Chapter 3 - THE LETTER SHE STOLE|
For fourteen months, I had kept my private life outside the Moretti mansion.
I never complained about the long shifts.
Never mentioned the overdue medical bills.
Never told anyone that my mother sometimes skipped meals so she could afford the medication that helped her recover from surgery.
And I certainly never imagined my personal letter would be held up in front of thirty-two strangers during a billionaire's engagement dinner.
Vanessa unfolded the paper.
"Dear Mom," she began.
"Stop."
The word escaped my mouth before I could think.
Vanessa smiled.
"Oh, so suddenly you have something to hide?"
I felt my face burning.
"That's private."
"Private?"
She laughed.
"Interesting word for someone who spends so much time interfering in my relationship."
Luca stepped forward.
"Vanessa, give her the letter."
"Don't you want to know what she thinks about this household?"
"I said give it back."
But Vanessa had already started reading.
"I don't know how much longer I can stay in this house because every day I watch a little boy become more afraid of the people who are supposed to love him."
Silence fell over the room.
Benjamin looked at me.
I wanted the floor to open beneath my feet.
Vanessa continued.
"Sometimes I think Mr. Moretti doesn't realize what's happening because everyone smiles when he walks through the door."
My eyes filled.
Luca didn't move.
"Keep reading," he said.
Vanessa blinked.
"What?"
He looked at her.
"You wanted everyone to hear it."
His expression was unreadable.
"So finish."
For the first time, Vanessa looked uncertain.
She glanced down at the page.
"I know it's not my place to say anything, Mom."
Her voice became quieter.
"But sometimes Benjamin asks me questions I don't know how to answer."
She stopped.
Luca held out his hand.
"Give it to me."
Vanessa hesitated.
Then pushed the letter against his chest.
"There."
She turned toward the guests.
"Perhaps now you understand why I don't trust her."
Luca unfolded the page.
His eyes moved across my handwriting.
I stared at the floor.
All I could think about was my mother.
The rent due Monday.
The groceries waiting in a nearly empty refrigerator.
And how quickly one evening could destroy everything I'd worked for.
Then Luca spoke.
"Rachel."
I forced myself to look up.
"Yes, sir?"
"Did you write this?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
I swallowed.
"Because my mother asked whether I was happy."
"And?"
I tried to smile.
"I didn't want to lie to her."
Vanessa made an impatient sound.
"Oh, please."
Luca ignored her.
"May I finish reading it?"
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
He looked down.
The room was so quiet I could hear the soft ticking of the antique clock near the fireplace.
"When Benjamin asks whether his father would be happier without him, I don't know what to say."
Benjamin lowered his head.
"When he hides birthday cards because he's afraid somebody will take them away, I wonder whether I should tell Mr. Moretti."
Luca's jaw tightened.
"When he asks me whether being good means never wanting anything, I tell him that good children are allowed to have feelings."
My eyes filled.
"But I don't know whether I'm helping him or making things harder."
Luca stopped reading.
He looked toward Benjamin.
The little boy was staring at the carpet.
"Ben?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"Did you ask Rachel whether I'd be happier without you?"
Benjamin nodded.
His father's expression changed.
"When?"
"Tuesday."
"Why?"
The little boy glanced toward Vanessa.
"Because she said you were tired."
Luca frowned.
"Tired?"
Benjamin swallowed.
"She said you worked so hard because I needed too much."
Something shifted in Luca's face.
I had never seen a grown man look so devastated without shedding a tear.
He crouched beside his son.
"Buddy, my work is not your responsibility."
Benjamin stared at him.
"Really?"
"Really."
"But you come home late."
"I do."
"And you're tired."
"Sometimes."
The little boy's eyes filled.
"That's because of me?"
Luca shook his head.
"No, sweetheart."
His voice cracked.
"That's because I've made choices about my work that I need to change."
Benjamin considered this.
Then whispered, "Okay."
Luca hugged him.
I pressed my lips together to keep from crying.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"This is absurd."
Nobody looked at her.
She raised her voice.
"Children misunderstand things all the time."
Luca straightened.
"Then why are all his misunderstandings about losing something?"
Vanessa opened her mouth.
No words came.
He lifted my letter.
"And why did you search Rachel's belongings?"
She stiffened.
"I wasn't searching."
"Where did you find this?"
"In her room."
"Inside what?"
Vanessa looked away.
Luca's voice sharpened.
"Vanessa."
"A drawer."
"My employee's private drawer?"
"I wanted to make sure she wasn't stealing anything."
My stomach dropped.
Luca stared at her.
"Was anything missing?"
"No."
"Did you suspect something specific?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Not exactly."
"Then you went through her belongings because you wanted to."
She folded her arms.
"I have a right to know who's working in this house."
Mrs. Carter stepped forward.
"Miss Morgan has never given us a reason to question her honesty."
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Nobody asked you."
The older housekeeper didn't retreat.
"Nevertheless, I thought it should be said."
A strange warmth spread through my chest.
Mrs. Carter had supervised the household for seventeen years.
She rarely challenged anyone publicly.
But tonight, she stood between me and the woman who had threatened my livelihood.
Luca looked back at the letter.
"Rachel, I'm sorry."
I blinked.
"Sir?"
"Your privacy was violated in my home."
I shook my head.
"Please don't worry about me."
"I should have worried about you sooner."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Wonderful."
She reached for her champagne.
"Now we're apologizing to the staff."
Luca looked at her.
"Yes."
One simple word.
Nothing more.
And somehow, it silenced her completely.
Then Benjamin tugged my apron.
"Miss Rachel?"
I crouched.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Are you really leaving?"
My heart stopped.
"What?"
He pointed toward the letter.
"You said you couldn't stay."
I looked at his frightened face.
He had already spent an entire evening believing his mother had forgotten him, his father would replace him, and his bedroom would be taken away.
Now he thought I was disappearing too.
"No, honey."
I tried to smile.
"I haven't made any decisions."
He swallowed.
"Because if you leave, who will help me find Orion?"
I could barely breathe.
Before I answered, Luca placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"I will."
Benjamin looked up.
"You?"
"Yes."
"But you don't know where it is."
Luca smiled sadly.
"Then you can teach me."
Benjamin considered this.
For a moment, something like relief crossed his face.
Then he looked at me again.
"And Miss Rachel can help?"
I nodded.
"If your father wants me to."
Luca met my eyes.
"I do."
Vanessa slammed down her glass.
"Enough."
Her voice shook.
"I will not stand here while my own fiancé humiliates me."
Luca slowly turned.
"Then we should speak privately."
She laughed.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Before our guests?"
"Preferably away from them."
Vanessa stared at him.
Then her expression suddenly changed.
She smiled.
It was a small, dangerous smile.
"Fine."
She reached into her purse again.
"But before we go, there's something Benjamin should probably hear."
Luca's shoulders stiffened.
"Don't."
She ignored him.
"Rachel, perhaps you'd like to explain why you called Caroline Moretti yesterday."
My stomach dropped.
Because I had called her.
And this time, Vanessa wasn't lying.
Luca turned toward me.
"Rachel?"
I opened my mouth.
But Vanessa was already holding up her phone.
"She contacted your ex-wife behind your back."
Luca stared at me.
"Is that true?"
I swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
Benjamin looked between us.
Vanessa smiled triumphantly.
"And would you like to know what they were discussing?"
I felt my heart begin to pound.
Because Caroline had made me promise not to tell Luca until she understood what was happening.
And the reason for that promise was much bigger than a birthday party.
I looked at Luca.
"Mr. Moretti, I can explain."
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Then explain why your housemaid and your ex-wife have been collecting information about me."
May you like
The room became silent.
And I realized the next words out of my mouth might determine whether I walked out of the Moretti mansion with my job, my dignity, or neither.
