Chapter 6 - A New Position
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Lorenzo led Elvira away from the whispering crowd and into the quiet sanctuary of his private study. The room smelled of rich leather, expensive scotch, and old books. He closed the heavy mahogany doors, locking the chaos of the night outside.
Elvira stood awkwardly in the center of the room. She was still shivering slightly, her uniform damp from the melting ice, her hands bruised from breaking the padlock.
Lorenzo walked behind his massive desk, poured a glass of amber liquid, and handed it to her.
“Drink,” he ordered softly.
Elvira took the glass with trembling fingers and took a small sip. The liquid burned her throat, chasing away the lingering chill in her bones.
“You have my apologies, Miss Vance,” Lorenzo said, leaning against the edge of his desk. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his dark eyes studying her intently. “My security team failed. My judgment failed. You were the only person in this entire house who saw what was happening and chose to act.”
“I couldn't just leave them,” Elvira whispered, staring down at the amber liquid in her glass. “I heard them scratching.”
“Most people would have walked away to protect their own skin,” Lorenzo noted. He walked around the desk, stopping just inches from her. “I owe you the lives of the only family I have left. Tell me your price.”
Elvira looked up, her dark eyes flashing with sudden defensiveness. “I don't want a reward for saving children. I just want to go home.”
Lorenzo’s gaze softened, a rare occurrence for a man known for his brutality. “I know about your mother, Elvira. I know she has stage-four lung cancer. I know you work three jobs to afford the experimental treatments the insurance refuses to cover.”
Elvira’s breath hitched. “How do you know that?”
“I make it my business to know everyone who steps foot in my house,” Lorenzo replied smoothly. “Your mother’s medical bills are drowning you. I will pay them. All of them. In full.”
Elvira stared at him, completely paralyzed by the offer. It was a lifeline she had been praying for, but she knew men like Lorenzo Moretti didn't offer favors without strings.
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“What do you want in return?” she asked cautiously.
“I want you to work for me,” Lorenzo stated, his eyes locking onto hers with a fierce intensity. “I cannot trust the nannies or the guards. I need someone who will fight for Leo and Mia. I want you to move into the estate and become their permanent guardian.”
