Chapter 166
[ 495 words ]
Chapter 166:
Caroline took a slow, deep breath. She knew the military mindset. Arguing logic with a brainwashed special operator following a direct order was a complete waste of time.
If she wanted space, she had to test the actual limits of her authority in this house. She had to see if the title Jarrod forced on her carried any real weight.
Caroline straightened her spine. She completely dropped the soft, accommodating posture of an innocent nurse. Her gray eyes turned sharp, cold, and commanding. She projected the absolute, terrifying authority of a high-ranking officer.
She stared directly into Bell’s dark sunglasses.
“The Colonel is not here,” Caroline stated, her voice dropping into a freezing, authoritative register. “I am. And right now, I am giving you a direct order as Mrs. Romero. You will step outside and stand guard in the exterior hallway. Now.”
𝘚𝗮𝘷𝘦 уо𝘂𝗿 𝖿𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘪𝗍𝖾 ո𝗼𝘃𝖾ls 𝗼𝗇 𝘨𝖺𝗹𝘯𝗈𝘷e𝘭𝘀.c𝘰𝘮
Bell flinched. It was a microscopic movement, but Caroline caught it. The massive bodyguard was visibly shocked by the sudden, overwhelming aura of command radiating from the supposedly fragile civilian wife.
He hesitated for exactly two seconds, his brain caught in a loop between Jarrod’s standing orders and the terrifying matriarch standing in front of him.
Finally, Bell bowed his head slightly.
“Yes, ma’am,” Bell said. He turned on his heel, marched to the heavy front door, stepped out, and pulled it shut behind him.
Caroline let out a massive breath as the lock clicked. She rubbed her temples. That was her first taste of the “Mrs. Romero” privilege, and it was terrifyingly effective.
Suddenly, the sleek video intercom on the kitchen island buzzed loudly. The screen lit up, showing the face of the lobby concierge.
Caroline walked over and pressed the talk button.
“Mrs. Romero,” the concierge said respectfully. “There is a delivery courier here named Dash Kirby. He has a custom breakfast order for you.”
Caroline frowned. She hadn’t ordered anything. She pressed the button to unlock the elevator. “Send him up. Bell will clear him at the door.”
Three minutes later, a young man in a crisp, high-end restaurant uniform wheeled a gleaming silver cart into the penthouse.
Dash pulled the silver cloches off the plates. The smell was incredible. There was a basket of warm, flaky croissants, a massive plate of fluffy scrambled eggs covered in shaved black truffles, fresh berries, and a steaming carafe of perfectly brewed coffee.
“Compliments of the chef, ma’am,” Dash smiled politely. “Colonel Romero’s office placed the order for you this morning. He left instructions before he departed.”
Caroline stared at the extravagant feast. A physical, heavy thump hit the center of her chest.
Jarrod was flying into a classified combat zone, likely preparing for a lethal firefight, and he had used a secure military line to make sure she had breakfast because he knew she couldn’t cook.
Dash bowed and left the apartment.
The moment the door closed, Caroline’s cell phone, resting on the glass coffee table, began to vibrate violently.
The caller ID showed an unknown string of numbers. She picked it up and swiped to answer.
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