Chapter 4 - THE MAID'S SANCTUARY
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By midnight, the sprawling Moretti mansion had grown unnervingly quiet.
The twenty-eight wealthy guests had dispersed into the cold Chicago night, carrying whispers of scandal with them.
Caroline had taken Lily to the master guest suite down the hall, singing soft lullabies until the little girl finally fell asleep.
I stood in the vast commercial kitchen on the ground floor, scrubbing the silver serving platters by hand.
My uniform dress was damp at the cuffs, and my feet ached from fourteen hours on my feet.
Yet I couldn't stop my hands from shaking.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Vanessa’s venomous glare right before she was escorted off the property.
Vanessa Bellini was the daughter of Don Alberto Bellini, the ruthless boss who controlled the West Side trucking routes.
People who crossed the Bellini family did not simply lose their jobs.
They disappeared into the murky depths of the Calumet River.
“You shouldn't be working at this hour, Emma.”
The deep, resonant voice made me jump, dropping a silver fork into the soapy water with a loud clatter.
Luca Moretti walked into the kitchen, his leather shoes silent against the white subway tile.
He had rolled his crisp white shirt sleeves up to his elbows, revealing the dark ink of a serpent coiling around his forearm.
He looked exhausted, but his dark eyes were razor-sharp as they locked onto mine.
“I was just finishing the cleanup, Mr. Moretti,” I said nervously, wiping my hands on a clean dishcloth.
“Leave it for the morning crew,” Luca commanded gently, leaning against the marble prep island.
He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a heavy manila envelope, sliding it across the counter toward me.
“What is this, sir?”
“Your mother’s medical bills,” Luca replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
My breath caught in my throat.
“How do you know about my mother?”
“I know everything about the people who live under my roof,” Luca said, stepping closer.
“I know your mother had her second hip replacement six weeks ago at Northwestern Memorial.”
“I know her landlord threatened to evict her on Monday because her disability check was delayed.”
“And I know you sent her seven hundred dollars last Friday, leaving yourself with forty dollars for groceries.”
Heat rushed into my face, a mixture of shame and utter shock.
“Mr. Moretti, I didn't tell Vanessa to cut that braid to get money from you,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“I did it because Lily was crying.”
“I know why you did it, Emma,” Luca said, his voice softening into something warm and genuine.
“That's why this envelope contains the deed to your mother’s apartment building.”
I stared at him, my vision blurring with sudden tears.
“The... the deed?”
“I bought the entire complex an hour ago,” Luca stated calmly.
“Your mother will never pay rent again.”
“Her physical therapy will be handled by private specialists, fully covered by my family foundation.”
My knees felt weak, and I had to grip the edge of the sink to keep from falling.
“Mr. Moretti... this is too much,” I sobbed, pressing a hand against my mouth.
“I am just a housemaid.”
Luca took two deliberate steps, closing the distance between us until I could smell the faint scent of sandalwood and rain clinging to his jacket.
He reached out, his warm, calloused fingers gently lifting my chin until my eyes met his.
“You are not just a housemaid, Emma,” Luca murmured, his gaze holding an intensity that made my heart race wildly.
“You are the only person in a room full of billionaires who had the courage to protect my daughter.”
“Starting tomorrow morning, you are no longer part of the cleaning staff.”
May you like
“You are Lily’s personal companion and the head coordinator of this household.”
“And as long as you breathe, Emma Sullivan, no one in this city will ever threaten you again.”
