Chapter 1 - The Man Who Remembered Her Name
Two weeks after the night Norah Bennett refused to let Lily Parker kneel, the restaurant had developed a strange new rule.
Nobody talked about Dominic Mercer.
Nobody talked about Valerie Whitmore.
And absolutely nobody talked about what had happened in the private dining room.
But everybody remembered.
Norah could see it in the way conversations stopped whenever she walked past.
She was carrying a tray of champagne when Leo Grant, the restaurant manager, appeared beside her.
“Table twelve wants another bottle.”
Norah nodded.
“Got it.”
“And Norah?”
She turned.
Leo lowered his voice.
“If Mr. Mercer comes in tonight, you don't serve his table.”
Norah frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Leo looked around before whispering.
“It's protection.”
Norah almost laughed.
“From a customer?”
Leo's expression didn't change.
“From the people who come with him.”
Before Norah could respond, the front doors opened.
Three men entered.
Black suits.
No umbrellas.
No visible weapons.
But every employee suddenly found something very important to do.
Norah recognized the man in the center.
Dominic Mercer.
He wasn't wearing the charcoal suit from two weeks earlier. Tonight he wore black, with a dark gray overcoat over his shoulders.
His eyes found Norah almost immediately.
Leo saw it.
His face went pale.
“Back office,” he whispered.
Norah didn't move.
Dominic walked toward them.
“Good evening.”
Leo smiled nervously.
“Mr. Mercer. Welcome back.”
Dominic nodded.
Then he looked at Norah.
“Norah Bennett.”
She stiffened.
“You remember my name.”
“I remember everyone's name.”
“That's not true.”
One of the men behind him almost smiled.
Dominic's expression remained unreadable.
“What makes you think that?”
“You've been here more than thirty times. You've never used anyone's name.”
Dominic looked at her for a long second.
“Maybe I had a reason to start.”
Leo looked like he wanted to disappear.
Norah folded her arms.
“Why are you here?”
“Dinner.”
“You don't seem hungry.”
“I'm not.”
“Then why come?”
Dominic glanced toward the private dining room.
“Because someone tried to kill one of my men in the alley behind this building.”
Norah's stomach tightened.
“Tonight?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
She looked toward the windows.
The restaurant suddenly felt colder.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Dominic studied her.
“You always say exactly what you think?”
“Usually.”
“That can be dangerous.”
“So can not saying anything.”
For the first time, something almost like amusement appeared in his eyes.
Then his expression changed.
He looked over her shoulder.
Lily was walking toward them with a stack of plates.
Dominic's voice became quieter.
“Where is your coworker going?”
Norah glanced back.
“To the kitchen.”
“Tell her to stop.”
Norah frowned.
“Why?”
“Because someone followed her inside.”
Norah froze.
Dominic's security men moved instantly.
One went toward the kitchen.
Another blocked the rear exit.
Leo locked the front doors.
Lily stared at everyone in confusion.
Then a crash came from the kitchen.
A scream followed.
Norah instinctively moved toward it.
Dominic caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
“That's Lily.”
“I know.”
“She could be hurt.”
“So could you.”
“Let go.”
He did.
Norah ran anyway.
Dominic followed.
They reached the kitchen just as a man in a gray hoodie burst through the service entrance.
One of Dominic's men tackled him.
The man fought desperately.
Then something metallic fell from his pocket.
A gun.
Lily screamed.
Norah stared.
Dominic walked over and looked down at the weapon.
Then he looked at Norah.
His expression had changed completely.
“This wasn't random.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man who attacked my employee tonight…”
He looked at Lily.
“…wasn't after my employee.”
Norah felt the blood drain from her face.
“Then who?”
May you like
Dominic's eyes settled on her.
“You.”
