Chapter 8 - THE PROMISE KEPTTwo days later, the sun poured gently through the sheer white curtains of the master guest suite at the Calder estate.
Nora stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as the scent of fresh coffee and vanilla filled the room. She was wearing a soft, oversized silk robe, and her wrists were neatly bandaged with soothing medicinal salve.
"You're awake."
Nora turned her head sharply. Roman sat in an armchair by the window, a cup of black coffee in one hand and a familiar metal box covered in faded baseball stickers resting on the table beside him.
"Mr. Calder..." Nora tried to sit up, her voice raspy. "Caleb? Where is my brother? Is he safe?"
"Your brother is downstairs eating chocolate chip pancakes with extra syrup," Roman said calmly, standing up and walking over to the bedside. "He has a security detail of three armed men playing checkers with him in the kitchen, and he thinks my estate is the coolest fortress in America."
Nora’s eyes filled with tears of pure relief. "Thank God... thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet," Roman said, setting the metal tin on her lap. "Your brother gave me this box. He said I had to unlock it using the classified password."
Nora stared at the box, her breath catching. "You... you talked to Caleb?"
"I did," Roman replied, a faint, rare smile touching the corners of his lips. "He told me you work too hard because of a miserable old boss who never says thank you."
May you like
Roman knelt beside the bed, bringing himself down to her eye level. He reached out, his large, calloused hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek.
"Thank you, Nora," Roman whispered softly. "For the coffee. For the blankets. For staying when everyone else only ever ran away."
