haven

Chapter 3 - The Master’s Command

Ten minutes later, I walked back down the grand staircase toward the staff quarters.

The lower corridor was hushed and tense. When I entered the small, modest laundry office where Anna sat on a wooden bench holding Lily on her lap, she stood up instantly, her eyes wide with terror.

“Mr. Moretti... please don't fire me,” Anna choked out, her voice trembling as she shielded Lily behind her skirt. “I will pay for the scratch! I have three hundred dollars saved from my overtime! I’ll stay late every night and polish the floor myself!”

I stopped three feet from her.

Looking at Anna, I saw the hollow exhaustion of a mother who had fought the world alone, expecting cruelty at every turn because life had given her nothing else.

I knelt down on one knee on the linoleum floor, coming eye-to-eye with little Lily.

The little girl was peeking out from behind Anna’s apron, still clutching her stuffed rabbit.

“Lily,” I said gently.

“Yes, sir?” she whispered.

I reached out and lightly tapped the tip of her small button nose. “You never have to apologize for walking in my house. Ever again.”

Lily blinked, her big hazel eyes searching mine with innocent wonder. “Even if the metal makes a loud noise?”

“Even if you break the whole floor into pieces,” I replied, a rare, genuine smile touching my lips.

I stood up and looked at Anna.

“Pack your things from the basement quarters, Anna.”

Anna’s knees buckled. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Mr. Moretti... please, we have nowhere to go. Lily needs her physical therapy—”

“You misunderstand me, Anna,” I said softly, catching her elbow to steady her. “You are not leaving this estate. You are moving to the East Wing guest suites on the third floor.”

Anna froze, staring at me in total disbelief. “The... the master guest suites?”

“Evelyn Crane has been removed from this property and placed under arrest for grand larceny,” I explained. “Starting today, you are appointed Interim Director of Household Operations, with full access to the family administrative accounts.”

Before Anna could process the words, I turned toward the doorway where six of my private security operators and two general contractors were already standing with toolkits.

“Demolish that raised marble threshold right now,” I commanded the contractor. “Install a heated, flush ramp with custom rubberized traction. If my little girl trips on that doorway again, I will have your company rebuilt from scratch.”

“Right away, Mr. Moretti!” the contractor answered, rushing to work.

May you like

Lily looked up at her mother, then looked at me, a bright, radiant smile breaking across her face.

“Mommy... he called me his little girl.”

Related Stories

Other posts