Chapter 5 - Midnight at the Stables|
Within twenty minutes, every single guest had quietly departed through the side gates of the estate.
They knew better than to linger when a storm was brewing inside the Moretti empire.
The grand dining hall stood empty, littered with half-eaten gourmet meals and abandoned crystal glasses.
I began gathering the fallen napkins from the floor, my hands still shaking from the sheer terror of what I had witnessed.
"Leave those, Rachel," Luca’s deep voice echoed through the vast, quiet room.
I stopped in my tracks and looked up, suddenly terrified that I had overstepped my bounds.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti," I stammered, clutching my white apron.
"I was only trying to clean up before the night shift ended."
Luca was sitting in his high-backed chair, his bow tie undone and resting loose around his collar.
Ava was asleep on his lap, her head buried in his chest, her dirty shoes dangling over his expensive trousers.
The muddy brass nameplate was still gripped tightly in her sleeping hand.
"You don't need to apologize to me, Rachel," Luca said, his voice surprisingly gentle.
"In fact, I owe you an apology."
I blinked in surprise, unsure how to respond to one of the most feared men in the state.
"You risked your job tonight to protect my daughter's happiness," he continued, looking directly into my eyes.
"Vanessa threatened to fire you this afternoon, didn't she?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded truthfully.
"She said I would be out on the street without a reference if Ava made a scene."
"And yet, you brought that dirty halter into the middle of my engagement dinner anyway."
"Because Ava needed someone to hear her," I whispered, glancing at the sleeping child.
"Copper is her best friend, Mr. Moretti."
"I lost my father when I was young, and I know how much it hurts when people try to erase the things you love."
Luca watched me for a long moment, something unreadable shifting behind his dark brown eyes.
"Graham told me about your mother," he said softly.
"He mentioned she had spinal surgery last month and that you work extra hours to cover her rehabilitation bills."
My face warmed with embarrassment, not expecting him to know the mundane details of a maid's life.
"She's doing better, sir, but the medical payments are quite steep."
Luca reached into his inner pocket, pulled out a personalized black checkbook, and uncapped a heavy gold pen.
He wrote a figure on the line, tore the check out with a crisp snap, and placed it on the edge of the mahogany table.
"Starting tomorrow, your salary is tripled," Luca announced without looking up.
"And that check will clear every penny of your mother's hospital debts by noon."
My eyes widened as I looked down at the paper; the written sum had more zeroes than I had ever seen in my life.
"Mr. Moretti, I couldn't possibly accept this," I protested, my breath catching.
"You will accept it, Rachel," he said firmly, rising from his chair while keeping Ava securely cradled against his broad shoulder.
"Because from this night forward, you are no longer a maid in this house."
"You are Ava’s personal companion and guardian."
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"Now, come with us."
"My daughter will want to see her horse before she sleeps tonight."
