15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Brooklyn Sloane January 2025 Friday — 6:03 pm
Brook's footsteps were muffled by the plush carpet as she advanced through the decadent hallway of Claudia Hart’s upscale apartment building. Déjà vu was absent from walking a similar path this morning. The elegant sconces on the walls, along with the tasteful oil paintings, were stark in contrast to the chipped and faded paint in Nora Miske’s complex.
Gleaming brass numbers marked Claudia’s door.
Raising her hand, Brook knocked firmly underneath the peephole. She had checked in with Jordan’s surveillance team, and Claudia had left the penthouse over an hour ago, right after Barry Ackles’ arrival. The direction she had taken after exiting the parking garage had been opposite that of her mother’s residence. Since it was Brook’s understanding that Jordan had been keeping Claudia at arm’s length since his arrest, with the exception of certain business matters, it stood to reason that she would be home for the rest of the evening.
As the door swung open, Brook noticed immediately the lack of surprise in Claudia's demeanor. Such a non-reaction confirmed Brook's suspicion that Janet had informed her daughter of Theo's visit earlier this morning.
“Ms. Sloane,” Claudia greeted somewhat wryly. “Any additional questions can go through my attorney. I’m sorry that you made the trip over here. You can—”
“I had a feeling that it wouldn’t take you long to find new representation,” Brook said, maintaining a civil tone. “What you should be asking yourself is are you prepared for Jordan to view the list of questions I have regarding Stewart Leone?”
Claudia remained just inside the threshold as she weighed her options. It didn’t take her long to come to the conclusion that a short conversation with Brook was better than facing Jordan’s ire.
“We both know you’re going to inform Jordan of my relationship with Stewart anyway.” Claudia closed the door behind Brook with a little more force than necessary. “After all, he’s paying you.”
“You wouldn’t have invited me inside if you thought there wasn’t a chance we could come to some agreement.”
Brook kept to herself that Claudia was absolutely correct in her assumption that every piece of information discovered during the investigation would eventually be presented to her client. Jordan was willing to pay S&E Investigations’ fees, just as he compensated Claudia very well for her duties. Brook took a moment to survey her surroundings.
Modern artwork hung on the walls, their bold lines and abstract shapes drawing the eye to every corner of the room. An oversized crystal chandelier hung above the open-concept living area, casting a shimmering glow over the entirety of the space. The elegant furnishings, meticulously arranged, seemed to be as much of a statement of wealth as they were functional pieces. Brook couldn't help but note how the impeccable attention to detail mirrored Claudia's own polished exterior.
Brook had been accurate in her initial assessment of Claudia—material possessions held great importance to this woman.
“I don’t know what else you need to know,” Claudia began as she closed the distance to the dining room table. A single glass of red wine had been set near the edge. She picked it up with practiced ease before gesturing for Brook to take a seat. “My mother called me right after your colleague left the house this morning. You know that Stewart Leone is a family friend. He encouraged me to submit my resume. I did, and the rest is history.”
“If the circumstances were that simple, why keep Jordan in the dark?”
Claudia pulled out one of the chairs and took a seat while Brook removed her coat. She had already done the same with her gloves in the elevator, so it didn’t take her long to join Claudia at the table.
“I wanted the job on my own merits.”
“That statement is plausible, but why not come clean with Jordan after the fact?” Brook inquired, not willing to give the woman an out.
The question hung heavily in the air between them.
“I didn’t see any reason to bring it up.” Claudia took a sip of her wine. She hadn’t offered Brook a beverage, but that was no doubt by design. “Stewart was friends with my father. He stops in from time to time to check on us. It’s not a big deal.”
Brook leaned back in her chair, studying Claudia’s facial features. Her eyes, her nose…the resemblance had been there all along.
“We both know that’s a lie, Claudia.” Another piece fell into place, giving an explanation to a lot of the mystery surrounding Stewart Leone. No wonder the man had a grudge against his employer. “You’re Stewart Leone’s daughter.”
Claudia had been in the process of lifting her wineglass, but the red liquid sloshed in her glass upon hearing Brook’s statement. She carefully stilled the contents before setting the wineglass on the table. It was understandable that her thoughts were spinning with ways to deny such a declaration.
“Stewart is married," Claudia finally disclosed, her voice thick with emotion. She released the stem of her glass to rest both hands in her lap. "His wife doesn't know about the affair he had with my mother. My father —the man who raised me—never knew either."
“I take it you learned this news from your mother?”
“No.” Claudia gave a hollow laugh. “No. I was going through some boxes in the attic when I discovered a letter tucked in with some of my baby things. My mother had written me a letter to be discovered after her death. How morbid is that?”
“I’m sorry, Claudia. I am. I can only imagine the shock you went through with such a discovery.” Brook thought back once again to Stewart’s antipathy toward Jordan. Everything began to make a little more sense. “I’m guessing that Stewart somehow figured out you were having an affair with Jordan. He didn’t know that Jordan and Mara had technically already separated, did he?”
“No, and I couldn’t tell him.” Claudia reached out and cupped her wineglass. She drained the contents with one swallow. “I know what you think of me, but I would never betray Jordan like that. My job requires discretion. I’m very good at my job, Ms. Sloane.”
Brook nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
“Don’t get me wrong. I did confront Stewart when I first found out that I was his daughter. I was the reason he kept checking in on my mother. I never told her that I found the letter. The hurt in her written passages was enough for me to know that she would have given anything to take back her mistake. The way I figured it…Stewart owed me, so I pushed to get a job at Miles Therapeutics.”
“And with that job came some strings, didn’t it?”
Claudia stood and made her way into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator before pulling out a bottle of wine. It didn’t take her long to refill her glass. In the meantime, Brook took the reprieve to retrieve her phone and message Theo to meet her at Stewart Leone’s residence.
“Stewart somehow managed to get your name front and center for the position as Jordan’s personal assistant, but he didn’t disclose the connection between you. Is that correct?”
“Sums it up.” Claudia didn’t bother to reclaim her chair. She pointed a finger at Brook before making a reiteration. “I’m good at my job. I’m loyal to Jordan. I would never do anything to hurt him.”
“You love him,” Brook amended softly, mindful of Claudia’s reactions.
Was it possible that Stewart had taken matters into his own hands? He had almost destroyed his own life by having an extramarital affair decades ago. He almost certainly never imagined that his biological daughter would become personally involved with the owner of the company. That begged the question…just what lengths would Stewart Leone go to in order to protect his existing family?
“Stewart disapproved of your relationship with Jordan, didn’t he?” Brook received her answer when Claudia averted her gaze. “It must have brought back memories of his own infidelity. He didn’t want you to make the same mistake he made with your mother.”
“Yes,” Claudia finally admitted before straightening her shoulders. “Stewart can’t seem to recognize the difference between his brief fling with my mother and my relationship with Jordan.”
It appeared that Claudia couldn’t grasp the distinction, either.
“Mara didn’t know that the two of you were having an affair, did she?”
“Does it matter?” Claudia countered before taking a sip of her wine.
“It does if your biological father was the one to share that news with her, Claudia.”
“Stewart didn’t kill Mara.” Claudia became instantly defensive. “I think you’ve overstayed your welcome, Ms. Sloane.”
Brook had gotten what she needed from this encounter. She stood and collected her coat. Slowly sliding her arms through the sleeves, her suggestion began to grow roots.
“Stewart didn’t kill Mara.”
“So, you said,” Brook replied, fastening the middle button on her coat.
“What would be the point?” Claudia asked with irritation before Brook could reach for her purse. “Jordan and Mara were getting a divorce. All you’re doing is muddying the waters. There is no reason for Jordan to—”
“Stewart didn’t know that Jordan and Mara had decided to divorce,” Brook pointed out, not having to explain that secrets had a way of altering someone else’s decisions. “As a matter of fact, all Stewart could see from the outside was how much Jordan still loved his wife.”
Realization hit, and Claudia lost all color on her face. There was a vulnerability in the woman that hadn’t been there earlier as the weight of the truth pressed down on her. She struggled to hold on to her composure, but it was slipping away under the pressure.
“I’ll give you the rest of the evening to speak with Jordan. To tell him the truth.” Brook adjusted the strap of her purse over her shoulder. She didn’t envy the woman in the least. “My colleague is already on his way to interview Stewart. I can’t prevent you from warning him, but shouldn’t your priority be with the man you profess to love?”