Chapter 18 - The Healing
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The weeks following Chloe’s arrest felt like a massive, collective exhale for the entire estate.
The media briefly caught wind of the dramatic arrest, but with Hector’s airtight security footage and the extortion recordings handed over to the District Attorney, the narrative was completely in our favor. Chloe and her associates were facing decades in prison. The nightmare was truly, finally over.
Spring arrived in Los Angeles, bringing vibrant blooms to the gardens and a profound sense of peace to the house.
I made sweeping changes to my life. I stepped back from the grueling, seventy-hour work weeks at my company, delegating massive portions of my responsibilities to my board of directors. I realized that building an empire meant nothing if I wasn't present to protect the kingdom.
One sunny Saturday afternoon, I was walking through the main hallway when I found Marisol in the formal dining room, quietly polishing the silver.
"Marisol," I said softly, stepping into the room.
She looked up, offering a warm, respectful smile. "Yes, Mr. Vance?"
"I want to talk to you about your position here," I said, walking toward her.
A brief flash of panic crossed her dark eyes, assuming the worst. "Sir, if I have done something wrong—"
"You have done everything right," I interrupted gently, placing a hand on the polished mahogany table. "You protected my daughters when I was blind. You brought light and joy back into this house. You are far more than a housekeeper, Marisol. You are the heart of this home."
I pulled a thick envelope from my jacket pocket and slid it across the table toward her.
"I am officially promoting you to Estate Manager," I told her. "Your salary is being quadrupled, effective immediately. You will have full authority over the household staff, a dedicated budget, and you will never scrub another floor in this house unless you absolutely want to."
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Marisol stared at the envelope, tears instantly welling in her eyes. She covered her mouth with trembling hands. "Mr. Vance... I don't know what to say. This is... this is too much."
"It's not enough," I said softly, looking deeply into her eyes. "But it's a start."
