Chapter 7 · Elevator Rules

Bianca's phone was already up, camera light blinking red, before Jae could get the ledger back in his jacket.

"Well," Bianca said, dragging the word out like taffy. "Isn't this cozy. COO and cleaning staff, alone in a service corridor at eleven at night."

"Get out," Jae said, not even looking at her.

"I run guest relations for this hotel. Staff conduct is literally my department." Bianca's eyes cut to Lila, up and down, the way you'd check a stain for the dry cleaner. "Does housekeeping normally get private meetings with executives, Lila? Or is this a new service we're offering?"

Lila's hands were still shaking from the ledger. She shoved them in her apron pocket so nobody would see. "I was returning something he lost."

"Sure you were." Bianca smiled at the phone, not at her. "I'm sending this to Mrs. Tan-Velasco. She loves a good HR problem before breakfast."

"Send it," Jae said. "Tell her I ordered the maid to my floor. Tell her exactly that. See who she believes."

That landed. Bianca's smile cracked at one corner.