Chapter 23
Keane reached for Valerie’s suitcase. “I’ll take you to Mr. White’s villa right away.”
Valerie stopped him. “It’s just a few changes of clothes. It’s not heavy. Give me the address, and I’ll drive there myself.”
That reminded him how much she disliked riding in other people’s cars. Smiling, he
explained, “Mr. White’s residence is heavily guarded. You need a pass to get through the gates. If you don’t mind, I’ll just follow you back in your car, Ms. Collins.”
Valerie nodded. “I’ll have to trouble you to make another trip with me, Mr. Harris.”
Keane was caught off guard. “Ms. Collins, with the relationship you and Mr. White share, I hardly deserve the honor of you calling me that.”
Valerie didn’t seem to mind. “Don’t overthink it. He and I aren’t a real couple anyway.”
On the drive to Azure Bay, Keane tried to keep the conversation going. “Since you know how to drive, why didn’t I see you behind the wheel before?”
“This car broke down a while ago. I just had it fixed,” she answered truthfully.
It had been years since he sat in such a beat-up car. Multiple emotions surged within him. “All these years, and the Woodwards never gave you any financial support?”
Keane regretted it the moment the question left his mouth. This was someone else’s personal matter, and he shouldn’t have pried.
To his surprise, she didn’t seem bothered by this topic. “When my mom divorced, she left with nothing but me. She didn’t take a single cent from the Woodwards.”
Keane frowned with faint disdain. “The Woodwards are truly shameless.”
He had been there the day Valerie trashed the hotel. He’d seen how Skyler, Marnie, and Sonia treated her, and he knew why the Woodwards had suddenly wanted her back.
Valerie didn’t mention it, and Keane didn’t feel right in pressing her. However, he was still curious about one thing. “Ms. Collins, what’s your take on the sudden breakdown of Ms. Woodward’s security system?”
He thought highly of Sonia’s skills. Or else, Lucius’ hotel would never have used her award- winning security system. Sonia later claimed that there was a bug, but Keane suspected there
was more to it.
“As an outsider, I have nothing to say about it.”
Keane fell silent. He couldn’t shake the feeling she knew far more than she let on.
:
Half an hour later, the car rolled into Azure Bay. Valerie followed Keane into Lucius’ private grounds for the first time.
This area lived up to its reputation as Windermere’s wealthiest neighborhood. From the grand gates to the gleaming marble floors, everything about the villa screamed grandeur.
Two housekeepers greeted them at the door, and one of them greeted Keane politely.
Keane introduced Valerie to the two housekeepers. “This is Ms. Collins, a guest of Mr. White. She’ll be staying here for a while. Make sure she’s well looked after.”
Then, he introduced them to Valerie. “The younger one is Hannah Denver-she serves drinks and greets guests. The other is Kara Barnett, who’s in charge of all the meals.”
Both housekeepers greeted her in unison. “Ms. Collins.” Valerie nodded at them in return.
Valerie wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but Hannah’s gaze seemed to size her
up, as though she was trying to figure out who she was. Valerie met her gaze calmly. The piercing look in her eyes and her commanding presence made Hannah lower her head to hide her
unease.
Keane waved the housekeepers off. “Get back to work. I’ll show Ms. Collins around.”
After dismissing the housekeepers, he introduced the villa’s layout. “The first floor is the living area. The second holds the guest rooms and the study. The third is off-limits-it’s Mr. White’s private quarters.
“There are 12 housekeepers in total. Apart from the two you just met, the others are rarely allowed inside. Before you arrived, I told them that you’re a distant relative of Mr. White who will be staying here for a while.”
