Chapter 3 - THE ESTATE’S NEW ORDER
By sunrise, the entire ecosystem of the Rossi estate had turned upside down.
Augusto, my loyal, sharp-eyed chief of staff, stood in my private study reviewing the revised payroll ledger with a look of profound astonishment. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, staring at the digital screen.
"Move Hannah Hayes to the master wing? Provide an executive stipend, personal security detail, and unlimited access to the estate's private car service?" Augusto looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Boss, she’s been here three weeks. The background check showed she has a clean record, but promoting a housekeeper straight to the master wing is going to raise eyebrows among the inner circle."
"Let them raise eyebrows," I snapped, pouring a cup of black coffee from the silver pot on my desk. "Did you read Dr. Halloran’s morning report?"
Augusto tapped his tablet. "I did. He called it a miraculous biochemical reversal. Leo’s white blood cell count normalized overnight. His weight stabilized. He gained two ounces in twelve hours."
"That 'miraculous reversal' is sitting in the guest suite with my son," I said flatly. "If anyone in my inner circle—or any of our corporate rivals—finds out about this, they will try to use her to get to Leo. That is why her security detail needs to be doubled. I want two armed guards stationed outside her door around the clock."
Augusto nodded grimly. "Understood. I’ll personally oversee her relocation and brief the security team. What about her ex-boyfriend? The one who pushed her?"
My eyes narrowed into dark, dangerous slits. The memory of the background check report flashed in my mind. A lowlife named Marcus Vance who thought he could abuse a woman and walk away scot-free.
"What about him?" I asked softly.
"He’s still living in Queens. Has a minor criminal record for assault. Should I make him disappear?"
"No," I said, a cold, humorless smile touching my lips. "Don't make him disappear. Bring him to me. Let’s see how tough he feels when he’s locked in one of my shipping containers for a week."
"Right away, sir," Augusto said, turning sharply on his heel to execute the order.
May you like
As Augusto left the study, I walked over to the French doors, looking out over the manicured lawns. For months, the estate had felt like a tomb. But today, for the first time since Sophia’s casket was lowered into the ground, there was life in the air.
Down the hall, Hannah Hayes was feeding my son, giving him the nourishment he needed to survive. And somewhere out in Queens, a worthless piece of trash was about to learn why nobody messes with someone under the protection of Lorenzo Rossi.
