Rosa

Chapter 56

On paper, Rosa Lenoir had very much become a missing person.

Her main phone line was disconnected. The burners were out of order as well. The fancy loft leased under her name in the 9th Arrondissement had been empty for weeks. Information on her last known whereabouts led to dead ends. No one had been able to catch a glimpse of her.

None of her old clients.

Not Mesrine.

Not even a certain bastard with devil-black eyes.

The very bastard who had been ready to sacrifice his life just to keep her by his side.

Thirteen days ago, Rosa simply vanished into thin air like a goddamn ghost. Around the same time that she disappeared, interestingly enough, a woman with striking golden eyes, dark curls, and beautiful brown skin checked herself into a penthouse suite at a five-star hotel.

To the front desk, she introduced herself as Eve Davies by giving the clerk her passport and black card. Nervousness gleamed from amber eyes. Her hands were restless. Her voice carried a soft stutter. She presented the picture-perfect image of an eccentric woman whose main worry in life centered on avoiding human interaction as much as possible. Sweet and awkward. Polite but shy.

A reclusive socialite of sorts.

The staff were charmed by this meek, bumbling beauty, and they were more than happy to comply with her every whim when she proved to be a very generous tipper. Within minutes, the clerk handed over the key to her private elevator. He sent a personal butler, a man by the name of George Jones, who would be on call twenty-four-seven, to assist her for the duration of her stay.

As they approached the elevator, an armed security guard stood to the side of it. He stopped them both to examine the butler's hotel badge.

Eyeing the guard up and down, she inquired anxiously, "Can anyone access this elevator with the right ID and key?"

"Of course not, there is a rigorous three-step security process that requires an ID check, a key, and a fingerprint scan," answered George, gesturing to the guard. "This is Lionel Briggs, a former SAS officer and currently one of our top security guards. In addition to scanning ID badges, he has already memorized the names and faces of the hotel staff and guests you provided to our concierge service earlier. Rest assured, we're placing the utmost importance on securing your privacy and safety. Only you, Miss Davies, and trusted staff and guests will be granted access to this elevator. Lionel will bar any and all other individuals from entry."

So, a dark thought crossed her mind, unless someone went through the trouble to impersonate hotel staff or chop off her finger, this elevator should remain inaccessible to intruders.

These security measures were impressive, but certainly not impenetrable. Outwardly, though, she kept a serene expression on her face while slipping a £100 note into George's palm and then another £100 note into Lionel's pocket. "That is good to know. Thank you so much for your help, gentlemen."

"Thank you kindly, Miss Davies," Lionel murmured in humble tones.

If she was to turn this hotel into her homebase and hideout, it was imperative to rally the staff on her side. Money was the quickest way to buy someone's loyalty in a short amount of time.

She bowed her head. "Think nothing of it."

"I'll do everything in my power to make your stay as pleasant and peaceful as possible."

With a pretty blush, she smiled becomingly. "Merci, Lionel."

The butler, on the other hand, accepted her offering with a far more opportunistic expression. "It is our pleasure to serve you. Please let us know if you need anything else."