She heaved her knapsack on the counter and started unpacking.
I watched in silence as she pulled out a carton of oat milk, a box of cereal, some yogurt and a banana.
“What the hell is that?”
“The café was closed tonight. So I walked to the gas station.”
I frowned. “Which gas station?”
“The one at the bottom of the road.”
I didn’t believe her. “That has to take at least half an hour.”
“I can do it in twenty.”
I looked around the kitchen that had barely been used since we’d moved in. “What happened to your bank card?”
“I still have it.”
“Why are you walking to a gas station to buy food? Why not order takeout or some groceries?” I turned and looked at her.
“Why haven’t you ordered groceries?” she asked quietly, as she poured herself a bowl of cereal.
“I’m never here.”
She looked at me in exasperation. “So why do you care if I order groceries or not?”
“Just answer the question.”
She put her milk and yogurt into the fridge. “I don’t know how to cook.”
My tone was biting. “You could have mentioned that.”
She looked at me, confused. “What’s going on? Why do you care if I can cook?”
I needed to handle one problem at a time. I took the envelope and spilled the photos onto the granite countertop.
She frowned as she stepped forward. Then she picked one up. “These are all of me.” She looked up at me with accusation in her eyes. “Are you spying on me?”
“Tonight, someone anonymously sent those to my office by courier.”
She looked more curious than afraid. “Who?”
I didn’t want to discuss this part of the business with her, but I needed her to understand the seriousness of this situation. “Someone who’s interested in showing me my vulnerability.”
She thought about that. “Are you saying I’m your vulnerability?”
I shut that down immediately. My tone instantly cooled. “I’m assigning a crew to watch over you.”
“No!” she protested without hesitation.
“It’s not a request.”
“I’m not going to be under your control. I refuse to be followed around by one of your goons so he can report back to you.”
“They’ll only be there for your safety.”
“I don’t want it.”
