Chapter 7 - THE LITTLE HELPER
In the quiet, luxurious master suite on the third floor of the Harrington Estate, three-year-old Lily sat on the edge of a massive king-sized bed, swinging her feet while holding her stuffed rabbit.
Nora stood near the locked bedroom door, listening nervously to the footsteps of security guards pacing up and down the hallway outside.
Suddenly, a loud red light began flashing on the security panel mounted next to Ethan's mahogany desk across the room. A high-pitched, steady chime began to ring: BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Nora gasped, stepping back. "What is that?"
Lily hopped off the bed and walked over to the desk, pointing her small finger at the flashing panel. "Mommy, look. The little door opened."
Below the digital screen on the wall, a small hidden compartment in the wood paneling had popped open, revealing a large yellow button marked EMERGENCY OVERRIDE — VAULT RELEASE.
Nora rushed over to the panel. "Oh, sweet mercy... Ethan told me about this once when I was cleaning the study years ago."
Nora reached out to press the yellow button, but before her fingers could touch it, the heavy oak bedroom door opened.
Julian Harrington stepped into the room, holding a glass of scotch in one hand and a thick folder of legal papers in the other. Two of his personal guards stood behind him in the hallway.
"Nora," Julian said, his eyes narrowing as he saw her standing by the open panel. "What are you doing in Ethan's private quarters?"
Nora immediately stepped in front of the panel, trying to block it with her apron. "Mr. Julian... Mr. Ethan told us to wait here."
"Ethan is no longer in charge of this estate," Julian said coldly, taking a sip of his drink. "Get out. Both of you. Take your child and leave through the back gates before I have security throw you off the property."
Lily looked up at Julian. She looked at his shiny leather shoes, then at his cold eyes.
"You're a mean man," Lily said loudly, holding her rabbit tightly.
Julian sneered down at the child. "Take them downstairs," he ordered his guards.
One of the guards stepped forward, grabbing Nora's arm roughly. Nora cried out, struggling against his grip.
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In the confusion, Lily slipped beneath the guard's arm.
She sprinted across the polished floor toward the desk, leaped up onto the leather chair, and slammed her tiny fist straight into the glowing yellow button on the wall panel.
