Chapter 3
"Stop what you're doing right now and come with me," demands the head of housekeeping at the Mallois Hotel.
Jodie, who is changing the sheets on an oversized bed, freezes, not understanding what's happening. Marjorie has entered the room she's cleaning with her usual loud and dismissive tone, accompanied by one of her coworkers, who keeps her head down.
"What's wrong? I still need to finish this room and clean two more," Jodie replies, confused.
"I told you to leave it," Marjorie snaps and turns to look at the other girl. "Regina, take care of finishing what's left."
The girl just nods and approaches the bed to continue her coworker's work. Jodie has no choice but to drop the sheet and leave the room with Marjorie, who keeps glancing at her sideways and shaking her head.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Jodie asks again, starting to feel nervous about all the mystery.
"The hotel manager is waiting for us," Marjorie responds, cryptic, and continues walking without taking her eyes off the housekeeper.
Jodie decides not to ask any more questions and uses the time it takes to reach the manager's office to mentally review everything she's done in the last twenty-four hours. Yesterday, she finished her shift at the hotel and went to the bar where she works in the evenings. When she arrived, her boss was leaving, and Jodie didn't miss the chance to claim the salary she'd been waiting for days, but the bastard only paid her a portion. She didn't think twice and went straight to the nursing home, talked to those in charge, handed over the money, and reached an agreement—again—committing to pay the remainder in the coming days. They weren't very happy there, but at least she managed to ensure they'd continue caring for her mother. She couldn't see her, unfortunately, but she knows that by the end of the week, they'll be able to spend some good time together. Today, she's returned to the hotel, first cleaning one of the dining rooms with two coworkers, then moving through the rooms until Marjorie appeared. Jodie concludes she hasn't done anything she should fear.
"Go in," Marjorie tells her when they reach the hotel manager's door.
The man, always serious-looking, sits behind his desk with visible annoyance on his face.
"Mr. Kumar, will you explain what's happening?" asks the housekeeper, tired of the dirty looks and lack of answers.
"We've received a complaint from a guest," Lamir Kumar begins. "He assures us that this morning he left his room for breakfast, and when he returned, it had been cleaned, but his watch was missing."
Jodie raises her eyebrows in surprise. It's quite common for these types of thefts to occur in hotels, but at the Mallois, it's not usual. The pay is good, employees have flexible hours and work-life balance; in New York, that's rare to see. That's why many people want to work at Katherine Taylor's hotels, and those already on staff, grateful for the good conditions, remain loyal and respectful.
"And what do I have to do with all this?" asks Jodie, who hasn't yet realized she's there because they think she's the culprit.
"The security team has reviewed the cameras, and you're seen entering minutes after the guest left his room. Half an hour later, you appear again, this time pushing the cart down the hall after closing the door," explains Lamir after adjusting his glasses with his finger and then placing his hands on his desk.
Jodie frowns; there's no way they're going to accuse her of something she hasn't done. If she were the type to steal, she wouldn't be in such a precarious situation, and she certainly wouldn't have to make deals or pay interest at her mother's nursing home. She opens her mouth to defend herself, but Marjorie speaks first.
"We need to search her," the supervisor decides and approaches the housekeeper. "From experience, they never keep the loot in their locker, they usually hide it in their clothes."
Jodie takes two steps back and hardens her expression.
"You haven't even heard my side, and you're not only accusing me but also trying to search me, which by the way is illegal and only the police can do," she responds, looking into Marjorie's eyes and alternating with those of the hotel manager.
Lamir Kumar shifts uncomfortably in his chair, knowing the girl is right, but he struggles to control the supervisor's zeal, whom he fears more than his own wife.
"That's what they all say, but if you were innocent, you wouldn't mind letting us confirm you're not hiding anything on your body," Marjorie continues and this time moves closer to Jodie.
Jodie Sinclair's nostrils flare rapidly. She looks at Marjorie with a defiant attitude; she's not a thief, and no one is going to falsely accuse her. Fortunately, the manager clears his throat, rises from the chair where he seems to have been glued, and brings order.
"I need to call Ms. Taylor's secretary to report what happened and let her notify the police, it's protocol," the man settles with a loud voice and picks up the phone resting on the polished wood.
Marjorie isn't very satisfied but stays still watching as the manager picks up the device.
"Keep her in your office, I'm going to call Chief Greenwood of the New York Police and have him send a patrol right now," says Olivia, who's on the phone with Lamir Kumar.
"What happened, Olivia?" asks Katherine Taylor, who's on the couch with her laptop on her legs.
"The manager informs me there's a theft complaint against one of the housekeepers, I'm going to activate the protocol," explains the secretary, and before she can make the first call, Katherine stops her.
"I'll go," she says, to the secretary's amazement. Katherine doesn't usually handle these matters personally. "I need to get out of here to clear my head, and this way I'll find out firsthand what's going on."
"Wouldn't you prefer the security team handle it as usual?" asks Olivia, puzzled.
"Today's meetings have left me overwhelmed and tired," Katherine responds, standing up. "Some fresh air will do me good."
Olivia simply nods and, as soon as her boss steps out of the suite, calls Mike to inform him that Katherine is moving through the facilities. The few times these incidents occur at the Mallois Hotel, the security team, led by Katherine's bodyguard, is the first to be informed, and although they're usually not inside where the first conversation with those involved takes place, they're always outside to ensure the situation is controlled.
Katherine Taylor walks calmly to the manager's office, observing everything around her to verify nothing is out of place. When she reaches the door, she knocks twice and enters the office.
"Ms. Taylor," Lamir Kumar stands up as if he had a spring in his rear, surprised by Katherine Taylor's presence.
Jodie feels a sudden tremor in her body that she struggles to control. If she was already nervous and angry about the accusation, now she experiences a sensation she can't describe. Katherine Taylor, the woman she's been in love with for almost two years, is there in the same room as her and looks at her with an expression she can't decipher.
"What happened, Lamir?" Katherine asks for explanations to focus her attention on something other than the woman who's in a corner of the office, near the head of housekeeping.
Lamir Kumar relates to his boss what occurred. Katherine turns her head again to focus on Jodie, and this time she does it to verify that what she felt when she saw her upon entering wasn't just curiosity. But there it is, that feeling of protection that she doesn't know where it comes from. It's like when you don't want anything to happen to someone very close to you and you fight to keep them safe. Katherine doesn't understand it, it's the first time she's seen this woman with sad and tired eyes, and she struggles to comprehend why she feels this way.
"She refuses to let us search her," Marjorie suddenly says with a sharp face. "If she had nothing to do with the watch theft, she wouldn't object."
Katherine abandons her thoughts and approaches Marjorie with a dangerous expression.
"In my hotel, things aren't done this way, Marjorie," Katherine Taylor responds, emphasizing her words calmly. "There's a very specific protocol for these cases, and the first step is trying to resolve it internally. What's your name?" this time Katherine focuses on the housekeeper.
"Jodie Sinclair," she manages to answer, but without daring to raise her gaze.
"Would you like to say something, Miss Sinclair?" Katherine asks in an unusual tone. Too sweet. Something that amazes and bothers her in equal measure.
Jodie breathes agitatedly. The situation—adding everything she's been carrying for years—is overwhelming her, and having Katherine Taylor in front of her, with her loose hair, bright eyes, and that citrus perfume, is more than the woman can handle. But she knows that if she stays quiet, she won't have a chance to defend herself, so she makes her best effort.
"It wasn't me, Ms. Taylor. I've never stolen anything in my life, and I certainly won't do it in your hotel. Every day I come here, I complete my work sheet, and I leave to return to my post the next day. I haven't touched that watch they're talking about," Jodie explains in a rush with her gaze fixed on the floor.
"She's lying!" exclaims Marjorie in a tone that startles Lamir. "Yesterday she was talking on the phone during her work shift, by the way, and I heard her say she didn't have the money to pay. Now a watch disappears, it seems too much of a coincidence to me."
Katherine tries to calm herself by filling her lungs with as much air as possible.
"Marjorie, wait outside," says the hotel owner.
The supervisor opens her eyes wide and looks at Lamir Kumar, who seems like an inanimate figure standing behind his desk. She hesitates but decides to leave the office, not without giving a look loaded with something quite negative to a very nervous Jodie.
Katherine composes herself. She raises her shoulders and takes control of the situation and her thoughts again.
"I have no choice but to suspend you while we conduct the investigation," Katherine says, addressing Jodie, who nods without moving from her spot.
Katherine turns and opens the office door. She knows Mike is there, as always, so she signals him to come in.
"I need you to handle this, be discrete and quick so we can know something as soon as possible."
"Of course, right away," Mike responds and glances at the housekeeper, who trembles imperceptibly.
"I'll be in the suite, keep me informed, Mike," Katherine tells her bodyguard and focuses on Jodie. "We'll notify you when the investigation concludes, go home."
Katherine Taylor doesn't wait for responses, leaves the office releasing a sigh that Mike doesn't miss. The owner of the Mallois Hotel hurries up to her home, wanting to bury her head in all the documentation she has to review and rid her body of that strange sensation she had upon meeting the enigmatic housekeeper, Jodie Sinclair.