Chapter 12 - The Cleanup
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Nathan reached out and gently took the plastic grocery bag from her trembling hands, tossing it carelessly onto the floor.
"I don't care about the vase, June," Nathan said, looking directly into her panicked gray eyes. "It was just a piece of painted dirt. It means absolutely nothing to me."
"But it was expensive," June cried, the tears flowing freely now. "My fourth foster mom slapped me for breaking a cheap plate. That vase was huge."
Nathan’s jaw tightened at the mention of the abuse, but he kept his expression calm for her sake.
"Listen to me very carefully," Nathan said, grasping her small shoulders. "There is nothing in this house, nothing in this entire world, that is more valuable than you. If you break every window, smash every television, and burn the furniture, you are still staying here. You are my blood. You are my daughter. You do not get thrown away for making a mistake."
June stared at him, desperately wanting to believe the words, but years of conditioning held her back. "You aren't going to send me back?"
"Never," Nathan vowed. "Now, take the coat off. We have a mess to clean up."
June slowly unbuttoned the blue coat, letting it fall to the floor.
Nathan took her hand and led her back downstairs. The shattered porcelain still littered the hallway. Nathan didn't call the maids. He didn't call the estate manager.
He walked into the utility closet, retrieved a broom and a dustpan, and handed the dustpan to June.
"Hold this," Nathan instructed.
Together, the billionaire CEO and the nine-year-old orphan sat on the hardwood floor, sweeping up the remnants of a sixty-thousand-dollar antique. Nathan made a game out of it, dramatically narrating the cleanup like a sports announcer until June finally let out a watery giggle.
When the last piece of glass was thrown into the trash, Nathan washed his hands and picked June up, settling her on his hip.
"See? Mess cleaned. Problem solved," Nathan smiled, tapping her nose. "Now, I believe we owe the backyard an apology, because that tennis ball belongs outside. Let's go throw it around."
May you like
As they walked out the back doors onto the sprawling lawn, June wrapped her arms tightly around Nathan’s neck, resting her head on his shoulder.
It was the first time she had initiated physical contact without prompting. Nathan closed his eyes, holding her tight, realizing that sweeping up that broken vase was the most important executive action he had ever taken in his life.
