Chapter 66 - Liza
LIZA
“Son of a bitch.” I shoved my finger into my mouth, tasting the metallic tang of blood after slicing my finger on the edge of a printed recipe sheet.
There’s normal pain and then there’s papercut pain.
It made me think of the saying death by a thousand papercuts.
The sharp, searing sting could easily be an effective form of torture.
I sat back and looked around at the new furniture that had been delivered a few days ago.
The ergonomic seat I’d bought cost more than all the furniture I’d ever owned combined, but Ty insisted I get the best of the best. I didn’t like to be wasteful, but he’d argued it would be better to buy quality furniture that would last rather than cheap stuff that would need to be replaced. Who was I to argue?
Now that Ty was alpha, his parents had moved to a smaller cottage on the Keller Estate, and we’d moved into the big house. The decision to convert one of the guest rooms so I could work from home hadn’t been difficult. It would save on travel on the days I didn’t have to report to the main office.
I sat at the walnut desk that overlooked the rambling backyard.
I wanted to review the list of potential fall recipes I’d been working on.
Pumpkin risotto with sage, a hearty beef stew infused with red wine, and an apple pecan tart were just a few of the dishes that made my mouth water at the mere thought.
There was something about the shift in the air each season that put me in the mood to create new dishes that reflected the weather.
Making comfort food was my favorite season, so of course, I’d have to test each recipe, sometimes multiple times.
I hoped Ty wouldn’t mind putting on a few pounds since I planned on cooking up a storm.
As the alpha’s mate, my role within the pack had changed, and so too must my career.
It wouldn’t be acceptable for the alpha’s wife to be seen working for pack members.
I’d no longer be able to work as a private chef in other people’s kitchens.
Now that I held a position of power, I had a whole new set of responsibilities I needed to take care of.
Cooking had always been my passion, and the idea of giving up the business I’d worked so hard to establish didn’t sit right with me. My catering company would continue to operate, though I would have more of a behind-the-scenes role rather than being directly involved.
I’d devised a plan in a way that meant I’d be able to continue doing what I loved. The kitchen in my new home—it felt surreal to call the Keller Estate home—was as spacious and well-equipped as any commercial kitchen. I’d cook from here, preparing meals that would then be delivered to my clients.
As much as my life had changed since becoming Ty’s mate, including the rise in my standing within the pack, I had to maintain some semblance of stability from my old life.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable just sitting back idly twiddling my thumbs—that was out of the question—but I wouldn’t let go of my favorite hobby, either.
This way, I’d have the best of both worlds. I’d be Liza, mate to the pack alpha, as well as Liza, chef and small businessowner.
With this plan in mind, I turned my attention from the recipes to type up an ad for an assistant chef and driver.
The requirements included culinary experience, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing demands of our clientele.
My company didn’t just serve typical middle-class families.
As my place in society had risen, so had the status of my clients.
Whoever I hired needed to provide a five-star experience because, frankly, that’s what my customers expected, no matter their standing in the pack.
I read through the job description one last time, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
After posting it on a local social media page, I sent out emails to my clients, informing them about the new arrangements.
My delivery service would come at no cost to them, as I’d been the one who altered the dynamics of our relationship.
Those who understood would hopefully appreciate my efforts to continue providing them with delicious meals.
Those who didn’t? Well, that was fine, too.
If my inbox was anything to go by, there would be plenty of people who’d happily take their place.
After I hit send on the last email, I leaned back in my chair, reveling in the satisfaction of having taken control of my career. Cooking was my lifeblood, and I wouldn’t let being the alpha’s mate strip that away from me.
A gentle knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Working hard?” Ty asked with a playful grin as he peeked through the doorway.
“Always.” I gestured for him to come over, then I showed him the new menu items I’d been working on, and he leaned in so close, his breath tickled my ear. Ty’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and he pretended to wipe drool from his mouth.
I laughed.
“Can’t wait to try that pumpkin risotto.” He pointed at the recipe on the screen. “It sounds amazing.”
“Thanks, babe.” I beamed. As Ty massaged my shoulders, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy the intimacy. It had been an intense forty-eight hours since we’d been informed of Cecily’s death, and we’d both been on edge trying to balance our pack and business responsibilities.
“So, how was your day?” I was curious to know how the pack had responded to the news of Cecily’s death.
He sank into the chair next to me with a deep sigh, and I felt the comforting warmth of his presence.
“As we expected, Cecily’s death has made its rounds in the pack.
Rumors are flying all over the place. Her parents are devastated, which is understandable.
I’ve been holding off on telling them about her connection with Castro, but I really don’t see how I can put it off much longer. ”
“Wow.” I shook my head as I imagined Mr. and Mrs. Banks learning that their precious Cecily was a traitor. I knew I shouldn’t think ill of the dead, but Cecily deserved every nasty thought I had. “That’s not going to be an easy conversation. I certainly don’t envy you.”
“It’s going to be horrible but necessary,” Ty said, resting his hand on my thigh.
“It would be better if I told them privately, rather than them finding out through someone else, or reading it online. Common decency aside, if that happened, it would cause a much larger problem. Her parents are already upset about me choosing you over Cecily. They’d lose their shit if they didn’t learn the truth before the rest of the pack. ”
“Good point. You’re probably right.” Their reactions worried me, but that conversation was unavoidable.
Part of me wished we could sweep it all under the rug and pretend everything was fine, but that wasn’t an option.
“At least we haven’t heard anything from Castro since they found Cecily’s body,” I pointed out, trying to focus on the positive.
“True.” Ty nodded. “It’s been one less thing to think about. I’m certain it’s just a matter of time before he makes another move… especially now that we’re officially mated. That will have pissed him off.”
My heart raced as I thought about the possible repercussions. Ty, sensing my fear, rubbed his thumb in small circles against my thigh, trying to reassure me with his touch.
The shrill ring of Ty’s phone sliced through the silence, making us both jump.
Ty glanced at me. Fear twisted in my stomach, tightening my chest, and I held my breath.
Was it Castro calling? Had he installed some kind of listening device?
Was it possible he had some way of eavesdropping on our intimate conversations within the estate? Surely not.
Ty must have sensed my apprehension, because his hand was strong and firm on my thigh as he answered the phone and put it on speaker.
“Alpha Keller,” a kind female voice greeted him. “This is Eleanor Bailey. I’m calling to discuss the results of Cecily’s autopsy.”
Ty’s eyebrow arched, and he got to his feet. “Yes, go ahead.”
“A routine postmortem doesn’t routinely test for poison.
With the information you provided, we discovered a lethal dose of arsenic, likely ingested.
I suspect it was concealed in something Cecily had eaten.
Possibly some form of confectionary, as we found undigested chocolate present alongside traces of the poison in her digestive system.
” She paused, giving Ty a moment to absorb the information.
“It’s a cruel method, Alpha, but effective. ”
Ty grimaced. “What a horrible way to die.”
“I’ll have a copy of my report sent directly to you. Please get in touch if you have any further questions.”
“Thank you,” Ty responded solemnly before ending the call.
He turned to me. “With this information from the coroner, Nico’s discovery of Castro’s emails and texts, and the housekeeper’s account of the mysterious treats Cecily had been receiving.
.. it isn’t hard to put two and two together.
” His jaw set into a tight square. “It’s time to talk to Cecily’s parents.
They deserve to know the truth, even though it’ll destroy them. ”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea right now?” I hated questioning Ty, but after Cecily’s shock death, their grief might still be too fresh.