Chapter 15 - The Scandal
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The Sunday morning papers were an absolute disaster.
Pedro sat in his study, staring at the glossy tabloid spread across his mahogany desk. The headline screamed: THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET: WHO IS THE MYSTERY WOMAN?
Below it was a high-resolution photo of Abigail fiercely shoving the photographer, her face contorted in anger. But it wasn't the photo that made Pedro's blood run cold. It was the investigative journalism beneath it.
The press had dug into her past. They had found the public records.
Abigail Hill, raised in the foster system. Mother convicted of felony grand larceny. Abigail herself arrested at seventeen for assault.
The article painted her not as a protective caregiver, but as a dangerous, unstable grifter who had infiltrated the home of a grieving billionaire.
Abigail stood in the doorway of the study, her face pale, holding a copy of the same paper.
"I can explain the arrest," Abigail said, her voice shaking slightly. "It was an abusive foster father. I hit him with a chair to protect my younger sister. The charges were dropped when the police saw his bruises on her."
Pedro stood up, walking around the desk. "You don't have to explain anything to me, Abigail."
"Your board of directors will disagree," she said bitterly. "A billionaire CEO cannot have a nanny with a violent criminal record raising his heirs. They will demand you fire me. And for the sake of your company's stock price, you should."
Pedro stopped in front of her. "I don't give a damn about the stock price."
"Pedro, you have a fiduciary duty—"
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"My duty is to my family," Pedro interrupted fiercely, grabbing her by the shoulders. He looked down into her eyes, his expression uncompromising. "And you are part of this family. I am not letting the media, my board, or anyone else chase you out of my home. Do you understand me?"
Abigail stared at him, overwhelmed by the fierce protection in his voice. She nodded slowly, tears pricking the corners of her eyes, realizing she was no longer just an employee.
