Audrey looked away.
“I told him there may be pressure.”
“That was the minimum required for safety.”
“I know.”
“He deserves more.”
Audrey met his eyes.
“I know.”
“Then tell him before Preston does.”
The decision was taken away from her the next day.
A customer filmed a short clip of Audrey helping Lucy arrange drawings near the front window.
The caption was affectionate.
Widowed cafe owner gives job and shelter to homeless woman during snowstorm.
By evening it had spread across neighborhood pages.
By midnight it reached Boston.
Preston Shaw watched it twice.
The first time, he noticed Audrey.
The second time, he noticed the location.
Bluebird Corner.
Harbor Row.
For three weeks Audrey had avoided company hotels, official meetings, and employees Preston trusted.
Now she was wearing an apron inside the exact property at the center of a project he could not afford to stall.
Harbor Row contained financial irregularities Preston believed were buried well enough to survive only if demolition began.
Once demolition started, contractor costs could be rolled forward.
Old records could become construction records.
Questions would lose physical anchors.
If Audrey stopped work before the quarterly audit, auditors would look backward.
Preston called Cole.
“Why is Audrey Carile working inside Grant’s cafe?”
Cole was silent.
“You didn’t know.”
“No.”
“You do now.”
“What do you want?”
“Continue every lawful inspection.”
“Buyout?”
“Increase it.”
“And Audrey?”
Preston’s voice hardened.
“Do not threaten her. Do not touch her. Do not give her anything she can take to a prosecutor.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Keep Grant occupied.”
“With what?”
“His lease. His building. His daughter if necessary.”
Cole hesitated.
Preston corrected himself.
“Financially, Cole.”
“Yes.”
“And do not let Audrey appear at that city hearing beside the tenants.”
The next morning Preston walked into Bluebird Corner.
Charcoal suit.
Dark wool coat.
No visible security.
No snow on his shoes.
Oliver recognized him immediately.
“Preston Shaw.”
“You recognize me.”
“You’re on every Harbor Row brochure.”
Preston’s eyes moved toward Audrey.
“There you are.”
Lucy sat near the kitchen doing spelling homework.
Audrey did not move.
Preston returned his attention to Oliver.
“Miss Carile has been under significant strain.”
Oliver looked toward Audrey.
“Do you want to leave with him?”
“No.”
Oliver nodded.
“Then she’s not leaving with you.”
“You don’t understand the situation.”
“Explain it.”
“This is private.”
“Then ask her if she wants me to leave.”
Preston looked at Audrey.
She said nothing.
He changed tactics.
“I can arrange a hotel. Security. Appropriate medical support if needed.”
“No,” Audrey said.
Preston’s jaw tightened.
He addressed Oliver again.
“You have no idea what she brought to your door.”
“Then explain without deciding for her.”
Preston lowered his voice.
“You’re a widower with a young daughter and a business inside a redevelopment property.”
Oliver’s expression hardened.
“You should be careful about people whose problems are larger than they appear.”