Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN THEY CALLED TOO MUCH
Emma returned to the bakery that evening.
Her manager, Vanessa Cole, waited behind the counter.
She held a printed photograph.
Emma recognized it immediately.
Someone had photographed her leaving the Moretti estate.
The image had appeared on a gossip website.
MYSTERY WOMAN VISITS MANHATTAN CRIME KING'S HOME.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Care to explain?”
Emma stared.
“Explain what?”
“Why you're involved with Gabriel Moretti.”
“I'm helping his daughter.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Sure.”
Emma felt heat rise in her cheeks.
Vanessa continued.
“You know what people are saying?”
“I don't care.”
“You should. This bakery has a reputation.”
Emma looked around.
The same bakery where she'd worked double shifts.
Covered sick coworkers.
Cleaned the ovens.
Stayed late without complaint.
Now her manager was looking at her as though she'd brought something dirty through the door.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Some customers are already making comments about your appearance.”
Emma went still.
“What does my appearance have to do with this?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then shrugged.
“People are wondering why a man like Moretti would be interested in someone like you.”
The words landed harder than Emma expected.
She had heard variations all her life.
Too big.
Too plain.
Too ordinary.
Too much.
Never enough.
Emma folded her apron carefully.
“I'm not interested in being discussed like merchandise.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Don't be dramatic.”
Emma looked at her.
“I'll finish my shift. Then I'm taking tomorrow off.”
“You don't have approval.”
“I have unused leave.”
Vanessa stared.
Emma held her gaze.
For once, she didn't apologize.
That night, Emma walked home beneath the streetlights.
Her phone buzzed.
An unfamiliar number.
She almost ignored it.
Then a message appeared.
This is Gabriel Moretti. Sophie asked whether you got home safely.
Emma smiled.
She typed:
Tell Sophie yes. And remind her to practice the signs for tomorrow and yesterday.
A reply arrived.
She says I should practice them because I'm terrible.
Emma laughed.
Then another message appeared.
She is correct.
Emma stopped beneath an awning.
Rain began falling again.
For the first time in months, she didn't feel entirely alone.
But across the street, a man in a dark coat lowered his phone after photographing her.
He sent the image to someone saved as V.
May you like
The reply came seconds later.
Find out what she knows.
