Nightmare scenarios raced through Cassies mind as she headed for her bedroom. She closed the door as quietly as she could and placed the poker back in the fireplace, trying to stop her hands from shaking so it wouldnt rattle against the grate. A moment later she leaped into bed and yanked the covers up to her chin. With her heart banging in her throat, she waited for Pierre to pass by.
Because of course he would pass by, wouldnt he? There would be no reason for him to knock if he saw her door was closed.
The footsteps stopped outside her door, but Pierre did not knock. Instead, to Cassies disbelief, he simply opened it. He snapped on the light and stood in the doorway. His face was flushed, he was barefoot, and he was wearing a burgundy dressing gown.
Cassies first immediate and overriding thought was that this was a complete invasion of privacy. No way was it appropriate for an employer to enter an employees bedroom alone and after hours without knocking. His presence in her private space was making her feel defensive and vulnerable, triggering old memories that had morphed into nightmares. People in her room. Hiding under the bed. Hey, little girlie
Pierre stared at her and then took a look around the room, his gaze resting on her bath towel hung on the hook near the door, and the pile of clothes shed left folded on the armchair near the fireplace.
Cassie sat up, straightening her pajama top and instinctively crossing her arms over her chest. She wanted to shout at him to get out, to scream that he had no right to enter her room without permission.
But this was not a good time to discuss boundariesnot when shed been peeking through his bedroom door at his private activities.
Did you hear anything, Cassie? There was a noise just now.
The loud clattering hed heard was undeniable evidence that someone had been up and about. It was her job to respond to noises and disturbances at night, so there was no way she could claim she hadnt heard it. She had to offer Pierre a coherent explanation for what had happened.