Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO NEVER ASKED FOR HELP
Maria tried to resign the following morning.
Nicholas found the letter beneath his breakfast plate.
He read it twice.
Then asked Arthur to invite her into the study.
Maria entered holding Lucy’s hand.
“I’m sorry for the trouble,” she said.
Nicholas placed the letter on his desk.
“Why are you resigning?”
“Your engagement ended because of us.”
“My engagement ended because I discovered something about Vivienne I could not accept.”
Maria looked down.
“She has powerful friends.”
“So do I.”
“That’s what frightens me.”
Nicholas studied her.
Maria was twenty-nine, with tired eyes and hands roughened by years of cleaning work.
She rarely spoke unless spoken to.
Yet she had never asked him for a favor.
Not even when Lucy developed a fever during her first month at the mansion.
“Were you afraid of Vivienne before yesterday?”
Maria hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I needed the job.”
The honesty unsettled him.
Nicholas looked at Lucy.
She was sitting on the rug, carefully arranging wooden blocks.
“Your daughter can stay here while you work. That was our agreement.”
“I know.”
“And nobody has the authority to change it without consulting me.”
Maria nodded.
“But I cannot promise there will never be another problem,” Nicholas added.
She looked up.
“What I can promise is that you can report one without losing your job.”
Maria’s eyes filled.
Nicholas slid the resignation letter back across the desk.
“You may resign if you want. But don’t resign because you believe I expect it.”
She stared at the paper.
Then folded it.
“I would like to stay.”
“Good.”
Lucy looked up from the rug.
“Uncle Nicholas?”
“Yes?”
“Do you like cookies?”
Nicholas considered.
“Sometimes.”
“Chocolate ones?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Then we can share.”
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He had negotiated deals worth millions.
None had ever felt quite so important.
