Chapter 5 - A New Order in the Duca Estate
Clara struggled to her feet, her legs still shaky. She bowed her head repeatedly, wiping her tear-stained cheeks with the back of her sleeve.
"Thank you, Mr. Duca... thank you so much," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know how I can ever repay you. If it wasn't for you... I don't know where Lily and I would be sleeping tonight."
"You don't need to repay me," Lorenzo replied, walking back toward his desk. He picked up a gold fountain pen, tapped it twice against the blotter, and looked at Paolo. "Paolo."
"Sir?"
"Effective immediately, Clara is promoted to Head Housekeeper of the Duca estate. Adjust her salary to reflect the position, provide her and her daughter with the master suite in the east wing—the one with the balcony overlooking the rose garden—and ensure she has whatever staff she needs to run this house properly."
Paolo’s eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded without hesitation. "At once, sir. I’ll have the east suite prepared within the hour."
Clara gasped, clapping both hands over her mouth to stop a fresh wave of tears, this time of sheer disbelief and gratitude. "Mr. Duca... I... I couldn't possibly accept that! I'm just a junior maid, I don't have the experience to manage—"
"You have honesty," Lorenzo interrupted, looking straight into her eyes. "And in this house, honesty is a currency far more valuable than gold or pedigree. Consider it non-negotiable."
He then looked down at the armchair. Lily was watching him with wide, solemn eyes, her legs swinging slowly. Lorenzo walked over, stopping just a few feet away. He crouched down once more, bringing himself to her eye level.
"And for you, little one," Lorenzo said, a faint, almost imperceptible ghost of a smile touching the corner of his mouth. "I believe you deserve compensation for your trouble. What do you say?"
Lily tilted her head, considering the formidable mafia boss with absolute fearlessness. "Can I have a cookie?" she asked seriously. "And can Pino stay with me?"
Lorenzo let out a low, genuine chuckle—a sound that hadn't been heard in these halls for as long as Paolo could remember.
"You can have as many cookies as the kitchens can bake," Lorenzo said, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of brown hair from her forehead. "And Pino is your personal guard from now on. If anyone bothers you, you tell Pino, and if Pino is busy, you tell me."
May you like
Lily beamed, a bright, radiant smile that broke through the gloom of the October evening like the morning sun. Without warning, she leaned forward and wrapped her small arms tightly around Lorenzo’s neck, burying her face against his broad shoulder.
Lorenzo froze for a second, unaccustomed to such unvarnished, innocent affection. Then, slowly, awkwardly, his large arms came up to embrace her back, holding her safe against the cold winds of the world outside.
