“I know.”
“You know now.”
“Yes.”
Again, no defense.
I stared at the folder.
“So why approve me for work?”
Victoria looked ashamed.
“Because David was owed back pay and compensation.”
“What?”
“We tried to reach him.”
“He changed numbers.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“Legal suggested locating next of kin.”
“I wasn’t family.”
“No.”
“But?”
“Your name appeared as his emergency contact on old employment records.”
I felt uneasy.
“We had broken up by then.”
“Not according to the last form.”
“He never updated anything.”
“That appears true.”
“So you researched me.”
“Yes.”
My skin prickled.
“How much?”
“Too much.”
“What does that mean?”
Victoria looked directly at me.
“Enough to learn you were
pregnant.”
My chest tightened.
“That was none of your business.”
“You’re right.”
“You knew Mia was David’s?”
“We believed she might be.”
“Did you tell Alessandro?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because it was not his business either.”
That answer was correct.
Infuriatingly.
“Then why approve me for work in his home?” I asked.
“I didn’t expect you to end up here.”
“But when you did?”
“I saw the assignment notice.”
“How?”
“The agency sent automated reports for flagged applicants.”
“You could have stopped it.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Victoria took time.
“Because I thought employment was better than contacting you about David’s old case.”
I stared.
“What?”
“I knew you were struggling financially.”
My face went hot.
“That is humiliating.”
“I know.”
“You watched my finances?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
“Public eviction filing.”
I stopped.
There had been one.
Right before Mia was born.
The landlord withdrew it after
I borrowed money and caught up.
Still public.
Victoria continued.
“I thought if I contacted you saying a powerful family owed your former partner money, it might frighten you.”
“So instead you quietly let me clean your brother’s house?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds insane.”
“Yes.”
For the first time, Victoria almost laughed at herself.
