Chapter 6 - The Debt That Was Never Money
The engagement ended that night.
Celeste left the Valenti estate the following morning.
Before leaving, she found Elara in the kitchen.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Celeste placed an envelope on the counter.
Elara looked at it.
“What's that?”
“Money.”
“No.”
“You haven't even counted it.”
“I don't need to.”
Celeste's mouth tightened.
“I humiliated you.”
“Yes.”
“You still told Luca I wasn't involved.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Elara folded a towel.
“Because you being cruel doesn't make you guilty of murder.”
Celeste almost laughed.
“You're infuriating.”
“I've been told.”
Celeste pushed the envelope closer.
Elara pushed it back.
“Apologize instead.”
Celeste stared at her.
People like Celeste Armand paid for mistakes.
They didn't apologize for them.
But eventually she whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Elara nodded.
“Accepted.”
Celeste left.
That afternoon, Luca found Elara packing.
“You're leaving.”
She didn't turn.
“I think my invisibility strategy has failed.”
“Spectacularly.”
She smiled.
“Micah's doing better. I have enough saved to rent somewhere closer to his rehabilitation center.”
Luca leaned against the doorway.
“You saved my life.”
“You paid for my brother's treatment.”
“That wasn't payment.”
“I know.”
“Then stay.”
Elara finally faced him.
“As what?”
The question hung between them.
Not maid.
Not debtor.
Not charity case.
Luca stepped closer.
“As someone who tells me the truth when everyone else is afraid to.”
Elara studied him.
“That's a dangerous job.”
“Salary's excellent.”
She laughed.
“What would my title be?”
“I haven't decided.”
“Then decide.”
Luca thought for a moment.
“Director of household operations.”
“Terrible.”
“Security liaison?”
“Worse.”
He smiled.
“Personal adviser.”
Elara raised an eyebrow.
“Now you're just making things up.”
“Is that a yes?”
She looked around the house that had once frightened her.
Then she thought about Micah walking farther every week.
About Mrs. Bell.
About the strange family she had somehow found inside a place built on secrets.
“One condition.”
Luca waited.
“Nobody throws drinks at me.”
“Done.”
“And I get weekends.”
“Absolutely not.”
Elara picked up her suitcase.
“Goodbye, Luca.”
“Fine. Weekends.”
May you like
She put the suitcase down.
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