Chapter 8 - The New Arrangement
The guest room was larger and brighter than the maid’s quarters Mia had occupied for three years. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, warming the pale blue walls. Mia was sitting up in bed, sipping hot broth, while Harper slept peacefully beside her, her small hand still clutching her mother’s sleeve.
Dominic entered quietly, closing the door behind him.
"Mr. Vale," Mia said, trying to sit up straighter.
"Stay down, Mia," Dominic said, pulling up a chair. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. The warmth... I didn't think I'd ever feel warm again." She looked down at her sleeping daughter. "Thank you. For listening to her."
"She’s a smart girl," Dominic said, a rare, genuine smile softening his hard features. "Most adults wouldn't have had the courage to stop me. She saved your life."
"She did," Mia whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "But you broke the lock. You didn't believe Nathan."
"I know how Nathan looks when he’s lying," Dominic said. "I’ve watched him do it for seventeen years. But more than that, I know you. You wouldn't leave Harper."
Mia looked at him, her expression a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. "What happens now? We can't stay here, Mr. Vale. The Morettis... the people Nathan was dealing with... they know about me. They know I saw them."
"You’re not going anywhere, Mia," Dominic said, his voice firm. "The Morettis are dealt with. They think Nathan took their money and ran. As far as the world is concerned, Claire and Nathan eloped. It happens in our world. People disappear."
"But the housekeeping..."
"You’re not the housekeeper anymore," Dominic said. "I’m restructuring the estate. I need someone I can trust to manage my personal affairs. Someone who actually cares about what happens within these walls. The position pays three times your current salary, and you’ll have your own suite in the east wing."
May you like
Mia stared at him, her breath catching. "Why are you doing this, Mr. Vale?"
"Because," Dominic said, standing up and looking out at the snowy courtyard. "I’ve spent my whole life surrounded by people I paid to be loyal. Today, a four-year-old girl showed me what real loyalty looks like. I'd like to keep that close."
