Page 59 of Don't Tell

"That's not my job."

"It is now."

"I'm housekeeping. Room service is its own department."

"Room service is short-staffed."

"Then call another department."

"I'm calling you, Suzanne."

"Roger — "

"I'm the manager." He sets the ticket down on the desk between us. "You will do what I tell you, or you will consider yourself terminated. Pick."

I look at the ticket, then back at him.

Carmen is in the lounge doorway, pretending to refill her water bottle. She shakes her head no, as if she already knows what I’m about to do.

I take the ticket.

The kitchen has the tray ready with a white cloth, two covered plates, a bread basket, a bottle of Pinot in an ice bucket, and two glasses. I push the cart out of the kitchen and toward the service elevator, and there in the corridor is Carmen waiting for me.

“What was that about?” She glances at the cart. “Roger has you delivering food now?”

I nod.

“Why? What happened to the service staff?”

I shake my head. “What do I know? Roger gets off humiliating me.” It must be some sort of payback for whatever Cade said to him when I left.

“Do you want me to take it up for you instead? I saw that lady go up. I assume you don’t want to be there right now.”

“It’s okay. I’ll do it. It’s no big deal.”

Her eyes bore into mine. She knows it’s a lie. It’s pretty obvious because I’m not a very good liar. Carmen offers me a strained smile and steps aside. I instantly wish she’d tried to stop me.

She squeezes my elbow on her way past, whether for good luck or to warn me to be careful, I can't tell.

I push the cart to the elevator.

I don’t look at my reflection in the brushed steel and at the small white card on the bread basket that has the suite number written in Roger's handwriting.

I knock.

Cade opens the door.

His face flickers when he sees me, then closes up. He sees the tray. The flash gets bigger. He looks at me, then at the cart, and his jaw tightens.

"I'll take it from here."

"It’s fine. I’m here to do my job. It’s what I’m paid to do."

"Suzanne, I'll take it from here."

"It'sfine," Lila calls from the dining area. "Let her do her work."

Cade lets out a breath and doesn't pick it back up.