Chapter 7 - Sunlight and Secrets
The morning sun streamed through the massive glass windows of the penthouse, burning away the lingering shadows of the night before.
Willa stood by the marble kitchen island, sipping a cup of black coffee prepared by the private chef, trying to process the surreal events of the past twenty-four hours. Barrett was gone—banished to the underworld equivalent of exile. Kendrick was treating her not as a servant, but as an essential member of his household. And Penny... Penny hadn't left her side for more than three minutes since breakfast.
The little girl sat at the corner of the large mahogany dining table, carefully coloring inside the lines of a picture book while Titan rested his heavy chin across her small shoes, anchoring her in place.
Knock. Knock.
A polite, hesitant rap sounded at the private elevator foyer.
Willa set her coffee cup down and walked over to answer it, expecting a delivery or a household staff member. Instead, the service doors slid open to reveal an elegant, sharp-featured woman in her late forties, wearing a tailored gray Chanel suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
"Good morning," the woman said, her voice crisp and professional. "I am Elena Vance, head of household administration and legal counsel for Mr. Ashford. Are you Willa?"
"Yes," Willa said cautiously, stepping back to let her enter. "I'm Willa."
Elena stepped into the foyer, her sharp eyes scanning Willa from head to toe with clinical efficiency. There was no hostility in her gaze—only a cool, calculating appraisal.
"Mr. Ashford instructed me to bring you up to speed," Elena said, setting her briefcase on the dining table and snapping open the brass latches. "Starting today, your official title is Resident Guardian and Companion to Miss Penny Ashford. Your salary has been set at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year, with full medical benefits, housing, and a dedicated security detail."
Willa blinked, stunned. "One hundred and fifty thousand? For... for watching a child?"
"For keeping her safe, and keeping her talking," Elena corrected smoothly, pulling out a thick sheaf of legal documents. "In our world, Miss Willa, security is the only currency that matters. The moment Penny chose you, you became a target for every rival syndicate and ambitious lieutenant who wants to hurt Kendrick by striking at his family."
Elena slid a pen across the table toward Willa.
"Before you sign, Mr. Ashford asked me to give you one piece of advice," Elena added, her tone dropping slightly.
May you like
"What's that?" Willa asked.
"Don't lie to him," Elena said, her eyes locking onto Willa’s with piercing intensity. "Kendrick Ashford knows everything about everyone in this city. If you have secrets... he will find them. It's only a matter of time."
