Chapter 9 - TALIA KNOWS SOMETHING ELSETalia had noticed Emmett before the gala.
Two evenings earlier, she passed pantry and saw him standing alone beside service stairs.
“You lost?”
He shook.
“This is my house.”
“Fair.”
He looked at her tray.
“Are those brownies?”
“Technically petit fours.”
“That’s rich people brownies.”
She laughed.
He smiled.
Then Lenora appeared.
“Emmett.”
His entire expression changed.
Shoulders tightened.
Eyes down.
Talia noticed.
Lenora smiled at her.
“He likes bothering staff.”
“He wasn’t.”
Lenora’s smile thinned.
“Bed.”
Emmett left.
At time Talia thought strict stepmother.
After rescue, memory sharpened.
Also:
Lenora once asked Talia whether she had seen Emmett near office.
Why?
“Missing tablet.”
Another time, Talia heard:
“Your father doesn’t need more stress.”
Directed at Emmett.
She did not report because nothing clearly abusive.
This guilt hit.
Dr. Morton told her:
“You are not responsible for recognizing every clue in unfamiliar house.”
Talia knew intellectually.
Still.
She began therapy herself after media stress reopened foster memories.
Good.
Not invulnerable rescuer.
Her therapist asked why she stayed calm behind portrait.
Talia said:
“I wasn’t calm.”
“I just knew adults can stand around while a kid cries.”
That line.
She processed.
Her father? She had little contact. Maybe alive? Let's establish mother died from opioid-related complications when Talia 11, father had left, foster care. She aged out. No need overdrama.
Talia’s independence made Roland attraction more complex.
He liked she did not need.
Maybe that itself became fetish? She confronted later.
“You like me because I’m the woman who said no to your money.”
Roland:
“Maybe part.”
“Dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because then if I ever need help, I stop being version you admire.”
He thought.
Good.
They were not dating yet, but emotional honesty.
Meanwhile Talia remembered one more thing from gala night.
Before hearing bangs, she saw a man in gray dinner jacket exit west hallway.
Not guest she knew.
Security footage identified:
Adrian Vale.
He had been inside Ashbourne despite claiming in New York.
This was huge.
Adrian arrived through service entrance 6:30 using family-office credential.
Left 8:35.
Talia heard at 8:43.
He may have personally checked room.
Adrian initially lied.
Confronted, cooperation deal at risk.
He admitted:
He came to deliver prepaid phone and documents.
He did not enter room? Emmett said heard man voice outside.
“What voice?”
“Man said, ‘This is taking too long.’”
Could be Adrian.
Lenora said:
“He can hear.”
Adrian:
“Then keep him quiet.”
Not direct harm.
But knowing child confined.
Stronger conspiracy/endangerment.
Adrian’s defense collapsed.
He pleaded later.
Talia’s observation mattered.
She testified grand jury.
Roland offered transport.
She used prosecutor-arranged.
Boundaries.
After testimony, paparazzi.
Roland called:
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Angry.”
“At?”
“People asking if you and I are sleeping together.”
He went silent.
“Jesus.”
“We’re not.”
“I know.”
“Do they?”
“Apparently not.”
He apologized though not cause.
She said:
“Don’t apologize for strangers.”
Good.
Then:
“Do you want dinner?”
She laughed.
“Smooth.”
“Too soon?”
“Divorce?”
“Pending.”
“Then no.”
He smiled over phone.
May you like
“Consistent.”
“Very.”
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