose. I’m still steaming.
She smiles nervously.
“Sorry. Just a joke.” I don’t want to put her in an awkward position. David is her boss, after all.
“It’s okay, Miss.”
“Please call me Lilly.” I suddenly realize that every staff member is going to call me miss unless I insist otherwise.
“Lilly.” She smiles, more comfortable. “I’ll just make up the bed.” She goes back inside. Curious, and starved for human contact, I follow her inside.
“Have you worked here long, Marta?” I watch as she strips the sheets off the bed, internally cringing as I think of what went down there the night before.
“Three years.” She nods.
“May I ask where you’re from?” She has the faintest accent.
“El Salvador.” She’s not looking at me as she says the words, her eyes are focused on the bottom sheet she’s fitting over one corner of the bed. But I see how her face lights up as she says the words.
“Here, let me help.” I catch hold of the other corner of the sheet and fit it over the mattress. “And do you miss it?” I haven’t met a lot of people born outside of the U.S. Everyone from Parkville is from Parkville.
“I miss my family and friends,” she says, smoothing the sheet.
“Yeah.” I smooth my side. “Me too. And it’s only been a couple days. Not three years.” I sigh. “Do you like working here?”
“It’s a good job.” Marta nods. “Mr. Milner pays more than the normal wage.”
For some reason, I’m surprised by this. “So he’s a good boss.”
“Yes.” She nods.
“And is he a good man? Like a nice guy?”
Marta eyes me warily. Before she can respond, we’re interrupted.
“Lilly.” I recognize David’s voice immediately. Then I hear the heavy fall of his footsteps clicking on the marble floors of the vast penthouse hall below.
“I should go.” Marta gathers the dirty sheets and goes to the stairs. At the top of them,